Nala, our Tripawd Boxer puppy

Our family has a tradition of getting a new Christmas ornament each year that represents the year we’ve had. It makes it fun to go back over the years and reminisce about each year as we hang the ornaments. The kids love showing them off to guests, we have a lot of unusual ones. Many are handmade and customized to fit the year that they represent. For my oldest son, we had this beautiful ornament made. We found a lady on Etsy who creates ornaments and cake toppers and sent her photos.

I think she captured Nala so exactly!

Between days 10-14, Nala’s stitches started to weep and oooze a little and then one little spot came open a little.

She REALLY wanted to lick and lick those stitches so we started her new modeling career for ‘Garanimals’ T-shirts 😉

Here she is looking shy in a 12 month white short-sleeved knit shirt. Excellent for keeping cool on those hot summer days!

Notice she is even looking forward to fall in this sweet little off the shoulder. She will look great when those leaves begin to fly in this harvest orange in size 2T

On day 14 we took Nala in to check her stitches thinking she would get them removed.

Instead, she was awarded 3 shiny new staples!

Those staples sure did the trick and on Day 18 they finally came out and her scar is looking and feeling great.

It is now Day 21 and she just had her cast/splint checked. Previously she had begun forming a pressure sore inside the cast, she had to go back on antibiotics and it now looks to be healing beautifully. They will leave the cast on for one more week to make sure that the leg is stable and then IT COMES OFF! HORRAY!

Nala, of course, doesn’t care anymore and has begun walking on it anyway. Silly puppy, it’s nearly impossible to keep her down.

She went home last Friday and has been so happy to be reunited with her real parents and her other doggie family.

This is her today (Day 21).

After the vet we brought her over and kept her for a visit.

She is smiling because everyone knows that dogs aren’t allowed in the garden, which is why our puppy, Aslan, is pouting behind the gate.

Last night the phantom nerve pain began. It doesn’t seem very phantom:(

Of course, I had no idea that was what it was until I scoured the forums here in the wee hours of the morning. She began to act as if something was hurting her and would shriek in pain and try to get away from it, which is really nerve-wracking with the other arm already broken.

After reading a bunch of the helpful responses on the forum, I called the vet and she was immediately started on Gabepentin. Her vet said that she was given a nerve blocker prior to surgery that would’ve lasted a few days and it has now been 3 days.  After giving it to her she has improved quite a bit already. Although, she has been really lethargic all morning….and afternoon.

I really hoping she adjusts to the medicine soon, and I hope she has a better night. Such a sweet little girl 🙂

Little Nala is a 7 months old boxer. She isn’t ours,belongs to my son, we are just caring for her through her recovery. On Friday, July 25th, Nala ran out into a busy road and was hit. Her left leg was obviously badly broken (compound fracture) and she had road rash. She seemed to be in shock and we just didn’t know if she would be okay. We rushed her to the vet expecting the worst. They stabilized her and showed us the x-rays of the leg. It was pretty mangled and they explained the benefits of amputation. It felt awful to consider for her, but we were so grateful that she was going to be okay that it really didn’t take long to sink in. They kept her for the day to continue to watch for other injuries. The plan was that we would take care of her at my house where she could receive round the clock care and bring her back on Monday morning for the surgery. Well, the plan got so much more complicated when we went to pick her up. The had noticed swelling in her other front leg and found that it too was broken 🙁 Now she would need to wear a cast on it for at least 4 weeks.

The weekend was spent with the family taking turns sitting on the couch with her and spoiling her. We would take her out to potty by supporting her with a pillowcase to keep her broken legs up.

Her surgery was very successful, she was a rock star. She came home groggy but in good spirits. She didn’t sleep much at all the first night, she seemed frustrated and a little disoriented. Likely because I didn’t put her in her kennel, I put her on my bed so I could be right there if she tried to stand up. She seemed scared to be in a strange place. Last night I placed her back in her kennel and she slept just fine 🙂

If it weren’t for the second broken leg I think that she would be off and running and the hardest part would be trying to slow her down. As it is, we are trying to find the best ways to get through the next 4-6 weeks. We found that the ‘Ruffwear’ harness has helps immensely. It doesn’t put any pressure on her incision and we can lift, or even carry her, similar to luggage 🙂 Before the harness it was very awkward to help her go potty with her only front arm remaining being in a cast.

We are trying to find ways to keep her comfortable and hope that there are others that could offer any advice. Has anyone gone through anything similar to this? Any advice for us?

Home from surgery

Trying to find a comfortable position.