Hugh writes:
It's hard to believe that it's only been a week as each day has many parts:
Her food, exercise, ice, meds, bandaging, massage and movements around her area and constant monitoring.
We've been to the hospital once and Dr. Cahill has come here twice.
Both Drs. Lockwood & Cahill are pleased with her condition and psychological responses.
Her attitude is both playful and accepting of help.
She allows me to carry her without protest,
where she once fiercely resisted any such domination.
Her appetite is healthy even with the panoply of medications in her system;
she shows no negative affects whatsoever.
While quiet much of the time, she'll growl to protect her chew bone;
sometimes grasps her empty food dish when you want to clean it and begins a tug-of-war;
will suddenly decide to get up and investigate what else is going on in the house,
which, of course, is not allowed! And so on.
Her sutures come out on Thursday and her incision no longer looks at all angry.
We now enter the phase of more crate use as we restrict her movement
to avoid any injury during the next eight weeks or so.
She KNOWS that she is mobile and we need to contain it
(on Thursday, she came flying around the corner to greet a visitor at the kitchen door,
to my great surprise!).
Out walking, she will occasionally hop as if to begin a run
(on a full restraint lead) showing her normal energy and drive.
She likes her twenty-four-hour companionship and is non-territorial;
she just seems very comfortable.
I keep expecting "cabin fever" to set in,
but there has been no sign of it as yet.
If she needs something not otherwise provided, she vocalizes.
If we need something, we reassert the boundary.
The conversation is going well.
Her lively eyes once again light up her beautiful face and, for now, she seems content.
DAY NINE: RECUPERATION Is hard work for a Puppy.
Here, Thistle rests in her library (she's read everything and is requesting some Classics from Audible;
as with most early adolescents, Jane Austen is a fave) and her incision is uncovered.
To the uninitiated, her incision may look rather serious,
but to us it is both inspirational & instructive.
In just nine days, her hip has returned to its normal size
and protective bandaging is no longer required or advised.
Ms. Thistle has been shown that she must leave the surgery area alone
(use of distraction techniques, bitter-taste applications to the area,
and keeping it covered with a no-go towel or other disciplines will be required).
This completely untrained puppy has, to date, not removed a single suture.
We are, of course, pleased, but more than that,
we are so impressed with her cooperation & comprehension.
Also, the recuperative power of a hearty,
14-month-old Airedale is truly astonishing, even to her attending physicians.
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