Hey hun.... sounds like your wee boy is coming on nicely and getting stronger by the day..... I have just bought myself An Alaskan Klee Kai...... to go with my GSD and Malamute...... She is only 4 weeks old at the moment so I have to wait..... patiently.... Have named her Anouk...... It is one of Carebears pups.....
Thanks for your kind wrods about my old boy Ninyo..... It is so hard to get over.....
Pamx

I cant begin to imagine how you feel xxx

__________________


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

All my children have paws!

Tuesday 24th Aug. (Seven Days - post op)

Have reached our first milestone today, now one whole week since Flynns op and all is still going wonderfully - thank goodness!
He did wake me up at 3.30am this morning. whining and standing in his crate and I know when he's standing it's not just a "i'm bored and want to come out" thing, it usually means he wants to go to the toilet. I woke Emma (poor girl) and off we went into the garden and sure enough, wee and poo - great! I think it's because he was spooked earlier in the evening that he didn't do all he should as Flynn never gets up in the night normally. He settled very quickly straight back into his crate and after a small whine went back to sleep and slept til 9am - rather an early rise for him actually. Had brekkie, meds and toileted then went back to sleep, didn't want to stay out probably because it was early for him.
We still take him out together and will do for the next six weeks, because everything is going so well that I wouldn't chance an accident, just not worth it.
I called Fitzpatrick Referrals regarding the sedatives and Noel is very happy to keep him on them three times daily for as long as needed, he said they are a mild sedative and will be easy to wean Flynn off - the benefits far out weighing any risks, so he's phoning my vet (Hugh) and i'll pick them up from him later.
Although i'm not keen on all the sedation i'd hate anything to go wrong now. As you know by the x ray the risk of fracture is the one to watch and he's at risk for at least four weeks, maybe longer.

9.45pm
Well Flynn has virtually slept his mile stone off today - the new vet bed that arrived this morning must be VERY comfy. He's had a good day, continues to walk well and is in good spirits, when awake that is. We've had no problems with anything really and he is getting used to being in the crate while all the other dogs roam around, no whining at all. I hope he now likes his crate and realizes that anything he has in there can't be pinched by the others, lol.
Seems amazing that this time last week I was worried sick and now it's all seeming so easy, how quickly this last week has gone by and what a good patient my "little" boy is!

Wednesday 25th Aug. (Eight Days - post op)

5.45am.
Flynn was up early this morning, not agitated or anything just wanted to go in the garden I think. The sun was just coming up and after a short wander round he laid down on the grass, didn't let him stay there though as it was still very wet with the dew and couldn't sit with him. At times like this you feel mean, as usually he'd be let out and i'd leave the door open. He loves the garden and ordinarily spends the majority of his day/evening just lying out there - never mind he'll be able to do that soon enough and also go for a nice pain free walk afterwards.
Ate breakfast and went back in his crate - not very happy about that, no meds though as too early and will spoil his rota. Now 7.40 and he's begining to settle again.

9.30am.
Flynn didn't sleep for long and although not naughty he does not like his crate today. He won't settle and has had his sedatives and Rimadyl now to see if it makes any difference, which I have a sneaky feeling it won't as he's fine when we get him out but immediately back in is unhappy again whining, although quite quietly, but not settling. His walking is fine and he seems well in himself, especialy when out of the crate - little tyke!

6.00pm.
He still has hardly slept the whole day, he did sleep for England yesterday though, so I expect he's just not sleepy. The sedatives haven't done a thing today, although I suppose he could be agitated if it weren't for them. He's very calm but just not tired and keeps standing up trying to poke his nose out of the crate - perhaps all the lovely cuddles we've been having outside the crate has been a bit of a mistake - we live and learn. So now he will come out twice a day and not be allowed to stay out everytime he goes to the toilet. As Emma just said he's not used to being in the house all day and he's never been in a crate before, it seems that as he's getting a little better he wants to return to normal and at the mo is looking all fed up - bless him. He's toileting well still and his wound is looking lovely, so I really have no doubts that all this is just due to him not being sleepy and being a little spoilt with too much fussing outside the crate - oops!

11.30pm.
All in all Flynn has had a very "down in the dumps" day today. He's not panting so i've ruled out pain, he is toileting well even though it's been pouring down all day, which is a real nuisance and his poo is a good colour, no sign of blood which i've been told to look out for due to him taking Rimadyl. He's always fed at the same time as having his meds as i'm well aware of the risks. His walking is still wonderful and the scar healing well, in fact so well that i'd imagine next Wednesday for the staples to be removed is pushing it as one is already skinning over - watching everything like a hawk I am, lol and he has 36 staples in all.
He just looks fed up and when you live with Mals you know their expressions and can read them like a book, one of their many redeeming atributes.
He has had a long spell of games, cuddles and grooming outside the crate just before bedtime - around two hours and is now asleep (1.30am) and I hope he'll have a happier day tomorrow as I hate to see my lil guy so fed up.
His Fentanyl patch is now off, was told I could remove it yesterday as it was no longer active and I wonder if that has anything to do with his mood change, could it still have had some "life" in it and now not getting that little bit of extra comfort? - just don't know!
Will have to think up some new games and get him some new toys, that should perk him up, we all know how they love a new toy, as tricks with food have to be limited because I don't want any extra weight going on, so I usually use some of his meals to play "find it" or "leave" which can get a bit messy.
Night night baby boy - lets hope tomorow is a better day for you. xx

Thursday 26th Aug. (Nine Days - post op)

4.20am.
Woken up again by Flynn standing in his crate, panting and looking at the patio door. Woke Emma (usual ocurrance) and off we trot in a very wet garden in case Flynn wants to toilet. After a short stroll he had a large wee, then a further short stoll and nothing more. Took him back in to put him in the crate and he refused to go in. As he was quite determined not to go in and backing off I thought a bribe was in order because I didn't want him being silly and hurting his hip. Off to the kitchen to look for a bribe and brought back a low fat treat stick, I showed it to him and threw it in the cage - no luck, so I went in the cage - all the while holding his lead while Emma held him in the sling - and pretended to eat it, still no luck. Back to the kitchen and brought out the raw rib cage i'd got out for later today. I took a small rib off, went in the cage and he followed - Eureka! Once in I squeezed past him and shut the door - what a spoilt little boy i've raised, lol. At least he did need to toilet and i'm glad he woke me but I think he's found his own game to play now, it's called "Lets guess the bribe" lol. I wonder what he'd do if I weren't sleeping on the sofa, sleep through the night I suppose but i've slept on the sofa since he was born and now find it hard to sleep in a bed (weird I know) - is it any wonder he's spoilt?

5.15am.
Up again but this time when I looked round at him it was ears flashed down and a tail wag - silly boy gave the game away and I knew he just wanted to come out for fuss - cheeky monkey, so I tried the stern approach and said "No Flynn, go to sleep" and he did - magic, lol. Bless him though I can't blame him for trying.

7.00am.
Up again wanting to go out - phew it's tiring - for us anyway, lol. Took him out to toilet successfully and straight back in his crate - he was having none of it, so tried a bribe but meat didn't work. Naughty mummy knows what he can't resist so I got a small piece of chocolate biscuit, threw it in and in he went - he's really got me round his paw and I thought I was going to be so strong too, lol. He had his breakfast and meds and although he wanted to come out when I told him "No" sternly again he's now gone back to sleep - ah peace and quiet reign!
So now, late as it is (9.45am) i'm going to have a little lie on the sofa, (Em's back to bed) and catch up on a little sleep for an hour or so. Am eternally grateful for Emma's help and her month's annual leave - not much of a holiday though - poor girl.
Flynn is much brighter this morning, wish the same could be said for us!


7.00pm.
What a good boy he's been today, he's slept like a log from around 9am til 2pm, went out to toilet then back in his crate. Seems that since he's been rumbled at playing the "i'm poorly and need to come out" game and i'm being firmer with him, he isn't even trying to ask now. We got him out at around 5.30pm, toileted and he had a meaty bone on his mat outside the crate, a small drink and his meds and is so relaxed on the rug that i've let him lie out for a while.
I used to worry that he doesn't always "go" when we take him out to toilet, sometimes he doesn't wee for around 6 hours, even more but he always has plenty of time and is never rushed. I don't worry now as he does eventually and will do buckets when he does, I expect it's a bit weird for him to go to order and on the occasions that he doesn't we always take him out a couple more times before crating him. At the end of the day we can't make him go and as long as he wee's at least twice a day, i'm not worried. Used to worry me loads at first but not now.
Still using bribes to get him back in the crate, bought a cooked chicken and offered him a piece in the crate - no way - so I got a tripe stick and went in the crate myself, that worked a treat, he loves them - for now anyway!
Have put a pic of his scar one week post op, it's amazing how different it looks and how the fur is growing back, a nice white hue now and no swelling at all.



11.45pm.
An uneventful evening, thankfully. Flynn spent some time out of the crate as he usually does but when in the crate was very good, just lying there and dozing occasionally but not real sleep, with any luck he'll sleep well tonight. The only problem at the mo is that he has only had one poo today and if he does get up in the night we will have to take him out in case he wants to toilet. I won't be able to sleep if I think he needs to "go". He'll be going out in around half hour for the last time, hopefully he'll poo then and we can get a good nights sleep - not holding our breath though, lol.
He's a begger with going back in the crate and i'm having to constantly change the bribes. He's got very wise to what's going to happen, the little tyke and i've now given him, low fat treat stick, tripe stick, piece of choc biscuit, cooked chicken and the last time a couple of cubes of cheese, I have prepared a few cubes of sausage roll for the next bribe and a hot dog chopped up for the one after that - i'm seriously running out of bribes, lol and am adjusting his meals to incorporate them.
He always refuses a bribe he's already had and didn't even try the cooked chicken. I know he will always go in for a piece of choc biscuit but can't use that too often as it's so bad for him and his real love is dolly mixtures - again bad for him. Will have to make some liver cake and sardine cookies tomorrow, hopefully that will be another two bribes to fall back on. Is it any wonder my lot have always said he was spoilt, lol - if it were Kali or Marts they'd get straight in just by being told to, never mind having to bribe them.
Everything else is on track and with any luck he'll sleep well tonight - please Flynny!

Friday 27th Aug. (Ten Days - post op)

1.15pm.
After Flynn went out to toilet last night before bed, he slept through the night from around 1.30am to 12.30pm today -wow! Even when I asked him if he wanted to be a good boy in the garden he wasn't interested. I can hardly believe the change in him over the last day or so. Although he doesn't like going back in his crate, once in he settles straight away with not a murmur from him. He actually seems as though he is begining to like it in there.
He's being very calm today and quite settled, is eating, drinking and toileting well and enjoying his time out of the crate. Sometimes he doesn't want to go in the garden and will just stand in protest, with a little coaxing he will usualy go to the toilet but on a couple of occasions just doesn't want to go.
He looks a little fed up but not how he did a couple of days ago, more contented really - perhaps he's now getting used to the whole situation. It's funny how when he is out of the crate he doesn't even try to stand up, it's as if he knows that he must rest. He'll just lie and play games but even then he isn't at all excited - very different to the Flynny we all know and I feed him bits of carrot, individual peas and his fave which is corn on the cob - he nibbles the corn off while I hold it - don't want him eating the actual cob because of blockage.
Have just come back from shopping and got him a new smokey bone, one of the thick ones that don't splinter to pass time, a new toy and some more bribes. I'm saving the toy for his next time out later.
I think after being a little stern with him the other night and telling him to lie down and go to sleep, he seems to know what to do now when in the crate and is not bugging us at all. As long as he's had a wee and poo I know he doesn't need to come out for a while and then I can tell him he has to stay in there. It seems a firm hand is what he's needed and hard as it is to be firm, it's in his best interests to do so.

10.30pm.
Have just put Flynn back in the crate after a 1 1/2 lie and play on the rug and I'M exhausted, lol. It's so tiring believe it or not to try and keep him happy and occupied. We played gentle tug with his new toy but he prefers my dressing gown belt - typical and some find it and leave it games with treats and I tried to get him interested in the kong by putting hot dogs inside but he won't even try to get them out, just licks it and looks away, lazy boy! Played the pea on the tray game, he has to get it before it slides down to the bottom, had a couple of goes and got fed up with that and he wasn't much interested in eating the rest of his corn cob left from earlier. He had had enough of games until. ..........I got out the dolly mixtures, then bingo!!
He was so alert, so eager to find it and leave it, speak and quiet, he became a different dog. He's not allowed many and they are only to be used as a very occasional treat but boy does he respond to them - crafty kid!
Took him out to toilet and with two tempting dolly mixtures he went back in the crate no trouble. At least I know when all else fails I can get him back in the crate with them, lol. They may not be good for him but I won't have to worry about him not getting in the crate again.
All in all a very good day for Flynn again, no worries at all - just hope it continues.
He's asleep now and will only be going out once more before bed then straight back in the crate. I can say that now with confidence.

Keep up the good work x

__________________


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

All my children have paws!

I have been reading your diary and comparing notes! My puppy Domion had his hip
replacement on 10th August. I think Noel and his team are amazing I can't believe how well Domino is doing, he his walking normally and has been since day 4. When I was talking to Michael he was saying because Domino is so young and only weighs 4.4Kg his recovery would be much quicker than a larger dog. Domino start his physio on 1st Sept so I am looking forward to seeing how he gets on.

We have been very lucky as Domino loves his crate and has been a model patient. He loves all the attention he gets not only from us but from the other dogs who have been brilliant with him.

Keep up the good work and I look forward to reading the next installment of your diary.

Val xx

Good luck with Domino, I know it's not all plain sailing but we have to stay positive.

Noel and his team are truly amazing, am so glad Flynn was able to go to them.
I don't think there is anywhere better in the UK personally.

Saturday 28th Aug. (Eleven days - post op)

Flynn gave us a bit of a scare as he didn't wee before going to bed like he usually does. Although he was pooing okay the last time he wee'd was yesterday afternoon around 4pm. Wasn't too worried as he doesn't eat dry food and doesn't drink loads so just thought he'd wake me during the night but he didn't - eek!!
Tried all manner of things like letting the boys out when we took him out so as he'd see them marking and do likewise but no and he isn't a marker anyway, where as Marts and Bruce are, even though they're neutered too. The girls didn't have any success either, mum just looking at him mostly. I even had the mad idea of stimulating his bits with a damp sponge like a mother dog does but he just stood there looking around, bet that would've looked weird if i'd been overlooked by a neighbour, lol. The boys couldn't believe their luck being allowed to wee up the plants on my side of the garden but Flynn just sniffed and walked away - typical! Eventually at around 8.55am he had his wee, over sixteen hours since the last one - thank goodness! Funny how YOU feel uncomfortable for them and they aren't worried, little tykes!
Today i'm not giving him his morning sedatives, he's asleep now anyway after having his breakfast and Rimadyl and if he does get a little excited they take less then an hour to kick in, just wonder if sometimes he's a bit drowsey as he goes to lift his leg then puts it down, it's almost like he can't be bothered.
The things that worry you are amazing, one time last night when he came out of the crate he had a little limp - another worry - but as soon as he'd taken a few paces he was walking okay again, as Emma said he sleeps a lot and could have a "dead leg" which any one of the big dogs get occasionally - not now Flynn please!
Funny how as soon as you think you've no worries, something comes up to worry you again. His walking is fine again now, no limping and we can breathe a sigh of relief - for now anyway!

10.30pm.
Had a bit of a scare this evening as Flynn seemed a little stiff on his left leg when getting up. Once up and walking the stiffness appears to be less and he walks much the same as usual. He is very relaxed in himself, no panting or any obvious sign of pain. Have wondered if it could just be because he isn't allowed any exercise at the moment or that he has a small amount of muscle wastage and doesn't have the support he had a few days ago. He has no swelling around the scar and everything else seems to be fine, he doesn't mind it being touched either.

11.55pm.
Spoke to Noel a moment ago and he said it could just be a blip where the implant is embedding and causing Flynn slight discomfort or muscle wastage and less support on the hip, as i'd thought. In any case I am to starve him from 8am tomorrow and take him to the practice at 3pm if I have any concerns whatever.
Although we have video'd Flynn walking, he said he can't tell by that only a physical examination and possibly an x ray will tell if anything is a miss.
So I will see how he walks in the morning and take it from there.
Apart from that we've had a lovely day and evening, Flynn has had lots of cuddles on the rug and is now toileting well. He still has a good appetite and that also makes me think he isn't in pain. He's still very calm and relaxed and is lapping up all the attention he's getting - still doesn't like going back in the crate though and there is no other way to get him in there other than bribes as we can't have a struggle with him. He hasn't ever had a slight slip so i'm hoping Noel is right and that it is, in his words "just a blip".