You can't keep a good dog down.....

Just had the morning update from the surgery. The operation was concluded at 5:15pm last night, by 7pm he was already standing up and checking out his surroundings!

He had a comfortable night and this morning has had a walk around and has eaten some chicken!

They applied a fentynal (sp?) patch last night and they're switching off his IV pain meds this morning.

He has some bruising and a bit of seroma (sp?) fluid build up, (which also happened the day after his bloat operation last year, so maybe something he is susceptible to?).

Temperature is on the low end of normal, which is as it was prior tot the procedure yesterday so no real concern there.

Just waiting for the surgeon to come in this morning and assess him, they'll then let us know if he can come home today or tomorrow. I've told them if they are in any doubt then please keep him in, it's fine with us, he'll be monitored and have the best care close at hand so we can cope with another night if need be.

I'll update when I know more.

Thanks again everyone for your kind words and support.

We picked up a firm double foam mattress yesterday so that he has a bed large enough to turn around on without slipping off the side and I'll grab some rubber backed carpet runners today for the had surfaces. I'll grab some rubber boots too.

Tony.

A quick update.

Picked him up about 5pm, he was so please to see me, he dragged the vet nurse over to me when he saw me!

In and out the car was hard, and car to house was hard going.

He's got a lot of fluid build up under his belly, around his penis. The vet said to watch for an increase in that and let them know. It did get worse by bed time but no worse over night. I've sent them photo's. It's no worse this afternoon, but it is more bruised looking. I'm not sure just how much fluid build up would be normal? I am a little concerned, but it does not seem to be bothering him and is not getting worse.

Last night was hard, we thought he needed the toiled, it was very tough getting him outside and back, trying to support his weight with a towel etc. I think we made it worse for him to be honest. We managed to get him back to bed and he was exhausted.

He's eating like a champ, a full hand-fed dinner last night, and same this morning. He's very bright, wags his tail and no signs of whimpering. He hasn't tried to get at the would as yet and he can turn himself around on his bed.

He slept fine all night, no issues at all.

At 10 this morning he needed a pee, we thought we'd leave him alone more this time and just guide him. He hopped all the way outside, peed and hopped all the way back to bed! It was obviously a huge chore for him, but he did it.

I've just iced swollen thigh muscle again and put some hirudoid cream on the bruised fluid areas, he's quite happy stretched out on his bed snoozing.

I'll update as we go.

Cheers.

A quick update.

To be honest, I'm struggling a little today. I think a lot due to being completely exhausted. I've "slept" the last 5 nights straight on the couch as the living room seems to be the safest option for his beds at the moment. I'm getting very little sleep as every time he moves I wake up.

He came out of the operation on Monday about 5:30pm - it's now Sunday almost 4pm and he hasn't done a number 2 yet. He did almost try for one yesterday, but he was too tired from circling the lawn and his back leg gave out as he was squatting to try for one. He hasn't tried again since.

He was doing great those first few days/nights, but the last few days have been a struggle.

Thursday morning he really started yelping in pain whenever he tried to move. He spent the rest of the day motionless then yelped again in the afternoon. His fentynal patch would have worn of by around then and we only had the feldene to give him. I called the surgery, they said we should have another patch on. The surgery is a good drive away, so our local vet made a house call on friday morning and put a fresh patch on. By friday afternoon he was a lot better, able to move and hop about a bit again without yelping.

Friday night was terrible, he panted and whined all night. He was super anxious, every passing car or breath of wind had him startled and looking around. It was like he was having a bad trip. I called the surgery emergency line. They said it could be a reaction to the fentynal, which would make sense, but he'd never done it before and has had the patch a few times in the past. They said to give him some Diazapam and if he's no better by the morning, to remove the patch.

The diazapam calmed him a little and he was a lot better through Saturday, so we left the patch on. We also went to our local vet for some tramadol for when this patch wears out again.

Saturday night, (last night), he slept fin until about 11pm then started a very low cry. He doesn't seem to be in pain or discomfort, just a constant soft cry. So, I gave him Diazapam again, (valium), and he calmed for an hour or two then started up again. I was so tired by 4am that I gave him 3 tramadol, (surgeon had already said it was fine to give him that too if need be). He slept sound for a few hours then.

He's brighter again today, not whiny and not yelping. He's really struggling to get around and get comfy, We're only letting him up and out when he has to pee, (twice a day roughly). It's such hard work for him. By the time he's peed he is practically dragging himself back to bed as there's not the strength in that remaining leg yet.

His wound looks great and his large seroma is starting to disspate a little. He's eating fine.

He wont go on the huge mattress we bought for him any more as that's the one he was on when he was yelping, he's obviously associated it with pain so he's trying to manage on his little old bed at the moment.

Trying to stay strong for him, but I'm absolutely exhausted and really questioning if it was the right decision. I know it was, and I know he will get strong, but it is heart breaking at the moment watching him trying to just hop from the house to the garden to pee. I'm really struggling to convince myself he will get strong enough to get around properly again unassisted, and even run and go for walks, but it seems like such a long was off at the moment.

We are going to see the surgeon for a follow up on Thursday. It's then a bank holiday weekend here in Melbourne, then he'll go to see the oncologist next Tuesday, if he's strong enough by then he'll have his first round of chemo. So, Thursday & Tuesday are our next milestones to work toward. I'm hoping he can get to and in and out of the car by Thursday, otherwise that's going to be another ordeal.

Thanks all.

Tony.