On Friday, December 16, Lady's leg was amputated. She had been going downhill fast and necrosis had set in. Some would say that we could've kept going, but the new wounds would have taken months to heal - with no guarantee that they - or the bone - would ever get back to 100%.
It was a very difficult decision, but seeing Lady walking around today vs. her struggles last week, she's eating, tail wagging and smiling again - I know that it was time to make that call. She'd been through enough in the past 8 months and it's time for her to get back to life being an active dog.
So, stay tuned for more on Lady's adventures as a tripod!
Monday, December 19, 2005
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
The roller coaster of healing
Lady came home from Norwalk with a bigger bandage, not a smaller one as I had hoped. Also, because the front splint had irritated her leg, the vet put on a side splint with a bandage that covers Lady's knee. As if she wasn't already mobility-challeneged, now she's got to contend with this. Plus, it had been only 2 weeks, so they didn't do x-rays so I have no idea if she is healing anymore.
If anyone is keeping up with this, you know that anytime Lady gets in a car it becomes the car ride from hell. So, to and from Norwalk - hmm, let's see, Lady in a crate, scampering, barking, and me afraid that she is going to injure herself in the crate. Splitting headache.
When I got home and unloaded Lady from the car, she came inside and sat down. She sat on the hip of her good leg, with the bandaged leg straight in the air. Odd, I thought, but maybe she is just uncomfortable. What bothered me most was that she was no longer using her leg. All of the progress we had made the week before was shot.
I called Norwalk and asked to speak to the vet who bandaged Lady but, of course, he wasn't available so Stella got on the phone. I explained what was happening with Lady and Stella said that they had seen this with other dogs, Lady was just not comfortable in her bandage. I should give her a few days to get used to it.
Me being neurotic me, I need definites. I have a problem being passive about things, especially when it's been 4 months and I am paranoid about little things causing big problems - like amputation-causing problems. So, I call Brookfield vet and make an appointment to take Lady in for a bandage check. Of course Norwalk tells me that Brookfield should not take off the bandage, so what really can the vet there do? He checks the bandage, makes a small slit in the bandage behind Lady's knee to loosen it up a bit, and we are on our way.
So, if everything is ok, the physical therapy should continue. We take Lady for another visit to the PT and she takes us through another series of weight bearing and range of motion exercises. I can do these at home and Gail says they will really make a difference in rebuilding Ladys' muscle mass.
Dr. Feinman wants us to now start working on Lady's behavioral issues. She specifically needs work with her car behavior and the way she freaks when we encounter other people and/or dogs on our walks.
Freddie and I will take Lady back to Norwalk for a bandage change and x-rays on Friday. More to report after then!
If anyone is keeping up with this, you know that anytime Lady gets in a car it becomes the car ride from hell. So, to and from Norwalk - hmm, let's see, Lady in a crate, scampering, barking, and me afraid that she is going to injure herself in the crate. Splitting headache.
When I got home and unloaded Lady from the car, she came inside and sat down. She sat on the hip of her good leg, with the bandaged leg straight in the air. Odd, I thought, but maybe she is just uncomfortable. What bothered me most was that she was no longer using her leg. All of the progress we had made the week before was shot.
I called Norwalk and asked to speak to the vet who bandaged Lady but, of course, he wasn't available so Stella got on the phone. I explained what was happening with Lady and Stella said that they had seen this with other dogs, Lady was just not comfortable in her bandage. I should give her a few days to get used to it.
Me being neurotic me, I need definites. I have a problem being passive about things, especially when it's been 4 months and I am paranoid about little things causing big problems - like amputation-causing problems. So, I call Brookfield vet and make an appointment to take Lady in for a bandage check. Of course Norwalk tells me that Brookfield should not take off the bandage, so what really can the vet there do? He checks the bandage, makes a small slit in the bandage behind Lady's knee to loosen it up a bit, and we are on our way.
So, if everything is ok, the physical therapy should continue. We take Lady for another visit to the PT and she takes us through another series of weight bearing and range of motion exercises. I can do these at home and Gail says they will really make a difference in rebuilding Ladys' muscle mass.
Dr. Feinman wants us to now start working on Lady's behavioral issues. She specifically needs work with her car behavior and the way she freaks when we encounter other people and/or dogs on our walks.
Freddie and I will take Lady back to Norwalk for a bandage change and x-rays on Friday. More to report after then!
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