| Saturday 2/27/2010 7:00 am at home |
At first glance at the photos of her leg, it doesn't look much different. When you look closer (if you
can) then you can see that the paw is swollen up again :(
I will be taking her to the vet again today & will get a different vet's point of view... Hoping we can still
save the leg, but if it has to be amputated, I am ready for that as well.
can) then you can see that the paw is swollen up again :(
I will be taking her to the vet again today & will get a different vet's point of view... Hoping we can still
save the leg, but if it has to be amputated, I am ready for that as well.
| Saturday 2-27-2010 At the vet |
The vet that looked at Nanu today was the same vet that took off the original owner's too tight bandage.
He was actually IMPRESSED with the healing & said she is doing well. He took off that big patch of dead
skin you can see in the picture above to the left, so that was pretty gruesome to watch. He outlined a
possible procedure for skin graft... if that comes to pass I will certainly keep everyone in the loop! He
tested her paw for feeling. she cannot feel the outside two toes, but does have feeling in the inside two
toes. Pad is warm & getting blood flow.
He was actually IMPRESSED with the healing & said she is doing well. He took off that big patch of dead
skin you can see in the picture above to the left, so that was pretty gruesome to watch. He outlined a
possible procedure for skin graft... if that comes to pass I will certainly keep everyone in the loop! He
tested her paw for feeling. she cannot feel the outside two toes, but does have feeling in the inside two
toes. Pad is warm & getting blood flow.
| Sunday morning 2-28-2010 At home |
If you look past the nasty expanse of no skin, you can notice that the tissue is quite pink & healthy looking.
I am concerned that she doesn't move her paw... I am wondering if some tendons or ligaments are
damaged. Her spirits continue to be good & she is a perfect patient.
I am concerned that she doesn't move her paw... I am wondering if some tendons or ligaments are
damaged. Her spirits continue to be good & she is a perfect patient.
| Monday 3-1-2010 |
The skin on Nanu's leg continues to heal very nicely! We decided to call her treatments, "Hyper-Beauty"
treatments :) All of the vet tech's comment on how wonderful Nanu is to wrap. She takes everything with
incredible good nature. She isn't very fond of her Hyper-beauty treatments though, it is lonely in that tube.
She amuses herself & the entire staff with her howling rendition of "the Hyperbaric Blues" <smile>
treatments :) All of the vet tech's comment on how wonderful Nanu is to wrap. She takes everything with
incredible good nature. She isn't very fond of her Hyper-beauty treatments though, it is lonely in that tube.
She amuses herself & the entire staff with her howling rendition of "the Hyperbaric Blues" <smile>
| Tuesday 3-2-2010 |
| As you can see from the picture at the left, Nanu's worse wound is healing very nicely around the edges. The worry spot is directly over her joint. She still isn't moving her paw at all. I am worried that she may not have use of her ankle joint. The vets did say that they could "fuse" the joint somehow... I guess that would be better than losing the entire leg! Today I received an email from two past donors, Karen & Dennis, that have contributed several times before to my special needs dogs. They have sent me a donation to cover Nanu's expenses up to this point & for the rest of her hyperbaric treatments and then some. This is a huge relief so now she & I can concentrate on her recovery, not fundraising! Thank you to Karen, Dennis & everyone else that has helped with her expenses. We really, really appreciate it! |
| Tuesday 3-2-2010 |
Nanu is going to be having her bad leg amputated tomorrow. The vet & I had a long discussion about it
tonight. Her tendons & ligaments have died in her ankle joint. I had two choices basically. To put her through
trying to heal her skin, which may have included skin grafts and then put her through surgery to fuse her joint.
Which would save the leg, but would mean several more weeks of bandaging, the risk of infection would be
very high (her ankle joint is totally exposed) she would not have use of the ankle, so her gait would be stilted
AND we would still maybe have to do surgery to fix the bones in that leg! Or he could remove the leg and she
will be healed up in 10 days or so & there would be minimal risk of complications/ infections. So the vet felt
amputation was our best option & I agreed with him. She is scheduled for the surgery tomorrow afternoon.
When they have her out for surgery, they will x-ray the good leg to see how the healing process is going. My
guess is that she will still have to wear the splint for another month or so, especially because that leg will now
have to be the sole front support. She could still use some good thoughts for that good leg.... it HAS to heal
well enough for her to rely on it!
tonight. Her tendons & ligaments have died in her ankle joint. I had two choices basically. To put her through
trying to heal her skin, which may have included skin grafts and then put her through surgery to fuse her joint.
Which would save the leg, but would mean several more weeks of bandaging, the risk of infection would be
very high (her ankle joint is totally exposed) she would not have use of the ankle, so her gait would be stilted
AND we would still maybe have to do surgery to fix the bones in that leg! Or he could remove the leg and she
will be healed up in 10 days or so & there would be minimal risk of complications/ infections. So the vet felt
amputation was our best option & I agreed with him. She is scheduled for the surgery tomorrow afternoon.
When they have her out for surgery, they will x-ray the good leg to see how the healing process is going. My
guess is that she will still have to wear the splint for another month or so, especially because that leg will now
have to be the sole front support. She could still use some good thoughts for that good leg.... it HAS to heal
well enough for her to rely on it!
| Wednesday 3-3-2010 |
Nanu had her surgery today. She will be spending the night at the vet's and I will be bringing her home
tomorrow. I did get to visit her. She was pretty groggy from pain killers & was on an IV drip (fluids), but I got to
see the incision. It is higher up than I thought it was going to be, but it looks clean & should heal well. I'll have
to start crocheting her a sweater tonight so she has something new to wear :)
I didn't get to talk to the vet, but the vet tech said that her x-rays showed good healing on her other front leg!
I'll post pictures tomorrow after she gets home.
tomorrow. I did get to visit her. She was pretty groggy from pain killers & was on an IV drip (fluids), but I got to
see the incision. It is higher up than I thought it was going to be, but it looks clean & should heal well. I'll have
to start crocheting her a sweater tonight so she has something new to wear :)
I didn't get to talk to the vet, but the vet tech said that her x-rays showed good healing on her other front leg!
I'll post pictures tomorrow after she gets home.
| Thursday 3-4-2010 |
| For Thursday's update, please click here |