Hello Tripawds out there…
This is our Golden Retriever rescue girl named Lexi Lou.
Lexi Lou was rescued by Golden Retrievals a while ago from her previous owner who had been put in a nursing facility unexpectedly. She had sent her animals to a boarding facility, which after two months could not afford to pay… When GR’s were contacted both dogs were rescued immediately. Lexi and Lenny (her Golden X brother), were in horrific shape. Flea infested, bloody soars from biting, infections, feces in their coat and urine, dull and matted coats, etc… Well, Lenny was placed immediate and Lexi has taken much longer to find her new home. Lexi is friendly and sweet, loves children and other dogs. She is eleven years old that may be what is slowing down the potential adoptive family :(… She lives in a great loving foster home that does care for her and give her good quality living.
Lexi Lou has gone through extensive blood work, ultra sounds and radiographs. She is healthy as a horse with the exception that she has developed “Soft Tissue Sarcoma” in her right lower leg. After the 3rd biopsy report came back it had determined that Lexi has this particular cancer and it is localized only to the tumor… This is the good news.
The not so good news is that operating in this location will not be sufficient for removing wide margins, which needs to be to rid of the cancer, that will grow back rapidly.
So the only option is to amputate.
Well, this is all going to take place on Tuesday, April 28th, 2015, if all goes as planned.
We are nervous for her and probably struggling more than she is or would be.
She is in pain, this I know. But, the loss of a limb just hurts me inside. :*(
I will do everything in our power to make her comfortable and happy as possible.
Any and all advice is warmly welcomed.
Thank you for your support in getting through this.
Prayers for our sweet girl Lexi Lou ~
Awwww, nothing like a tripawd girldog with 2 names! I am so sorry that Lexie Lou needs an amp but you have come to the right place for support. For starters take a look at the Tripawds Required Reading List, located here: http://tripawds.com/2010/06/01/first-tripawds-required-reading-list/. You will find the answers to many questions there.
You are right, you are alot more worried about this than Lexie is. All she wants is for the pain to go away. Most dogs do well following an amp, even seniors like Lexie. It is great that she is healthy otherwise! Recovery can be a bit rough but once they get through the first two weeks things tend to even out.
The main things you will need for initial recovery is to make sure she can’t slip on your floors (throw rugs and runners are great and you can also use things like baby gates to confine her to rooms where she can’t slip) and you will probably need a sling to help her around. You can use a towel or a cloth shopping bag cut so you can slip it under her belly and use the handles to help her mobility. Restrict jumping on the furniture or in and out of the car and raise her food and water bowls to keep her from losing her balance.
Hop on over to the forums and post there as well as new blog posts tend to disappear more quickly than forum posts and people never see them. You can also ask specific questions and be sure of getting an answer.
We’ll be thinking of you and Lexie Lou on Tuesday!
xoxo,
Codie Rae and the Oaktown Pack
Thank you Codie Rae! Wow. I feel better just hearing the bit of advise you have given me already! Thank you. Our floors are slippery and I do have metal play pen style gates. She is not a jumper however, rugs and liners are a must. I will get on that first thing in the morning. Thank you again and look forward to learning more. I have ordered a harness, just incase by Ruffwear. Plus, got her the bed that was suggested here on this site… Thank you Codie Rae xxooo
Thank you so much for caring for sweet Lexi Lou! She’s had such a rough time, it just breaks my heart. You are her hero right n ow, that’s for sure!
You’ve gotten great advice from Codie Rae and a very helpful link.
I KNOW this is scary and a decision no o e wants to make for their pup! Lexi Lou ksntq worried about a things though! And shellw be so glad that painful leg is gone! Recovery js no picnic for about two weeks. Balancing lain meds, maybe some sleepless nights, etc. But when recovery takes place and the sparkle comes back, it will all be worth it!
You may not want to use the harness right away as it can irritate the incision site. So etimes a towel sling ks best for the first two weeks. If Lexi Lou is like my Happy Hannah, she won’t like any kind of sling!
Lexi may not want to eat for a day or so…pain meds can make them whacky sometimes. She may not poop for a few days either. Let us know when she does though. We celebrate anything around here!!
When Inpicked up my Happy Hannah, I didn’t even look at her incision site. I just looked jnto ner druggy happy eyes and told her what a good girl she was snd how much I loved her! I never saw her look at ner incision site ejther! She just got on with enjoyi g life and barely needed anytime to adjust to three legs!
Stay connected to us. We are here for you. You are not alone, okay?!
(((((((((((((((((((((((((Hugs)))))))))))))))
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
No problems Lexi, I had the same thing 2 and three quarter years ago. Check me out at
Elvis@Tripawd_Elvis
Good luck!
Hiya, amputation is not as bad as you feel. We have the guilty factor playing up with us when we took our cat for the amputation. He had bone cancer, when we first saw it on the x-ray, everything we thought is how to save that leg. We went to an oncologist, in a clinic where they are famous for a limp saving surgery, for a second opinion. However, amputation was the only way to save him. My husband hesitated on that decision and I made it.
Seeing our cat sun-bathing in the garden 2 months after the surgery, with a clear lung x-ray and every clear. With no sprading and the margins are cleared. You will be happy to have him for a bit longer.
One thing to bear in mind, dogs and cats are ok without the leg. They have 4 and going down to 3 is ok. Is the human, that we have problems with.from 2 to 1 is horrible, thats why many of us cannot accept the decision.
Don’t worry, he will be fine. Just give him plenty of love right now. the first two weeks might be awful but it will go pass soon
My boarder collie max is in the same situation as Lexi.we have decided to have the amputation.
I feel so guilty ,he trusts me to take him to the vets,how will he feel when he wakes to find I let them take his leg ?
I don’t know what to expect,will he feel depressed or will he still enjoy life.
At the moment he doesn’t seem to be in pain and didn’t even know he’s ill.
Would be grateful for any advice thanks
Hi… I understand exactly how you feel… 🙁 Feeling pretty defeated.
I know it is going to be difficult, but also hear so many positive stories about the post surgery and life of these resilent canines.
I know for myself, I do not like any animal to suffer. I will do whatever in my power to give every chance possible for them to live there life and be happy. This tripawed way of life is new to us and still have so much to learn… Lets keep in touch and support each other :o) Lexi Lou’s surgery was posponed till this thursday at 3 o’clock ~
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