She is well this morning, but still having seepage. Not awfully bad, but some light pinkish drippings at times. She is resting comfortably after her breakfast on a lazy Saturday. I reread the doctors notes last night because I have been worried about her. Never have I dealt with a seeping incision. I read about it, hoped it wouldn’t happen to her and it has. We will get thru this!
Anyways… this is what the Doctor said for aftercare notes… “Ruby still has draining from 2 areas along her incision line. These areas were where there was seepage after surgery. I changer her antibiotics from cephalexin to clavamox on Monday Sept 11. Clean the drainage two to three times daily with warm water. You can use antibacterial soap also but rinse well. I will want to take the staples out next Monday… after 6:30 pm. I may have to “tweek” the areas of skin that are still not healed. She may have to stay for a short time. call me if you have concerns or problems.” Dr. Jill.
I appreciate that letter she sent home. I do not know if I am able to take care of this seepage properly, but I have been doing what was instructed to the letter and upon pick up what I was told and shown. I dab a damp cloth to her and clean the leaky spots. I am keeping her calm and quiet. She is sleeping on her bed beside me, in the living room. I have to work thru the weekend. I worry about her when I leave. Yesterday I didn’t put her in the “rest room” when I left. I just let her stay with her pack, but wearing the cone. When I came home last night, she was fine. Just had to clean the wounds, of course. I keep the cone on her for the most part always lately. I accidentally put a different cone around her and she was able to reach that wound, I did not know it. I was sent home through out this whole entire process for the past two months now with three different cones, one happened to be 18″ and the others 30″. big difference for her with that long nose she has. She can almost fold herself in half I noticed as I caught her licking the wound with the small cone on.
I wonder how long it will take her to heal and start being able to absorb all the fluids… adjusting to the missing limb better? I expect Monday that she will need to help tweek those leaky areas and Ruby may have to remain in the hospital a few days for that. Complications are tough, she’s been thru enough and needs a break on life right now! Rest well, woo woo. 
Sounds like Ruby is on the mend. Keep up the good work with the wound care.
hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Hello again Ruby girl.
It does sound like you are finally on the mend! 😁 Good Girl!
All dogs’ recovery times are so different but any movement forward is excellent! This is where your patience needs to come in and take one day at a time… Stewie also suffered from fluid problems… except he didn’t have any seepage from his wound and the fluids built up (a Seroma) dangerously behind his surgical site. We had to take out a couple of stitches and return to the vets 3 or 4 times to get his site drained! And there was a LOT of fluid that came out the first couple of times! So in that regard, it is good that Ruby is draining.
You’re doing a great job with keeping her wound clean, good for you!
As far as leaving Ruby to hang out with the pack while you’re gone, are they sure to be sleeping or remaining calm the whole time your gone? My thought is that it might be a bit early to take the chance of a little too much excitement while your away. With Rubies wound still healing, she might still need to be on ‘bedrest’.
Ruby has probably already forgotten about her surgery and doesn’t understand that getting excited right now, is not good for her.
If it’s possible to block off a section in the house where the dogs can still ‘be together’, but also ensures that Ruby can’t get up and get around too far? We pushed our furniture together, so that Stewie was still with his Pack, but couldn’t romp around as he would have liked. I had that set up until a week after his stitches were out.
I sure hope she doesn’t have to spend too much more time at the vets, it’s too hard in all of you.
Sending loving and healing thought to you Miss Ruby!😍
Sloppy kisses from Stewie👅🐾
& all the very best from his adoring pack,
Petra, Paul, & his feline siblings, Mr. Spike, Chester Molester & Miss Lily 🐾🐾🐾❤️.
http://stewie2017.tripawds.com/
Always love hearing about sweet Ruby. Glad she is adjusting and is having a good time with her pack.
Based on the instructions your Vet gave you, you are doing everything exactly right. Good job!
I know Ive mentioned numerous times getting a second opinion. I would really liked to have had someone else look at the incision and then maybe they could give you better insight into when this seepage woukd stop…what was the initial cause for it continuing so long,…..what’s the solution to stopmit (from another perspective), etc. I think I may have also even mentioned posting in the Ask The Vet thread.
I think another member ecen suggested a specific Vet who would maybe give you at least a “consult”.
Anyway, I know you are taking Ruby back Monday to maybe have the stitches taken out and some form of “tweaking”???? Please make sure all your questions are answered.
What does “tweaking”‘mean? ?
Is she going to be put under anesthesia??
Is she going to have more surgery??
Will another surgery” create more bleeding???
Has she seen this seepage go on this long before and was she successfully in stopping kt with wjatever this “tweaking” is she is going to do?
Is she eating, drinking, pooping, eating okay?? Sounds like her pain has been managed with whatever pain meds she is on, so that’s good.
How is her mobility? Poor thing still has stitches in and still has to wear a cone, so she can’t do but so much bouncing around and being mobile!
I know this has been an incredibly exhausting recovery and seems like the challenges are taking forever to ocercome!!! It happens sometimes!!
I just really, really hope….and I’m really sorry for continuing to bring it up….but I really hope you’ll consider another opinion.
BTW, on a position note, the fact that it’s pinkish and not red, not pus and not smelly is good!!
CHEERING FOR YOUR SWEET RUBY!! I REALLY, REALLY AM!! Somall.paws crossed for stitches out Monday and she can come home with you! I know she’ll feel better with the stitches gone and the cone off! Oh, and you might try configuring a tee shirt on her so she can’t get at the incision.
Sende extra hugs and love and larges doses of good luck! 🙂
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
all good questions. I can not afford a second opinion. I’m tapped out on funds. I maxed all my credit cards on three different surgeries pertaining to this and my friend even started the gofundme so we could at least amputate it after all that I had tried to do already. I thought I would have to euthanize her because I was penniless. My only option is to go to the Vet who performed the amputation to fix her until fully healed. I can ask questions online, sure. It helps to ease my anxiety over this ordeal and make sense to me of what is happening. I will consider everything I am told and read about. Definitely. I still have not received the bill for this amputation/hospitalization. I’m assuming it’s the flat rate I was quoted, but I KNOW they are giving me a huge price break. Unfortunately, beggars can not be choosers. I’m just grateful we were able to save her life. I haven’t fully figured this site out yet, so I’m not sure where to find the ask the Vet section. I’m still a little shy on here also. I will try to look in the forums soon, but again I’m still getting use to blogging. I haven’t officially met the Vet face to face yet. We will meet Monday and I will be able to talk with her more fluently then! thanks for you help!!!!!!! <3
Just read Stewie’s Mom’s post. I think Petra was the one who ordered the name of another Vet.
She’s another ine cheering hard for sweet Ruby! 🙂