Another great start to the day...well, I could do without the 5 a.m. wake-ups Holly has been doing since Hick got home...DH took them out and then we all tried to go back to sleep, but with Hick's choke-chain collar clinking against the ceramic water bowl, Holly fussing until I let her into the bedroom area, Domino (cat) playing footsie...it was a challenge. DS finally got up about 6 and went to play on the computer. Hick started whining, so I got into DS's bed to keep him company...getting my head butted and dug at after I covered myself w/ the blankets for protection...he just HAD to give me kisses!
He settled down but then whimpered. DS had noticed the other night...the night of the toxic toots...that Hick whimpered before passing gas...and that's what happened this morning...for a bit...and then he kept whimpering so finally I said, "okay, FINE!" and got up and took him out. That dog pooped THREE TIMES! He's got to feel better inside now!
We're definitely moving into the challenging part. He's feeling so good and wants to play, but we can't let him. We can't risk it. It hasn't even been a week! They've made it clear at the ortho vet that he's growing new bone and needs time...and REST...to let that happen. This will definitely be the hardest part, but it's going to be so worth it to see him running and NORMAL again!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
Amazing Recovery
Here it is, only 4 days after surgery, and we feel like we've got our Hickory back. He's back to being his big goofy self, wiggling and wagging that tail of destruction. I had him out on the deck for a bit, while I put some verbena into hanging baskets, and again later when I was hosing everything off. He found a sunny spot the first time, but later wandered around licking anywhere with excess water. We have a pressure gate we keep across the stairs. We started using that before surgery.
DH brought Hick some dry food, but he's not having ANY of that! He tipped the bowl over. I gave him some tuna that quickly disappeared, and then put some dry in a bowl with beef broth...it was gone in no time. Of course by the time I'd brought him his brothy lunch, he'd knocked over the other bowl with the dry. DH thinks he's spoiled, but I said I think we can cut the Hick some slack! I'm just glad to see him eating.
He's been going in his kennel some today. He's always liked it, unlike Holly who acts like it's cruel and unusual punishment, and I swear stands up the entire time in protest. Another good thing is there hasn't been any noxious gas emanating from Hick's nether regions!
DS is loving having Hick as his sleeping buddy, and I'm not sure how we'll go back to dogs out in the non-bedroom part of the house after rehab...We'll have to see how that one turns out!
DH brought Hick some dry food, but he's not having ANY of that! He tipped the bowl over. I gave him some tuna that quickly disappeared, and then put some dry in a bowl with beef broth...it was gone in no time. Of course by the time I'd brought him his brothy lunch, he'd knocked over the other bowl with the dry. DH thinks he's spoiled, but I said I think we can cut the Hick some slack! I'm just glad to see him eating.
He's been going in his kennel some today. He's always liked it, unlike Holly who acts like it's cruel and unusual punishment, and I swear stands up the entire time in protest. Another good thing is there hasn't been any noxious gas emanating from Hick's nether regions!
DS is loving having Hick as his sleeping buddy, and I'm not sure how we'll go back to dogs out in the non-bedroom part of the house after rehab...We'll have to see how that one turns out!
Patch-free
DH took the drug patch off Hick's leg this morning, and he's doing so well! Holly woke me up at 5 so I took them out, and Hick made a poop...I don't think he'd done that yesterday, so it was a good way to start the day.
Life is good when poop makes you happy, right?
DH & I were both working downstairs this morning (I had to do finances and call about the new car loan we sorta forgot to pay yesterday...oops!), and so DH walked Hick down and to the back yard, and he got to hang out in the downstairs (finished, walk-out basement), which I'm sure was a nice change of scene for him.
We're back up in DS's room...with our Enya on once again...and Hick's snoozing. When DH went to bring him back up, Hick started up the stairs and before DH knew what was happening, he was 1/2 way up...another oops! Luckily going up isn't as bad...it's the jumping and direct pressure...but definitely we should avoid if at all possible.
Life is good when poop makes you happy, right?
DH & I were both working downstairs this morning (I had to do finances and call about the new car loan we sorta forgot to pay yesterday...oops!), and so DH walked Hick down and to the back yard, and he got to hang out in the downstairs (finished, walk-out basement), which I'm sure was a nice change of scene for him.
We're back up in DS's room...with our Enya on once again...and Hick's snoozing. When DH went to bring him back up, Hick started up the stairs and before DH knew what was happening, he was 1/2 way up...another oops! Luckily going up isn't as bad...it's the jumping and direct pressure...but definitely we should avoid if at all possible.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Leg close-up
Here's some close-ups of Hick's leg. You can see the suture line and bruising and the swelling, especially on the ones taken inside on the carpet...the big bulge where the black turns to white. All of this is considered normal.
New pics
Here are the pics I just took of Hick. He's getting around so well! He's eating his dry food after it's soaked up the beef broth. He cleaned out one bowl so I made another. He's tinkled several times today but so far no poops. The patch comes off tomorrow, and since it can cause constipation, we can hope things get "moving" after that.
He's rested really well today. Seemed a bit whiny this morning, but I fed him a sm. can of tuna and that must have hit the spot. Unfortunately something is giving him very foul gas...cleared DS right out of the room...with both windows open. (You can see the pain patch in the one of Hick alone and the gnats were bothering DS for his pic)
Do Not Disturb!
Here's the sign DS made on Tuesday after everyone was ringing our doorbell! No one has rung since...of course typically no one does (not even the UPS man anymore), just the day when we WANTED (and needed) peace and quiet.
Swelling
Hick has some swelling by his ankle, which we were told to expect. Tomorrow he'll get the fenatyl (spelling) patch off.
Overall, he's doing great. He slept thru the night, and I took him out this morning, and he tinkled, and even tried to lift his good leg at one point, but decided he wasn't study enough. I figure it's a good sign that he even tried.
He's really whiny and seems bored. We've got Enya looping on the CD player, and yesterday DH worked here in DS's room, and today I'll be in here.
I just fed him a can of tuna, and he ate it. I tried to do that yesterday, and had watered it since he wasn't drinking much at that point, and he wouldn't touch it. His appetite seems to still be off...and maybe some of that has to do with the patch. I know it can cause constipation. I put some dry food in the bowl w/ some low sodium beef broth. He licked at it a bit, but didn't want to eat any. I guess I might try some bread in beef broth in a bit.
DS has been pestering me to let him sleep in his room with Hick. I wanted to be available in case Hick needed anything and didn't want DS being woken up, but we've had two good nights, so I think tonight we can all go back to our own beds.
I forgot to give Hick his glycoflex yesterday, so we did it this morning. We're trying the tablet first, and then we'll do the chews. We got a 14 day supply of each. I imagine they'll both like the chews since they smell really good. I'm going to put Holly on it as well and need to get Domino (the nearly 14 y/o cat) back on.
I'll post some pics in a bit...Hick's resting finally, so I'm not moving!
Overall, he's doing great. He slept thru the night, and I took him out this morning, and he tinkled, and even tried to lift his good leg at one point, but decided he wasn't study enough. I figure it's a good sign that he even tried.
He's really whiny and seems bored. We've got Enya looping on the CD player, and yesterday DH worked here in DS's room, and today I'll be in here.
I just fed him a can of tuna, and he ate it. I tried to do that yesterday, and had watered it since he wasn't drinking much at that point, and he wouldn't touch it. His appetite seems to still be off...and maybe some of that has to do with the patch. I know it can cause constipation. I put some dry food in the bowl w/ some low sodium beef broth. He licked at it a bit, but didn't want to eat any. I guess I might try some bread in beef broth in a bit.
DS has been pestering me to let him sleep in his room with Hick. I wanted to be available in case Hick needed anything and didn't want DS being woken up, but we've had two good nights, so I think tonight we can all go back to our own beds.
I forgot to give Hick his glycoflex yesterday, so we did it this morning. We're trying the tablet first, and then we'll do the chews. We got a 14 day supply of each. I imagine they'll both like the chews since they smell really good. I'm going to put Holly on it as well and need to get Domino (the nearly 14 y/o cat) back on.
I'll post some pics in a bit...Hick's resting finally, so I'm not moving!
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