Hang in there Silver, you and Rocket can be healing buddies together since his surgery was 2 days prior to yours. This forum is so wonderful for so many reasons but among the top is the support and warmth so badly needed at is time. I'm keeping up with your updates, so know that we are novices, but here with you too.

Power Paw in solidarity -- Rocket (and Lynda)

Hi Silver, welcome! The choice of how long to stay with and supervise around the clock is really personal and depends on the dog and person. Cadence was one of those that recovered fast and did very well with minimal issue. She wore an Ecollar when we were not watching her and we put a white sheet down on the carpet so we could monitor any leakage or blood. We confined her to the room we call "the cozy", which is the only carpeted room on our lower level. We put a barrier up so she could not leave the room. Her surgery was on a Friday, we picked her up on Saturday early afternoon. She was slow and tired and high on meds, but already active, on the hunt for food. I took off work Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to be with her at all times. She whimpered whenever I had to leave to go to the bathroom, take a shower, get ready etc. I did everything besides shower downstairs. I think most of her whimpering was due to being behind that barrier and due to that darn Ecollar! Then we had our good friend's 18 year old son and his cousin come and watch her the fourth day while we both worked. And then my husband was off Friday. At nights we both took turns sleeping downstairs on the couch with her on the floor with her ECollar on her. I cannot complain as it was really not that bad. The hardest part was her wanting to be so active so soon. She did have some sort of phantom pain I think because a few times she would be just laying there and would suddenly jump up like something bit her in the rear, gallop across the floor, nip at her backside, gallop back, and then lay back down again.

Then when it was the weekend again, of course we were with her, but then come Monday, we were back at work. We left the E-Collar on her during the day. She was still able to eat and drink with it on (awkwardly). I was still nervous but I had to go back to work So that's my story and I am sticking to it!  

If you are nervous, you may want to confine her to one room with all of her comforts so she isn't trying stairs (if you have any). Some of them just try to do too much too soon. 

Cadence's Mom

I was worried about the same - did we do this for only a short time with her?  I still don't know the answer to that, but somehow - as she's getting back to normal we're just too busy enjoying her to think about it.  Today, Baby made it half way around the block (it's a long block that was always our normal walk) without stopping to rest.  All of a sudden, she's doing so well!

It sounds like Maggie's doing great!  I found when I was confident that Baby would let us know if she needed us I was able to leave her alone at night.  We did have her use a collar if we weren't there to watch her.  We got one of those inflatable  softer collars that was much more comfortable than the e-collar.  Baby's a rear amp, so the t-shirt didn't work. 

You guys are doing a great job caring for her!  Keep on healing!

Hugs and Wags

Judy and Baby