Question:
First off this is not an emergency. But it may be in a few days.

I really need to hear from a professional,

I have an extremely vibrant and healthy 10 year old Sheltie who I took to the vet about some growths on her leg. He had me treat it as ringworm for a few weeks but when it did not respond he treated it as some kind of tumor.

I made the decision to have them taken off, there were two large ones. During surgery he found four so he had to make a larger incision. The lesions thankfully were benign, but I noticed over a week later the dog had chewed off one of her nails and part of her foot was raw where she had chewed it. I took her in and he seemed a bit shocked, said the bandage had hardened from her saliva and had been squeezing the foot, also vaguely mentioned there could have been an issue with the stitching of so much skin and how that didn't help either in regards to the circulation and he said she could lose the leg. The next day he was more optimistic, has had me treating it for several days by soaking the entire leg in warm water twice a day and massaging the foot. She is also on pain meds and antibiotics.

But the foot feels hard and the skin all around the surgical area is dying, let's put it this way, I can see her tendons. He said this was expected and that he wants it left uncovered so it will form a scab or whatever but that his hope is the underlying tissue will be ok. The foot carries with it that death smell...I took her to him Tuesday and he wants to give it another week before deciding about amputation.

This is really stunning, I had a healthy dog before I opted for surgery. What I don't understand is why does the entire leg have to come off if it is just the foot/paw area that may be dying? there is just something in my gut that thinks I should seek out other opinions. I am just very confused and totally blame myself.....

Answer:
I think you need to see another vet asap.. I'm so sorry this is happening to you and your doggy.

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I'm kind of at a loss for words, but I wanted to tell you to please not blame yourself for this. It sounds like you did everything you knew how to help her, and sometimes things just sort of happen quicker than we can see it happening.

Prin is right. Please get a second opinion right away incase there's more you can do now. I am so, SO sorry that you're both having to go through this. One way or another, I'm sure everything will turn out for the better. Hopefully she won't have to lose the leg, but if she does, just remember that she can pick up on your energy (body language) so if you're upset about it, she will be too.

So try and stay positive, and you'll both come out of this okay. Good luck, and please keep us posted.

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I agree with the others that a second opinion is in order. Big hugs to you both at such a difficult time. Fingers crossed and good vibes for a good recovery .

Answer:
Originally Posted by Brad411
there is just something in my gut that thinks I should seek out other opinions.

Follow your gut feelings... if not, you will always live thinking that you have done the wrong thing!
Good luck

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i am so sorry for your loss def get a second opinon. i think they may take off the whole leg instead of part because they want to make sure they get all of the infected area, they definately dont want te infection to spred more an have to pt the dog through a second surgery or worse risk it spreading to vital organs.
and maybe with dogs it has something to do with balance too, a partial leg may set them off more.
i am so sorry for you and your pup, but if she does lose her leg she will be able to be a normal dog again, they heal fairly well from these things and after recovery can go on to lead full healthy happy lives.

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That is a sad situation. I'd definitely get a second opinion. And then I'd ask the vet who initially did the surgery a couple pointed questions. That doesn't sound right to me, that the leg would get that infected after having the bandage on too tight. Dont feel bad, there is nothing more that you could have done, the vet's are the ones that are supposed to know what they're doing and sometimes things go wrong. Seek advice from another vet.

Answer:
Thank you all for the thoughtful posts.

I did see another Vet today, he said the foot was dead and it needed to come off. I told him that was what I expected and that I could not believe how the other vet had wanted me to wait a week and soak her leg in warm water.

She is going in the morning to have surgery, but they do want to X-ray her again to make sure everything is ok, they did not entirely like the looks of her X-rays from the other vet from two weeks ago and they want to make sure the heart and everything is ok. I hope there is nothing to that, that has me worried now as well because what if something scared them and they didn't feel comfortable putting her under and now she's stuck with a dead limb? My God....

This is my girl, Leia, 10 1/2 years old.



Answer:
I am sorry to hear that about Leia. But be positive, my aunty had a dog with three legs, his name was Bruce, in all honesty, you would have thought he had all four legs!

Let us know what happens. My thoughts are with you at this time, for a safe and speedy recovery!

she is a BEAUTIFUL looking girl. take care

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I'm sorry this is such a difficult time. I just wanted to say there used to be a little collie dog in town here I used to see often for many years with only three legs and she seemed quite happy and able to go for walks. I hope that all works out okay in your situation as well.

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She's beautiful!!

Originally Posted by Brad411
She is going in the morning to have surgery, but they do want to X-ray her again to make sure everything is ok, they did not entirely like the looks of her X-rays from the other vet from two weeks ago and they want to make sure the heart and everything is ok. I hope there is nothing to that, that has me worried now as well because what if something scared them and they didn't feel comfortable putting her under and now she's stuck with a dead limb? My God....

I completely understand your fear. The heart test might just be to make sure that she's able to be put under, without risking heart failure. I'm pretty sure it's standard procedure with elderlies (there's always a risk, even with puppies). From what you've already mentioned though, I'm sure everything will be okay, and she'll come out of it just fine. The wonderful things about dogs is that they don't dwell on the past, and after a few days she'll start to adjust to her new way of walking and be as happy as she ever was.

Stay positive! You're both in all our thoughts.

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Leia is a very pretty girl. I am sorry that you and her had to go through this. I have heard that dogs adapt very well to three legs. Good luck.

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She is beautiful. My gang here will be thinking good thoughts and sending positive vibes for a successful surgery .

Don't blame yourself, you are a loving pet owner and have gone great lengths to provide the best care possible for your angel.

Answer:
Hey folks,



I take Leia in for the surgery today and the doc gets scared by her X-rays I had mentioned(he took new ones), he thinks her heart is too big and thought she was lucky to wake up from that first operation. (She is a little overweight but I have not see any problems with her) well of course he is scaring me to death, he wanted me to go to see a specialist (like an hour drive away) and have a specialst in internal medicine look at her. So I did, drove in this horrible weather, so I get there and they think her X-Ray is normal. They think her heart is strong and her breathing excellent. As they said her heart is big but she is also a big dog lol.... What was that other doctor seeing? where are these Vets getting training at? anyhow he calls me and says he can do the surgery if I still want him to but on Monday. Well how can I wait 3 more days with a dog that has a dead foot that is rotting away(you can imagine the smell) that could be slowly poisoning her system? so the specialist sends me to an excellent doctor about 30 min away and she does the amputation--- surgery went well, she called me about 7 pm Friday. They want to keep Leia until Sunday. I'm gonna call tomorrow and check on her.

It's been 3 weeks of hell,the worry has been indescribable. I'm gonna try my best not to dwell on how it came to this but part of me almost wants to find someone to complain to about the first vet who clearly did a poor job in post-operative care. You can imagine the expense of all this,the amputation operation itself was a bit over 2,000 dollars. The Vet who was going to do it originally today was only charging 1,400 but that meant me waiting 3 days for something that is getting more dangerous by the day. I had to scratch and claw and come up with something to get this done, ended up having to sneak it onto my Granny's(whom I am a caregiver for) plastic. But what was I supposed to do? this was about life and death and you have to do what you have to do.

I just want Leia home,(hopefully Sunday) gonna make her a house dog. I do worry about keeping her from the male, so I'll probably clean him up and let him come in at times also.. It'll be a lifestyle change and she'll have to learn to walk but her just being here is the important thing. Life is very precious, I think this has all opened my eyes a bit more, You see your animals or people in your life every day and sometimes you just pass by them because you're busy in your own life. You just assume and take their presence for granted that they will always be there..Adversity as hard as it is really makes one stop and smell the roses.

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Brad, I'm so sorry for all you and Leia have been through. What a horrible ordeal. I just cant imagine the awful fear and frustration this has brought.

I can understand why you have many questions, and I believe they should be clarified for your peace of mind.
There should be a veterinary board, an association of some type where you can file a report on the procedures that were followed.

I'm very glad to hear the surgery went well and wish you and your beautiful girl the best. It will be a big adjustment of course..but as mentioned, dogs generally do recover and adapt very well from amputation surgery
All my positive thoughts go out to Leia ,please keep us posted on how she is progressing, wont you?

Answer:
All my positive thoughts go out to Leia ,please keep us posted on how she is progressing, wont you?

I will Sham, thank you. Thank all of you, it's nice having someone to talk to about all this who can relate in some way to the same situation..

Wish I lived in Canada!

Answer:
Originally Posted by Brad411
I do worry about keeping her from the male, so I'll probably clean him up and let him come in at times also..

Dogs tend to recover quicker and better than humans... and im sure that your male will assist Leia in her recovery.
Dont make any hasty decissions at the moment about keeping them apart, if they have been together for a while, the separation may be worse for Leia than the actual amputation.

Good luck, and its good to her that the surgery went well.
We are all thinking about you over here in New Zealand.

Answer:
Thanks so much Quin!


Folks, I just noticed in my post that started this thread, I left out an important fact about this situation and my belief that where the first Vet likely screwed up. (him having me treat a dead foot was the 2nd blunder)

Here was my first post: but I noticed over a week later the dog had chewed off one of her nails and part of her foot was raw where she had chewed it. I took her in and he seemed a bit shocked, said the bandage had hardened from her saliva and had been squeezing the foot, also vaguely mentioned there could have been an issue with the stitching of so much skin and how that didn't help either in regards to the circulation and he said she could lose the leg.

Wow,I can't believe I left out the other visit. Been that kind of week(a lot of missed sleep) Okay, after she had chewed off that nail I took her in on a Monday. He cleaned up that and got the blood stopped and did not really check the bandage at all. Then on Friday I had to rush her back because of more foot chewing and that's when he got a bit shocked and said the bandage had hardened from her saliva and had been squeezing the foot and so forth.

Okay, but why did he not catch this four days earlier when he was treating the bloody nail? would it have made a difference? I don't know but if indeed the wrapping was hindering the circulation that was four more days of that happening until he caught it.

So my two big issues with him post-op is the bandage blunder and him having me to continue to soak a dead and(decaying foot) which I did beginning last Sat, I saw him Tuesday and he suggested I do it for ANOTHER WEEK and by Thursday I knew this foot was lost.

Answer:
Good to read the surgery went okay, I hope the recovery goes well too.

I'd try to focus right now on everything you can do to get Leia healthy again, which obviously you are!!!

I think it would be a good idea though to also write down clearly what happened and then later if you do feel it was malpractice look into reporting it. I thought about doing that at one point because a vet missed something very serious on numerous visits which cost a lot of unnecessary pain and suffering. I'm in Canada though so i'm not sure who you would report it to but there is probably a veterinarian medical association that will at the very least take a record of what happened.

Some tips here:http://www.downbound.com/Veterinary_...tice_s/417.htm

Best of luck with the recovery for you both.

Answer:
I am very sorry for what you have been through, but it does seem your pain and horror may have brought a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, you will develop a bond with your 2 dogs by having them live in the house sharing day to day moments with you that cannot be matched otherwise. Right now the 2 of them are a family unit but it won't be long before they adopt you as part of their family, so will find you will have a new kind of relationship with them

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Good luck for her recovery.

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Originally Posted by OntarioGreys
you will develop a bond with your 2 dogs by having them live in the house sharing day to day moments with you that cannot be matched otherwise. Right now the 2 of them are a family unit but it won't be long before they adopt you as part of their family, so will find you will have a new kind of relationship with them

I so agree with you OG, I honestly think that the two dogs together will be good for Leia, and of course I am an advocate for dogs being in the house!

dont break the family unit, that would be a crime

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Has anyone heard how Leia is doing. I sent a PM a week or so ago, and havent heard anything. I hope she is ok

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