Great idea, Jerry!  I took your advice and decided to reassure mom that I would be A-OK in time.  When she brought me my water dish to drink from earlier tonight, I didn't drink from it while lying down like usual.  Instead, I stood perfectly erect and perfectly balanced, just like I used to before my surgery, and gulped it down while mom squeaked with delight and shed a few happy tears.  Whew! That was rough, but I imagine it will get easier and easier and I'll be standing for longer periods of time, and accomplishing other amazing feats, before I know it.  Thanks for motivating me to take the lead!    

It's uncanny...I think the renewed sense of confidence I gained from reading your response has affected mom as well.  She's definitely following my lead now.    

Maybe now would be a good time to ask about something else that's bugging mom.  (There's always something...)  It seems like every evening my incision bleeds just a tiny bit - just enough to leave a little smudge or two of blood on my blanket.  Every time mom checks my incision, it's dry...there's just a little scabbing around my staples at the bottom of my leg remnant.  Mom called the hospital and asked about it the first time it happened and they didn't think it was anything to be concerned about.  Not wanting to feel like a neurotic nelly, mom's been hoping that this is typical of healing surgical wounds.  Have you, or anybody else, experienced this?  I've been really careful to keep my wound from bumping against the floor, though I will occasionally sit on it for a few seconds if I've managed to hop ahead of mom before she can get the sling around me.  She says I'm going to give her a heart attack, but, hey, waiting for human assistance can get so tedious sometimes!  

Mom was also curious about medication, because the surgeon prescribed a couple of pain meds called Metacam and Tramadol.  My regular vet prescribed Rimadyl when I was first diagnosed with osteosarcoma, but it made me nauseous, and one time I threw up shortly after taking it.  Then I was switched to Tramadol. 

I seem to be doing really well on the Metacam, but I'm wondering about the Tramadol.  It didn't seem to be completely alleviating my post-surgical pain (I was panting at times), so the doctor upped the dosage a day ago.  Well, shortly after I took my last dose I conked out and began breathing rapidly in my sleep, then I woke up and panted like a maniac and gave my mom "crazy dog" eyes (they were bugging out a little, I'm embarrassed to say).  Mom thinks it's probably a side-effect from the Tramadol since "panting" is mentioned as a side-effect on a few different veterinary sites.  Mom can't get in touch with the doctor until Monday, so she was hoping someone here might have a little wisdom to share regarding Tramadol.  Mom was also wondering if heavy panting is ever a reason to head to the ER.  

Mom gave me some special dog treats containing chamomile and valerian, and Bach Rescue Remedy, and that seemed to do the trick.  I stopped panting and finally caught some shut-eye.  (Mom says she'd really like to catch some shut-eye someday, too...)

Thanks for the warm welcome, and thanks for having such an informative site!   Mom found out about the AST harness through your site and couldn't wait to order one for me.  I can't wait to look like a pawsitively stylin' tripawd!

Thanks, Calamity and Janie (I think of "Calamity Jane" every time I see a post of yours), for the reassuring words.  I'm looking forward to getting off of the Tram in a few days, but it's good to know that mom can give it to me on an as needed basis in the future.  We finally figured out that I do best on one 50 mg. tablet every three hours.  No more panting!   Hallelujah!!   

I do hope that I'm healing on schedule.  My gait is still pretty darn clumsy for the most part.  I've had a few graceful moments...mom calls me her Dolphin Dog now because I guess I look like a dolphin swimming through air.  She thinks it's pretty neat, though she is hoping I'll develop more of a natural gait in time.  (But she says that whatever gait I end up adopting is going to be beautiful because its mine.)  I've already got the knack of pivoting on my remaining hind leg.  Who knew that I'd be able to turn much faster now?!  Mom gasped in surprise the first time she saw me do it - I was like a blur of motion!  

We are feeling better now and working hard on taking things one day at a time.  Well, actually I've been taking it all in stride from the beginning, it's my silly neurotic mom who's got to learn to chill out.  *rolls eyes*