It’s been a really sad day. Her last day with four legs. We spent a lot of time outside, just wandering around the backyard together. She follows me around the yard whenever we are outside, then she goes off and does her own exploring … then back she comes to check out what I’m doing. It’s like we own the Ponderosa or something and she’s surveying the vast expanse of acreage …. lol. (it’s not a large backyard but she still manages to make it seem like there is so much to explore)
She’s uncomfortable though. We don’t have her on pain medication since the vet didn’t want them in her system before the operation. Apparently, they can thin the blood too much. But she’s been nursing the banadaged leg on a constant basis now. She keeps licking the area of the incision. I’m not stopping her anymore. I don’t think she’s in pain … I think it’s just a really uncomfortable feeling, with the cancer mass exposed under the bandage. The vet gave us a bottle of some substance that tastes really bitter, when he first went in to see if it was a benign fatty deposit, and the bitterness is supposed to turn them off of licking the wound or bandage. What’s the point of stopping her now though?
This is so hard. I had a talk with the family today … told them that it’s probably going to be a rough few weeks and it’s going to have to be up to all of us to get her, and each other, through it and no matter how we feel, we can’t doubt our decision.
I know that once it’s done, then it’s time to jump into recovery mode, and at least then we’ll feel like we are doing something for her. As it stands now, it’s just a painful waiting game.
My main concern though isn’t so much her surviving with three legs. Right now, it’s her surviving the surgery. One bridge at a time, I suppose.
You and Molly will be in my prayers for tomorrow’s surgery… Please keep us posted!!!
Angel Jake and Wolfie’s Mom
Thank you, jakesmom … all of you have been a godsend.
Molly is the cutest dang thing. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Looking forward to your report that she came through just fine and will be home with you soon!
Dawn
You will be in my thoughts and prayers. I am in the decision mode of amputation or putting my Max to sleep. He is 12 years old and has a tumor on his right front foot
and it is such a difficult decision to make. He shows such bravery with the discomfort he is in..
We’re thinking of you and Molly today. Best wishes for a perfect procedure and quick complete recovery. just try to reframe that sadness and view the amputation as a celebration of molly’s new pain free life on three legs!
Good luck Sweet Molly! We are all sending out lotsa love and prayers for a successful surgery and recovery. Keep us posted.
Thinking of your little Molly munchkin and will be tomorrow as well. Thoughts that helped me when I was feeling sad about Zoe losing a leg is that dogs don’t have the same stigma associated with losing a limb that people do, that it would help her not be in such pain (and boy were they right about that one!), and some of the funny little Jerry-isms kept us going “all dogs are born with three legs and a spare”; “better to hop on three legs than to limp on four”. It’s normal to mourn the loss of your pet’s leg. But I think one of the best gifts we can give our tripawds is to greet them after surgery with excitement and optimism. Because you know – if we lost a leg, they’d do the same for us.