Tripod ~ Just an Update ~ Dec 16, 2008

[Traci]

Thanks for sharing that, Tambrey, and it really is true. I've seen the worst cases magically recover because they had their owners there to support them, even if only for a few precious minutes at a time. It makes all the difference in the world.

[Tambrey]

Tripod was amputated a bit above the elbow...he was still pretty much out of it when I talked to the surgeon, but they were going to start him on antibiotics and then determine which course of pain medication after he was more alert and see what his pain tolerance levels are....

he said by the time we pick him up Saturday, the amount of wound care we will need to do should be minimal, but we will discuss all that when I go in tomorrow morning to visit....

[momPaws]

Tambrey - re your Mom and Sheba...now I know where you get your compassion and true love of all animals

[Tambrey]

I went to see Tripod just a while ago...he had a tear in his eye but he did turn his head to look at me and gave me a little chirp when I stroked his shoulder....

The vet had just given him some Metacam and antibiotic to see how he did with that today...he said he came through surgery very well and the wound site looks good...they do not even have a bandage on it at this time and he is not bothering it....of course, he is still being kept fairly well sedated too....

I said we will be back to visit him tomorrow evening after I get off work, as I have to leave before 7am tomorrow, before they are open....

I may go visit him again this afternoon, just because!

[momPaws]

So glad is he not in pain anymore..that was awful. Give him hugs from Angel and me.

[Traci]

Amputations are rarely ever bandaged, since the sutures keep the incision closed, and hospitalization/monitoring are crucial with amputations, at least the first couple days. This also allows to monitor for bruising, swelling, etc.

The first couple days are a bit rough, but with proper pain management, this will pass, it is better he is slightly sedated to control pain, but also to keep his activity restricted.

[Tambrey]

yes....he is in a kennel area just off of the main office, where they keep all of their surgicals...they can easily be seen and heard from the main desk....the thing that I did mention....they only had dry kibble in there for him....I suggested that if he does not eat that soon, that they give him some A/D instead...when I go back this afternoon, I will see if he has eaten, and if not, I will get a can of A/D and try to get him to get up and eat some....he had not used the litterbox yet either, well, not that I had seen...maybe they had just changed it as well...

I was thinking.....I am going to go to WalMart...they have a twin sized mattress cover...one of those egg crate ones, but not quite egg crate, it is more of a swirly pattern...for about $10.00....I can cut that into 2 foot squares, then cut those in half, using the shape of the toilet as a pattern, and get two halves out of each square....I will get ALOT of pieces out of that one $10.00 sheet of foam, and I think it would be firm yet soft enough, for him to lay on and give support, yet not too soft like a regular pillow would be....and if it gets yucky or he has an accident on it, I can just throw it away and put another one down...

I will also cut a couple of pieces, and since out bathroom needs redone anyways, I will just use some wood glue or something and glue a couple sheets of that foam to the wall, in that corner where he prefers to lay, so he has that to rest against as well....that probably would not need to be changed out like the floor one would need to be....

[Traci]

I would suggest not using egg-crate foam etc. In my experience, pets do much better on a fluffy blanket, since they oftentimes want to "sink" in fluffiness with limbs etc. The blanket should be fluffy enough to actually prevent being firm, you don't want too firm because laying for extended periods without mobility causes weakness and sore spots, stiffness etc.

[Tambrey]

hhmmm....okay....that is why I was thinking the eggcrate foam might be good....because it is used to alleviate bedsores etc....

so just a folded blanket would be better? maybe over top of a pillow stuffed back there?

[Traci]

For cats, something downy, like a down, fluffy comforter. A quilt would be ok, but most quilts are too flat when worked with, you'd want to put another soft blanket on top of a folded quilt. (like a fleece or flannel sheet). I'd put the pillow to the side or on the back-side of the blanket, so he can use it to rest against or use it to help prop himself up. If the pillow is really large (like an extra king-size), you could put the pillow on the center and surround it with other soft blankets, but he might have difficulty getting up and positioning himself directly ON a pillow. Another thing you can do is use a down comforter and just use a toss or throw pillow to help him situate, he'll let you know what he prefers. More than likely, he'll want to lay mostly on his right side and his left elbow slightly elevated. Whatever you do, don't make the pillow/bedding so bunched up he has trouble getting up to use the litterbox or eat etc. Again, he will surprise you with resilience, but the human-side of you will take over and you'll be trying to situate him as you spoil him, he'll let you know what he likes and doesn't like. Just make sure the blankets don't have any stray edges or strings or fringe, or wool, as you don't want any of that getting loose and caught in his sutures.

For dogs, beds made to appear like an actual dog mattress are ideal to support their weight. We've also used child mattresses or even twin-size mattresses if space allows.