Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea

[Guest ejw]

Jumping George, I thought so too, but I don't really trust the vet here and her regular vet doesn't want to do the surgery. He'd rather it was done where they have instruments that cauterize as they cut, and I can't blame him. I think she is doing what the vet here does: quote for a worst case scenario.

 

RobinM, I will go into Abbotsford to Old Navy and see if they have the dog T's.

 

Bevd, thanks for the link. I've posted there and will copy this post over as well. I need all the advice I can get!

 

I've gone through all the discussions I can about dogs who have had amputations: some are encouraging; other scare the bejeebers out of me.

 

Is it a good idea to get a blood workup done, even though they haven't asked for one? Her regular vet offered to do the workup and send the results. He kind of expected they would ask for one. The fact that they haven't has me concerned, because he seemed to feel it should be done. If it's not necessary, I won't do it, as it'll be hard enough to pay for the surgery.

 

What kind of advice can you give for little things like:

• Did you need to do anything special for the trip home?

• How do I help her get up? Where do I put a t owel? Will it be OK to lift her to get the towel under her?

• What do I need to avoid?

• What might happen re: after effects, pain, oozing, drains?

• What do I need to know/ask about before I leave the hospital? This is a very big, far away hospital and I'm not sure I can get hold of the surgeon easily.

• What should I make sure I have before I leave the hospital: meds and/or antibiotics? Anything else?

• Am I going to need to change dressings or do anything else? Ice packs? What should I have on hand?

• Is a harness a necessity?

• How do I feed her until she is steady on her legs, or do I assume she will carry on as usual? She has never eaten lying down except for bones.

• Will she be allowed to jump up onto or off of my bed or the couch? Is it OK to let her if she feels she can do it?

• Will I need to stay home 24/7 and guard against her bothering her wound? I have about 5 T-shirts I bought for her first surgery, but she managed to get through them, the vet wrap, adhesive tape and gauze in no time at all.

• Should I crate her? She hasn't been crated since the first week I had her.

I'm expecting to go in for surgery myself at an unknown time in Nov or Dec, so I also have worries about caring for her then and after! Thank God the woman who is petsitting is a vet tech! It was hard enough to find someone I felt would competently care for a diabetic dog, never mind a new tripod. Someone up there is watching over these girls.

[RobinM]

What kind of advice can you give for little things like:

• Did you need to do anything special for the trip home?

Just blankets in the back with her. If it's a car, put pillows between the seats so she can't fall down.

• How do I help her get up?

She will get up on her own. Where do I put a t owel? We never used a towel Will it be OK to lift her to get the towel under her?

• What do I need to avoid?

Steps at first.

• What might happen re: after effects, pain, oozing, drains?

We had no drains, no oozing. KEEP ONTOP OF THE PAIN MEDS. It's easier to keep pain under control before it gets out of control. Keep dosing her every 4-6 regarless of whether or not YOU feel she needs it.

• What do I need to know/ask about before I leave the hospital? This is a very big, far away hospital and I'm not sure I can get hold of the surgeon easily.

They will tell you what you need to know but tell them you are far away and need to have someone by phone if need be.

• What should I make sure I have before I leave the hospital: meds and/or antibiotics? Anything else?

THey will give you antibiotics and pain meds. If your pup stresses, valium is good to have too. 10mg ONCE a day only if necessary.

• Am I going to need to change dressings or do anything else?We had to change when necessary.

Like I said, Polli did not ooze at all. We did use NOT STICK PADS AND PAPER TAPE WHICH does not stick to the skin. Ice packs? What should I have on hand? They should tell you. These are the questions for the vet.

• Is a harness a necessity?

• How do I feed her until she is steady on her legs, or do I assume she will carry on as usual? She has never eaten lying down except for bones.

Polli has always eaten laying down. Other dogs eat standing up. Whatever works for her!

• Will she be allowed to jump up onto or off of my bed or the couch? Is it OK to let her if she feels she can do it?

Not for 2 weeks. We put our mattress on the floor.

• Will I need to stay home 24/7 and guard against her bothering her wound? I have about 5 T-shirts I bought for her first surgery, but she managed to get through them, the vet wrap, adhesive tape and gauze in no time at all.

• Should I crate her? She hasn't been crated since the first week I had her.

I wouildn't. That might add insult to injury!I'm expecting to go in for surgery myself at an unknown time in Nov or Dec, so I also have worries about caring for her then and after! Thank God the woman who is petsitting is a vet tech! It was hard enough to find someone I felt would competently care for a diabetic dog, never mind a new tripod. Someone up there is watching over these girls.

Edited October 30, 2008 by RobinM

[Guest ejw]

 

Thanks for the answers RobinM. I really appreciate them. I have a few more.

If it's a car, put pillows between the seats so she can't fall down. Good idea! She usually lays down in the car and I assumed she wouldn't want to stand. If your pup stresses, valium is good to have too. . I'm assuming valium is a prescription drug?We had to change when necessary. Like I said, Polli did not ooze at all. We did use NOT STICK PADS AND PAPER TAPE WHICH does not stick to the skin. The reason I ask is that large non-stick dressings are hard to find here (I had a hard time finding plain gauze after her 1st surgery!). I'll need to search ahead of time if I need them. People hospitals won't sell dressings; don't know about vet hospital.Not for 2 weeks. We put our mattress on the floor. OK. Bedroom redecoration coming up. How did you keep Polli off couches? Jamaica uses the loveseat a lot.

[Guest MorganKonaAlex]

If you have slick floors, buy cheap sticky backed throw rugs or runners to cover the walkways. slick floors are much harder to navigate than carpet.

[RobinM]

The vet gave us the script for the valium. ONLY use as directed. It is a people drug so you will fill it at your pharmacy. 15 pills is like 10 dollars.

The gauze was given by the vet and the non stick tape we bought at CVS,

Polli wasn't interested in the couch so it was a non issue!

[Guest ejw]

MorganKonaAlex, I have rugs for when it's muddy. I have almost enough to cover from the door to the carpet and to the food bowls. I will need to get one more. Trip to Stuperstore coming if the tradespeople I am stuck at home waiting for ever show up!

 

RobinW, what is CVS? What size dressings did you need?

 

[rascalsmom]

CVS is a drug store, like Walgreens, or Rite Aid.

[Guest ejw]

CVS is a drug store, like Walgreens, or Rite Aid.

 

Thanks. Did you use 4 x 4 pads? If I need larger, I'll have to search for the right drug store....I couldn't build a decent first aid kit from what most drug stores here offer. It took me a week to find a place that had 12 x 3 or thereabout dressings.

[RobinM]

I wouldn't worry about this. The vet will give you what you need if you need to change the dressing. Polli had a compresson sweater which made it so she did not bruise or ooze. The pads were about 2x2 and like I said the vet gave them to us IF we needed them but we didn't. We changed it just for the he77 of it but she didn't need it.

[Kelly]

Hi EJW, I was sitting beside you on Saturday watching the Hounds at the show. I hope all goes well with your Jamaica, it looks like you're pretty serious about making sure all your bases are covered, that's a good thing.

[Guest ejw]

Hi EJW, I was sitting beside you on Saturday watching the Hounds at the show. I hope all goes well with your Jamaica, it looks like you're pretty serious about making sure all your bases are covered, that's a good thing.

 

Thanks for your good wishes.

 

We sure saw some gorgeous hounds!

[Guest ejw]

Tomorrow bright and early Jamaica goes in for her amputation. I have done all I can to prepare, but I know I can never be fully prepared. Please pray for both a good outcome and a safe trip.

[jamngrey]

hugs to both of you. easy for me to say but relax and start thinking on the positive side. You and your babe will be great!

[Batmom]

Thinking of you and your Jamaica.

[RobinM]

We will be thinking of you and sweet Jamaica.

 

The first week is very rough. But before you know it, it will be behind you. One day at a time.

 

[Guest MAXNAV]

I've never had a dog that had an amputation, but I did have my collie that was so sick with cancer. For me personally, it actually brought us even closer, which I didn't think was even possible.

[Guest ejw]

We were up to be on the road by 5 a.m. Jamaica was to be there between 7:30 and 8 and we just got there at 7:50. This is less than a 200 km trip! We spent a lot of time driving at 20 kph or less! I have never been in big city rush hour before and had NO idea how much time it adds to a trip. Plus my GPS lost the audio, which is the part I rely on, and then gave me wonky images just as I got to the part where I really needed guidance! So the last 20 minutes of the trip was spent in total panic because I turned off at the wrong exit.

 

I filled out part of the form that asked if I had questions and I asked about staples vs stitches. Don't now what the point was as no one answered. They swooped Jamaica away -- I didn't even get a chance to kiss her before she was gone -- but in retrospect perhaps that was better, for me. They told me to call at 4:00 p.m. if Dr. S hadn't called. I phoned at 4:15 and she JUST went in; won't be done til about 6 p.m. or later!

 

They said she was behaving OK, that most dogs are fine in the kennels, and then added that they give the dogs something to calm them before surgery. So now I am wondering if the answer was specifically about her or a pat answer and just how long she was doped before they took her in.

 

Arrrgh!

 

Does anyone know what they do with the leg after? I could accept cremation, but if they just throw it in the trash....

[Guest vahoundlover]

Sending lots of prayers the surgery goes well.

[RobinM]

They send the leg out for a definitive biopsy so they can determine what chemo protocol to go with. There are several types of cancer that would be reason for amputation, very commonly osteo.

 

Please update when you can. We are all thinking and praying for her.

 

Is there someone 24/7 at the vet?

[Guest ejw]

She's out! The vet phoned at 7:30. She said it went well and that the tumour had grown a lot since she last saw her and that amputation definitely was the right choice. I'm to call tomorrow around 11 am to see how things are going. Jamaica will probably come home Friday or Saturday.

 

I'm kind of glad I don't get to see her immediately post op. I just don't think I could bear it, and it gives her a bit of time to get somewhat mobile so I can feel a bit more confident about caring for her. Plus she will be in better shape to make the trek home. I know she will get petted on there -- they really like her, especially one vet tech.

 

RobinM, there is someone there 24/7, which is one of the reasons I opted for Canada West: if she is frightened there will be someone to soothe her and if needed attend to an emergency. Neither the vet here or her regular vet have someone 24/7.

 

They know it's spindle cell sarcoma, so they don't need to do a biopsy I don't think. It would have been nice if Ohio had recieved the slides as they couldn't tell type it was. I would guess by it's aggressiveness we know now. There will be no chemo as the surgeon and the oncologist both felt it was still localized. She x-rayed again before surgery and still feels the same way.

 

If they don't need to send it for biopsy, what happens to it? It shouldn't bother me, but we had a friend lose both legs in an accident at work, and one day when we were talking, he asked me if I would find out for him what happened to his legs. He was afraid they just sent them to the dump and it bothered him. I had an inkling of how he felt, so I found out. Now I am closer to knowing how he felt, but I never thought to ask Dr. S when she called.

Edited November 6, 2008 by ejw

[Kelly]

That's great they dont feel it has spread. You'll have many more years with her then. Im so sorry you got lost, it can be a real headache getting off the "freeway" into van/bby. Is Canada West a hospital? I know there is a training facility called Canada West.

[Guest ejw]

The full name is "Canada West Veterinary Specialists & Critical Care Hospital". I don't see anything in their blurb about training, but they do have six "hospitalists", non-specialized veterinarians who provide care for overnight patients.

[Guest Vinnie]

How wonderful that the surgery went well and that your specialist felt it was still localized. The unknown driving stress was probably better for you than you know - that way you didn't have time to dwell and worry. Keeping both you and Jamaica in our thoughts and prayers and sending hugs and scritches. Make sure to get rest when you can and remember the first couple of weeks are difficult but there is light at the end of the tunnel and you will be very surprised.

[Batmom]

Good news so far! Many prayers for a smooth recovery.

[Guest vahoundlover]

Glad the surgery went well. Sending lots of quick healing thoughts and prayers.