Unfortunately when I called my veterinarian to make an appointment I cannot get him in until Thursday afternoon. I’m bummed by this but I’m working to keep Jake as comfortable as I can. I have the option to take him back to the Shelter veterinarian but with her attitude I don’t think this would be very helpful for him. She seems to have a totally poor understanding of pain in dogs. I know he did receive a narcotic pain medication for his first day after surgery. I’m just frustrated by the attitude that dogs don’t process pain the way humans do so they don’t need the pain management . 

I have another question for you all. In reading some of the information it seems that some dogs get physical therapy of sorts as they heal. I’m still receiving PT myself for my shoulder.  I have been so busy looking up all I can for pain management I haven’t had time to look up PT. Is there a place I can go to find some basic PT for a new tripod?

Jake had a good Veterinarian appointment today. He is now on Tramadol and Gabapentin and he gave me Vetprofen, an anti inflammatory as well because the shelter vet only gave him enough to last until this evening. The little guy runs out of the shelter anti inflammatory today. I like my veterinarian. At least he listens. He probed the incision and Jake handle that well. He thinks part of the pain issue is caused by the pulling of the stitches when Jake moves in certain ways. All I know is it causes so much pain he yells. 

Overall, other than pain, which is a big deal, Jacob is doing quite well it seems. He gets around well, no problems with going to the restroom and the pain with medication on board, he is more interested in his environment as well as being more playful.

I am learning so much on this site and I thank the site administrators and the various folks who keep  blogs for all this information. I’m looking forward to reading the books I purchased as well. Normally I research things before they happen but as I’ve mentioned I didn’t know until Saturday that I would have this special little guy in my life. What a great addition to my household. He was quick to figure out how to fit in with my menagerie of cats and dogs. He has two cats now in his life that I kept out of my litter of four who were rescued when their mother didn’t return when they were just a week old as well as the Border Collie and my “God only knows” big girl who are both rescued and my 15 year old Miniature Poodle (the only non rescue in the home). Periodically I dog sit for several friends so my menagerie is used to animals coming in who aren’t mine but the crew seems to understand that Jacob is here to stay.   Aren’t critters amazing!!! Once I figure out how to upload a photo I’ll do so. 

glo

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement!  I lost this post for a while but I’m learning how to figure out how to get through this site and find my way around. I posted a introduction for him as well elsewhere. He got his staples out but it was a traumatic day for him as he stayed at the shelter waiting for six hours. I’m kicking myself for that. I thought the original surgeon (vet) should see him and check out the incision. But he was clearly traumatized. He came out shaking and trembling. I know he thought I left him there forever. But it didn’t take long for him to bounce back. By the time I got him to the car he settled down. When he got home he rushed to the backyard and peed a bucketful. I guess no one took him outside. And he doesn’t like peeing if he’s in a cage the shelter folks had told me when I got him. He was really happy to be home with the menagerie. Looking back over the last two weeks I would have done things very differently. He would have gone to my veterinarian immediately after adoption and I would also have had Dr. Wolf (it’s really the name of my veterinarian) take out the staples. Poor Jake. But now I’m set to doing things right for the little guy. He’s supposed to go for a short walk down by the river today but the weather is looking sketchy. I’m hoping the walk lets him know that going for a car ride can be fun. The river happens to be near the shelter so I know some of the smells will kick in the memory of his six weeks at the shelter. I want him to know that they can be fun in that area. 

Now that the staples are out he is doing so much better. He moves better and sure plays a lot more. I’m easing up a bit on the pain meds to see how he does. I know the scar is a bit tender for him but in time that will go away. He’s a great little guy. I missed him like crazy when he was at the shelter waiting for staple removal. I’m really glad my menagerie accepted him so well! I periodically care for my friends dogs when they are out of town so they are used to having dogs in and out of the house. However they seem to know Jake is one of them and won’t be leaving any time soon. He fills a void caused by the loss of my 13 year old Minature Poodle, Hannah in November 2018.  I still have her brother,Jeremiah who is now 14, who had to give the okay for Jake to come home with me. 

I picked up a no pull harness for Jake’s walks but I was wondering about some of the harnesses I see for sale for Tripods on this site. Do any of you use one?  I have trained my other animals via a choke collar or a prong collar. However, when Jake is put on a lead I noticed he freaks a little. He also has a very hoarse bark and chokes a bit after drinking. I’m not certain but I think he has been dragged while waking at some point and time. I know this can’t cause problems with a dog’s trachea. So I thought the no pull harness would be good for him for walks.