Hello everyone!

So the critical 2 week period of amputation recovery is over with and Chloe had her staples removed just earlier today! I think the vet was quite surprised at how well Chloe was doing since she walked him out to get to me when they were finished. He said that her incision site was healing well, she seemed to have grasped this 3 legged thing, and that I definitely made the right call with amputation. I certainly had no doubt in my mind about the decision I made a few weeks ago. 

Anyway, Chloe and I are both relieved to rid ourselves of the satellite dish since she ran into everything in the middle of the night and made all kinds of racket…

I am so glad I got to spend every minute of her critical recovery period with her, but sad that I will have to say good bye to her for a month. I am moving up in a couple days to start grad school in a couple weeks and she still needs to have a tooth removed. She will have to stay with my parents until mid september when they have time to drive her the 350 miles to live with me. It will be tough since I will miss her like crazy, but seeing her condition continue to improve day after day has given me the confidence that she will continue to do well even at my parents house.

Everyone always likes good news, so I thought I would share some with all of you! Thank you everyone who has read my blog and has given me advice in the forums, your support has made all the difference. THANKS!!!!

-Chloe's mom

It's great to hear how well Chloe is doing – isn't it wonderful when those staples are gone? She is such a cutie! And I see she has our Honey's favorite squeaky toy. She absolutely goes wild for that thing!!

When Honey got her staples out it was a real turning point and we sure needed that – so did she! Honey's favorite human (well, maybe 2nd favorite!) was away the 2nd week after surgery and I think her spirits were low. One of the posters here gave us some great advice that I'll pass onto you. Treat the spirit as well as the body & to find one favorite thing they can do and exploit it! This might help Chloe's spirits and recovery while you're apart.

Have a great year at grad school. Enjoy spoiling your girl!

Great news! You and Chloe made it through the upsy-downsy 2 week recovery period. No more cone. No more staples. 

Thank you for sharing.

It'll be tough for you to leave her, I know, but mid-September will be here before you know it. Good luck with the move and your studies!

Yay Chloe!!! LOVE good news!!!  

I'm so glad she's doing so well….it'll make it easier on both of you while you move and are apart…

Tracy, Maggie's Mom

Great post!!  Its awesome that you were able to spend that time & help her recover. That's the hardest time, the time right after the amp.

My dog also had to have teeth pulled right after his amp.. it was so hard to put him thru it but so glad I did. I couldn't have him suffer with a teeth pain after getting rid of the awful bone pain.

Hope all goes well with the surgery & the move. I'm sure you'll miss her tons but hope that time goes by quickly!

Jenna & Zak
12 yr old Rtvr
Dx front leg 1/24/09
Amp 1/29/09
Carboplatin SR 2/5/09, 3/6/09, 4/3/09, 5/1/09
Doxorubicin 6/12/09, 6/26/09, 7/17/09, 8/07/09, 9/01/09
Chest X-rays; 2/5/09; 5/8/09 clear; 8/7/09 clear; 10/28/09 clear; 12/31/09 clear; 4/9/10 clear; 8/6/10 CLEAR!!!

Gerry was a sneaky licker too!  Though only prior to staple removal.  Still, he and Ajax can start a club.  His cone collar (e-collar) was not quite long enough and I had no idea until the day I took him in for his staples to be removed.  Took him home after they told me it was going to take 2 more weeks to finish healing, because he had been licking somehow.  Then maybe minutes after we were back, he showed me how he had been sneaking all along!  Then experimenting with t-shirts ensued (and failed) and finally getting a longer cone collar from his new vet did the trick. But I have digressed wildly -

Congratulations Chloe!!!  Getting those staples out is one of the best holidays ever in our book

Hi Chloe's Mom,

So glad to hear that Chloe is recovering well and finally got her staples out!  I know you're gonna miss her tremendously, but the next couple of weeks will pass by so quickly… and then when you see her again, you'll be amazed at how well she's doing!

It's funny, because Jake and Wolfie also both had (have) the same squeeky toy too!! Wolfie still plays with them in the pool…

Good luck in school!!

Angel Jake and Wolfie's Mom