This is my little Brita today. Walking on 3 legs.
She was allowed to run free during last 2 weeks after the surgery and now she is facing lots of restrictions for another 3-4 weeks again. At least. If everything goes well…
Everything happened so suddenly. She run in the forest close to our house, where we usually finish our walk. She discovered something interesting behind a hill and run over there. I did not have a chance to step on the long line she was on since the surgery.
She came back after just a couple of minutes with her left hind paw severely damaged. Tattered skin, all bones broken to small pieces in one toe, partially in the second one. All muddy and bleeding.
We went directly to the practice where, after x-rays were done, Jacek had to make the painful decision of amputating one toe and a half of the other one. Then he tried to do his best to put all the pieces of skin together and stitch it.
This happened a week ago. I have been worrying sick about possible infection that we would not be able to control. That could have ended in amputation of the whole leg.
But we had a bit of luck in this terrible situation. There is no infection. But the damaged skin dies and falls off piece by piece exposing deep wounds that will take ages to heal.
Brita herself has adjusted well to her new life on three legs. She wants to run and play now and keeps the balance very well. She rests a lot of course but I could stop giving her painkillers already after first 5 days. Her paw looks terrible though. I have to change her bandage every day and I see how it is getting worse every day. But I have seen horrible wounds in my life. I know it will heal. It´s just so hard to deal with it at home with my own dog.
I am very low. Can´t think of anything else. Blame myself for not being able to protect her. But the place where it happened has been a part of my favourite route for 15 years. I felt safe there.
There must have been some kind of junk dumped in a swamp her paw was trapped in. She must have pulled the leg with effort. She has small wounds on all legs. We tried to find the place to clean it but could not locate it.
I will never let her run without holding that line again!