Hello all! I am new to this group and greatly in need of your advice. Four days ago, my 2.5 year old Eskipoo (poodle mix) named Buddy had his front left leg amputated. The circumstances surrounding the amputation baffle me. Perhaps your advice and input can help me to gain clarity. The surrounding circumstances are as follows:
-Two years ago, Buddy was placed at an in-home LLC kennel for the weekend. His leg was broken, and the owners could not tell us how it happened. However, the kennel assumed all responsibility/liability and paid for the plating surgery to remedy the broken leg.
-After two years, the leg rejected the plate due to infection. (Not due to activity of the dog.) Plate had to be surgically removed. The leg was then splinted for ten days until surgeon removed the splint.
-Within two days of removing the splint, the dog rebroke the leg. (He jumped from a short distance and landed funny.) The surgeon warned us this was a possibility due to leg’s weakness from screw holes the (missing) plate created. However, there was no other option but to remove the plate.
-Leg was in cast/splint for six weeks. Further infection ensued and broken leg did not heal. (Ends of bone rounded. Non-union.) We were told further surgery/replating did not guarantee a positive outcome. Highly likely that further breakage/infection would occur in the future.
-This gave us no other option but to have the leg amputated. Cost to us was almost three times greater than kennel’s initial surgery; pet insurance will not cover due to the preexisting condition the kennel created.
Questions for you:
1) What would you have done in this situation?
2) Would you pursue legal action against the kennel responsible for the initial break?
3) How should Buddy be acting four days after surgery? He seems highly depressed and in a lot of pain. He is eating well but not drinking. Therefore, he does not have urine output. I am extremely worried about him.
4) How can I improve his quality of life as an amputee going forward?
5) Any other questions, thoughts or advice pertaining to this horrible situation?
I feel like the life has been taken from my Buddy and me. Words cannot express how angry and how sad that I truly am. All of this over a silly broken leg! Any and all input is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Welcome! We’re sorry to hear about Buddy, but you’ve come to the right place for support. Please consider posting in the forums for much more feedback from members.
It is still very early in Buddy’s recovery. What seems like “depression” is likely just side effects of pain medication. What he needs most right now is rest and confinement. Most members report vast improvement once their pups are off the pain meds.
For the best advice about how to improve his quality of life, be sure to bookmark Jerry’s Required Reading List, and for immediate answers to the most common dog amputation care and recovery questions, download the Tripawds e-books.
I agree, the pain meds make them seem very loopy and out of it. Some dogs, I think b/c of the meds, don’t want to drink. My Jake was one of those dogs. He would eat but want nothing to do with water. One of the things you can do is mix his food with water. I always added in some boiled chicken (or even meat baby food) to make it a little more “special”. Jake got his fluids that way for quite a while.
Buddy will do great. My Tanner is a tripawd from injury. There are quite a few dogs on here like him, and you will be amazed at how well he will do!!
Thank you, admin! Your post is greatly appreciated. 🙂 And so our journey begins…
I am sorry to hear about Buddy. I can’t tell you what to do legally. I would consult an atty to get that kind of information. Hind site and what I have learned from this site is this. Alot of dogs do end up going through a 2nd surgery because of the same situation that Buddy did. My Sassy lost her leg due to cancer so totally different thing.
Like Admin said its still early in the recovery process and what you are seeing is probably due to meds.
Good luck
Hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
So sorry to hear about Buddy’s troubles! Have you mentioned to the kennel about the recurring expenses? It seems as though since the inability for the leg to heal were not of anyone’s fault, then they can be attributed to the bone being broken in the first place, which the kennel presumed responsibility for. It seems to me that they ought to be responsible for the whole ordeal. If it were me, I would call a lawyer and get a free consultation. If they believe the kennel should pay for it, then go talk to them first. If they don’t buck up, have the lawyer draw up something. I am imagining that this has cost you thousands.
Hi Buddy and Sarah!
I responded to your other post, but just wanted to add to try crushed ice , or ice cubes you flavored with chicken broth.
Also, raised water bowl and food bowl may help reduce strain.
If you have hardwood floors, you’l wat scatter rugs to keep him from slipping. You don’t want him jumpimg up and down on couches or doing stairs.
I think I asked on your post his weight and what his doseage of Tramadol is. Antibiodics? Metacam (or something similar)?
I know this sounds impossible to believe, but yo will see that nothing realky has been taken away from Buddy! Maybe he’ll jave shorter walks, or have to rest some in between. He’ll stil be able to run after balls, give and receive kisses, get lots of tummy rubs and ear scratches, and manipulate you ti give him more treats snd spoiling than you ever imagined possible!!
Buddy doesn’t feel like he has “lost” anything. You’ll see! He’ll show you how hapy he is to ave that bothersome leg removed!!
You hang in there! You’re doing great!!
Sending hugs!
Sally and Happy Hannah
So sorry to hear of Buddy’s troubles. He has been through a lot.
I’d be telling your vet that you think he is in pain and checking that he has enough pain meds. Having said that, Magnum was on Tramadol after her surgery and she looked depressed until she came off the Tramadol 3 weeks later.
On the water, my current dog, Ruby won’t drink water at the best of times. So I sneak chicken broth (water remaining after boiling up lean chicken breasts) into her food and she laps it up.
And don’t beat yourself up about what you have done. No matter what course of action we take we can never be sure what the outcome will be. We trust our gut instinct, the knowledge we build up and the professionals around us. But sometimes a curved ball gets throne our way. The good news is that Buddy should be able to live a very happy life on 3 legs. You have come to the right place to help you through the journey.
Karen and Spirit Magnum
Hello Buddy and Sarah, welcome. As I said in my forum post, I would focus on the recovery right now. Trying to figure out how to get financial compensation is very emotionally straining and legally difficult, it would take more energy than you have right now, Buddy needs all the love and attention he can get, so stay strong and hang in there.