I've read that the nuprene pads just last for 3 or so days... But, I just assumed that I could re-apply them again with some more medical adhesive...But when you say they don't last, do you mean that the pads themselves just fall apart and there would be nothing to re-apply?

Today (6 days post-op) was a much better day than yesterday!

Jake was sleeping all morning , and I decided to take my Wolfie out to swim in the pool. I didn't want to leave Jake alone, but also don't want him to get his bandage wet... So I placed his bed in front of the sliding doors in the livingroom, so he could watch all the action. He immediately perked up and even stood up a couple of times. We only stayed out for about an hour... enough to get Wolfie a good workout (I really can't wait til Jake can finally go swimming again!). When we came back in, Jake got up by himself and hopped over to us. I gave him his favorite cookies and then started to cook their chicken and rice stew for the week. Later that day, when my husband came home from work, Jake got up again and hopped over to the door with Wolfie to greet him, like he used to do. Each day seems like an eternity... and I can't wait for him to be able to hop around everywhere, without me panicking that he looses his balance and falls down.  Friday morning, we have to remove Jake's bandage and examin his incision. I'll take some pictures then, and post to the blog for everyone to see.

I haven't had too much time to cry lately ... can't even think about the future... just trying to get through from day to day. I have to go back to work next week and I'm dreading that. But that's in 4 more days, and I'm hoping Jake is doing a million times better by then. 

So today is exactly 10 days since Jake's amputation surgery. He is doing pretty well. He's hopped around by himself quite a bit today, pooped and peed without any help from us (holding him up, that is)... He really wanted to go swimming with me and Wolfie, but that won't happen for another week or so. He gets his stitches taken out later this week.

Can't wait to see him swimming and playing again. He is such a sweetheart. Luckily, his appetite has been great throughout all this... and it feels like his other front leg is developing some bulkier muscles. Yay! I'm so paranoid about his other leg snapping from the extra stress. I ordered a couple of supplements online and they should be arriving the end of the week. I also switched Jake's food from his Royal Canine high protein, low calerie diet to Blue Buffalo for Seniors in the past 2 weeks. I also supplement both his and Wolfie's dry commercial food with home cooked chicken and rice... They really love it!

I'm really enjoying all the wonderful support on our blog... Thank you Jerry and Tripawds.com!!!  My friends and family and able to keep up with the latest progress on Jake... and are all becoming educated on canine osteosarcoma and amputation surgery!

Jake's Mom

Today is day 11 post-op. I had to go back to work today. Jake had to wear his E-collar (in case he wanted to lick and chew his incision while I was away)... and was put in the office/study all by himself (in case Wolfie wanted to lick at Jake's incision)... only room in the house without a bed, couch or futon... He's not allowed to jump up anywhere for a couple of weeks... doctor's orders.

When I got home and opened the door to the study, he was standing up to greet me.... He did his peeps and poos... ate his dinner... but he seem really tired/sleepy the rest of the evening. More than usual, we think. I hope that nothing bad is going on... His incision looks good (is starting to dry up), he has a great appetite, and I took his temp earlier today, and it was normal... I guess we're just worried...

Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. From many of the posts I have read, there are good days, and then some bad days... I hope tomorrow is a better day!

Jake's Mom

Today is 14 days post op. I had a little scare (worry) this morning before leaving for work. I tried to make Jake get up from his comforter/bed in the kitchen, to do his final peeps and poops before I left for work... and I noticed that he was soaking wet all underneath. His sling was still one (he lied down before we had a chance to remove it earlier, so we just left it), but it was soaking wet, so was the comforter... I couldn't tell if he was wet because his sling had maybe slipped over his wee-wee (I'm being polite) when my hubby had taken him out earlier to pee, or if he had just lost control of his bladder and peed all over himself while lying there. Of course I was thinking the latter... Jake was also feeling miserable... and he's never ever peed in the house before.

So I made him stand while I tried to shampoo and rinse off all the pee on his fur with some washcloths. I didn't want to give him a complete bath yet, as he's only going to have his stiches removed tomorrow, and I just didn't want to get his incision wet yet. After I dried him... I gave him a new clean comforter to lie on, and then threw his wet comfortor and pillows into the washing machine. I called work and told them I wasn't coming in today... I didn't feel comfortable leaving him alone, and I wanted to see if he was really loosing control of his bladder, or if it was just an accident because of the sling positioning earlier... It's been 6 hours and so far, no more 'leaks'. I just took him outside and he peed like normal.

One other thing I also noticed... He really peed alot outside this morning... I mean, alot more than normal. Two very long pees... and I don't remember him drinking any more than usual last nite. I also started him on his new Senior vitamins last nite, and was wondering if that could have contributed to his extra peeing... 

I know that I'm probably sounding like a paranoid mom...  but with all the problems several others in our forum been having lately, I'm just worried about every single little thing with Jake...

Well, tomorrow morning is Jake's vet appointment, so hopefully he'll get a clean bill of health (as clean as possible with a diagnosis of osteosarcoma!)... and that he'll be allowed to start swimming in the pool this weekend. I know that will definitely perk him up, since he loves it so!

Jake's Mom