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Leg amputation scheduled

13K views 95 replies 34 participants last post by  Shamrockmommy 
#1 ·
Tika's surgery is scheduled for Thursday and possibly she is coming home that night :afraid: The veterinary office doesn't have staff overnight so if she still needs IV pain control she will be sent to a 24hr animal hospital and then returned to her regular vet in the morning.

Her vet has been wonderful about the whole process and I'm so glad we have her. She has called me back each time I've called to ask questions or book appointments. She even rearranged her schedule and the office schedule so Tika's surgery is the only one that will be done that day.

I'm trying to get everything ready for when Tika comes home. Tika and I will be staying on the first floor for a week or two and I need to get her crate cleaned up and moved in there. I think I might need a different bed as she will probably be too unsteady to use her current squishy lumpy one. I've got chicken broth to put in her water if needed, she loves her food but I've got some canned just in case she needs coaxing. We've got lots of towels and I'm making up a couple more hot/cold packs so we can rotate them as needed.

I'm happy she is finally having this necessary surgery but it is also nerve wracking! Any thoughts on what else we might need in the first few days?
 
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#2 ·
Just want to say I'll be thinking of you and your girl on Thursday. I'm sure those with experience will offer great suggestions. You are handling this amazingly well. Tika is lucky to have you as her guardian. Wishing you both well through the surgery and rehab. :clover:
 
#3 · (Edited)
Will say a little prayer for your sweet Tika that all will go well and her recovery will be swift. I am so sorry she (and YOU) are have to go through this.

My pet sitter has a beautiful shephard/shar pei mix (rescue) who had a rear leg amputated shortly after she got him. Atlas does so well on his three legs you hardly realize anything is "amiss." He runs and plays and goes on walks with my two girls when they stay with his "mom."
 
#5 ·
You sound like you've got all your bases covered for Tika's surgery. Prayers for a successful surgery and a fast and uneventful recovery! Please keep us updated.
 
#7 ·
Hi elem8886

You are right about the bed, find or make a bed with a firm surface, nothing really squishy that will get tangled around her other legs, keep her unbalanced, or slid around when she tries to move, sit or stand. For Raleigh, I just laid out 4-5 towels flat across the floor as the bed because I didn’t want to be washing out the dog bed often.

You might want something moisture proof between the bedding and the floor in case Tika has accidents. (sometimes the meds and anesthesia make them groggy and they cannot hold it- I had to change his bedding several times over 3 days, none after that) I used an old shower curtain I had lying around, but you could just get one of those cheap plastic table cloths from a dollar store.

You can also roll towels or fleece and place them around the sides of her body or crate to provide support for her head and body. Does that make sense? …So, firm but soft, supportive surface on the bottom of the crate, rolled towels around her sides or the sides of the crate.

I would make 2 rounds of towel bedding. One in use and one in the washer/ dryer if the first was soiled and then ready to go if needed.

Once we were done with accidents, I gave him a firm orthopedic dog bed, one of those thick but flat ones with the little nubs in the foam.

Raleigh didn’t stay confined to his crate, except at night after the first 3 days. I kept him in his crate at night because I didn’t want him wandering around in the dark at night. During the day he preferred to sleep right on his new bed on the floor. I think it was about a month or 6 weeks after that I finally didn’t make him stay in his crate at night, but that was probably more about my anxiety than his.

Take care of yourself, too. Prepare some food for yourself ahead of time and freeze it or put in the fridge, so you won’t have to worry about cooking the first couple of days. I know you will want to keep a close eye on her so nap when she naps; shower when she naps… kind of like having a new baby, but it won’t last nearly as long.

Wishing you both all the best.
 
#8 ·
Adore you generosity of spirit, Wren! :adore: There's simply nothing like the voice of experience. I think you're helping more people than you can imagine by sharing what you have. Really good of you!
 
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#9 ·
Y'all are going to be fine. Take a deep breath, you're going through more than she will be.

When my dog had her surgery (FHO), I was a panicked wreck. She, on the other hand, was up and ready to chase the cat on her third day post op. lol What I did for Hoppy though is laid out runner carpets on the slick floor in the kitchen because she gets to trucking along and tries to make the corner and wipes out. She can get better traction on the little runners and then I don't feel horrible when she falls. (Use the non skid thingees underneath or it defeats the purpose).

Other than that, definitely use washable bedding the first week or so with a moisture barrier, Hoppy 'leaked' for a couple of days (urine) and had a little drainage from her incision for a day. Watch for gnawing on sutures and try to avoid the 'cone-of-shame' if at all possible since that may rub on a sore spot and will make learning to balance much more difficult.

Relax, dogs are tough, she'll be ok although I'm guessing she'll milk it a bit since I'm sure she has you all figured out by now. ;) Dogs are brats that way. Hoppy suckered me until I caught her chasing the cat. lol Funny how she was soooooo miserable until Mach trotted past. As soon as she knew she was busted, she tried the whole gimping and big sigh thing. I didn't fall for it anymore and she has been her normal goofball self ever since.

The darn things have us well trained, don't they?

Relax, you're going to be ok. Tika will be up and bouncing around in no time. You will look back on this with a huge sigh of relief in a few weeks/months. I know I did.
 
#10 ·
Love that there are people experienced with thing type of thing giving you help...Poodle Forum is so good about that. Know that I will be sending you lots of healing energy and love during this difficult time. You are so wonderful to be there for Tika in this way.

It's worse on you than Tika, she will be fine....tell us everything!
 
#17 ·
Sending my very best to you and Tika...that she'll have a speedy recovery without too much trouble.

My son's old girlfriend's dog had to have a leg amputated and it was astounding how quickly he recovered and adapted. He was running around peeing on bushes in no time, it seemed. They're just amazing.

So, best wishes for a successful surgery and lots of hugs for Tika and you.
 
#18 ·
PF people are the best. I don't have experience in this area, and while I wouldn't wish it on anyone, I am so happy that Wren and BorderKelpie chimed in with theirs to reassure you and offer suggestions to you. I will be thinking of you and Tika tomorrow. It sounds like she will be in great hands with your vet. I hope she gets to come home to you same day.
 
#19 ·
I know you and Tika have a difficult day ahead of your tomorrow. You'll be on my mind. I wish her safely through the surgery and home to you where her life can begin anew.
 
#20 ·
Good wishes for tomorrows surgery! I know you will be taking good care of Tika and of course all of us here at PF will be waiting for an update!. Thank You for sharing, your posts will be an education for all!
Have a peaceful evening and give your girl a BIG PF hug!!!!!!!!!!
 
#24 ·
Again, thank you so much everyone! Extra thanks to Wren and BorderKelpie for sharing your personal experiences - I've done lots of reading about the surgery/recovery but it is more reassuring to hear from people you "know". Wren, your comparison to having a new baby seems very appropriate: I feel like I'm nesting :lol: I've been cleaning and organizing random spots all week, I washed all of the dog beds, car seat covers and dog towels even though most were clean, and I've been finishing up random sewing projects that have been languishing for over a year.

It is 9:50am here and I dropped Tika off at 8. They were going to start getting her ready at 9 (surgery at 10) so she probably has a pain patch and IV's attached by now and maybe the epidural.

I think my nerves are catching up to me :afraid: so I'm glad I have all of you here at pf to keep me company :)
 
#25 ·
Hope the call soon comes to tell you all went well with Tika's surgery. You'll move on well from there, the pair of you, I just know it!
 
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