Leg Amputation
Surgery
There are many different reasons you may choose amputation for your pet, including treatment for congenital defects, disease conditions, cancer and most commonly, a broken leg. At Good Sam, we regularly help owners seeking care for an injured leg. If you’re looking for surgical pinning or plating to save a pet's leg, there are many great veterinarians in Omaha who can help! Unfortunately, complicated repair surgeries tend to be very expensive, that's why we're proud to offer an affordable alternative when all other options have been exhausted.
It’s common to be overwhelmed and sometimes disappointed when considering amputation for your pet, but please, take heart - three legged pets do fantastic and go on to live happy, carefree lives! We’ve never met a pet that expressed any feelings of regret or embarrassment because of their missing limb!
- Physical exam
- Multi-modal Pain Medication
- Anesthetic Monitoring
- Temperature Support
- Fluid Therapy
- Comfort Care
- Thorough Medical Records
- Detailed Postoperative Plan
Home Care after Surgery
PAIN
Pain medication is given before, during and after surgery (including a prescription of pain control to take home) to reduce post-operative pain. We take pain control very seriously at Good Sam!
DIET
When you arrive home, offer small amounts of water until your pet no longer drinks it at all. When thirst is quenched return to the usual free choice water. This usually happens a few hours after returning home, if not sooner. Offer a small amount of food (some pets may not be interested in eating the night after surgery) By the next day you may feed normally.
SURGERY SITE CARE
Expect to see bruising and swelling during the healing phase. During the couple of weeks after surgery, the incision sites should be monitored for increased redness, swelling, or drainage. If any of these symptoms are observed, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Always keep the surgery site clean and dry.
Do not allow your pet to scratch or lick the surgery site! When this happens, serious injury and complications are likely to occur. We recommend using an e-collar, bitter lotions/sprays formulated for pets, and/or t-shirts or socks to cover wounds and keep your pet from causing damage to themselves. Oftentimes treats and toys along with close monitoring will also help to encourage a pet to leave their surgery site alone and rest quietly.
During the first 2-3 days: Ice pack the incision 2-3 times a day for 10-20 minutes. A 2 lb bag of frozen peas makes an excellent ice pack. It easily conforms to the pet and is reusable. A towel in between the pet and the ice pack is recommended so that the incision does not get moist.
After 2-3 days: Warm compresses applied to the surgery site 2-3 times daily for 15-20 minutes help to reduce swelling and irritation. A warm, wet washcloth placed inside a Ziploc baggie works well.
ACTIVITY
The effects of sedatives and anesthesia can last for a few hours to a few days. Variations occur due to age, size and metabolism. Please anticipate sleepiness, disorientation, restlessness and/or vocalizing as the effects of the drugs wear off. Protect your pet from falling off furniture, downstairs, etc. Be sure your pet is in a quiet place, away from the activities of the household, and keep young children away from your pet until your pet is back to normal.
NO running, jumping, roughhousing, swimming, or other strenuous activity for the next 10-14 days. Dogs should be kept kenneled when left alone and NO off-leash exercise is allowed during the recovery period. Short on-leash potty breaks are perfectly acceptable.
If needed, a sling under the belly can be used for added support when walking, especially on slippery surfaces.
Will my pet spend the night?
At Good Samaritan Pet Doctor, our patients are discharged the same day as surgery or dental care. Owners make excellent caregivers and often pets prefer to recover in the comfort of their own home. Sometimes additional overnight veterinary care will become necessary. In situations when it is unsafe for an animal to return home at the end of the day, Good Sam will recommend transfer to an overnight veterinary facility.
After-surgery care will be provided by either your full-service veterinarian or an overnight veterinary center of your choice.
- Owners will be asked to pick up their pet from Good Samaritan and transfer their pet to the agreed upon overnight hospital.
- The overnight facility will be supplied with Good Samaritan's complete medical record and surgery log including treatment recommendations and any prescribed medications.
- The overnight hospital will charge clients directly and provide a full estimate prior to intake at their facility. These costs are NOT included in the Good Samaritan surgery package fee.
Our services are intended to get your pet through surgery at a lower cost, so you are better able to afford additional post-op care when required.
Some reasons your pet may need additional veterinary care after surgery
- Urgent, late-in-the-day surgeries that do not allow ample time for post-op recovery and stabilization to occur.
- Animals in a compromised medical state which predisposes to prolonged recovery periods or require additional medical treatments after surgery.
- Animals that develop complications secondary to the surgery performed or due to underlying health conditions exacerbated by the surgery.
- Animals that have undergone a particularly painful surgery in which overnight IV pain medication is indicated.
- Anytime an owner feels unprepared or overwhelmed in providing post-op care for their pet.