Glad things seem to be going well

All sounds very positive, Its hard keeping the weight off them Banjo got fed up of carrot he likes bits of celery now

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Door Hugger Land http://paws4paint.weebly.com

All my children have paws!

Well done Banjo - Flynn may like celery, he's never had it so will get him some and tell him it's highly recommended by Banjo, lol.

he also recomends the large teething bone from wilkinsons no calories in that mem to cut up the celery though if its stringy thats not good dont want you haveing any more things to deal with

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Door Hugger Land http://paws4paint.weebly.com

All my children have paws!

Hi hunni.... what a great post.... very interesting.... how old is Flynn ?? It is amazing how quickly they do adjust to new things in their lives !!!!! Keep on posting please.... think there are lots of us following his path back to health and full fitness..... Pamx

Thanks for the celery tip - was going to just give him a stick to chew on - oops!

I will continue to post Flynns diary as it's my own personal one that I wanted to share. I'm looking forward to this time next year when I can say "Do you remember when Flynn came home from his op........." and just reflect on all that happened and breathe a sigh of relief.

Long story, cut short.
Flynn was two last May, concievd by my own dogs while I was in hospital, wasn't told by the "sitter" and only discovered when my girl put on weight. I divorced the "sitter" and raised eight Mallie pups. Didn't intend to keep any but Flynn chose me, the only one who would sleep on the sofa with me.
I health tested my dogs as soon as I could and have lived in fear ever since as both showed slight dysplasia, though neither parents have problems and thankfully none of the other pups do, some working.
I believe Flynn chose me because he had problems I didn't know and knew i'd care for him in every way I could. Have felt so guilty over Flynn (the whole litter really) and he's the love of my life, have slept on the sofa ever since the day he was born and couldn't imagine my life without him, that's my bedroom now.

Have constant contact with his brothers and his only sister and both mum and dad are now neutered/spayed, as are all of the pups, the girl and one boy before they left me.
Irresponsible breeding is terrible and i'd never have wanted to contribute to such a litter especialy as I loved them all so much. Still at least the "poorly" one stayed with me and i'm so thankful that I got to keep this very special boy.

I divorced the "sitter" sorry but found that very funny

Sometimes its just one of those things both Banjo's parents are/were ok & all his litter he just got a short straw I think when we went to choose a pup he was the one that just sat & looked at us while the other's played like mad round our feet, there was just something about him....... would'nt swop him for the world

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Door Hugger Land http://paws4paint.weebly.com

All my children have paws!

Wow.. what a sweet story.... as they say, we all learn from our mistakes only some are much bigger than others !!! So you have 3 Malamutes then ??? My old boy Ninyo (GSD) got to the stage last year where I had to carry his back end for him as he couldnt support himself at all.... boy was that a heavy task ? We managed for the summer but then it just comes that time when you have to stop and think realistically....... He was over 11 bless him and had a wonderful life..... R.I.P my big grumpy boy.... miss you xxx

And swapped him for Flynn, have not looked back either!

I know i'm lucky the other pups are fine but anyone reading this and thinking of breeding, please reconsider. Although Flynn is doing well i'd rather he hadn't had to have this surgery at all and when it's (sort of) your fault it hits home even harder, especially when you love them so much.
I still find it quite amazing that he chose me and just one day, when he was around 10 weeks old I knew I couldn't part with him.
None of my pups left "home" til after 10 weeks, two as late as seven months, didn't really want any to go.

Sorry to hear about dear Ninyo but what a long life he had and you allowed him dignity in your decision, so hard to lose a true friend. You must have so many lovely memories of him and they will never be forgotten.

Yes I have dad (grey/white) and mum (red/white) who are 5 & 5 1/2 years old. Pics of them are in photo gallery under "Here's my clan" along with my two terrier crosses.

Monday 23rd Aug. (Six Days - post op)

1.15pm
Flynn had one sedative tablet before bed last night and slept like a dream til 11am this morning - movement around him didn't wake him, so the night time tablet will be phased out quite soon I think. He had his breakfast and went out to the toilet and is having no problems with us holding onto him now, as it's become quite the norm to be followed around while he "goes". It absolutely poured down all night so on with sturdy shoes as the ground and grass can be slippery, extra caution needed at the mo. Was reminded again only yesterday by Noel how important it is for him not to slip - wish the rain could hold off for the next four weeks at least! The sturdy shoes did the trick and no slips whatever, from either him or us.
With having just the one sedative last night Flynn was quite active when he woke this morning and the fact that he slept for so long, the sedation had completely worn off, lol. He wanted to get up instead of just lying by my side playing "leave it" and "which hand" tricks so I deided to give him a full dose and see how it goes. I can't have him getting at all excited for a while so am going to "play by ear" when and how many tablets I give him. I think i'll skip the evening dose and give him just one at bed time tonight and aim at just giving him a dose in the morning, to settle him for the day.
Flynns normal self is just too normal for his recovery at the mo, lol, and much as I want my boy back I don't want to push it and end up with him trying to leap about - not just yet anyway!
He loves lying with his head on my lap being fed one piece of sweetcorn at a time from a fork, lording it right up he is and I don't blame him - make the most of it while he can I say.

He does lie in the most awkward positions though, considering we extended his crate again yesterday and he's got plenty of room!



6.30pm.
I gave Flynn a lovely meaty rib cage for his tea this evening in his crate, he loved it and as he has to make up bone in his hip joint thought it would help with the process - probably won't make any difference, lol. He's only had one bone since his op as I didn't want to make him too solid but as he's having no problems with toileting at all I thought a nice gnaw would keep him happy. He hasn't had any sedatives since this morning and after we brought him back in from the garden, when he'd finished his bone, he went straight towards the crate so I put him in and he went straight to sleep - good boy! Typical though as for once i'd actually got everything ready for his cuddle, I even remembered his comb to give him a little groom to help pass some time.
His scar is looking beautiful, all dry and scabby - know it sounds gross but it's what we want, no sign of infection or swelling and when he's out of the crate with his comfy collar off he isn't at all bothered by it and has never tried to lick it. He still walks very well, no limping and on a couple of occasions has had a little scratch of the grouund with both back legs after he's toileted - scares me though!

11.30pm
Flynn had a very restful evening and spent some time out of the crate as usual but this time didn't want to go back in. I managed to persuade him, as that's all I can do, can't actually force him and now is begining to settle.
He got spooked by something when we took him out in the garden tonight, don't know what it was but there were very high winds and it could have been foxes screaming but he always hears them and usually wants to get them. Anyhow he did go to the toilet but was edgey all the time, which is not good as you never know if he's going to try to bolt, we have a firm hold on him but don't want him putting pressure on his hip. We took him out a second time before bed but he didn't do anything, just kept looking around, so we brought him back and he went in his crate.
Because of his restlessness I decided to give him his sedatives and will ask Noel tomorrow if maybe he should stay on them for another week and wean him off gradually after that.
It's all a learning curve and I will ask the expert what he thinks is best for the time being, as I can't have him spooking at the moment.