Sorry for the delayed post, but we’ve been busy tending our new tripawd at home. Here is an at home picture:
We brought Mack home late Wednesday evening and he was doing really well. Eating, drinking and peeing! Hooray! He was even trying to walk with the assistance of a sling the vet provided us. The meds they sent home seem to be controlling the pain, but my husband says Mack would not show much even if he were in pain…bulldogs are very stalwart characters. I think he would show it if he hurt enough that it bothered him. Maybe he CAN take more pain because he’s a tough bulldog, but I still believe that IF it bothered him then he would show some signs…right??
Anyhow, Thursday showed more improvements. He refused to walk WITH the sling…just gave me his “seriously, mama?” look and stood there. As soon as I’d take it off Mack would start to go. Of course, it took a while for him to get me trained…I kept trying to slip it back under him everytime he’d move and then he’d stop! But finally, I took the hint and left him alone to do his own thing. I’m a slow learner, but I got it. He now hops himself in and out to go to the bathroom but no poop yet so I’m getting worried about that. How long is normal before I need to worry?? I don’t know.
We do restrict him to a small playpen like area so his sister, Rozee doesn’t eat the staples right out of him! She is an insane, anxiety-driven, power chewer. He is no longer allowed to wear a collar because she once ate it right off his neck…an entire thick leather collar, tags and all! We found only a few pieces until she threw up the remains 3 days later!! Mama and Daddy agree that Mack is probably safest quarantined from her unless supervised! ha!
That makes the recovery so far the hardest on Rozee. She doesn’t seem to understand why she can’t eat/drink from his bowls and most importantly why she can’t walk on top of him, turn around and lay across him. I feel so bad for her but will just keep lots of safe chew toys handy until those staples come out in another 8 days or so.
Anyhow, from all the posts and forums that I’ve read on Tripawds so far, it seems as though our Mack is doing just fine. The incision still looks good and he is gimping around independently fairly well. I am worried that he is doing a kind of sideways shuffle to accommodate for the missing leg?? Is this normal? Will he work it out so that he can go forward in a straight line ever? Should we be doing anything to help him figure out how to get around better or just let him work it out? Also, back to the poop issue…when does it actually become an issue?? I know lots of questions. I will probably head over to the forums later tonight to see if anyone has answers.
In the meantime, here are a couple more post op pics:
