Hello Everyone!!!  It is day 10 and the meds are pretty much worn off and my system is getting back to normal.  I am still slightly uncomfortable but decided it is time to jump on the computer while Mom is taking a nap.  (She likes naps.)

So my journey has sure had its ups and downs these last 10 days but my Mom is letting me stay outside longer when I go potty.  Today I walked a short bit (it was exhausting but felt so good).  Then I came in and Mom helped me back up on to the couch.  Today is the first day I have been allowed up there.  Every time I have tried to hint at it my folks told me not yet.  Today, they said ok!  I love the couch!  However, the cat has seemed to be spending a lot of time on it and it doesn’t smell as much like me.  That’s okay; I will do my best to fix the stinky cat smell by sleeping on it as much as possible today.  (When Mom isn’t taking a nap.)

We have cold temperatures here right now and the wind is light, there is no fluffy white stuff yet and this time I am glad about it because my backend is still fairly naked and cold.  It sure will be nice when the hair grows back out.

Don’t tell my family, I am milking getting spoiled when it comes to the food.  Mom has been making me this yummy stuff and then tried to give me kibble this morning.  (Can you believe that? Kibble, Yuck!) I just gave her those sad eyes like the pain was bothering me and poof there it was, the yummy stuff again. 

Every time I go out and do anything my family cheers for me.  I have been housebroken for years!  What is up with this cheering? 

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day.

Super Boomer

Here is some recovery advice from Boomers Mom.

Take time for yourself during the stress of caring for a new amputee.  (Never realized how stress was impacting my energy.)

Today, I got out of the cabin.  Yes, cabin fever has been a problem.  Boomer is no more trouble than he has to be.  The only outing we’ve had has been to the vet.  So…my hubby, Robert, took me out for some fresh air and lunch.  My spirits are so much better now. 

During the past 9 days my entire focus has been on Super Boomer and his recovery.  Sleeping, eating and getting out have not been priorities for me during this time.  However, today, Robert arranged for our oldest to sit with Boomer and told me it is time to get out.  (Yes, I worried about Boomer while we were gone.) 

Now that I am back home, (much refreshed), I am ready to resume taking care of our Super boy with a renewed energy.  Boomer senses this freshness and is all wags about it (removing some of his stress as well.)

Hope other new tripawd pawrents, take this advice and get that renewed energy.

We took Boomer back into the vet again.  He has what appears to be a lot of fluid buildup.  Nothing to worry about we just need to give him a couple of heat compresses a day and it should go down.  While we were at the vet we found out more Pathology came back; so far the results are looking good!  The cancer is not aggressive so Super Boomer will not need chemo!  The vet is sending in a few more sections to gain more information about the cancer.

We are reducing his soaker from 4 times daily to 1-2 times if we can get by 2 days with just one soaker treatment the stint can come out!  Go Boomer!  He is definitely on the mend!

He is very tired as you can see he’s propped his head up against the side of the chair.

Boomer has been doing great sleeping through the night since his amputation (he even sleeps on his left side).  However, being the humanizing, worrisome mom I am, my sleep has been lacking.  Robert has been sleeping with Boomer and I have been sleeping on the couch (2 sets of ears are better than 1).  Sleep for me has been scarce but last night I finally did it!  I slept more last night than I have all week. 

I am beginning to think the human factor makes it tough on us new tripawd moms.  Guess I should take lessons from Boomer and just roll with what comes our way.

It has been a week today since Super Boomers amputation!  Dr. Cowan called today with the preliminary pathology from the section closest to the amputation.  The cancer didn’t leave his leg!  This was wonderful news! We should have results as to what type of cancer and how aggressive it is next week.

This week has been a roller coaster of ups and downs.  From vomiting to not having a regular BM, medication blues to being concerned about Boomers results.  Today, I really started weaning Boomer down on his meds and after he had a real BM (1^st real once since surgery) he was sore and exhausted.  Boomer was trembling and at that point I knew the pain got ahead of him.  So, I gave him his tramadol and a Duramaxx.   Besides being under the influence, he is doing pretty well.  He ate his supper without complaining and is perking his ears up for his 2 legged (human) older sister.

Super Boomer says “Hi to all” and has assured me he will be up to posting soon.

Day 4 begins.  Boomer did great during the night.  He did spit up his meds though.  L  But has managed to keep them down this morning so far (knock on wood).  Today will be the first day Boomer and I will be flying solo without other 2 leggers helping us.  I don’t think we are going to have any problems.  He has been asking to go out, helping with putting his harness on and getting up on the mattress by himself now.  The only thing is, if I put his e-collar on, he takes it off.  So we have to have 24 hour eyes to make sure he isn’t trying to lick his stiches.

The only bleeding we have is from his soaker port when he moves around too much and it has reduced drastically.  Boomer is very comfortable with his incision and port because he lays down on them and sleeps without giving it a second thought.

Today, I might put his shorts on him because I think his backside gets cold without any fur on it.  Hope he likes those bright orange boxers.  He doesn’t mind his socks and helps with his harness so we will see.

We took Super Boomer to the ER today.  He started vomiting, hasn’t had a BM yet and wasn’t perking up or wagging his tail.  His stats are good, he should have a BM in the next day or so and the ER vet gave him stuff to stop his vomiting.  We have reduced his Tramadol and took him off of the Duramaxx.  I am not going to give him the sedative again because that really zoned him to the point I thought he was going to die. 

No water and no food until this afternoon.  Boomer slept a fair amount since he has been home from the ER and is starting to get up a bit.  His ears are still down and I know it is because he is uncomfortable right now.  We have 1.5 more hours until we can give him some pain meds and then hope he can keep them down.  Boomer, even though he is uncomfortable is still getting up and going outside to pee (something we are so thankful for).  

So, after 4 PM Boomer finally had his first BM since his amputation.  He is now eating and drinking but still not 100% and is spitting up (not throwing up).  Today has been a real roller coaster.  Robert has completely taken over everything in this house so I can focus on “His Super Boomer”.  Boomer is being no more trouble than he has to.

Super Boomers Vet Dr. Cowan just called to check up on him (yes, his vet not a tech called personally.  I am impressed with this guy).  I explained my concern to Dr. Cowan because Boomer really wants to be active and it is important for him to rest up.  So, Dr. Cowan is prescribing him a sedative to give him at the mid points of his pain meds so he stays relaxed. 

Once Boomer realized he could get up and get water on his own and figured out how to pee, there was nothing stopping him, not even getting up on the mattress we put down in the entrance room for us to sleep with him. 

So, Boomer is doing Super, and we are going crazy trying to slow him down.  What can we say, it isn’t easy being parent of a super hero.

Super Boomer is home!  I think his Vet is the best!  Yes, it is Boomers Mom here again.  I just wanted to share the pain regiment Boomer was sent home with.  We are so thankful Dr. Cowan is very into pain management.  So here is his pain regiment for the next couple weeks:

Deramaxx  3PM once daily (pain and swelling)

Gabapentin 5 PM once daily (for nerve pain)

Tramadol every 8 hours  4pm 12 am 8 am 4 pm (for pain)

Cefpodoxime midnight once daily (antibiotics)

Bupivacaine 4 times daily on the 6’s and 12’s Injected into a soaker port, this numbs the nerves and helps prevent phantom pains

I am sharing this in hopes that anyone turning to this forum will be able to talk to their vet about managing their furry kids pain.

Now to the recovery details:

His vet wrote out a recovery and strengthening schedule for walking to build him back up.

And check this out, dissolvable stiches so he won’t have to go through the discomfort of stich removal.

Now as for how Boomer is doing… we have asked him to take it easy for a couple weeks from his Super Boomer job.  He has agreed to try.  He has eaten a bowl of cottage cheese, 2 hamburgers a couple of treats and drank a good amount of water.  He is groggy and not up to moving around much (a good thing).

Hope this meds list helps.  Thank all of you again for your well wishes.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to message me.

Boomers Mom

I finally got to see Boomer and spent the last 3.5 hours sitting on the floor with him.  He is trying to sit up but can’t coordinate his remaining back leg because he is still under the effect of the epidural.   We did manage to get him up and walk him a bit with the ruff wear harness and a towel.  There was a lot of blood but the vet says that is normal.  I walked in front calling for him and he wagged his tail, perked his ears and tried to use that other leg.  He hadn’t eaten since we left him yesterday morning so I took some cottage cheese and he gobbled it up for me.  I am so proud of our Super Boomer.

Boomer didn’t want me to leave when the staff told me to go get something to eat while they take his stats and get more pain meds on board.  So, I told him that I was going to go home and post and update for him.  He was fine with that.

The staff is absolutely wonderful!  When I called in the night they gave me full updates and are very focused on Boomers comfort.   Shoal Creek Animal Hospital and Dr. Cowan (his surgeon who stayed late to take care of Boomer last night) gets 2 paws up from me.