So glad Daisy's tail is helicoptering!!  

I feed Solid Gold Grain Free kibble (Sun Dancer) and Merrick Grain Free canned (there are some stews types that are currently very favored in my house).  We have tried other Grain Free kibble in the past, but they always like Solid Gold better for some reason.  The cats too - really, really have a preference for Solid Gold Grain Free Indigo Moon.

Whoo-hoo!  Stitches are out!

So, I talked with my vet, and between him, myself, and the Worlds Greatest Tech, we all agree on a few things.

1.  It's very hard to know whether this is just normal [the lack of appetite] for her after a traumatic issue given she did not grow up with me and we have no history on "normal" behavior.

2.  There is nothing physically wrong with her that can be seen or felt and nobody wants to run tests. Her mouth looks good, her teeth are fine, there's nothing that is obviously preventing her from eating.

There is no swelling or heat in her leg, or weirdness to her joints that can be felt via palpation.  It's muscle soreness.  However, because her tummy didn't like the previcox, and it further did not like the Clavamox, there really aren't any more mild-on-the-belly pain meds we can give.  She's evidently one of two dogs in his practice history that has had a reaction to Previcox.  That said, he told me to try half of her original dose on an as-needed basis and see if her tummy revolts or she starts the dry heaving again.  He also pointed out that prior to her surgery she'd been on antibiotics for the leg, then had a diminished appetite as it became painful, so she came in to the procedure with a really off stomach in the first place, and we put meds in it on top of everything else.  (And as I am writing this now, I'm seeing a connection-- she had a course of antibiotics and started going off food; Repeat same process with antibiotics after surgery.)

She had a bit of trouble maneuvering on the tile floor in the clinic, so I wanted to take her in and find some of the silicone covered socks.  We did that then, and she walked through Pet-Co, and tried on socks, and left with a pair.  These things are wonderful!!!  She couldn't get up off the tile without my standing her up because of the slippery issue.  Once those were on -- absolutely no trouble.

I had a bag of food to exchange, and went to Tractor Supply.  It was too hot to leave her in the truck, so I had to take her in again.  By this time she was visibly tired.  Sigh.  I put her on a flat cart and wheeled her halfway through the store when she decided that was enough, she was walking.  And she dozed while I browsed, and browsed, and browsed... and cannot find a single Merricks brand that does not have potatoes in it.  Sigh again.  I should have looked at Pet-Co.

Then I rewarded her with a plain cheeseburger from McDonald's, and she gobbled it up entirely.  Not with gusto, but every bit got eaten!

I know we overdid so I went ahead and gave her a pain pill at the new dosage.  She's not really showing too much pain right now.  I also gave her a long massage a little bit ago.

Interestingly enough... now that she's shirt-free, stitch-free, and sock free, for the first time she's bathing herself.  As I'm watching, I'm noticing that the more she licks, she gets a little cough.  She also really stretched her neck out to let me massage the base of her throat.  That's starting to convince me that she has some throat irritation still from the tube.  I suppose she could be super-sensitive.  If I'd raised her from a puppy, that would certainly be helpful, darn it!  But no issues breathing, no issues with the exercise. I really think we're still dealing with everything getting back to normal.

Even with the overtaxing exercise today, this evening, I see more "dog" than I've seen in a while.

Hi,

Milo is very sensitive to NSAIDS, so we used just Tramadol and gabapentin after surgery. But we do have a bottle of deramaxx and we give home one after a very busy day, or when he seems unusually stiff or sore. He seems to handle the occasional pill fine.  He just can't take them daily. 

Milo is also a front leg amputee, and we have seen him favor each of his back legs at different times due to aches and pains. He's an only child these days (only pet, and last human baies are in college), so I spoil him in the morning with a long rub down followed by helping him roll on his back and stretching all 3 legs to their max. Actually, it spoils me, too.  I read a magazine or the news while rubbing and stretching him -- it's a stress reducer all around.  It seems to help.  And recently we toOK him to a doggie chiropractor.  The second visit worked wonders!  Highly recommended. $72 per visit. 

Peace,

Jenifer & Milo 

That's the line I was looking for.  Unfortunately, Orschelins and Tractor Supply only carry the varieties *with* sweet potatoes.  I read through the site on Merricks (their corporate site) and made a list of ones I was looking for.  LOL!  I don't even often do that on my own grocery shopping.  Spoiled dog!