Findlay is improving slowly

Monday, August 24, 2009

It has been a pretty intense, stressful and joyous 6 days. Tomorrow will be one week from the surgery on Findlay's knee. He is putting weight on the leg, sometimes too much ramming...but also has times of three leg limp. We have finally worked out the eating, meds and hopefully close to working out the nighttime sleep issues. I have not had much sleep in five days - probably less than 20 hours. So, I am running on empty so to speak!! He finally slept a 4 hour stint all at once last night, but then was up at 3am, 4am, 5am, and 6am. It is sort of like having a baby I guess!! Not really sure on that part.

Anyhow, I am putting on some kinda not nice looking pictures. He was UNHAPPY on Saturday, as he would not eat and we were really working to get the pain meds working well. We do our daily range of motion, you can see that from the pictures, icing, walking, and massage.Those tasks alone take a goodly portion of the day!! He loves the attention, but is not really happy with any of the above except for the walks. Don't you just love his 'naked' leg - poor baby has not a drop of fur on his leg.... The constant treats he loves though. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers - keep them coming. I will keep you posted.

Findlay's HOME

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

I wanted to be sure and post a quick update. Findlay came home tonight around 6:30pm. He is doing pretty well walking on three legs and touches his toe down on the right hind leg. His shave job is pretty cute (pictures in the next few days). I finally massaged him to sleep after 45 minutes of him not letting go. I sure hope he rests a bit easier the next few days. More posted tomorrow. Thanks for all the good thoughts and prayers.

Successful Surgery

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Just a quick update. Findlay's surgery went well today. He is resting at the animal hospital with a morphine drip for pain. He will be there for the night and through tomorrow. I will pick him up late in the day - assuming all goes well. Now the tough part begins...12 weeks of doggie rehab. WHEW!!! Mommy will be the one under stress once we get to week TWO and Findlay decides to rock-n-roll!!

Findlay's new adventure

Friday, August 14, 2009

We have had about 5 weeks of craziness with little Findlay. He had Canine Anaplasmosis - which is like Lyme disease. It is often called deer tick fever and results in a fever, pain, lameness, etc in the dog. The disease is treated with high and long doses of antibiotics and some sort of anti-inflammatory for the joint issues. He seemed to do well on the antibiotics, but never stopped limping. Somehow in the middle of all of the tick fever, he tore his back right leg ACL ligament.

FANTASTIC!!! That is the leg and ligament that I had surgery on last summer...so he gets to now have surgery next week Tuesday on his knee. The surgery is pretty intense and the recovery is VERY intense - about 12 weeks in length. SO, keep my little guy in your thoughts and prayers. He will need to only walk on a lease for the first few weeks, otherwise he will be cage-bound. No jumping, etc for the whole 12...yup...mommy will need a valium by the end of this 3 month period!!