I'm not sure if this is really a "treatment and recovery" post, but please feel free to move it …

Once again it looks like a rough day on the site.  So we are here with a report, some questions, and some levity.  18 days post-amp, I have actually had several moments where I don't notice or remember that there was ever a 4th leg (Ajax has had more of these moments than I have, of course).  Even though we didn't have a terribly complicated recovery, and Ajax has been pretty much "himself" sor a week or so, I still see him become more and more his "old self" every day.  Including trying to jump up to receive treats from one of his favorite treat people in the park.  I pulled him down, but I think he would have succeeded in jumping upon one leg.  Also, he has returned to his morning ritual of doing a "down dog" on the apartment hallway carpet so that he can scratch his chest.  (Not sure if you're getting the visual here, but it was one I didn't think would happen with only one back leg).

Here our are issues:

– Although Ajax has eaten basically everything humans eat for his whole life, his Mom is hard pressed to give up even a bite of her ice cream.  However, since he walked to the park in the hellaciously hot NYC weather, we decided to try this ice cream thing you all talk about.  WOW did I have a happy Lab.  Sadly, I now get the backwards head eye roll every time I open the freezer.  I don't think I'm prepared to share my ice cream every day from now on.  Hmm.  I blame all of you

– We tried to get in a movie this morning. They're filming at the museum across the street and they wanted us to walk around.  I said no way, my dog has 3 legs and he had 4 legs 2 weeks ago – we're not taking the long way.  Ajax was a huge hit with cast and crew but, sadly, His Royal Blackness was not captured on film, so there will be no residuals for Mom.

– We're working on massage.  I think he likes it, though he could just be tolerating me.  We're also going to begin the core strengthening exercises.  And Mom got up at 6am for a spin class, shamed by the fact that Ajax can walk minus one leg while Mom sits on her you-know-what.

– He licks his paws more than he used to.  Anybody experience this?  I think it may be a substitute for the every 3 minute chin scratch that he can no longer do (he keeps trying, that part if sad).  He has solved this by walking up to random strangers on the street and offering them his chin.

– still in the cone when no one is in the room.  stitches out, and basically healed, but he still takes advantage of any opportunity to lick.  Any experience on when this will end?  I am tired of getting the Stare of Death every timeI put the cone on him.

–Any input on this?  Ajax, in addition to being a furry genius rock star, is friendly to all people and animals.  However, he's currently feeling a little vulnerable, I think, which is leading him to send out a small warning rumble (less than a growl, but not a tail wag) to certain dogs on the street.  No big deal, but since he spends much of his life on the mean streets of NYC, I'm hoping it will go away as he feels better.  Interested in any experiences.

Have a great weekend everyone.

oooh he likes being called a bad-ass – not really called that before (more like "pupper dup" "monster.dog" "sweet pea" "little man" and of course the most often used NYC street command for Labs – "LEAVE IT!"

good question re paws.  I will watch to see if it is on the one-legged side.  off to swim for the weekend, so that should help.  we have the float coat for the ocean, which we are going to wait a few weeks longer to attempt, but since he put himself in the pool sans assistance last week, i figure he and i will tool around in the pool this weekend.  we will race (his incentive:  rescue mom; mom's incentive:  avoid Ajax toenails)