8 Week- Update!

The anniversary of Chili's surgery was 8 weeks ago yesterday. Its actually gone by pretty quick! He went into the vet today for final radiographs to make sure the pins are in place. Luckily, the hardware is in perfect position, and there is no swelling. He handled the anesthesia like a pro. Essentially, he is cleared for normal activity!!! He can run around in the yard again, go for longer walks, and go up the stairs. We need to keep his jumping to a minimum, and there will be no jumping off the bed ever again!!

Dr. Rodriguez did say that dogs with 1 leg done many times need the other, but at this time he doesn't need surgery on his other leg. We need to keep an eye on him and look for any discomfort with his other leg. On the surgery leg, we're supposed to look for him limping for any prolonged period of time, as well as any redness or swelling.

I think he's feeling much better, he keeps trying to run and play with Bridgett, keeping him in the crate was getting harder and harder! I'm sure he'll be confused and won't know what to do with his new found freedom. I'll post another update in a few weeks with information on how he's handling normal activity after being crated for 2 months!

Bridgett

Ok, I know this blog chronicles Chili and the events surrounding his surgery. However, it wouldn't be complete without a post about his sibling, our other pup, Bridgett. I'll give a back story, and let you know how she is coping with his surgery.

When we moved to Raleigh in June of 2007, we just had Chili. Once we both had full time jobs, we realized Chili would be bored and lonely at home alone all day, so we made the decision to get another dog. I looked on Petfinder.com and found Bridgett's picture almost immediately, listed as "No Name Chihuahua Mix". She looked so similar to Chili, and had a pathetic little look on her face, I was so drawn to her (we have the picture saved somewhere, but I can't find it!) She was located in Florence, SC at a rescue group called Home Away From Home. The woman who ran the shelter rescued animals from animal control that were going to be euthanized. She managed to get Bridgett and a couple other dogs the night before they were going to be gassed. She was taken to a volunteer vet and given her shots, and was spayed as well (she had at least 1 litter of puppies in the past). I made an appointment to meet her about 5 days after her surgery.

On September 21st, 2007, we drove down to Florence with Chili and met Bridgett (the rescue group had given her a name the day before, and we didn't change it, as it seemed to fit her). Chili was in love with her, and we couldn't resist her cute face. We were told her estimated age was around 4. We paid the adoption fee and brought her home. The first few nights were very rocky, and after a few weeks, we realized how much psychological damage she had from her previous life, which mostly likely included homelessness and abuse. After a week or so, we took her to our vet for a checkup. She ended up being older (about 7) and having more issues than we thought. Hook worms, slight heart worms, a cloudy eye, ticks, ear infection in both ears, a heart murmur, and a fatty tumor on her side. She received medicine for both the hook worms and the ear infection, and we removed about 7 ticks from the inside of her ears. She had the sutures from her spay surgery removed, and was started on a heartworm preventitive (since her positive was weak). She needed to gain a few pounds, and she had hardly any back leg muscle, probably from being crated at animal control and the rescue group. Her eye had a calcium deposit, so there wasn't much we could do, but it doesn't cause her pain, she just can't see well.

Over the next few months, she went on routine walks, had a steady diet, and got plenty of sleep in her cozy bed. She gained a couple pounds and formed her hind leg muscles, and the fatty tumor ended up disappearing all together. On her next vet visit, her heart murmur had disappeared, and the heartworm test was an even weaker positive. She was still very skittish and had trouble trusting people. However, she slowly began to gain confidence, and loved to play with Chili, and followed him everywhere.

We bought a house and moved in June of 2008. Bridgett was completely my dog by then, the 2 of us had an inseperable bond. However, trouble soon struck. 3 weeks after we moved, Bridgett was on a walk with Ian (she's still nervous around men) and got startled and slipped out of her leash and ran off. Ian chased her for almost an hour before she ran out of sight. I came home from work and helped look for her, as did many of our neighbors. We had to go to bed that night without her. I quickly printed up flyers and posted them around the neighborhood and some surrounding areas. I contacted the microchip company and listed her as lost. I also called animal control, the humane society, spca, and 7 different vet clinics in the area alerting them to look for her. I went to work the following morning in tears. My boss understood, and sent me home to look for her again. Our friends came and also helped look, once again to no avail. The following morning (I had now not slept or eaten for 2 days) I looked again. I didn't want to face the chance of going to work again without her home. Suddenly, I saw her dart across our neighbor's yard. I called to her, but she ran off. I grabbed food, and kept looking around, knowing she'd be hungry. After 30 minutes, I got discouraged and headed back to the house. Lo and behold, Bridgett was sitting on the porch, and ran up to me once I came around the corner. 3 weeks later, she ran off again, this time from my in-laws house. She snuck out the door, looking for me (we had left out the same door about an hour earlier). She was only gone about 6 hours before some good samaritans called (my father in-law had posted signs) and told us where Bridgett was. We chased her down, and again she ran up to me once she saw me. Both times we were so lucky to have a happy ending. Needless to say, she is now under lock and key, and I'm the only person that takes her anywhere!

Every day gets a little better with her. She continues getting bolder, and loves to play more. She still loves Chili, and always follows him around. Which brings me to another subject: how she has handled Chili's surgery. Obviously, the surgery was a huge deal for Chili, but it had a huge impact as well. When she was left alone during the day of Chili's surgery, she didn't quite understand. But when Chili didn't come home that night, she was clearly distressed and worried. She pouted in her crate for most the night. When we brought him home, she was still a little befuddled. He was loopy from pain meds, and was confined to his crate with a bandage and his cone on. She didn't understand at all. Then came the week when he spent the day at the vet, and she was home alone. I know she was lonely, and probably a little jealous. She still tries to play with him through the crate. Whenever he goes on walks around the cul-de-sac with us, she follows him off leash, never going more than 15 feet from him. She sits near him whenever he is out of the crate. And I think he's missed her too. He now licks her head and ears, which he never did before. I think they'll both be glad when restrictions are lifted for Chili!

Here are a few pictures of Bridgett. These were taken around 9 months ago, and she looks even better now! I think she is genuinly happy with us, and hopefully we don't have to worry about any more runaway episodes!!!

The 4 week update (a little late)

Ok, so its been almost 6 weeks since surgery. How time flies! Chili is doing very well! He had his 4 week checkup on May 29 with Dr. Rodriguez. Everything looked great, and he got the approval to start 5 minute walks every day. We've been taking him around the cul-de-sac; doing one lap in one direction, then reversing for the second lap. He limps a little bit sometimes, but it doesn't seem to bother him too much. I'm really glad he can pick his own locations to go to the bathroom at- he's a picky pooper! Try and select the right place for your dog to fertilize, its harder than you think!

He ended up going back to the vet on June 5th. He had a little string at the bottom of the incision (from the interior stitches). He kept chewing on it, and the clinic advised me to bring him in instead of cutting it myself. He spent the day at the vet (they treat him like royalty!) and he had the string removed and a secondary check (everything still looks good!)

I'm going to try and take a couple pictures of his leg tonight, and hopefully post them within the next few days. He's starting to grow his fur back, and there are a few hairs already growing on the incision, I think it'll hardly be noticeable in a month or two!

Water Therapy

Today we started water therapy with Chili (in the bathtub, where else?) He's totally not a water dog, but he did ok. We just did some exercising with his life jacket on for about 5 minutes, then he got out and took a 2 hour nap. Yep, hard work. Really. He did actually swim/walk/float more than I thought. His body is a little front heavy, so he tried walking on his front legs while his back end sorta floated. Once I picked his front end up a little bit, he started using his back legs, which is good. Here are a few pictures:

Suture Removal

Chili got his stitches out on Friday (yay!) The vet said everything looked good so far. We have to keep the cone on him until Tuesday, so he doesn't lick his incision site (precaution, I guess). He is no longer taking any pain meds and seems to be doing just fine. He's getting used to staying in his crate, but he definitely wants exercise when we take him potty. Its going to be hard keeping him still for the next 2 weeks. His next vet check is in 2 weeks. Here's a picture of how his incision looks today.















Its healing really well. Hopefully everything continues to progress normally!

Computer Guard

I had to go to work a little early today, and the vet wasn't open yet. My boss agreed to let Chili into work for the first 2 1/2 hours of the day. I was running around, so Chili got a prime nap spot right next to my keyboard. He slept on my sweatshirt for awhile, but he looked up at my phone for a photo op. He'd growl whenever anyone got too close to my desk, what a great security guard! I was a little sad to take him to the vet and return without him, my desk seemed a bit empty. Here's a picture:

10 Day Update (a little late)

Well, I'm giving the 10 day update (a little late, since its technically been 13 days since the surgery). Here are some pictures of Chili taken 10 days post surgery:
















Recovery has been good. He has finished his medicine, and gets the occasional pain pill when he gets a little cranky, but I think he's comfortable overall (except for the cone!) We tried leaving him home in his crate during the day, but he is able to pull off the ecollar and he likes to chew and lick his sutures, so we decided it was worth the money to board him at the vet. $17 per day was totally worth the peace of mind... I think.

He gets the stitches removed on Friday, then we'll talk to the doctor about more rehab. All we're doing right now is gently moving his leg around while he's laying down, then icing it (he is finally letting me do it without attempting to bite my hand off). We bought him a little life jacket, with the intention of doing some water therapy.... in our bathtub (come on, where else?) We have to wait for the vet's go-ahead to do it, though.

He is trying to walk on the leg normally, its hard to keep him in one spot going to the bathroom. He lays on either side of his body, likes playing with his toy (in his crate) and stands, eats, etc completely normal- you'd forget he had surgery! I'll be relieved when the sutures come out though, and he doesn't have to wear the cone. I'm sure he'll be glad to spend a normal day at home (although everyone at the clinic loves him. He has a "harem" of the ladies that take care of all the day boarders. Hooray to the kennel staff for keeping my little guy happy!)