Infection Prevention

Surgery was 2 weeks ago tomorrow - and yesterday little Miss had an impromptu trip to our regular vet. Why? Well, Sunday we noticed the ACL incicision had become bright red and started to swell just a bit. Nothing major - but noticeable because the swelling at the point had all but disappeared and the incision was looking fantastic. Her under-arm lump incision still looks great. Fast forward to yesterday morning: incision still bright red, but swelling had gone up quite a bit. So, call to the vet - and yesterday afternoon we're there. After a few minutes of Kona being a squirmy patient - we have the answer. Vet's call: quite a lovely looking infection. Not due to Kona licking (she's been coned pretty much 24/7), but just because sometimes these things happen. Great. So, another round of anti-biotics (5 days after we finished the first round) topped off with some lovely anti-bacterial cream which Kona is not impressed with at all (I'm guessing it stings). Follow-up with the surgeon on Thursday. Here's hoping for an infection-free incision and no more stitches!

It's time for round 2!

Next Tuesday, July 10 - Kona will be going in for TPLO surgery again. Poor girl partially tore her other knee up a couple months ago. She's been on Recovery supplements, bed rest and painkillers to see if we could heal it up. No dice. So, in we go. Another long road ahead for my crazy girl! Stay tuned! :)

Tomorrow!

Tomorrow, tomorrow there's always tomorrow and the cone will go awayyyyyy!!!!

Yes - I'm singing and I don't care because the stitches and cone are gone tomorrow! One more day little bean, and you are free of the satellite dish! Almost 3 weeks later! :)

Happy Monday!!!!!!!

2 weeks today!

Well we hit the 2 week mark this morning! The past week has been full of ups and downs, but for the most part Kona's recovery is going amazing!

The incision looks fantastic! Bruising is almost gone, and the swelling is down to very minimal! I need to get a recent picture, because I'm excited at how well it's healed! Gold star!! And she's down to one pain med a day! Woo!

We've finally passed the rainy weather spell we seemed to be stuck in for the past 2 weeks, and I'm SO thankful to see the sun today! Although miss whiney inside isn't too thrilled that she can't be out working on her tan! She made it quiet clear this morning that she wasn't impressed!

During a torrental downpour a couple days ago, she lost her footing on the slippery grass while in the middle of her pee dance and happy tail - and gave me a heart attack when her leg slid right out from under her!! I'm pretty sure I saw another surgery bill flashing before my eyes!
She seemed to be fine, and I kept a super close eye on her the next day or so for any increased signs of limping or heat.

Her energy is 100%+ back! I like it better when she's drugged up on pain meds! Jeez Kona - how dare you be happy!! Stop having FUN in the rain!! You're easier to handle when you're depressed! Now go back in your pen like a good little 75lb livewire!

Stiches were supposed to come out tomorrow - and I almost did a happy dance this morning when I thought about it until I remembered the vet had to reschedule until NEXT Tuesday because the physiotherapist wouldn't be able to make it for the appointment. She gets her first physio session right after! Yep - 5 more DAYS of cone-headedness and extreme scratching. Poor girl -I swear if she gives me the ears and the sad eyes one more time when I put it back on...I'M going to cry!

Sam has slept every night (and most days when he's inside) cuddled up as close as he can get to Kona's pen. And NOT rubbing in the fact that he gets to go outside and swim when she can't!

They're a strange kind of special :)

1 week

Refused to put any weight on her leg last night and this morning.
Crap.

It's been a week today. Hopefully she's better tonight or the Doc is getting a phone call.

Day 4 into 5 - The rain continues

And so do the waterworks! Kona has got the "I'm depressed and bored and hurt" look down to a TEE! Such a drama queen!

That plus the little whimpers are enough to give her whatever she wants! Ohhhhhh Konaaaaa, I will give you the moon and the stars and even an extra cookie - BUT only if it will fit in your pen because you aren't allowed out no matter how cute you are! HA!
She did get to hold her tennis ball for a few minutes today while I played nursemaid - so that helped ease the whines a bit!

It has not stopped raining for 3 days! And this morning was no different! Hey Monday morning, thanks for the break!

The energy is returning and so is her rambunctious personality! She tried to jump in a puddle and refused to take her percocet last night - tried 3 times!
Last day of antibiotics today though - so maybe less pills = less tricks required! Stitches come out on the 23rd - we've got 11 days of conehead fun to go!

Maybe I can sneak a Percocet for my sanity? :P

Incision report: Even more red, swollen and warm at the top today - if it hasn't gone down by tomorrow it's vet trip time!

It's raaaaaainning and my feet are wet!

And that was me at 11:30 tonight when Kona took her sweet time finding "the" spot to go. It's 11:30, pouring rain and I'm exhausted....thanks goober. And thennnnn we had to do #2 too - sheesh! And now it's after 1am because I realized I forgot to clean her incision after we finished getting soaked.....so now I'm even more tired from getting up to do that!

Day 3 and we have finally started to get into a bit of a routine, which is making life so much easier! And the best part: she gets to have the cone off for a few when its meds/cleaning time! Which usually turns into a "pleeeeeeease let me scratch my earsandmyfaceandmynoseandmyheadandeverythingelssseeee!

Then once the meds kick in we're a little calmer for a couple hours or so. Percocet - that'll do it every time!

Incision is looking alright. A little red and swollen up towards the femur end....will keep an eye on that, but the rest looks great so far. Razor rash is clearing up thanks to some polysporin. :)

If it's nice tomorrow might move the x-pen on to the grass so Kona get get some sunbathing time in. We'll see, because she was not a happy girl when it was warm and sunny this morning and she was stuck inside. She's starting to get a bit of cabin fever I think.

Sam taunting her with a tennis ball isn't helping either....