Thank you ATT in Pontiac! I received a nice card and a contribution of $130 for my next surgery!! Aunt Jenny's mom, Pat organized a 50/50 raffle for me and all the nice people at AT&T joined forces to help me out. I am so lucky to have so many nice humans in the world. I wonder how I'll ever get a chance to lick them all. Mom says she's going to send a big thank you to AT&T, and, because they are so close, we might go there to say thank you in person!! That would be really fun!
Kayla
Monday, February 26, 2007
A bit of a limp
Well, Kayla has been doing GREAT!! She's been allowed outside to potty on her own two times and has slept upstairs in the bedroom twice! but her increased independence seems to come at some cost of discomfort, and today she seems, while not in extreme pain, a bit uncomfortable, with a bit of a limp. Time to back back off the independence. She has three more weeks until follow up x-rays for the first surgery, and we should get the go ahead to begin walking and exercising in increments. Of course, I don't know what all this says for her other leg still waiting for surgery. It's a tough balancing act. This weekend she will get a car ride up north and a stay in a hotel while Mom visits family. She likes the car these days, mostly for the change of scenery, and I have a friend ot help with any lifting, though I'm not sure she still needs so much at this point. New photos coming this week!
Brett
Brett
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Happy Days!
I got my stitches out last Tuesday (February 6), and it's been three weeks since my surgery. In five more weeks I can start going for short walks-- if only my other leg were ready for walks, too, but mom says that means another surgery . . .I'm trying not to believe that yet. I have a little thing on my knee that i can't stand, so I pick at it and have made a red callous and mom seems dismayed about this, but not concerned so much as she was when I came home and was bleeding. Last night, when mom slipped on the ice trying to help me in and lunged forward, I ran a few steps. Mom said it looked really good, that my legs ran independently instead of bunny hopping like I usually do. She also said never do that again until the doctor says I'm allowed to run.
At night time mom lies on my bed with me and makes my leg go long and straight and short and bent and pets my belly and tells me I'm a good dog. It is uncomfortable. Sometimes I take my leg away from her, and she says that is also good. I can't really tell what she is doing, but I sometimes limp when she is done. I wish she wouldn't fuss with me and would just rub my belly where I like it, and I try to get her to focus, but she's always with that leg. I try to be a good dog, to do what she wants, but I don't really understand what it is. She says I'm good if I move my leg how she moves it with her and that I'm good when I move it against her. . .how can both be right? Mom says it makes my leg strong. I've never had surgery on my leg before, and my roommate says she hasn't had surgery on her leg before, but I guess since mom and I made it through when I had stitches on my belly that I should listen, but sometimes I don't really think she knows what she's doing.
My friend Shinta and her mom sent us a card a while ago. Mom says when I can walk and run, which will be a very long time--32 weeks, however that much is., that I can go back to the beach to play with her. I can't wait. In a few weeks I will go have pictures taken of my new leg to see if it is all OK, and then I can begin swimming. Mom says it is in a warm pool somewhere, but I don't mind the cold. I just wish I could play outside more. It has been snowing lots, and some of my favorite things are to eat snow, roll in snow, and sled in snow. Mom says, maybe next year, but she also puts snow in my bowl inside for me to eat. It's nice, but it's not the same. Humans just sometimes don't get it, even if they try.
Kayla
At night time mom lies on my bed with me and makes my leg go long and straight and short and bent and pets my belly and tells me I'm a good dog. It is uncomfortable. Sometimes I take my leg away from her, and she says that is also good. I can't really tell what she is doing, but I sometimes limp when she is done. I wish she wouldn't fuss with me and would just rub my belly where I like it, and I try to get her to focus, but she's always with that leg. I try to be a good dog, to do what she wants, but I don't really understand what it is. She says I'm good if I move my leg how she moves it with her and that I'm good when I move it against her. . .how can both be right? Mom says it makes my leg strong. I've never had surgery on my leg before, and my roommate says she hasn't had surgery on her leg before, but I guess since mom and I made it through when I had stitches on my belly that I should listen, but sometimes I don't really think she knows what she's doing.
My friend Shinta and her mom sent us a card a while ago. Mom says when I can walk and run, which will be a very long time--32 weeks, however that much is., that I can go back to the beach to play with her. I can't wait. In a few weeks I will go have pictures taken of my new leg to see if it is all OK, and then I can begin swimming. Mom says it is in a warm pool somewhere, but I don't mind the cold. I just wish I could play outside more. It has been snowing lots, and some of my favorite things are to eat snow, roll in snow, and sled in snow. Mom says, maybe next year, but she also puts snow in my bowl inside for me to eat. It's nice, but it's not the same. Humans just sometimes don't get it, even if they try.
Kayla
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Just a quick update
For those checking in-- Kayla hasn't been quite up to blogging yet (wink). School is getting crazy, and most time out of school I"m down with Kayla in her recovery room. She has most of her staples left, and the scabby parts are coming off the scar. It actually looks very nice, so I'm not being as vigilant if she wants to lick it clean, so long as she leaves the staples. I used Chlor-flush on the wound everytime she got to it at first, on suggestion from another surgery-dog mom. It worked great, so if anyone stumbles here to find info on TPLO recoveries, that is one good tip (find it at Petsmart--it's blue!).
Kayla has been doing super well, but I let down my guard yesterday, and while letting her out of her pen, I neglected to notice a pile of books by the side. Rather than waiting for me to open the pen all the way, Kayla bolted out and jumped over the books. Then coming back in from potty, we got our timing off, so she did a little jump to get up the steps rather than the two of us splittting the weight. She was limping last night and couldn't sleep but this morning she seems to be feeling better and is weight-bearing. I gave her an additional pain agent, an NSAIDS, which she doesn't usually take as they upset her digestive system terribly, but I think a half a dose on occasion for pain increases might be OK, so long as it isn't every day.
She is resting now. Time to get the e-collar and dress her up before I go to school. --OH. And I have a great smart Kayla story to tell you, about her thoughts on her recovery--but that will wait until next time.
Kayla has been doing super well, but I let down my guard yesterday, and while letting her out of her pen, I neglected to notice a pile of books by the side. Rather than waiting for me to open the pen all the way, Kayla bolted out and jumped over the books. Then coming back in from potty, we got our timing off, so she did a little jump to get up the steps rather than the two of us splittting the weight. She was limping last night and couldn't sleep but this morning she seems to be feeling better and is weight-bearing. I gave her an additional pain agent, an NSAIDS, which she doesn't usually take as they upset her digestive system terribly, but I think a half a dose on occasion for pain increases might be OK, so long as it isn't every day.
She is resting now. Time to get the e-collar and dress her up before I go to school. --OH. And I have a great smart Kayla story to tell you, about her thoughts on her recovery--but that will wait until next time.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
And here are the battle wounds
Here is Kayla on her first night home:
Actually, I have to say, that these pictures five days after the surgery look fabulous to me. The first night she bled through her bandage, was all black and burgundy, and it looked like a real butcher job. Now she's getting back to a wonderful pinkish hue-- but two staples are missing. What did mom not see. . . I wonder. Tricky dog can get around the e-collar. Yikes.
Actually, I have to say, that these pictures five days after the surgery look fabulous to me. The first night she bled through her bandage, was all black and burgundy, and it looked like a real butcher job. Now she's getting back to a wonderful pinkish hue-- but two staples are missing. What did mom not see. . . I wonder. Tricky dog can get around the e-collar. Yikes.
Kayla's post op
Here is Kayla before surgery, sporting her Spartanwear:
Thank you again to everyone who has been helping finance Kayla's recovery. Most recent thanks goes to Michael, Joan, and Steve. Much of this blog will be pictures.
As Kayla went into surgery, she was doing pretty well. She didn't want to go with the surgeon, and, in fact, she came into the billing office and "found" me, acting out our hide-n-seek games. She was very dismayed when they took her down the hall (dragged her I might add). However, I received the call the next day that things went well. They found some arthritis and had to do a miniscis release on her inside soft tissue, but her MDL was more in tact than they had anticipated. Yay!
Thank you again to everyone who has been helping finance Kayla's recovery. Most recent thanks goes to Michael, Joan, and Steve. Much of this blog will be pictures.
As Kayla went into surgery, she was doing pretty well. She didn't want to go with the surgeon, and, in fact, she came into the billing office and "found" me, acting out our hide-n-seek games. She was very dismayed when they took her down the hall (dragged her I might add). However, I received the call the next day that things went well. They found some arthritis and had to do a miniscis release on her inside soft tissue, but her MDL was more in tact than they had anticipated. Yay!
Monday, January 22, 2007
Kayla went to MSU today
Kayla went in for her pre-surgical evaluation today. Surgery is tomorrow. Thank you so much to all who donated-- We raised $1105 towards here surgeries--that's 17% of her total surgery cost. Thank you. Thank you! Thank you Aunti Joy, especially for such a generous donation.
Unfortunately, Michigan state seems unwilling to work with Orthodog Silver Lining Fund for any of the funding, though I plan to attempt to submit paperwork anyway and come to some sort of an arrangement. Also, special thanks should be given to my recentl late grandfather, Aubrey Earl Waller, who, in his death this Christmas, has made much of Kayla's work possible in the near future. As a student, I need to be very careful how I spend any money I receive, but Kayla's health is, as Mastercard would say, priceless!
Kayla was very good for the doctors today as the students practiced evaluating the health and deterioration of her joints through extension and prodding and comparing to the X-rays. When it was time for me to go, however, she pulled an old rescue game she has, called "Find Mommy." I was behind a large pillar in the billing room-- and it DID look remarkably like a tree (which is where "mommy" usually hides)-- She came out to me, and lay down on the other side of the pillar, having successfully found me. She refused to stand up and she refused to leave. The doctor had to drag her down the tile that way. It was unbearable. Please pray she recovers well enough and quickly enough to realize I really did walk away for her own good!! (for my sake as well as hers).
Thank you also for all of your prayers. I have pre-opoeration pics to put on the site as well as post op pics of her nifty pirate scars when we see them, so she can brag to all the other dogs about her brave, brave battle defending herself against the masked humans!
Please continue to share links to this blog and to www.oslf.org as well as www.IMOM.org, as they help a lot of animals in need, even if they do not work with Michigan State.
Sincerely,
Brett (Kayla's mom)
Unfortunately, Michigan state seems unwilling to work with Orthodog Silver Lining Fund for any of the funding, though I plan to attempt to submit paperwork anyway and come to some sort of an arrangement. Also, special thanks should be given to my recentl late grandfather, Aubrey Earl Waller, who, in his death this Christmas, has made much of Kayla's work possible in the near future. As a student, I need to be very careful how I spend any money I receive, but Kayla's health is, as Mastercard would say, priceless!
Kayla was very good for the doctors today as the students practiced evaluating the health and deterioration of her joints through extension and prodding and comparing to the X-rays. When it was time for me to go, however, she pulled an old rescue game she has, called "Find Mommy." I was behind a large pillar in the billing room-- and it DID look remarkably like a tree (which is where "mommy" usually hides)-- She came out to me, and lay down on the other side of the pillar, having successfully found me. She refused to stand up and she refused to leave. The doctor had to drag her down the tile that way. It was unbearable. Please pray she recovers well enough and quickly enough to realize I really did walk away for her own good!! (for my sake as well as hers).
Thank you also for all of your prayers. I have pre-opoeration pics to put on the site as well as post op pics of her nifty pirate scars when we see them, so she can brag to all the other dogs about her brave, brave battle defending herself against the masked humans!
Please continue to share links to this blog and to www.oslf.org as well as www.IMOM.org, as they help a lot of animals in need, even if they do not work with Michigan State.
Sincerely,
Brett (Kayla's mom)
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