This must be the point when you have some regrets about your decisions to amputate. We had some issues with Bogart not wanting to move, usually later at night. Of course Dr Kieves had mentioned pneumonia so that’s always in the back of your head. I mean right now everything is in your head. Wednesday night he started panting real heavy (a sign we were told to look for with pneumonia) so of course i was paranoid. Thank goodness for this website and people on the chat room late at night. They said that sometimes pain can cause heavy panting. We decided that if he was not better on Thursday Tony would take him back to get checked out. So then Thursday came and Bogart seemed to be doing better but then he stopped eating. Wouldn’t touch his food. Tony called Dr Kieves and she said to bring him in Friday if still not eating. So since everything is a doubt right now its hard to distinguish between ‘normal’ and ‘not normal’. I mean its 100 degrees outside, I don’t want to eat either. So then we were in stress mode again. Tony took Bogart out one last time Thursday night and guess what? He saw his friend Couy and went running to him. He acted like nothing was wrong. HMMM… Tony came in the house and said ‘ i think he’s faking it’. So is Bogart being a drama King? We do know that he played us for 2 years acting like he couldn’t jump into the truck and we were lifting him in each time until one day we found out he really could jump. So is he doing that now? Is he laying ALL DAY on the couch because we are babying him? I also wonder if he loves going outside but then overdoes it just a tad and regrets it later. Time for bed Mr Bogart! Friday morning seemed to be a different boy. He ate good today, took 3 walks up and down the street. Tony removed his bandage today and really its not as bad as i was expecting. Still a little seroma but the bruising is almost gone. He has had a long day, because of the rain finally it cooled off so he has been laying on the deck a lot today. We have put him to bed early. It seems we are on this roller coaster of emotions, sometimes we think we did the right thing and other times its hard to tell yourself that. But if he keeps this up we are on a road to recovery. Oh and his hair is already starting to grow back. So now we are officially through week 1. Glad its over and wish we were at the end of week 2, except….biopsy results. They haven’t come back yet and I’m dreading that call. I’m setting myself up for the worst and then it can only get better from there right? Good Night from the Oliver’s, i think this is the first time I’m going to bed on time since Mr. B’s diagnosis.
One week in is still deep in the weeds. It sounds like he’s doing well – and, yeah, maybe taking a wee bit of advantage of the babying. 🙂
I think in another week you won’t have any regrets. You’ll really start to see signs of your old boy returning.
As for biopsy results, around here we usually say, hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Hang in there!
Jackie, Angel Abby’s mom
It does sound a little bit like he is taking advantage of the banging 😉 Chili Dawg did. We had a few of those moments when we wondered if we made the right decision in those first 2 weeks. Those 2 weeks are HARD! Hang in there. You will see Bogarts old self return soon.
Jenna & Spirit Chili Dawgs pack
Banging was supposed to be babying. Darn that autocorrect!
we say ditto to angel abby and chilidawg. bogart is still healing, and by the end of next week we bet he’s found his ‘new normal’. love that picture of nico… and bogart’s incision looks pretty good too!!
charon & spirit gayle
I just wanted to add a couple things:
1. Of course you did the right thing. Don’t waste any energy about it because it’s done and it can’t be changed. Just put it out of your mind. If you really need to think about it, tell yourself you will think about it in one month. PMA baby! (Positive Mental Attitude)
2. Maybe he’s taking advantage but I think he just needs a reason to get off the couch, something to get excited about – like seeing Couy. Because he feels like crap and when he sees Couy he forgets that he feels like crap.
Hang in there, you’re doing great and not experiencing anything the rest of us haven’t felt at the same point.
Tatespeep said it all very well! Let him be a baby for now. Don’t forget the meds are making him feel and act funny so he doesn’t know any better at this point. Week two may be a roller coaster as well. Hang in there!
Mary, Lucy’s mom
Hi, this was a helpful find!
My 10 yr old 100lb lad mix had his front left leg amputated 9 days ago (highly suspected ostesarcoma, biopsy results pending). He’s big, older, and the front leg leg is harder than the back legs so as you can imagine, it’s been rough. I have been worried that he won’t come around to being himself, but I now look forward to a ‘new normal’ probably by the end of this coming week.
He has made some major progress and reaches new milestones regularly, but I am still afraid to leave him unattended when I go to work Monday. Up til now, he has had a caretaker at all times. I need to go get some more floor coverings because he’s doing well except when he hits a bare hardwood floor spot. Most everything is already covered, but he manages to find the little spots that are still left. If I’m not around (Monday), I think he could hurt himself trying to scramble to stand up. Poor guy. It’s been hard watching him, but he’s being so brave. Proud of my trooper!
Good to hear the words of encouragement. We’ll all get through it one way or another, right?!
L