complication from tail amputation- normal??

My dog had her tail amputated after happy tail was no longer treatable. She came home with a stump like a boxer and antibiotics. She refused to walk and scooted everywhere, ( when taken outside, before doing her business, she layed down well the rest of the time)scraping off bandages and after 5 days ( with a return visit in the middle)had secondary swelling and damage to the underside of stump. Vet said tail may need to be amputated up into the rump , but wanted to try sewing the bandage on which he did under anesthetic. She came home this time with more powerful antibiotics and prednsone. Said must keep on for 2 weeks. 5 days in the prednsone has worked wonders, not one incident of scooting and she is happy and active, but there is a very strong medicinal smell and the stump seems smaller ( swelling down, or atrophy?) and soft. We are worried it is going rotten in there since originally was supposed to be kept open to dry as often a s possible and clean dry bandaged. Do u think another 9 days of this is dangerous? or is this situation so far normal? Im furious she could lose everything when prednisone in the beginning or 2 days in could have made everything so different.

Asked by Member 1145959 on Dec 19th 2012 in Health & Wellness