Post by robynsa on Jul 21, 2014 7:14:42 GMT -5
This is not a typical 911 but I'm hoping that lots of folks see the post. Mods please move it elsewhere if it shouldn't be in 911.
Our lovely rising 7yo Anatolian, Pego, had his front left leg amputated this morning. He has had issues with his knee joint since he was around 2yo and was retired from his 2200ha goat farm and came to live with us at 3yo. Before we got him he had a joint infection that required extensive drainage and he's always had niggles on that leg and often limps and damages it. After going over the xrays of his joint and the fracture that he sustained this weekend, the vets and I came to the conclusion that due to the pathological weakness in the bone, the angle of the funky joint and the fact that his other 3 legs are good, sound and strong, we'd take the leg off above the scapula. His life here is very relaxed and three legs won't impede him at all. We did consider other options (cast, pins, partial amputation with a prosthesis) but the potential outcomes were sketchy at best.
He's out of surgery and we'll know more about the pain protocol once he wakes up.
I'd just like to hear from folks who have any experience with rehabbing an amputee.
Pego is our alpha dog and well respected by the pack who always give him lots of space. His BFF is our other male LGD and they enjoy playing very rough - they're great buds. He patrols the perimeter of our 6 acres and enjoys going for car rides with me. Other than that he spends 99% of his day lying in the sun like any good LGD He is a very tall dog - about the height of an Irish Wolfhound.
He'll sleep inside or outside, he doesn't mind, and enjoys both equally, so I'll have him inside for his recovery. He hates, hates, HATES confinement whether he's alone or has doggy company and gets very stressed and anxious. A stuffed Kong or meaty bone will only keep him quiet for a few minutes if he knows he's been locked in. I can't stay in the house with him for 24 hours a day so I'm looking for some ideas to keep him quiet when I can't be with him. I'd prefer not to put him in a kennel because he climbs the fences and stresses and I worry he'll hurt his op site and damage his teeth as he has done in the past.
I'll ask the vet if there is some sort of mild or herbal sedative I can give him for the first week or so, to give the site a chance to heal.
Is there anything I could feed him that would assist in his healing? He currently eats kibble and I'm guessing that the vet will put him on a special diet for a while.
He has always been fed out of a raised bowl.
His outside bed is a mattress on 2 stacked pallets. He loves his bed (our other LGD won't go near a bed). So I'd like to use the same bed inside for him.
Any ideas and suggestions would be most appreciated. TIA.
Our lovely rising 7yo Anatolian, Pego, had his front left leg amputated this morning. He has had issues with his knee joint since he was around 2yo and was retired from his 2200ha goat farm and came to live with us at 3yo. Before we got him he had a joint infection that required extensive drainage and he's always had niggles on that leg and often limps and damages it. After going over the xrays of his joint and the fracture that he sustained this weekend, the vets and I came to the conclusion that due to the pathological weakness in the bone, the angle of the funky joint and the fact that his other 3 legs are good, sound and strong, we'd take the leg off above the scapula. His life here is very relaxed and three legs won't impede him at all. We did consider other options (cast, pins, partial amputation with a prosthesis) but the potential outcomes were sketchy at best.
He's out of surgery and we'll know more about the pain protocol once he wakes up.
I'd just like to hear from folks who have any experience with rehabbing an amputee.
Pego is our alpha dog and well respected by the pack who always give him lots of space. His BFF is our other male LGD and they enjoy playing very rough - they're great buds. He patrols the perimeter of our 6 acres and enjoys going for car rides with me. Other than that he spends 99% of his day lying in the sun like any good LGD He is a very tall dog - about the height of an Irish Wolfhound.
He'll sleep inside or outside, he doesn't mind, and enjoys both equally, so I'll have him inside for his recovery. He hates, hates, HATES confinement whether he's alone or has doggy company and gets very stressed and anxious. A stuffed Kong or meaty bone will only keep him quiet for a few minutes if he knows he's been locked in. I can't stay in the house with him for 24 hours a day so I'm looking for some ideas to keep him quiet when I can't be with him. I'd prefer not to put him in a kennel because he climbs the fences and stresses and I worry he'll hurt his op site and damage his teeth as he has done in the past.
I'll ask the vet if there is some sort of mild or herbal sedative I can give him for the first week or so, to give the site a chance to heal.
Is there anything I could feed him that would assist in his healing? He currently eats kibble and I'm guessing that the vet will put him on a special diet for a while.
He has always been fed out of a raised bowl.
His outside bed is a mattress on 2 stacked pallets. He loves his bed (our other LGD won't go near a bed). So I'd like to use the same bed inside for him.
Any ideas and suggestions would be most appreciated. TIA.