May 26, 2012: honest, it has only been 5 days since amputation

I had to drag Arri off the bed because he didn’t want to get up.  Then he didn’t want to go out so he missed the first opportunity.   He is mobile enough now that when he needs to go out he can go to the door.  I offer 50 times a day and he will take me up on maybe 3 of them.  After breakfast, he needed to go out.  The step out intimidated him again but once past that he hopped to the grass and peed.  His travels this morning were a bit like the kids in the Family Circus comic.    He hopped to the driveway and traveled ¾ of the way down, cut into the grass to toilet.  Hop to the middle of the yard to sniff and mark over where Summer peed.  More hopping away from the house to toilet again and finally he was done.  He ran to come back inside.  His gait was much smoother the faster he went.  I was so disappointed that I didn’t have the camera to record his first run.  While he may have felt much lighter, he was quite tired and breathing hard.  He hesitated going up the steps but I put the sling under to give him a confidence boost.  I think he is starting to understand that the sling means his leg won’t collapse if he tried to jump.

So it is Saturday and it is wedding season.  That means I am making a number of trips from the bakery up to the garage.  I moved the baby gate out of the way so that I don’t drop any cakes while going up steps and moving a gate while carrying a cake.  At one point, I stayed down stairs but did not put the gate back up.  The next thing  I see is Arri’s face at the bakery doorway.  To say I was stunned is an understatement.  Completely ignoring Doctors orders, he went down 14 steps.  I never heard any crashing or thumping so he must have been somewhat graceful in doing so.  My next thought was how on earth am I going to get him back upstairs?  We will have to go out the bakery door and around the house.  A fairly long walk compared to what he has been doing, but the ground is a gradual slope back up to the first floor.   He tries to jump up on his sofa so he can assume guard duty but misses.  His back leg gives out.  So I lift him up and he settles in until he hears me say “all done, I quit for the day’.  That is his signal that we leaving the basement for the day.  If I don’t say it, he will just stay on the sofa waiting for me to come back downstairs and go back to work.  Arri has to stop and rest twice on the walk around the house.  The last time, I put the sling under him as he was breathing hard and getting tired.  Or so I thought.  As soon as the sling was under him, he started moving so fast I had to jog to keep up with him. 

One of Arri’s favorite things is to go to the park.  Arri is grounded from the park until the incision is healed and he is confidently moving around the yard.   When I ask him if he wants to go, I get no reaction.  He knows I am not the one who takes him.  When Tim says it, Arri runs to the door to the garage.  The trips are only 15 minutes or so but that is more than he can handle right now.  The other day, I explained to him  that he needed to be moving in the yard better before he can go back to the park.  I think that is why he is running now.  He wants to be ungrounded.

He is moving so quick now, I can’t get the video camera up in time.  Stinker.  After dinner, he successfully managed the stairs down and up (with a little sling support)  His bruising is looking better.  It is starting to get lighter and change colors.  I was very surprised to see he is bruised all up his rib cage to his front legs.  It doesn’t show in pictures because that part isn’t shaved. 

Arri is lying on his left side more.  This gives me a chance to massage his right rear leg.  It is getting more use so I imagine it gets tired and sore.  I know mine would.  I am also massaging his back often.  From what I have read, to balance himself, Arri will move the back leg to be more centered with the body.  Doing this will change how the muscles position with the spine.  There may be some back soreness from the new muscle work.

Oh, and Arri’s Rough Wear harness came today!  Now to get it fit.  I knew this would be the tough part.  He doesn’t want to stand while I figure out the right fit.

You know you do too much mail order when you see the Fed Ex truck pull into the neighborhood and you and your husband both say, I bet it stops here……and it does.

May 25, 2012; a quiet day

Arri can now get out of the house, going down one step.  He still does not have the strength to bounce his back end up the step.  So today we threw Arri a curve ball.  To make the step outside easier on him, Tim picked up some large landscape tiles.  We turned the single large (9”) step into 2.5 shallow steps.  I never would have guessed this would have made life so difficult for Arri.   Now, he doesn’t seem to be able to go down but he can go up.  The blocks are light grey so maybe the color is throwing off his depth perception.  Oh well.  We will get it figured out eventually.   As quickly as he is adjusting, he will be fine tomorrow.

May 24, 2012: Post amputation day 3

My eyes are brimming with tears of pride at my boy.  He is just incredible. 

Let’s back up a bit.  Remember that ban of sleeping on the bed.  Yeah, well, toss it out the window.  I climbed into bed and Arri started pacing and bobbing his head.  He wanted to jump and it was just a matter of time before he tried.  Yes, I caved.  I lifted him up onto the bed.  I figured, if a single step intimidated him, he would not try to jump off the bed.  I felt him shift a few times but he stayed with me. 

The first moment of pride:  I pulled Arri to the edge of the bed and let his front legs slide off – similar to getting him out of the van.  I stabilized the back while he managed the front.  As he stepped forward, I guided the back leg down.  From there, Arri needed no help.  He barreled through the house to the front door.  I got there before him and opened it.  No hesitation what so ever.  He went down the step to the grass, peed, turned around and headed back to the door.  He waited for me at the door.  Going up still requires a little ‘leg up’.  I put the sling under his belly and wait.  When he is ready, he puts his front legs on the step while I support and lift the back and he steps forward.  Once his back leg is on the carpet, I drop the sling and he goes where he wants.

Today might be interesting now that Arri is growing in confidence and ability.  Tim worked night shift so he gets home at 6 am and goes to bed.  Typically, Arri will eat, toilet and go back to bed with Tim.  The problem is that he will jump on and off the bed during the day to check on me.  I get out of the shower to find Tim had lifted Arri up onto the bed.  Ok, we will just roll reverse, I will check on Arri today.  Into the office to play some games before heading downstairs to the dungeon – I mean bakery.  After 5 minutes, Tim comes in and says – ‘so much for him not jumping’.   Here is a moment of pride, terror and a few new grey hairs.  I say – ‘you helped him right?’  Tim:  ‘no, he didn’t give me time, he just jumped’.  Tim said he didn’t fall or stumble but landed, got his balance and kept hopping.  Good grief.  I can not believe I was ever even slightly worried about how Arri would respond to amputation.  This dog is a NUT.

I am going to have to baby gate the stairs to the basement.  I suspect he will try to come visit me in the bakery today.

The bruising is worse still.  Arri is bruised in areas I had no idea would get bruised.  It is like it is traveling up his belly.  I did send photos to the doctor to make sure this was normal and I was told yes.  All is well and to keep using the dry hot packs.

Youknow you are REALLY a dog person when you take photos of your dog's nether regions and post them on facebook without a second thought. My mom is probably rolling her eyes and wondering why I don't have girl dogs : )

May 23, 2012: Post amputation day 2

Some things I left out from yesterday.

The incision is roughly 9 inches long.  His bruising got worse as the day progressed.  I am hoping my ineptitude with the sling did not cause even more.

I am looking forward to getting Arri’s harness.  He can wear it all day and I can grab on when he needs help.  I don’t have to chase around with the sling.  I think sometimes he sees me coming and thinks ‘drat, why won’t she leave me alone’.  We have only been doing this for a day and he is already giving me that look.

I was warned that it will be a rough couple of nights.  Honestly, I think Summer was worse on Sunday but last night was not fabulous.  Arri sleeps on the bed with me.  He is not allowed to jump right now and even if I lift him up there, he will not wait for me to lift him off so he is banned from the big bed.  This led to some pacing on his part.  In the end, I moved to the floor but by midnight, he still couldn’t settle in so I climbed back in bed where it was warm.  I bought him a nice bed that is similar to the mattress but he would not sleep on it. Oregon loves it.  Sigh

At 3:30 I woke up to the sound of licking.  I really hate that sound.  It will wake me up every time. It doesn’t matter what body part is being cleaned.  Arri was in the doorway licking in the vicinity of the wound.  I started the ‘do you need to go out?’ game and he gave me the blank stare with a slight wiggle of the tail.  After 5 minutes of this game, I crawled out of my warm, snuggly bed to see what the issue was.  The answer?  No he didn’t need to go out but I needed to get the carpet cleaner going.  I guess a treat of canned dog food wasn’t a treat at all.  At least it smelled better than Summer barf…if you can believe that. 

A  little after 4 am, I made everyone go out.  If I had to be awake so did they.  They happily took care of business.  The single step in and out of the house is still kicking our butt.  Arri made it to the grass without stopping and was ready to turn around and get back inside.  We are having some issues with the other dogs in the house blocking the way. 

Arri ended up in the inflatable e-collar after licking last night.  He looks miserable.  He did have a little bloody discharge this morning but it has dried up.

I have taken the day off work, mostly.  No baking.  Just paperwork and phone calls.  Since Arri likes to hang with me in the office, it works out well.  Today is such a beautiful day that we take a book and sit in the yard enjoying the sun and breeze.  The ulterior motive is to get him to go to the bathroom.  He has been having toxic gas releases all day but nothing solid.  Yesterday we were celebrating poop, today we are begging for it.

He is really moving much quicker.  He tires after only a few feet but that is pretty amazing.  I purchased a few more carpet runners this morning and now he can confidently  maneuver around the whole upstairs on non-skid floor. 

Tim was on duty while I went to the grocery store.  Arri barked and greeted me at the door as though nothing was different….until Oregon pushed him over.

The bulk of the drugs are out of his system.  His eyes are bright and when I sat to tell him a story, his ears perked up and his head cocked from side to side as though truly interested. It was a story about a 3 legged dog that barked at the door to go outside to potty.  Arri thought I was telling a fairytale.  His old self is back.

6:00 pm.  Time to get Arri outside to toilet.  I had to force him to stand and prod him to the door but once he got moving, he didn’t hesitate.  I didn’t have to do anything to get him down the step.  Wow.  Let’s hope that wasn’t a one time try.

I was right.  Arri is a lefty.  He keeps trying to lay on the missing leg.  Tonight he managed it.  Once in position, it must be ok, but he is going to hurt when he tries to get up.

May 23, 2012: Day 2 post amputation in photos

Busted for licking

The bruising is much worse today

Relaxing in the sun

Only the second day after amputation

Did someone say dinner???

May 22, 2012: Amputation day 1

9am, taking Oregon for his vaccine and getting Glamis weighed.  We are celebrating!!!  Glamis is now just 2lbs away from his goal weight.  Nine months ago, G weighed 109 lbs.  Today he was 82.3.  On the way home from the vet, we get the call from the surgeon that Arri can come home.  We arrange pick up for 12:30.

When I arrive, they put me in the comfort room.  We go over the surgery, medication, restrictions and post surgical care.  Arri will get Tramadol and Deramaxx for pain.  He has no stapes or sutures.  I am to watch for swelling and discharge.  There is some bruising.  I am to use a hot pack (dry heat) on the incision about every 6 hours. Considering the significance of the surgery, there is very little I need to do but let him rest and heal.   In answer to my question about the lymph node, it was sent for biopsy as a precaution.  That is a load of worry off my shoulders.  Time to bring Arri in.

I hear his toenails on the tile and it makes me smile.  When he enters the room, there is no excitement to see me, no tail wags.  The boy is stoned.  Unaware I am in the room.  He lays on the carpet and I get a look at the wound.  I can't explain what I was picturing but reality is different from what I thought.  Not nearly the bruising she prepared me for.  I thought it would be worse.  There was also less leg than I expected.  I pictured a good portion of the thigh remaining.    Maybe when the fur grows back it will look more like I thought.  Speaking of fur, he has an interesting hair cut.  We just sit for a bit absorbing the change.  Doing all the research and preparing myself for the moment has helped tremendously.  When I see him it is more like seeing someone with long hair chop it off into a pixie.  It is different and will take some getting used to. 

Next is the hard part; getting him to the car.  I don’t know how to use the sling yet.  Yes it is basic but how much pressure is too much.  He is not excited for the walk.  He could care less if we ever make it to the car.  I can’t be in front of him luring him while holding the sling in a good place.  So we hop once or twice and sit.  Hop and sit.  We get to the van and I just stare at the opening.  This is going to be interesting.  I can lift him but he does not like that, never has.  If I put his front legs in, his back is really too weak to hop.  At this point I am not sure how I did it but either way, he was in. 

The trip home was quiet.  No crying, panting, coughing.  It was nice not to be stressed the whole trip home.  We stopped one time and I pulled Arri out of the van.  I pulled his front legs to the edge and let him slide forward.   Now, you have to understand that I drag my dogs from the time they are little puppies.  They will lay on the floor and I will grab two legs and spin them around.  This usually happens during toe nail trimming.  If I am taking photos and I want them in a certain place, I will drag them there.  It is easier than trying to get him to move 4 inches.  They trust me in doing this and never fight it.  While he was sliding I lifted on the sling and handled the back end.  It wasn’t graceful but it did the trick.  A couple of hops with help to the grass and I dropped the sling.  He sat, then stood and took 3 hops and peed.  I was so excited.  A little rest and back into the van.

When we arrived home, I parked right at the edge of the grass so Arri would have a soft spot to land.  His confidence is shaky so we do a lot of stop and start.  He moved around a bit and peed again.  Since it was dog dinner time, we tried to encourage him into the house.  He just stood.  I let him take it at his pace.  Next thing I know, he is hopping away from the house.  He goes about 15 feet and squats to poop.  That about knocked my socks off.  He did it with no assistance.  Ok, I know it isn’t a miracle.  It is just that most literature talks about constipation and concerns about toileting.  In going through all this, I should know that Arri plays by his own rules.

We introduce the other dogs one at a time.  Tim had laid out the carpet remnant on the kitchen tile for traction.  Arri is just laying there.  First up is Glamis.  He comes pouncing out in happiness, gives Arri and sniff and moves on.  Next up is Summer.  Her reaction is fairly similar.  Finally it is Oregon.  He pounces on Arri’s head and starts licking his face.  Then he works his way back to the incision and gets a little too nosey.  Arri does not complain but I make him back off.  That went well.

Dinner is a special treat of canned food.  The doctors said this was not necessary but I could if I wanted.  I wanted, so I did.  I put the food between his feet and let him eat laying down.  By next week, he will be at the elevated food bowl again.

I can tell he wants to move but is unsure of himself.  At the same time, he doesn’t like the sling too much.  He is doing a bit of grunting like there is discomfort.  I just need to wait him out.  He will relax when he is ready.  He moves himself in front of the door to watch out the window.  Summer and Oregon go outside but he does not want to.  When Summer comes back in the house, she steps right on Arri’s incision.  I about died.  She found herself 5 feet away from Arri and wasn’t sure how she got there.  I know how but I’m not telling.

Arri was finally motivated to go out.  It is a bit of a walk from the front door to the grass so he toileted as soon as he reached the grass.  While he rested up, Summer and Oregon wrestled in the yard.  Getting in and out of the doorway is difficult.  We will figure it out with more practice. 

At this point I think we are in for the night.  I leave Arri to rest in the living room and go into the office to play on the computer.  About 4 minutes later, I hear him.  He is working his way down the hall (need to buy a temporary runner).  He loses his footing ¾ of the way to me. I let him lay for a few minutes but I know he can’t get up.  The floor is wood and too slippery to get his back leg up.  I grab his front legs and drag him to the carpet.  He gets his legs under him and finishes up the walk to where he wants to plant himself for a while.

May 22, 2012: Day after surgery in photos

Resting after a potty break

In the car - leaving the cancer clinic

Canned food for dinner is a treat - carpet remnents on slippery surfaces.

A graphic view of the surgery site

Not his first steps but this is the day after surgery.