Bennyspapa

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Hi, I am new to this forum, never posted before but have read a few threads before. So my English bulldog, Benny who is 2 years old finally had his tail amputation surgery 3 days ago after battling infections constantly and so I was wondering if any other owners had any information on cleaning the incision( dry blood, etc) and what to look for when seeing if there is infection or not? Any other tips would also be appreciated thanks.
 

oscarmayer

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Tail removal surgery leaves a nasty looking wound. I know it's hard not to...but leave it alone. Consider cleaning he area 2 weeks post op...as long as your Vet gives the OK.
The site will tend to weep clear to pink fluid...this is normal. There should be no smell. Look for any increase in redness or swelling, oozing puss, foul odor, etc. If you notice something, call the Vet right away.
Try to discourage your dog from rubbing his butt up against anything, crate, wall, rug, furniture...even your leg. Have him take prescribed meds without missing a single dose.
From a looks standpoint, the tail removal surgical site is one of the worst.. The shaved butt area and the dried blood make it look much worse than it is. Do not be alarmed, it will eventually look normal again...3 months or so. Gauge progress week to week...not day by day.
 
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2BullyMama

I'm not OCD....now who moved my bulldog?
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Hi, I am new to this forum, never posted before but have read a few threads before. So my English bulldog, Benny who is 2 years old finally had his tail amputation surgery 3 days ago after battling infections constantly and so I was wondering if any other owners had any information on cleaning the incision( dry blood, etc) and what to look for when seeing if there is infection or not? Any other tips would also be appreciated thanks.

Tail removal surgery leaves a nasty looking wound. I'm know it's hard not to...but leave it alone. Consider cleaning he area 2 weeks post op...as long as your Vet gives the OK.
The site will tend to weep clear to pink fluid...this is normal. There should be no smell. Look for any increase in redness or swelling, oozing puss, foul odor, etc. If you notice something, call the Vet right away.
Try to discourage your dog from rubbing his butt up against anything, crate, wall, rug, furniture...even your leg. Have him take prescribed meds without missing a single dose.
From a looks standpoint, the tail removal surgical site is one of the worst.. The shaved butt area and the dried blood make it look much worse than it is. Do not be alarmed, it will eventually look normal again...3 months or so. Gauge progress week to week...not day by day.

Agree with Chip.... leave it be till the follow up. As Chip states... keep watch for changes or odor, and call vet if there are any signs of these.
Lambeau had his removed and it looked worse before it got better... then it seemed like POW, it was clear and he was never phased by the whole process.
 
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Bennyspapa

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Thank you guys so much!! I have been worrying about and not knowing how to start the cleaning. The vet recommended to just put a warm cloth over it but that was if it was bleeding. Heā€™s been doing great and his twirling has stopped.
 

billyfromcali

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So we just had our guys tail amputated. He had a horrible corkscrew that grew back in like 4 inches and was constantly infected. Heā€™s just a year old and we brought him home yesterday. Heā€™s thrown up constantly, canā€™t keep food down. Took him back to vet and they gave him a shot of medication to help with nausea. Hasnā€™t helped. Heā€™s totally out of it, drooling everywhere but wonā€™t sit still. This is the start to a tough two weeks. I feel like we made the right choice for his overall happiness, but good luck everyone that has to go through this. I feel just horrible for him.
 

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2BullyMama

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So we just had our guys tail amputated. He had a horrible corkscrew that grew back in like 4 inches and was constantly infected. Heā€™s just a year old and we brought him home yesterday. Heā€™s thrown up constantly, canā€™t keep food down. Took him back to vet and they gave him a shot of medication to help with nausea. Hasnā€™t helped. Heā€™s totally out of it, drooling everywhere but wonā€™t sit still. This is the start to a tough two weeks. I feel like we made the right choice for his overall happiness, but good luck everyone that has to go through this. I feel just horrible for him.
Poor guyā€¦. We went through this with Lambeau. His tail was also growing back into his body. If he continues to vomit after gettin nausea medsā€¦ Iā€™d contact the vet again. Otherwise, he should be his spunky self within a few days
 

billyfromcali

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Poor guyā€¦. We went through this with Lambeau. His tail was also growing back into his body. If he continues to vomit after gettin nausea medsā€¦ Iā€™d contact the vet again. Otherwise, he should be his spunky self within a few days
Thank you for the advice! They said that English Bulldogs usually have a hard time with nausea from being put under. Heā€™s a Covid dog, so heā€™s never been away from us for a single day. Canā€™t bare to leave him in the kennel I bought him. Even his whines are so pathetic. We took his fentanyl patch off today and so far, so good. I made him some white rice and boiled chicken and he has tolerated it so far. Hoping we start to see him hold down his food here on out. I was happy to hear you say things should start looking up. Needed to hear that.
 

2BullyMama

I'm not OCD....now who moved my bulldog?
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Thank you for the advice! They said that English Bulldogs usually have a hard time with nausea from being put under. Heā€™s a Covid dog, so heā€™s never been away from us for a single day. Canā€™t bare to leave him in the kennel I bought him. Even his whines are so pathetic. We took his fentanyl patch off today and so far, so good. I made him some white rice and boiled chicken and he has tolerated it so far. Hoping we start to see him hold down his food here on out. I was happy to hear you say things should start looking up. Needed to hear that.
Lambeau didnā€™t do well in crate so we use an x-pen, then we could sit in the space with him.

if the chicken and rice donā€™t workā€¦ try ground turkey and egg noodles
 

billyfromcali

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Lambeau didnā€™t do well in crate so we use an x-pen, then we could sit in the space with him.

if the chicken and rice donā€™t workā€¦ try ground turkey and egg noodles
So it was the fentanyl patch. He couldnā€™t tolerate it. 3 hours after we took it off, he started holding down all of his food and heā€™s back to being playful and running and jumping. No more throwing up and all in all, seems like his normal self. We vigilant be happier.
 

2BullyMama

I'm not OCD....now who moved my bulldog?
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Happ to hear you found the issue
 

AyresPackMomma

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Hello all. First time poster, long time follower.

Our vet just recommended tail amputation for his constant infection due to corkscrew tail and deep tail pocket. Just curious if anyone else has more advice. As it seems to be a rough surgery and scares me because of the fact it is the end of his spine. Juat want to make the best decision for our guy.

Thanks
 

2BullyMama

I'm not OCD....now who moved my bulldog?
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Chelios (Frenchie), Nitschke (2004-2011) Banks (2005-2014) and Lambeau (2014-2024)
Hello all. First time poster, long time follower.

Our vet just recommended tail amputation for his constant infection due to corkscrew tail and deep tail pocket. Just curious if anyone else has more advice. As it seems to be a rough surgery and scares me because of the fact it is the end of his spine. Juat want to make the best decision for our guy.

Thanks
We had to do our boy as well, his tail was growing back into his body which would cause a deep infectionā€¦ so we had it done, first day home he was tired and slept. Day two.. would never known he had surgery. Make sure you have a bulldog knowledgeable vet for the procedure
 

oscarmayer

Have Bulldog Will Travel
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We've had this done to one of our own dogs and as many as 10 rescues over the years. It's not complicated surgery but, IMO, a procedure that should be done by a seasoned Bulldog Vet or a spine specialist. I'd say that the intubation, general anesthesia are the greatest risks...as with most Bulldog surgeries. This surgery wound looks nasty for several weeks, much nastier than it actually is.
 

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