Cali- Week 2

I have to admit...Greytblackdog has it right.  She wasn't able to amputate due to Seka's hip issues, but we are going through similar situations.  And I went through exactly what she is with Henry.  Cancer sucks.  since the last post, it has been a roller coaster of emotions.  For all of us.  Every dog recovers differently. Cali has been remarkable at how well she has recovered. But that isnt' to say it was a bed of roses. But for about 5 days, it was hard.  She was in desperate pain, struggling to come relearn how to walk and not able to do the things she loves.  She got depressed and so did we.  But on day 6, there was a turn around.  Whether the nerves finally healed or she finally 'came to terms'..but from that point forward we started seeing glimmers of Cali each day.  We also decided to give her some of her independence back and let her do the stairs with help and get on the couch.  Getting her independence back helped a lot.  As I type, she is curled on the couch beside of me with her head in my lap..the normal Sunday morning blog position. 
We kept the red 'sock' on her to keep her from licking and to protect the incision.  She thinks the benefit of 3 legs..tighter greyhound ball

 Costco sells 'snuggle' beds and my girls LOVE them.  I have two now and they are definitely prime real estate.  Cali ate and drank in her bed for about the first 3 days, after that she would go to her bowl for meals but we kept a water bowl near her at all times.  We've now graduated to all bowls where the belong.

Of course, Dana prefers the 'premium soft/double bed' spot which was made for the first few nights when Cali slept downstairs and Jason slept on the couch. Of course, that was the idea. Cali would try to go upstairs every night, so we just carried up her. But a rare photo of my three girls.

 

 About day 8 or 9, she started to feel well enough to lick the bottom of the incision. So we fastened a piece of vetwrap inside the sock with safety pins.  This worked until about day 11.  Her nose is healing up well, I suppose she will now have a pink nose...but in the grand scheme of things that isn't something we are worried about.  She says you can be beautiful with scars.

Each day we had progress. Since the day of surgery, I said that the day she carried a toy out to potty will be a celebratory day.  I had no idea it would happen on day 10.

 Dana has relaxed over the days too..Cali as always been her rock and she was a bit flustered for a few days.  She will be all good by her birthday next Saturday.

This past Saturday, Cali went to her first event...12 days post op ! I was worried about taking her, but we only went for an hour, she laid down 90% of that time and it was good to show her all car rides don't end at the vet.  We sewed up her favorite sweater and off she went. 

There was even a small girl with an amputated arm who came up to her, BEAMING.  Her mother said "Look..she has no arm like you" and the little girl showed me her arm and touched Cali..and just smiled.  She's still got it. ;-)
And a parting shot of Cali today.  She is 'sock' free and we put th emuzzle on her at night or when we are gone so she wont' lick.  The staples come out tomorrow and I think a lot of the pain/discomfort will subside with that. She is on minimal pain meds now.  we consult with the oncologists tomorrow too..I suppose chemo will start in a few weeks.

 And a video of Cali in the yard on Friday (day 11).  There was a 'traffic' jamon the steps so it gets a little fuzzy at the end.  But she is a trooper.