Mickey's Life After TPLO: Day Eight

Introduction

Welcome to Mickey's blog, a blog about a dog who has been there for me and made me smile even when I thought I couldn't any more. A dog who was sent to me by a loving God who knew I needed him as much as he needed me.

Mickey's story is much like other adopted dog's stories. Left at a kill shelter at only six months because his owners didn't want him any more. He waited and waited, but because of his age and because of his energy level he was never taken home and so awaited his death. But Mickey was one of the lucky ones, the rare few who are rescued by those non-kill shelters to be given more time to find their forever home. After waiting patiently for over a year, we finally found each other at a Petco in Austin.

Five years later, Mickey is my companion, best friend and and athlete. With elite and master titles in multiple Agility venues, he competes all over the state, traveling from hotel to hotel. Not only that, he's a Canine Good Citizen and loved by everyone who meets him.

Unfortunately, the unthinkable has happened. And though its fairly common in working, athletic dogs, I was devastated and distraught. Mickey was diagnosed with an ACL tear/rupture on April 3rd 2009 and after a long weekend of research and studying the procedure, he was admitted into Central Texas Veterinary Specialty Hospital for a much needed TPLO surgery by Dr. Kerpsack.

*I'm not a vet and and in no way am I liable for any information on this blog. Please contact your local vet for information on medications or treatments.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Day Eight

GETTING BORED

So, Mickey is officially done with being in a crate. Poor guy is bored and wants to go back to work. Plus, his energy is building up and now when ever I take him out of his crate he tries to jump around and prance. This is going to be a very long and difficult recovery.

In the mean time, I'm putting up pictures of his stitches and also a short video of him walking as a progress report to his recovery. He's doing great. Though, he has a little sore spot to the side of the stitches that I'm having a hard time keeping him from licking. He doesn't seem to care about the stitches in the least. I've been putting triple antibiotic on it that has an added pain relief medication in it, just on that spot to keep it moist and from hurting. I think its helping. Also, Mickey is officially off antibiotics and the Tramadol. I'd been weaning him off of Tramadol for a day now and its gone. But, he is still on Metacam. Which is good, considering he is still having some pain with that leg.