What a great mom you are!!!!  I'm so happy you were able to see you baby without feeling depressed!   It's good he's 'out of it' so he didn't want to come home.   I'm of the school that believes I need to see them very soon after surgery.  (Maybe because I need to see someone that loves me right after a surgery!) SO, I'm glad you did! 

I hope the kittie is doing better with all the scents.  And I sure hope nothing in your house breaks again anytime soon either!  The Ruffwear thingee will help you a lot!

Also, something I have done in the past with Comet's knee surgeries is ...I used Press n' Seal to wrap the incision area to keep it from getting wet.  I did it just long enough to avoid any moisture.  There was always dew outside and that helped.  A friend did it when she had her knee replaced so she could take a shower.  It works!

Give you neighbor a big hug for us for helping so much!

Hang in there.  You are doing great!
  

THANKS MARY AND ALL...I mentioned Mary because of the Mill Valley connection and the step thing...First, I probably won't come to Mill valley...even tho my heart wants to, unless you can provide me a route that is really really easy and doesn't get too confusing (not too adventuresome here...I was the copilot...Bob was the driver)....I had made Magic a step type thing when I took him to the vet for the wrapping of the leg several days after the biopsy...I got a pallet from a local nursery (very heavy tho, lots of splinters til I thought to tie some rope around it to drag it) and I put two new foam cushions on top of that then backed the truck up to the lowest part of the driveway...wheels meeting where the driveway meets the road...and it was probably less of a step than the ones into the house...however I think something more solid than the foam will probably be needed for balance?

This morning at 7 AM I spoke with his night nurse and they have HAD HIM OUTSIDE for a little hopalong!!! And he did very well. Hopefully the catheter will come out today and I'm not looking at him coming home til tomorrow or even Monday night...for me Monday might even be better so that the surgeon could look him over one more time (he isn't on this weekend, but they do have something like 22 vets)..I have to keep remembering this is only the 2nd day post op (if we don't count op day)...it seems like a lifetime.

Thank you again everyone...off to figure out ramps and stuff!

Diane, Magic and OJ the kitty (who thank the good Lord has started eating again)

In case you missed it while worrying about the step issue!

I couldn't resist posting this from Captain Jack who just showed us his silly side.  Really, it's a 3-legged dog!

We heart Jack!

I cannot believe that is a three legged dog…come on, you doctored the tape didn't you!!!!! feeling big for my britches today….went to the vet to visit Magic and they were very busy today and in comes a lady with ….. A THREE LEGGED DOG…She must have thought I was a crazy woman…I went right up to the dog and threw my arms around her and was giving and getting kisses and telling her what a beautiful girl she was…what are the chances of that happening….The pup is six months out, I wrote down this website for her and told her about the wonderful people and equipment…hers is having some trouble with the docs finding the right chemo combo, but she thinks they may have it now and you would not even know this dog used to have another leg…It is a rear leg while Magic's is a front, but what a blessing to see someone who was doing so well. When I went in the room….Magic was standing with a leash around his neck…they weren't even using the sling for awhile. He did need some help and when the nurse and I tried to help get him outside I could see that I need him to have another day or two of stability working with people who know what they are doing! They are backing off the pain meds and have taken out the catheter and I am just so encouraged. He will get up with verbal encouragement. My neighbor built a small ramp into his "shed" that he really prefers sleeping in, I have my regular dog ramp back and think it will work for the kitchen to the yard, and two of my guy neighbors have some ideas for the ramp from truck to house.

Right now, things are going good for him…one troublesome thing is he is not eating right now and I'm sure I can get him to eat SOMETHING at home, but he wasn't even interested in sliced roast beef…one of the things I do use to get pills down…that may prove to be a problem (I did see the topic about getting pills down)

So day two after surgery was so encouraging and Ruthie, my new Tripawd friend from the vet shows me in person and real life just how many possibilities there are.

Thank you Mary and all sending positive thoughts and prayers…and know I am doing the same for your furkids….
The vet and techs and nurses have been phenomenal until the one last night…who had me hysterical after i got off the phone. I had talked to his reg vet for about 45 mins (she is wonderful wonderful wonderful…met her for the first time when she came to the house to send our first WD to the Bridge…home visit) and she is so encouraging and felt that Monday afternoon was fine and we could go even longer if need be…they are well aware of my physical limitations. The nurse told me he was depressed, kept looking at the parking lot when she took him out, didn't want to eat for her…I mean she was so so awful that all I could do was bawl when I got off the phone. Magic's reg. vet won't be back til next Friday so I talked to another one this morning who is absolutely furious at this nurse. This doc feels that we are proceeding at EXACTLY the right pace for both me AND MAGIC and i asked her not to say anything til Magic is out of there because given her attitude last night, I now don't trust that nurse AT ALL. The only person in…gee maybe close to 20 years (well make that the second person) that I have ever had an issue with at that vet. I realize she was probably trying to urge me to take him home probably thinking she was doing the right thing but….
So I feel better after talking to the vet this morning and as we were talking she said oh look there goes Magic walking by me…so he is up and moving today and I shall be seeing him in a couple of hours.

I think it is because I am still so unsure of what I am doing (I have ordered that book about second guessing) that anyone can knock me off my pins with the slightest disapproval…so now I'm off to see about moving the big ramp around and how hard that will be….the bridge from truck to house may have to wait to be utilized until he is truly steady on his feet…I sure wouldn't want him to fall off (oh just the thought of that just makes me want to …..you know)

THanks again…off to continue with the projects

Diane

i wish that thinking of previous surgeries worked....other than neutering....we went with most of them straight from healthy to old and something that couldn't be fixed. The last two went from healthy kitty to cancer (never seen before at my vet in a cat...the particular cancer) then to kidney failure and we are still dealing (he will be 17 next month) and Magic from healthy to cancer. I had his teeth cleaned last year and he was neutered. With wds, it is best to avoid any type of anesthesia if possible...even pain meds can really really affect them strongly...But Magic is so low content we will be pretty fine....his previous companion...phew...could NEVER have done this for many reasons. And HE went from healthy to immediate overnight it seemed, no symptoms til the damn end, tumor in chest overtaking everything.

I just need to stop stressing....It will be hard enuf when we actually START the coming and being home process, without living it every waking hour prior!!!!! The plan is TOMORROW evening....when the neighbor guys will be home from work...He was walking even better today, but still I had some difficulty "holding up" my side of the bargain! I THINK stuff is in place and ready...a few last minute things to move around after looking today and I think I will have the guys boost him out of the truck and help boost him into the hallway of the house....it should be close cuz I'll back the truck in....I decided NOT to try to get him to use the new "bridge" that first day...don't want to overwhelm him with all the changes, and in fact am attempting to keep most everything else as change free as possible ....didn't want it to look like a different house..oh, wait, he'll find the dog and cat hair in the corners and know he is finally, at long last, home.