Awww bless your heart for fostering and adopting Barney, what a lucky pup to find his way to you. Thank you for all you're doing to help him have a great life!

You're asking all the right questions to prepare for recovery. We often hear about rescues who don't allow foster pet parents to communicate directly with the vet. I'm sure there's a legal reason for that, but it really does a disservice to the animal and the people caring for them during recovery. I wish that would change. But to address your concerns:

We were told that we would be dropping him off by 9 am, and picking him up after 4 pm. This seems so early to me.

It is, but it's not unusual. To save costs, many vets will release the patient the same day. It's not ideal but it's also not dangerous as long as the patient gets high quality pain control and you are informed about what to expect. I'm glad you found us, because bringing home a dog or cat the same day of amputation surgery isn't the easiest situation, but it's not impossible either. Many new members have been there, done that and survived.

If he doesn't come home with at least 3 different pain medications and an antibiotic, I wouldn't leave the clinic until you know why he's not getting them. If you arrive early before he's released you can find out exactly what pain meds he will be provided, and address any potential lack of pain control. Today's Tripawds News blog post highlights some common prescriptions you can discuss with the vet.

The first 48 hours can be really tough. He may be anxious, whiney and restless. You probably won't get much sleep. This isn't unusual but it's a sign that something about his pain management needs addressing. Don't hesitate to speak to the rescue's rep to get his pain under control. The longer you wait to correct it, the harder it is to bring down those pain levels.

Our What to Expect articles discuss a lot of information about surgery recovery too, so check those out.

After recuperation (generally about 10-14 days), it would be really beneficial for Barney to see a canine rehab therapist. We're like a broken record about that here, but only because it's so beneficial to any new Tripawd and their human. You'll learn what to expect, how to help him stay strong and avoid future injuries. I also strongly recommend it since Barney is a long-bodied dog, and their mobility challenges are quite unique from the typical breed type. The best part is the Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first visit so please take advantage of the program.

Let us know what other questions you have. We'll be waiting for an update!

benny55 said
Thought I's add a link to Maya, another Bassett Hound who handled  life kn three like a RockStar. 

Thanks for sharing Maya's story! Here is a link to all of BigJim's posts about his superstar Tripawd, Maya.