Rogan Having His Toe Amputated Tomorrow - Update Post 24 :-(

[Guest bethac]

I read this yesterday and was speechless ... I cannot even imagine how horrifying this has been for you and Rogan. Sending gentle hugs to both of you. Hope he continues to get better each day with no complications.

[greytpups]

Who are you going to for the recheck? Is it the one who did the wrong amp? Poor Rogan

[Guest LindsaySF]

Yesterday's vet check went okay. The vet took the bandages off, he's worried that Rogan will develop pressure sores and the bandages will delay healing. I'm putting on Medi-Paw booties to go outside, to keep the incisions clean. The vet also said I can clean them with a warm damp cloth, but be careful not to remove the scabs. He said the incisions look good but they need a few more days. We have a recheck appointment on Friday.

 

 

Here are his feet. My poor boy. I did laugh a little when the vet said he looks like an ostrich now!

 

 

 

 

 

WARNING: GRAPHIC PHOTOS BELOW.

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Here is the left foot (the accidental amp). It looks pretty good.

 

 

 

 

Here is the right foot after getting home from the vet yesterday. (This is the foot where the bad toe was removed).

 

 

 

 

Here is that same foot a few hours later. It looks like the stitches are popping or something? I know he's not licking it because he's muzzled with a stool guard 24/7.

 

 

 

 

Here is that same foot today. I've been spraying it with Granulex. It is dry and scabbed, not weeping, but still looks icky to me. Is this normal or should I be concerned? I have a call in to the vet for advice.

 

 

 

 

 

~Lindsay~

Edited July 10, 2012 by LindsaySF

[pabozem]

Can you e-mail the pictures to your vet? Poor baby, that looks like it would be very uncomfortable.

[Guest LindsaySF]

Who are you going to for the recheck? Is it the one who did the wrong amp? Poor Rogan

Absolutely not. I brought him to the vet I always brought foster dogs to. They are far from my house, but I know most of the vets there and have a good relationship with them. Sophie still goes there.

[tydyelady]

OMG I just read all this today, and saw the pictures!!! OMG, I just can't stop gaspin!! -- his poor feetsies!! :( Scary for me, as our vet wanted to amputate Opie's toe after some past problems, and then DH stepped on it and broke the nail. I just had a bad feeling, and opted to see if it would heal first - which thankfully it did. Your poor poor Rogan - and poor you. I am so very sorry, and almost speechless at the way the whole thing was handled. And not to tell you right away! Big hugs to both of you, and I will be praying that the feet both heal quickly and completely.

[MP_the4pack]

OMG that looks painful. Are you going to take any action against the vets that did this? (I hope so!)

[PrairieProf]

Yikes, that looks pretty raw -- a lot of granulation to go in there, poor guy. Hopefully the Medipaw boot won't hit the site and cause discomfort when he walks. Beth had hers open in the house, wrapped to go out, and then a Pawz bootie over the wrap. I love Pawz because they're completely soft and loose and can't chafe.

[TheFullHouse]

Ouch! I hope his feet aren't as painful as they look.

[greyhead]

If Rogan's tough enough to deal with this, then I can look at the pictures. But it hurts my heart. I also hope the boots are chafing too badly, however briefly. Something soft between them and the foot sounds like a great idea. Love to you both.

[sweetdogs]

I guess it looks to me like it should look if a digit was removed. No smell, right? Since it was the bad toe, I would imagine there'd be some bad tissue in there that will take longer to heal. Shooting the pics over to the vet sounds like a great idea.

 

But I have to ask, where are the pictures of his beautiful face????????

[krissn333]

If the stitches seem to be popping, you might be dealing with an infection. When Ace had that big tumor removed from her thigh, she popped some of her stitches - the area swelled due to infection. Is he on antibiotics? If not I think I'd get him on some cephalexin right away.

[Guest FullMetalFrank]

The "bad" toe would cause me some concern, the way it looks. I would send the pics to your good vet; see what they think.

[Guest MnMDogs]

Definitely send the pics to the vet - When Mork had his amp, his toe was wrapped for 2 weeks with bandage changes every 3 - 5 days or so. I never saw the toe this close to surgery, so I can't tell if that is normal or not based on my experience.

 

I am still stunned that this all happened, and how it unfolded with your vet lying to you and not following up on your boy.

[Guest Gemma]

I had Henry look at the pics 'cos of his animal surgery experience. He thinks it is definitely worth sending the pics to the vet to see what s/he thinks. Some degree of granulation is normal and wounds can look nasty so close to surgery. He isn't worried, though.

 

Hope this helps some!

[greysmom]

The "wrong" foot looks really good. The "right" foot looks a little icky, but I would expect it to look worse than the heathy one. Sometimes the stress on the foot from walking will cause the stitches to pop. And he can't ease the stress by tripodding because of his other foot being hurt too. See what the vet says though I would probably just watch it for at least a day or two more. Do make sure the boot isn't rubbing the raw spot any.

[Guest LindsaySF]

MP, I am getting legal advice right now.

 

Anne, I have the purple Pawz here, but his foot is too swollen to get into the opening.

 

I'm putting some bandaging on the wound and then the MediPaw over it for potty breaks.

 

Gemma, that Henry isn't worried does make me feel better!

 

The vet's shift started tonight at 8. I called at 8:30 to see if he was around, and he was dealing with a patient. I told them to have him call me when he's free, anytime tonight. Hopefully I can email him the photos.

 

The good news: The scabbing continues, I'm happy about that. No smell, no puss, rectal temp normal, so I don't think it's infected, as long as it keeps scabbing and doesn't get worse I guess?

 

The bad news: Rogan had a minor focal seizure tonight. His head was shaking from side to side. I have seen my fair share of seizures, different types, lengths, and severity, dealing with Sophie, so I know what it was. What could cause that? Pain? Too much Tramadol? I got a video which I am trying to upload now. I really can't take much more right now....

 

 

 

~Lindsay~

[PrairieProf]

So sorry about all the problems. No experience to help with, but

 

Beth's foot could fit in a purple Pawz boot when fully wrapped in cast padding and Vetwrap, so I can't imagine how Rogan's wouldn't fit. (Could being a boy make his foot that much bigger?) However, I can see how you might not want to it to rub the open wound as you stretch the opening to slide it over the foot -- that wasn't such a concern with the amp in the middle rather than on the side. Don't really know how to describe my technique of stretching the opening while putting it on.

 

Definitely easy for stitches to come out on feet, as I learned from Beth. So much stress down there and super thin skin, not much to hold them in.

[Guest gfcolvin]

Hi LindsaySF,

Been following Rogan's situation closely and thinking good thoughts for you all. I can't imagine, still, trying to deal with all that he and you have been going through...and now a seizure! I am not experienced with those...no advice...just thinking of you. I see your conversation re: Pawz and MediPaws...have dealt with LOTS of swelling and very slow healing for Mandy foot/ex-toe area post-op (now 20 days after)...can you believe it, I'm still using the IV bag bootie over a sock w/vet wrap (over the bandaging that I still put on for outsides) for when she goes out for potty break. I think that is working okay. Just a thought. I also have some disposable little half-footie things from SuperPets but they are kind of annoying and seem uncomfortable where they hit her on the foot with swelling. Sorry for the complications and swelling. I have thought to order Pawz but each time, she continues to have complications with swelling, healing, bleeding, not closing, and have just stuck w/what I have on hand here...bandages + IV bag bootie. Good luck and will keep checking in on Rogan's progress...

 

Gaye

[Pippin]

First, I am SO sorry this happened to you and your boy. And I just sent my vet an email telling her how much I appreciate her and all the staff in her practice.

 

Hang in there!

[Houndtime]

I am just seeing this today. I am so sorry for Rogan to have so much pain. I am glad that you are seeking legal advice. I hope your boy heals well.

[RaineysMom]

Oh geez the "right" toe looks so painful!!!!

 

sending sweet, healing hugs to your baby.

 

continuing to send many prayers. :hope

[Guest LindsaySF]

Anne, the Pawz bootie opening does stretch, but at this point I don't want to rub against the swelling on the outside of his foot in order to get it on. I also don't like how low the tighter part of the Pawz sits, it's right over the tender area. If the amp was on a middle toe I wouldn't be as worried. The MediPaw is a large boot (a cast cover really) that goes almost to the hock, so it doesn't rub anything. Once he's further along in his healing I might switch to a Pawz.

 

 

Rogan is getting around better. He did a little trot after pooping this morning. I'm still keeping him crated on lots of pain meds, but he does a little dance when it's time to go outside. He's coming around.

 

 

The left foot (oops amp) is healing great. The right foot still looks yucky, but has scabbed over at least and looks better than it did. Here's a photo from last night. There's some fuzz from his bed on the scab that I plan to wipe off with a damp cloth.

 

 

 

One thing I'm concerned about is the toe next to the amp on the right foot. It's obviously bearing more weight now, and I'm worried about whether it can handle that. The nail on that toe (and on the matching toe on the opposite foot) has always gone off to the side, but now the toe looks splayed and possibly more crooked?

 

 

 

It used to line up with the toe next to it. Is this splaying and flattening normal after a toe amp? On one of our exams (pre-amp surgery) I told the vet I heard clicking when Rogan got up from a bed, and they believed this toe was dislocating at the last joint. He can't handle another bad toe, he's running out of toes!

 

 

 

~Lindsay~

[Guest Gemma]

Peyton has messed up toes on his bad leg/foot; one is all scrunched up and the nail goes off to the side like on Rogan. He gets around fine and our vet does not recommend surgery to fix it. The way that foot is shaped, most of his weight is on just three toes but they are doing fine. I'm hopeful Rogan's feet will adjust and you will not have any problems.

[ClarksMom]

Just looking for an update on Rogan. And also whether you ever heard a word from the vet that screwed up?