Month: September 2015

I had to take Freckles to the vet today to have her stitches taken out. The wound was still “weeping” a small bit, so they left them in for another week. The results of the biopsy came back. Unfortunately the results were not good. The doctor is sure that the cancer will spread despite the amputation. She gave Freckles 2 – 6 months. I realize that is just a guess on her part and I hope that she is wrong. However, at the same time I must be realistic and just suck up every minute I can to enjoy what time we have left.

I am so glad we are at this point. The first few days the meds were really making her crazy. I only took her outside to “take care of business” when the last dose was wearing off. After a week, she is much more herself. As I have said – she hates taking pills. She seems to have just given in -like she totally understands that she HAS to take the meds. After a week, we are much more in sync on how to give her meds. It is easier on both of us. We both just want to get the pills down with the least hassle. She has not missed a dose. She is healing well and has some swelling/puffiness along parts of the stitches. I made an appointment for her 2 week assessment on Monday. I doubt they will remove the stitches as long as the area is puffy. We will see. She sleeps through the night in the small enclosure I made next to my bed. She wears a “no bite” collar at night as well. During the day, she spends most of her day on the couch. It has always been one of her favorite places to crash. Though she will never be allowed to jump onto or off the couch again, I put her on it and help her off. She seems to understand that she will not able to do these things on her own anymore because she only has one rear leg. Her attitude has been good throughout this experience. I was so surprised when she came into the room at the hospital on her own when I picked her up. I thought I would have to carry her in my arms or something. I had no idea she would be able to walk on 3 legs that soon. She was just so excited to get to go home…that crazy E collar was really throwing her off balance. The “no bite” collar works very well. And I doubt any dog could destroy this collar while wearing it – as several reviews said had happened with the “blow up” type collar. One week down…at least another to go. We will just have to wait and see what they say on Monday.

She gets the “medication crazies” for a while each time I give them. Very restless, some whining and whimpering but eventually she does go to sleep for a few hours. When she wakes up she is usually “more normal” and … just before it is time for more meds…my sweet, old Freckles comes back and we share bunches of kisses and hugs. She is very suspicious of any food I give her. I am sure that she thinks there is some med hidden in it. But, as I said, we don’t hide stuff anymore… she is just more accepting if I put it in the very back of her mouth and allow her to swallow while I stroke her neck and blow on her nose. I have to make sure to get it W-A-Y in the back and to the side or the pill WILL come back. She is really getting around when we go for a “backyard break”. No doubt she is going to try to exceed her limits if I let her. She is so eager to get “out and about”. My other dog – Scruffy – tried to play with her on her way back into the house. Freckles is still way too unsteady to play with her. When I first got Freckles, I decided to walk her in the neighborhood every day….and we go to the park on Saturday and Sunday. When I got Scruffy (someone just kicked her out…my mom found her on her doorstep) we continued as three. Since Scruffy is NOT on meds, etc she is waiting to go walk everyday. I think she has gotten the message now that it will be a while before we go walking again. But our day is comming!

Thank goodness she calmed down a bit last night. She is taking Tramadol x 3, Rimadyl x 2 and Clavamox x 2. She looks to be healing well. There has not be much leakage at all and though the area looks bruised and a bit puffy, it is clean and the stitches are holding. That was a concern because they had so little “hide” to sew together after removing everything. She has regularly gone to pee about twice a day and she has starting eating her regular dog food. I use a sling to help to support her when we go outside, but by the time we get into the yard – she takes off. I have to run along side to keep up. She did poop when we got home Thursday, but she has not since. Still, she is eating ok, so that will have to come out sometime. She just detests PILLS…any pills. I tried hiding the Tramadol in everything..and like with the other meds, it will work once or twice. Therefore, I have gone back to what I have always done with her and pills. Gently open her jaws, drop in the pill back and to the side, hold her muzzle and rub her throat and gently blow over her nose. If you have heard that “when they stick their tongue out, the pill is gone”, I have the exception to that rule. She will do that and when you release her muzzle out will pop the pill. And there are so many pills ahead. Of course, after the pills I give her the one treat that I have not tried to hide a pill in (meaning she will still eat it), Peanut Butter. I have prepared a small area for her blocked off with an ironing board and a picnic table bench. She can see over it and sometimes hangs her head over the edge. Just today I can see the thought forming in her head – “I could jump over that”. So now I gently admonish her when she gets “that look”. One day I fear she will try it! She was a lot quieter last night. She did have times of whining, very deep panting and making other various sounds but fewer times last night. During the day, she sleeps and may cry, whine and pant – sometimes loudly – and she is restless. When she is awake she keeps an eye on me, usually sitting up and peering over the “barricades” or she moves aimlessly around her area, sitting here, then there, maybe lay down for a second or for a while. Then it is off to sleep again. OH LORD…time for her 1pm Tramadol…wish me luck.

OK, I guess the warnings were “implied”. We slept from about 1 – 4 am. The remainder of the time she whined, cried and made sounds I have never heard her make before. I am writing this a 6am. It is time for her meds and we can’t sleep for the noise anyway. The meds kicked in about 30 minutes later and she is quiet again for the first time since very early this morning. The wound is gruesome to look at. I am watching it for leakage or oozing, etc. but all seems good now. She has not eaten a thing – except meds – but she has had water several times. Last night, I tried to tempt her with her favorite foods…even whipped cream – usually a favorite – but she would have none of it. I know everyone has said that the Tramadol is the worst tasting. What’s worse, I have to give her 1 1/2 pills. This morning I covered it with creme cheese and she took it OK. Wonder how long that will work? I have no choice but to force her mouth open and drop the meds at the very back of her throat otherwise, she will spit them out. Sometimes she even works them from the back of her throat to spit them out. This is definitely going to be hell on us both. I am sure this gets easier as time passes. She will have her stitches removed in 2-3 weeks. I think I am going to clean up and see if I can catch some sleep on the couch while she is quiet and sleeping.