It's 6:15AM and in a little bit I'll make the long drive up to the animal hospital. Today's her surgery. I keep reminding myself it is so she can do her doggy things again—run and bounce and wag her tail, but like any 'mother,' I'm concerned and worried. My fingers are so crossed, my heart is so tender right now. Luckily, she's a dog. She's merely upset that she got neither her breakfast nor morning dog biscuit. Her ritual has been upset.
The other dog we're presently caring for is equally miffed as she's grown used to the routine here. I'll keep her here through tonight and then back home she goes tomorrow so that when Lucy returns, all is quiet.
All dog bedding will be washed and I'll set up an area in the house that allows Lucy a comfortable place to recoup. I was thinking my office, but perhaps that provides to much space. There is any area in the kitchen that I can cordon off and put carpet remnants down to prevent slipping and her bed and water in. I don't know... I guess I have to wait and see what they say we need to do after the fact. I know we'll be temporarily helping her walk with a sling.
Later... It's mid-afternoon and still have not heard, though I don't expect to until later today. They didn't know if the surgery would be done in the morning or afternoon. The tech said she would probably be at the hospital a couple of nights, however. I guess I'm glad about that. I'd rather she was under lots of observation before we brought her home. It's nearly an hour drive to get there and if anything serious happened the drive could prove problematic.
Later still...I've heard from the vet. He said the surgery went well and that Lucy had good 'bone structure.' I didn't ask but assume that meant the two new pins she sports in her vertebrae had something good to hold on to.
She went "under the knife" at 2:30pm, so she had 6 hours to wait. Poor girl. He said she'd be on pain meds through the night and they wouldn't bother to do anything with her (get her up?) until tomorrow afternoon. Although I can go visit her during this time, I feel my presence would elicit undue excitement—something she doesn't need right now. To be honest, I don't know that I could handle her being doped up or in pain.
She'll be there through Friday and he and/or his assistant will call daily to let me know her prognosis. I can call at any point to see how she's doing. Fingers crossed...
July 29, 2007
More upsets
Lucy has been under the weather again. I think it's from trying to lick the place on her leg where the anesthesia went in for her MRI. It was pretty raw and I've been putting a salve (Animax Cream) on it, then a quick swipe of Bitter Apple. For the most part she's been good about not licking that, but yesterday she was licking all around it and I'm sure, ingested a fair amount of Bitter Apple. She was lethargic and not hungry yesterday.
Today she's perked up a bit. Tomorrow is her last day of eating before Tuesday's surgery. My anxiety over her well-being is increasing, but I keep reminding myself, the odds are quite good on a spectacular recovery. The majority of folks on the dog forum recommended I go ahead with the surgery and they are all BIG dog folks with lots of experience under their collective belt. I need to chill out so as not to upset Lucy.
We're dog-sitting a friend's dog right now. Lucy enjoys the company despite the fact they both rather ignore each other. I'll keep the other dog here until Lucy comes home and then she's off to her own home with shared care by another neighbor. She'll feed her; I'll walk her. I just don't want any excitement (barking at the mailman), competition or issues over anything while Lucy's recouping.
I found some sites (see the links at right) that talk about post-op care. I haven't received a straight answer regarding this from the clinic, but then they said it depends on the outcome of the surgery. I understand this, I just need something to hold on to. Will she be incontinent for a while? Can she walk at all or must I lift her? Does she have to be in a crate or can she be in her bed in my office?
Today she's perked up a bit. Tomorrow is her last day of eating before Tuesday's surgery. My anxiety over her well-being is increasing, but I keep reminding myself, the odds are quite good on a spectacular recovery. The majority of folks on the dog forum recommended I go ahead with the surgery and they are all BIG dog folks with lots of experience under their collective belt. I need to chill out so as not to upset Lucy.
We're dog-sitting a friend's dog right now. Lucy enjoys the company despite the fact they both rather ignore each other. I'll keep the other dog here until Lucy comes home and then she's off to her own home with shared care by another neighbor. She'll feed her; I'll walk her. I just don't want any excitement (barking at the mailman), competition or issues over anything while Lucy's recouping.
I found some sites (see the links at right) that talk about post-op care. I haven't received a straight answer regarding this from the clinic, but then they said it depends on the outcome of the surgery. I understand this, I just need something to hold on to. Will she be incontinent for a while? Can she walk at all or must I lift her? Does she have to be in a crate or can she be in her bed in my office?
July 26, 2007
Waiting
Lucy's stomach has eased (and somehow mine has taken over, hmmm...). It's amazing what a little human food (rice and chicken) can do to get a dog back on track. I'm happy for the improvement, but have already noticed how the lack of inflammatories (she's 3 days without) has affected her movement. Our walk yesterday afternoon was short and s-l-o-w.
The surgery has been rescheduled for Tuesday, so now we're just biding time. As a good friend said, 'It's good she doesn't know what's in her future.' Hopefully all will go well and her future will allow her to run (and walk!) again.
The surgery has been rescheduled for Tuesday, so now we're just biding time. As a good friend said, 'It's good she doesn't know what's in her future.' Hopefully all will go well and her future will allow her to run (and walk!) again.
July 25, 2007
Postponement
Surgery has been postponed. Because of the nausea (from Novox? from eating something unknown? from the after affects of anesthesia?), our regular vet feels it would be too hard on Lucy to go into surgery feeling funky. I agree. Now to set up a new appointment. The anti-inflammatories have been stopped.
She's been given Animax cream for the leg she's been licking at the catheter site for the anesthesia/MRI. A little Bitter Apple on top is to be applied to discourage further licking. Plus she has two new drugs: Sucralfate 1 gm (1/2 tab twice a day) and Famotidine 20 mg (1/2 tab once a day) to take to mellow out her gut. Poor girl. If it ain't one thing, it's another...
With the long recovery and our annual fall bike trip happening in September, the delay, if it's long, could complicate our vacation. I have to verify we can bring her along.
She's been given Animax cream for the leg she's been licking at the catheter site for the anesthesia/MRI. A little Bitter Apple on top is to be applied to discourage further licking. Plus she has two new drugs: Sucralfate 1 gm (1/2 tab twice a day) and Famotidine 20 mg (1/2 tab once a day) to take to mellow out her gut. Poor girl. If it ain't one thing, it's another...
With the long recovery and our annual fall bike trip happening in September, the delay, if it's long, could complicate our vacation. I have to verify we can bring her along.
July 24, 2007
Rimadyl
Lucy was given Rimadyl for the inflammation of the disk. It worked well and blood tests showed no liver/kidney damage. However, when that brand ran out, we were given the generic version (Novox). Within 3 days her appetite diminished. I thought it was because we were camping and this is often her modus operandi. However last night and this morning she hasn't eaten a thing and vomited up whatever was left in her stomach. We're going in this afternoon for another blood test. Awful. I feel awful. She hates the vet and now, with surgery in two days and weeks and weeks of discomfort, I have to bring her in for a blood test. My fingers are crossed she's okay.
Getting Ready
I thought I'd blog about my dog and her up coming surgery. This has been a haul getting to this point, but it started not too long ago when her leg problems became more pronounced. Lucy is a 10 year-old, spayed female of unknown origins. Perhaps Aussie, perhaps Border Collie, maybe some Springer Spaniel or Brittany, definitely some kind of sight hound—when she could run, she ran like a greyhound.
This winter, on walks, I noticed she was periodically dragging her toes. I was alerted to that behavior because our first dog went lame and it had started the same way. But Lucy is young, only 10, so I chose to ignore it. She's always been a bit clumsy so I chalked it up to that.
In February, we took her mountain biking in the snow. It wasn't very deep—a couple of inches—and wasn't very far, maybe 5-6 miles. The previous fall she was running 15 miles at a stretch. At the end of the winter ride, her thighs were quivering and we thought it was because she was out of shape. Another ride several weeks later, was shorter with more dramatic response from Lucy. And several weeks after that, after running barely two miles, she couldn't maintain a standing position.
A vet's visit was in order and our vet thought it might be arthritis. However, she didn't improve at all under a "arthritis" regime (a change in diet and supplements). She had x-rays done of her back end and they showed no arthritis or bone damage. The next test was for myasthenia gravis and that too proved negative.
Our next choice was an MRI. She went through that on Thursday of last week and sure enough, she had a herniated disk right above her tail. The vet said this was a common spot for older, larger dogs and that surgery could be very effective. (The success rate for the surgery is 85%; those that don't improve, stay the same.) The recovery period can take anywhere between 4-8 weeks. During that time the dog must be kept quiet and cannot do stairs or run. I also understand the first couple of weeks, there are a slew of pills she must take.
So for the time being, this blog will chronicle this chapter in her/our life. Surgery is in 2 days. If you'd like to know more about the surgery itself, check out this link: http://home.gci.net/~shem/Our_Pets/Trapper/Trapper_s_Surgery/trapper_s_surgery.htm If you and your dog have gone through this type of surgery, let me know how it went.
This winter, on walks, I noticed she was periodically dragging her toes. I was alerted to that behavior because our first dog went lame and it had started the same way. But Lucy is young, only 10, so I chose to ignore it. She's always been a bit clumsy so I chalked it up to that.
In February, we took her mountain biking in the snow. It wasn't very deep—a couple of inches—and wasn't very far, maybe 5-6 miles. The previous fall she was running 15 miles at a stretch. At the end of the winter ride, her thighs were quivering and we thought it was because she was out of shape. Another ride several weeks later, was shorter with more dramatic response from Lucy. And several weeks after that, after running barely two miles, she couldn't maintain a standing position.
A vet's visit was in order and our vet thought it might be arthritis. However, she didn't improve at all under a "arthritis" regime (a change in diet and supplements). She had x-rays done of her back end and they showed no arthritis or bone damage. The next test was for myasthenia gravis and that too proved negative.
Our next choice was an MRI. She went through that on Thursday of last week and sure enough, she had a herniated disk right above her tail. The vet said this was a common spot for older, larger dogs and that surgery could be very effective. (The success rate for the surgery is 85%; those that don't improve, stay the same.) The recovery period can take anywhere between 4-8 weeks. During that time the dog must be kept quiet and cannot do stairs or run. I also understand the first couple of weeks, there are a slew of pills she must take.
So for the time being, this blog will chronicle this chapter in her/our life. Surgery is in 2 days. If you'd like to know more about the surgery itself, check out this link: http://home.gci.net/~shem/Our_Pets/Trapper/Trapper_s_Surgery/trapper_s_surgery.htm If you and your dog have gone through this type of surgery, let me know how it went.
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