WEEK 5 POST-OP: I'M READY TO RUN...NOT!!!

Ok, so I think I'm ready. Boy this feels like forever for me- why does mom yell at me everytime I try to play with my sister??? I feel GREAT! I finally tried the supplement that nice lady Brenda sent me. The good news is I didn't seem to mind the flavor! The bad news...well...I had quite the case of the runs (yeah- the D word). I'm sure it's because it's new to me- maybe mom needs to give me a little at a time first. I wonder, is there such thing as an all-in-one pill I could take??? Mom's gonna do some more research :) I get to walk a little further now, which is great. I'm not so good on the leash yet though as I have forgotten my manners (I keep pulling which drives mom CRAZY). Poor mom, she's sitting here itching like crazy. She apparently has chigger bites all over her back (I know, it's a weird place for them). She was taking pictures of dogs at the local animal shelter for the Petfinder site and wallah... she got to take home a surprise(s) from the grass (weeds) there. Mom's pretty disgusted by the description of those little critters! Anyway, I am so lucky to be recovering so well so please cross your fingers and paws for me that I continue to heal so well. Mom will take new pictures of me in the next day or 2 (she's really busy with work stuff right now). Until later....

4 WEEKS POST SURGERY: STILL FABULOUS!

Nothing but great news here! Mom is amazed at my progress (I'll post some pics in a day or 2). She has been so busy that she hasn't updated this much. My hair is growing back well (about half-way there) and I am walking extremely well! Mom and dad took me down the street a few blocks and I didn't limp at all when I returned- YIPPPEEEE! My poor sister is bored to tears (so am I), but I just keep counting down the weeks! We still have 6 more weeks until we get the all clear from Dr. Dew. I know it will go fast though, because 4 weeks has flown by! Check back in a few for more details! Hugs and kisses to all my fellow canines who are recovering from surgery or who will have surgery! Keep your heads up- it'll be over before you can say WOOF!

3 WEEKS POST- SURGERY: OH MY GOODNESS

Well it has been a fairly uneventful week. As you can see on my sister's face in the second picture- we are both extremely bored! All we can do is chew giantic bones- don't get me wrong, I love them, but geeeez! Mom walked me halfway down the street the day before yesterday (yippeeeee another change of scenery). Well... I wasn't very good on the leash 'cuz I was so excited (I kept pulling like a crazy girl). I seemed to limp a very very tiny bit when I got up later on, so mom of course is making me rest until tomorrow (she'll try again if it every stops raining!). I have a new foster sister who is going through heartworm treatment, so mom now has to walk her on a leash too- she's getting very tired of leashes :) She keeps saying "Oh there's hope- only 7 more weeks 'til we see doc and hopefully we'll get to bury the leash for good" (well we know she doesn't mean it 'cuz she's still going to walk me!). Wonderful Brenda from the Orthodogs group sent me a new supplement to try (it came today) so I can't wait to taste some tomorrow! I'll let everyone know what I think (I'm quite the taste tester!). Check back for more info soon! Congrats to all my doggy friends who are able to roam free!!!!!

2 WEEKS POST- SURGERY: YIPPEE

Boy it seems like forever ago that I had my surgery! I'm doing

GREAT!!! I act like nothing is wrong! Mom is doing a good job keeping me quiet and controlled though (it's not easy 'cuz I feel so good, but it's necessary... bone has to heal and all). Oh how boring this is- how will I ever make it 6 more weeks? I look forward to walking around the neighborhood again :) Thanks to everyone who asks about me!

DAY 10: PICTURES OF ME STANDING

You'll have to excuse the angle of some of these pics (mom was by herself and had to take pics while holding my leash at the same time!). You can see how good I'm doing- I know I'm a little on the pudgy side so don't make fun of me!

DAY 10: OOPS DRY/SCALY SKIN

Well it could be worse, but I now have dry, scaly skin. Dr. Dew suggested giving me a bath with oatmeal shampoo to help if it bothers me (doesn't seem to at this point). But on the bright side, my incision is great and I'm walking so well (I actually get to go a little farther into the yard now- yippeee I can now smell the fire hydrant on the corner of my house!).

Day 9: INCISION CLOSE-UP

Doesn't it look SOOOOO much better (if you click on the pics you can see a close- up version)! Mom and dad are amazed at how quickly my incision is healing. Those internal sutures seem to be doing the trick- well and that FABULOUS surgeon might have something to do with it!

DAY 8 and 9: FINALLY, SOME HAIR GROWTH

Mom was so excited today because she noticed I am getting some hair back! MAYBE, just MAYBE, I will stop itching now! There's some dry skin for sure and a very small circular area below my knee (hopefully it's not a ringworm- mom's keeping an eye on it). Anyway, I'm feeling really good- like nothing has happened! Definitely bored at times (as you can see bones help), but at least my knee doesn't hurt! Mom switched me to the brown chewable supplements (Glycoflex III soft chews) instead of the tablets- THANK GOODNESS, SOMETHING EDIBLE!

DAY 7: SURGEON FOLLOW-UP

Today we went to see the surgeon for follow-up instead of waiting 2 weeks. Mom told the nurse lady from the surgeon's office that I was itching and that because of that I kept getting up and down (therefore, my knee was a little swollen). The nurse said to go ahead and bring me in 1 week early just to make sure I'm not having an allergic reaction to the internal sutures, etc. GOOD NEWS- Doc gave me some hydrocortisone spray for the itching and I was given a great report (incision healing well, knee stable...). He said I have developed a small seroma (fluid filled sac) around the knee (which is not unusual following surgery, especially since I was moving so much due to being uncomfortable), but that it will typically reabsorb in the body with rest. He also told mom I could go swimming next week if I want (she's going to wait a few more weeks though for the pond to fill up) and that I should double my walks from next week on! Doc told mom that she will know when I overdo it because I might not bear as much weight on my leg or I might limp. No worries though- he said just to rest me a day or 2 and back off a little on the exercise! YIPPEEEE- maybe I can go in the back yard now! I'll check back again soon!