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Help! Post Surgery

March 30th, 2017 by

Hi everyone. My dog Charlie (a.k.a. Charmander) had his second surgery on Wednesday 3/22/17 to remove his shoulder. He had complications with his stump almost immediately after his surgery that involved a lot of vet visits to drain the fluid built up in it. Fast forward 1 year later and he somehow got an infection which resulted in us rushing to get his shoulder removed. We were told that doing so should end his constant drainage issues and help him in the long run.

I started this blog mostly for one purpose. We need advice. Charlie’s care after his first surgery was a breeze. He came home clean with some bruising and healed up nice and quick (with the exception of later complications). Now his second surgery is another story. We brought him home 5 days later on Monday 3/27/17. He was supposed to be home last Thursday but they called and told us he was still having a lot of bleeding and that they wanted to keep him through the weekend. Well Monday comes along, they bring him out to me and he is literally covered from head to tail in dried blood and bedadine. They saw my reaction and said they tried their best and would give him a complimentary bath in 21 days when he comes to get his stitches out. Then she proceeded to remove his draining tube. It started to bleed and she told me it would scab over in 3 days, handed me his meds and that was the end of that convo.

It is Thursday now. He is still leaking a good amount of blood and serum with no sign of it scabbing over. Did anyone else have issues like this? If so, how did you care for your dog to assist the healing process? We have stairs he has to go up and down to relieve himself so I know that’s a problem. Any remedies to remove the dried blood on him? We just need advice. I can’t find posts anywhere that involved the first couple days post surgery. Any advice would be great. Thank you.

-Sarah

These are pictures of Charlie (sorry for those that have quesy stomachs).

Posted in Uncategorized | | | 5 Comments


5 Responses to ' Help! Post Surgery '

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  1.    benny55 said,

    on March 30th, 2017 at 4:56 pm   Reply

    Hi Sarah and Sweet Charlie.

    Sorry you are having these challenges. Ugh!

    I’m not a Vet and not giving Vet advice, but the photo does look “angrier” than most surgery sites at this far out from surgery. It does seem like maybe a drain or packing would be helpful.

    Is there ANYONE you can go to for a second opinion?

    Have you spoken DIRECTLY with the Surgeon, not a Tech, since he’s been home?

    I can only imagine how shocked you were when you saw all that blood in him.

    I DO think, another Vet needs to look at this. If you are confident with his original Surgeon, then get him and tell them it’s URGENT! Now, I’m not saying “urgent” to scare you, but for you to use it as a “tool” to get an immediate appointment. I’m sure the Surgeon is busy, but I don’t want them to push you into waiting to be seen!

    How is Charlie doing otherwise? Eating, pooping,peeing, drinking? Attitude “okay”…as okay as it can be after major surgery!

    Yes, having to do stairs this early on is not what anyone wants their dog to have to be doing. I understand it’s unavoidable in some cases. And you can’t use a harness yet as it would possibly do damage to his surgery site. Ugh!

    Is it possible he would use puppy pee training pads? Probably not, but just throwing it out there!

    If the drainage isnt smelly, that’s a good sign.

    Again, not a Vet and not giving Vet advice, but I do think he needs to be seen, if for nomother reason, reassurance. But this has gone on over a week now and needs to be addressed so you don’t have to deal with it.

    PLEASE keep us updated! Once you get this addressed properly with the right treatment, it should be smooth sailing!

    Would love to hear more about your sweet Charlie.

    Will look forward to hearing what the Vet says and how he plans to treat this. Drain? Packing? Compresses? Something!

    Lots of hugs and good for you for being such a good advocate!!

    Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

    •    charmander said,

      on March 30th, 2017 at 6:05 pm   Reply

      Thank you Sally! Yes we brought him to his regular veterinarian because I trust the guy. He actually referred us to the vet that did his amp (though I’m not sure now how I feel about that place). Anyways, he examined him and said that everything looked pretty good except the blood on his body. That the leaking is inevitable but it should go away by Friday…only problem is that Friday is tomorrow and I’m extremely doubtful it will be scabbed by then. His bruising definitely has gone down, we noticed that this morning. He doesn’t have much of an appetite or thirst. And he seems very weak but it comes and goes.

  2.    tinsch said,

    on March 30th, 2017 at 5:05 pm   Reply

    Hi Sara, you will get quicker responses if you post a new thread in the forums. I actually had very similar problems. My dog had to stay at the clinic for 5 days due to drainage issues as well. There was still quite a lot of serum coming out of the wound even a week after surgery. I remember having to wash his beds as they were really soaked. It should start to get better now-ish. If not: talk to your vet!! I used baby wipes and wet towels to get the dried blood off. Very very gently and NOT on the incision. Keep us posted and all the best
    Tina & Manni

    •    charmander said,

      on March 30th, 2017 at 6:07 pm   Reply

      Yes we’ve been using puppy pads and changing them out at least twice a day. I’m relieved to hear that someone experienced this as well. It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Love the baby wipe idea! And yeah we are just attempting to clean up the areas like on the other side of his body and his legs and his tail and butt and face…like I said, it’s everywhere.

  3.    jerry said,

    on March 30th, 2017 at 6:26 pm   Reply

    Hey guys, this is just nuts. See my comment in the Forums OK? {{{hugs}}}}

    http://tripawds.com/forums/treatment-and-recovery/help-post-leg-amp-s/#p187874

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