Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Our 4 year old golden retriever had to have her foot amputated over a freak accident on the stairs. After multiple vet visits and hospitals, they couldn't save her foot.
Fast forward to her amputation. The surgery was a success. We took her home after a week since her wound was healing well. We built her a crate to discourage her from moving. We also propped a wheelchair for her to use. However, the following day when I came home, she got a bit too excited and tried to stand up to greet me. Her stitches came undone. We took her to the vet hospital right away where they patched up her stitches.
They confined her. However, after a few more days of confinement, the vet told us that her stitches broke open again. Since the area is now really sensitive, they couldn't patch up the amputation site again. They recommended that we let the skin strenghen on its own first.
By the way, she's still her bubbly self and she hasn't lost her appetite. Amputation site also looks healthy.
We were wondering if anybody else has encountered this. I'm trying to be as rational as possible. But she's our family's baby girl, my soul dog.
Anything else we can do to speed up her healing?
See link below for a post in Reddit containing photos.
Welcome, Bea. Your future posts will not require approval.
Your poor dog! What's her name? Was the goal in only removing her paw to set her up for a prosthesis?
It's my understanding that most surgeons prefer not to do a partial amputation because they are more difficult to heal, as your girl is experiencing. The advantage, especially for a rear amputation, is there are much better prosthetic options when part of the limb remains.
Hi Bea,
I see the photos. That's a lot of stump left (appears to be a mid-femoral amputation...I don't think that's enough limb for prosthetics so it's puzzling why they left so much remaining leg, other than to give her more cushion in the rear). Unfortunately partial amputations may result in some long-term wound healing and possibly an amputation correction later on. We've seen that happen here on several occasions.
Other than letting the skin heal on its own, did the vet give you any other instructions for care? How is she doing otherwise?
I'm confused by the photos. Are the second and third pics after amputation? If so it looks like the amputated at the knee...not even a mid femoral amputation.
I'm not a vet but in my opinion that wound will never heal with the entire femur left. There is nothing to protect the skin inside or out and it looks like there isn't any or enough muscle to wrap the end of the bone.
My first rear amp tripawd had a mid-femoral amp and it looked nothing like your poor girl. Maggie had a little bit of femur left but it was wrapped in muscle and you couldn't see her leg like you can in your pics.
Are you going for a prosthetic?
Sorry to be blunt- I hope I'm looking at the pictures wrong.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls and Boy
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Her name is Hakaw (yes, the shrimp dumplings). We wanted more options for our baby girl in the future (prostethics) so we agreed to the partial leg amputation. Tbh, at this point, I wish they had insisted on removing the whole nub.
The vet is waiting for the skin to strengthen before deciding whether or not they could suture it back. Right now, we're looking for validation if an amputation of this condition will really heal naturally.
Hakaw is still under their care. I think they removed the stitches entirely to let would heal naturally? I could be wrong. Going back there later.
Hakaw is still bubbly and clingy as ever. So we have at least that.
Second pic is post amputation. Third pic is after the stitches came undone for the second time.
That's what we fear, too. We're actually considering getting a second opinion. Has anybody here encountered stem cell therapy to help close the wound?
Ahhh good eye Karen, you are right, that's at the knee.
If your vet has experience with amputations where the goal is a prosthetic, then I'm sure there is a good plan in place for dealing with wound care. we learned from the ortho vets that when they do these types of amps, there is a certain way of closing the wound that aids in the healing process, so they rarely have wound healing issues.
Do you know if your vet has done this type of amputation before? If so, which manufacturer do they work with? Just curious. I'm just glad she's in their care right now.
You may want to read Bridget's prosthetic wound healing story which includes the following insight I hope helps you feel better:
Care and Monitoring After the Surgery
It is important that if you don’t live near where your pet has partial amputation surgery that you have a local veterinarian who will support your decision and provide follow-up care. Even though our vet wasn’t experienced in partial amputation, he was supportive in providing follow-up care and coordinating with Dr. Wendland at CSUVTH.
At each bandage change by our veterinarian, I took pictures of the incision to send to Dr. Wendland so she could monitor Bridget’s progress until Bridget returned to have stitches removed and be fitted for her prosthesis.
Taking the pictures forced me to get over any queasiness about looking at her wound—I’m not extremely squeamish but seeing your sweet girl going through this process takes some adjusting to when you’re already feeling sad that she’s having to endure it.
It was unfortunate that she developed an infection (that required culturing to find the right antibiotic to treat it) but getting picture updates to Dr. Wendland helped her guide us through what was normal vs. abnormal.
I was grateful my husband and I are both retired so we could be with Bridget during her recovery. I am not sure how people who are working outside their home would manage it without at least taking a few days off.
Never heard of wound healing via stem cell therapy.
How is Hakaw doing today?
After the second time the stitches reopened, they have resorted to secondary intentional healing (keeping the wound open and letting it close naturally). We were scared that it would take forever to close since it was a big wound. But we're happy to announce that the amputation site has almost closed 2-3 weeks after this post has been made.
We used a stem cell serum for a little less than 2 weeks and that made the wound healing so much faster. Hakaw will probably be discharged in 1-2 more weeks (fingers crossed). Thank you all for the wisdom and support!!
Oh thank goodness! WHEW! I've heard of this method being used before, so I'm super happy it worked for Hakaw. Makes her even more amazing now doesn't it?
Tell us more about the stem cell serum. Was that provided by your vet? I'm super curious!
Just catching up on Halaw and WOW, what an ordeal!! Such a special pupper to still have her bright”Golden personality “ come shining through.
So is Hakaw home now or still at the clinic for another week or so?
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
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