Be sure and read Jerry's post several times.  Full of wisdom and Sage advice.

While  you are waiting feedback in both legs during the up and down roller coaster portion of this journey. follow Gunnar's lead.  The bliss of being dog is he has no worries, just lives effortlessly from one moment to the next.  Gunnar  doesn't  have a timeframe  stamped anywhere on his butt and could care less about days on a calendar. 

Gunnar  does care about being pain free, getting lots of tummy rubs, being spoiled and living life to the fullest.

We know it's hard not to focus on statistics at first.  We all do.  Then we see where many dogs blow statistics  out of the water.  Some don't.   Statistics  just dont mean that much around here one way it another.  What does matter is making every single day count!  Don't  let that piece of crap disease  interfere with your time together take your focus away from living  in the moment....living the now!

We are here for you and with you.  Update when yoj can and we'll take it from there, okay?

Higs

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

So glad you are able to move forward now!  So glad the tests show he is fit and a good candi6 for amputation.   Sure, it's scary, bipit  it's the best path to take to give your sweet bou a quality pain free life!

Check out the ebook Loving Life On Three Legs and Three Legs and a Spare for some good tips.

A couple of things uou can do now to help Gunnar have an easy recovery.  Go ahead and raise his food and water bowls to prevent  strain.

Get some non slip scatter rugs for traction .

Do you have stairs he will have to use  to go in and out?  If at all possible  go ahead and build a ramp (with rails) and have him get use to that.  Obviously not every can I stall a ramp, so you may want to get a harness to help him with the stairs.  Uou can check outmour Gear shop for suggestions. 

No stairs, no jumping or running  and just short leashed potty breaks for the first two weeks-ish.  You'll want a firm Orthopedic  bed for him to help supp his joints, but also to make it eas for him to stand up without  slipping around.  One that is an "investment" but exceptional  is The Big Barker Bed (Gear shop)

Your fully staffed clinic will keep him for the first night.  Sometimes  they stay a night or two longer, just depends on the I individual  dog.

When you go to pick Gunnar up, don even look at his incisioon or draw atte tion to it.  Jist praise him and tell him what a good boy he is and he's going home!  Keep your energy strong and upbeat.

Most dogs come home with Gabapentin,  Tramadol, an a antibiotic  and an anti inflammatory  like Rimadyl.   Most Surgeons now give a nerve block called Novicta that really helps for the short term. Some come home woth a Fentynal  patch.

Sometimes  because the dogs are so hopped up on pain meds, they may act that they can do more than they should.   Once the meds wear off though,there can be a bit of a crash and that's  when tweaking  the meds becomes "interesting ".  Sometimes  though, they can be zonked out at first and, of they have the patch, they can act quite weird!

It's import that Gunner drink water and pee.  Sometimes  not eating much and talking  a few days to poop can happen.  Just give him any yummy food he''ll eat.

Just remember,  recovery doesn't  last furever!  Recovery is no picnic at first., but we'll be here with you the whole way, okay?  We've all been thru stand we can tell yoj Gunner's sparkle will come back bigger and brighter  than before!! Oh, and you will tru be amazed  at how well Gunner adopts to three as he gets further  and further  away from reco!

Just wanted to throw out a few things.  Stay  connected  and ask any ques, o,ay?

Hugs

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

he is so full of energy and excited to be back in his pack and home. He has a great disposition and the happy loving boy we all know and cherish  

All that matters is Gunnar gets to be Gunnar again and Gunnar is pain free with that bum leg gone!!

Do us a favor,okay?   Read Jerry's post over and over.  Write it down.   Carry it with you.   Absorb it, because  it is all so true!!!  

"Statistics "  just don't  carry much weight around here.  I guess they serve a purpose in that it heightens our awareness to make every single moment the best moment evvvver!.   Our whole focus changes and our dogs well being is all that matters.  Always has been the case, but we learn to Be More Dog .  To live in the bliss of the now just like our dogs.

Our dogs don't  give a rat's ass about reports or statistics  or prognosis.   They do love all the spoiling  though and getting to do whatever they want anytime they want!

A couple of pups come to mind who did listen when the Bet gave their hooman a "statistic ".  Stubborn Pug Maggie's hooman was told she "had about  three to six months" (may have been less, can't  reme exactly).  Stubborn Pug Maggie didn't  listen.  She passed FOUR years later!!   Founder dog Jerry another example  of blowing statistics  out of the water!   Dog Murphy was given about six months and rocked it on three for about another three years.

When my Happy Hannah's "report" came back it said no lymph node tissue was presented.   The Surgeon  had already "suggested" there was lymph node involvement.   The Onco had them double check the report.  Nope, no tissue.  The surgeon said it must have been so destroyed that the sample basically disintegrated!!  Say whaaaat?Prognosis schmognosis!      My Happy Hannah headed to The Rainbow Bridge a year and two months later.

So glad that Gunnar is having a good recovery.   Aounds like you've got the pain well managed.   Good job.

Extra hugs.......and extra cookies to Gunnar for us.

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

Our hearts break with you and our tears are falling hard with yours.  Even with the "prognosis ", I find the outcome today a shock.  Just shaking my head in disbelief. 

You gave Gunnar a chance....and he def wa ted that chance!  To have a path forward that "should" have given you extended time...and then this.  We all hate this dastardly  disease  so much.  Its cunning  and brutal. 

From Gun art's perspective, he DID get extended time for each moment  to be filled with more loving  and caring and spoiling than most dogs ever fet in a lifetime. 

Clearly the wisdom of Gunnar is so enlightened and his love for you is so Pie.  I think sometimes  dogs just "know" we hoomans need "extra" time with them.  They just "know" that we need the certainty  of doing everything  ppssible for them.  And with that "knowing"  they can let go of their earthly "duties" when they feel that gift to their hoomans is complete.  For whatever reason, Gunnar felt his earth  mission was complete  and could not be expanded  from a higher place....from an energy source  that will always be there to guide you and continue  to teach you the lofe lessons he will still share with you.

Please look for signs from him and, when you can, share those with us if you like.  Right now your hearts are too heavy and the void is unbearable.   But he will connect.

So sorry.  Just no words ever.

Surrounding  you with all the abundant  joy Mr Gunnar has given you all these magical years♥️♥️♥️

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 

PS.  Make no mistake  about it, while all our beloved Spiritual Beings were there to greet Gunnar and welcome him home, the GSD were front and center...led by Jerry and Wyatt Ray and some of the Oaktown Pack.