Nothing exciting to post. Spencer has had a great day though. His incision is looking much better. He has been very active today, jumping around, playing with his squeaky toy. then running around the yard for a bit. Yesterday he got the all clear to play with his friends again, so now we just need for them to come out to play!
Yesterday he got his stitches out. There was still some fluid in the incision site so the vet drained that off. She was a little concerned that there was still so much fluid (a syringe full). It is very possible that this is a result of the chemo slowing down his healing. But to play it safe they sent some off to have another culture done and some more off to have it basically biopsied. That should be back by Monday (the biopsy, the culture takes like 10 days).
Spencer was very excited to get to the cabin. It was dark by the time we got up here. I’m sure he will have lots of fun going out exploring in the day light tomorrow. 🙂
For those who have been through amputations – question… how long until you let them go out (in a fenced yard) by themselves? Before all of this happened Spencer generally went out in our back yard on his own for standard potty breaks. But since he came home from the biopsy I haven’t let him go out on his own at all. I always go outside with him. He now only goes a few feet away, then looks back to make sure I’m coming too. I was just wondering today how long I should keep always going out with him. I assume at some point I can feel safe letting him out on his own… right?
Oh, and I think that we came up with a name for the cabin. We often call him “Spence”, we are thinking about naming the cabin “3Pence Lodge” (to state the hopefully obvious… combining him being a tripaw and his nick name).
I like the cabin name!
I can’t remember how long it was before I let Maggie go out on her own, she had a dog door, but I think it was soon after her stitches were out. She developed a dependency problem- she acted like she couldn’t come up the two steps to the deck and come in by herself. She could easily do it. My dad created the problem because at his house he always carried her in and out. We had standoffs where she would sit in the back yard and wait for me- sometimes they lasted 20 or 30 min. I always peaked to make sure she was OK. Once she figure out I wasn’t coming to get her she came in on her own. She was able to go in and out on her own the rest of her life. I guess once you feel Spencer is able to navigate on his own it is OK to let him go on his own (you can always peak!).
Karen and the pugapalooza
Thanks for that quick response Karen! So I guess now that he got his most recent stitches out that we can start to try to let him out on his own. I think HE will be better with it than me! He does the stairs on his own now with no problems. I know for me, one of my issues is I’m paranoid of what will happen next! One of the guys cutting our grass the other day killed a copperhead in the yard!!! That is the last thing that Spencer needs. And then I’m paranoid that he will have a weakness episode. though it has been a week now with none of them. (Yay!!!) But OK, when we get back to the other house I will try letting him out on his own (while I peek). Here at the cabin we don’t have a fence, so he’ll keep getting supervised outings for a few more days. 🙂
I’m so glad Spencer is feeling better. That boy needs a few good days in a row!! As for going outside, we have a small/medium backyard, but we always go outside with our dogs because we have a pool with no fence. So, amputation or not, we generally follow our pooches out and let them run and play.
I hope your boy continues to heal and feel great!!
Sammy acted like he couldn’t go out without me, no matter in bright sunlight or dark after his amp. I finally got him to be comfortable again without me, just about a year later.
We have a couple of acres, fenced, so as long as I peek out once in awhile, I feel fine about him being outside alone.
Elizabeth and Sammy
P.S, glad for the good day for Spencer, he needs it! The cabin name is perfect 🙂
I love the cabin name!! It’s pawfect! I too am so glad Spencer had a good day! Here’s to many more!
We are looking at amputation for our Golden Retriever (killing me). Can anyone provide info on what type of care and how much care is needed when your bring them home/what to expect? Thanks so much!
Diane – I think that it is different for each dog. Spencer had a relatively easy recovery. He had the surgery on Wednesday, I picked him up on Thursday. He did have a drain in and I had to clean up after that; but that was all it involved. He was on a few pain meds and some antibiotics. For Thursday I had to use a sling to help him get around when he wanted to walk. Spencer hadn’t stopped using his leg at all, so I think for him he had to get used to not using that leg at all. I imagine when you have a dog who has been favoring the bad leg that they are already used to not using that leg, so in that way recovery might be a little easier.
By Friday Spencer was taking about 10 steps on his own. By the weekend I had given up using the sling and just really limited how much he was up and around.
I know for us the amputation was absolutely the right thing. I struggled with it when they first mentioned it; but within a few days knew it was the only chance that he had to live, so it was an easy decision. His quality of life is still amazing and he is very happy. He doesn’t even seem to notice the missing leg. (He is almost 5 weeks post amputation now.)
Good luck!!
i waited until chili dawg’s staples came out, because i knew he would want to wrestle with finchy (his monkeybutt brother) in the backyard otherwise.
Jenna