We have been focusing on Cole and Ella today with a ton of extra snuggles. We have pretty much been all about the dogs and the cuddles for the last few weeks. Above is from tonight. Below is Cole and Ella from last weekend. Actually, this is what they are up to most of the time.
My husband and I are both nervous about tomorrow morning. I’m trying to prepare in case Cole is approved for an amputation. The plan is surgery tomorrow afternoon if he is approved then our oncologist wants to do chemo right after he is released from the surgery center. I’ve been making a list of supplies we will need, making a mental checklist of things we need to do to get the house ready for his recovery, and mentally setting up an area for him to recover in. I’m making plans for meals for us, special treats to entice Cole to eat and getting all the errands I can think of out of the way. My husband and I are taking the first few days off work together then staggering days off so someone can stay with him. I have been looking at photos and reading posts on Tripawds to try and prepare myself. I think it is good I have done this because the first time I looked at the surgery and recovery gallery, I got so queasy I had to lay down for a little while. I think if I had waited and seen Cole like that, I would have been too freaked out and probably dizzy and nauseated. I want to be strong and ready so he doesn’t worry about me and why I am upset. I’ve also been preparing myself for his recovery so I don’t panic when he is having a hard time. I am dreading the cries of pain. I am dreading the day 3 or 4 crash that everyone seems to go through. We’re as ready as we will ever be but we are so scared.
Hello Cole’s mom
My dog Harley had his surgery to amputate his back leg on nov 23 but I remember it like it was yesterday. I wanted to share that when he came home he didn’t seem to be in a lot of pain but he did need a lot of head strokes and attention and as you are doing a convenient spot that is all his. Harley starting eating two days after he came home ( turkey ) as it was thanksgiving and his appetite has been good since. He only cried on the way home in the car and the crash we experience was my guilt I believe in taking his leg . I rushed him to vet because I thought he was in pain , he wasn’t, everything was fine he was doing very good they said just needed to give him time . It does get better ,he has had 2 chemo treatments has come out of them just feeling tired. You are taking away a pain far worse than what he will experience after, and it will be manageable. I hope this helped you. Good luck to you and your Cole.
Thank you for the encouragement. It does help. I hope Harley continues to improve. We are pretty prepared I think and have tried to think through all the what ifs, probably too much. I know we can’t anticipate every possible thing but it does help to read other people’s experiences. Hugs to you and Harley.
Hey guys, we totally get the worry but you know you are gonna ROCK this right? I can feel it! Did you see Tazzie’s story?
https://tripawds.com/2010/07/20/one-vets-canine-amputation-surgery-and-recovery-tips/
Hope it makes you smile.
Seriously, I’m trying to jump through the screen and smooch Cole and Ella! Cannot stop myself! Have a vig bruise on my head trying to break through the screen!! 🙂 I am flat out in love!!!
For whatever it’s worth, when I picked my Happy Hannah up the day after surgery, I did not even look at her surger site! She didn’t, so why should I? I just looked into her happy drugged glazed eyes and missed her Bull Mastiff head and told her over and over what a good girl she was! I literally gave her a standing ovation! I was soooo happy to see her walk out of there wagging!!
Now, remember, some dogs do take longer than others to handle their mobility. You may have to help Cole Porter a lot at first when it comes to getting up…and my not. And some dogs freeze when you try to ise a sling of any sort! Yeah, recovery is not exactly a picnic!
Double check with the Onco, but if you don’t feel comfortable doing the chemo right after the surgery and want to wait for about two weeks, thats what we see here alot of here on the site. I know there are a variety of studies out there about doing chemo right away, or waiting that two weekish period. I’m no vet and I know some do it right away.
We are all right here by your side. You are not alone, okay?
OW! Darn! Just banged my head again trying to jump through the screen to kiss the mugs!!! 🙂
Grab a big bag of chocolate and eat it all at once! It does wonders for the nerves. And if you get a rummy ache, it’s worth it!
Love to all!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS….I want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your kind comments about my Happy Hannah and how her journey has helped you. That brought tears to my eyes and warmed my heart. To know that my Happy Hannah had a life affirming impact meant the world to me. THANK YOU!
Lol thank you! They are pretty cute! Our doctor warned us that he might have some trouble since he still had pretty good use of the leg. He had a limp but there were good days and bad days with it and he was still using it all the time. I think we are in for a rough start there but I know we can do it. The oncologist plans to attack the cancer before it can send signals to start growing in the lungs too much and she said as long as he doesn’t have complications in surgery, he should be good for chemo. She is recommending one that is not as hard on them (I’m not sure of the name yet, she told us the three options at the appointment last week). I think if she sees him tomorrow and he is still in really rough shape, she will hold off but otherwise it is a go. She said there is a vaccine that is coming very soon and we hope to add that in to the treatment as well once it is ready.
I wish I could eat a bag of chocolate! My response to stress is to find all food repulsive so I end up not eating unless I force myself. Even the thought of food makes me queasy. We have friends cooking for us tonight and a scary movie and their mastiff is Cole and Ella’s best friend so we should have a nice time while distracting ourselves.
Thank you so much for your good thoughts and support. I’m glad I could give you some joy for Hannah 🙂