Friday 8 January 2016

Dusty - Our Little Enigma

We took Dusty back to Newmarket on the 29th December for x rays to see how he’s progressing. He was walking well and his incision had healed so well you could barely see it, so I hoped they’d say he was doing marvellously. But there is only limited healing of his bones. We came away feeling rather down.

Almost as soon as we got home, he started biting at his leg and on Saturday he made part of the scar pink and sore so it was back on with the dreaded lampshade.



We took him to see our vet when we took Harley in. He found that Dusty’s kneecap is now loose which can be a complication of the surgery and he would need another operation to fix it.

We couldn’t get back to Newmarket this week, so our vet did the x rays to check the implant is still okay as they were worried that something might have gone wrong with that. We then had a worrying wait while the orthopaedic surgeons looked at the results and decided what to do.

Today we heard that the implant is fine and when his bones have healed, he will have to have another operation to sort his kneecap out and in the meantime, more x rays in a few weeks to see how he’s progressing.

We’ve done everything we’ve been told, keeping him on the lead unless he is in a small confined area with nothing to jump on, carrying him up and down stairs and in and out of the front and back doors. Visitors are kept to a minimum and he doesn’t get to see any other dogs. He has a good quality diet and hasn’t put on any weight and he is never left alone even for a minute.

When his little people come to see him, they crawl in on their hands and knees so he won't jump up at them!

I’m still sleeping downstairs with him so there’s no risk of him jumping on and off my bed and it looks like I’ll be doing so for the foreseeable future.


I am looking on the bright side of things and the bright side of this is that I don’t have to traipse across muddy fields in the cold and wet. And looking ahead, when he can go for proper walks again, we should be approaching lovely spring!


32 comments:

  1. You are doing everything you possibly can Teresa, so you need not worry on that score. I don't know how you remain so patient, so surely Dusty deserves the best outcome, which I'm sure will happen.

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    1. I am remaining patient with the help of Kalms, Maggie :-) They really do seem to help. He doesn't have much of a life at the moment, poor little fella and because he feels fine, he wants to run round and play xx

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  2. He couldn't have been in better hands Teresa, and I am sure all the love and care he has had will pay off later. And yes - it WILL soon be spring xxx

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    1. Oh I am so looking forward to spring, Sue :-) xx

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  3. Hi Teresa,

    Oh no, but at least you are looking on the bright side. A mucky dog who suddenly sneaks back into the house before you have a chance to clean him, is something I've encountered with a certain dog.

    Your love and dedication resonates, as paw, sorry, as per usual, in this post.

    Have a lovely rest of your weekend, Teresa.

    Gary :) x

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    1. I can't think who you mean, Gary - surely not lovely Penny :-)
      Enjoy your weekend :-) xx

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  4. Teresa, I feel for you - and Dhim. It's very hard when our dogs are poorly and have to wear the dreaded lampshade! Not least because they don't understand what's going on. Is Dusty allowed to go on any short walks, at all? We used to take the lampshade off when we had our short walks, as our dog didn't bite at her wound when she had something else to think about and it gave her a bit of respite from it. I also used to take it off a couple of times a day and give her an nice relaxing brush all over. It drove her mad that she couldn't give herself a good lick and clean and I think that helped. I'm sure you've thought of all these things but anyway...I remember wishing the time away too. The good days WILL come. Take it a day at a time. Wishing you all the best. Helen x

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    1. Thank you, Helen - it's good to hear from someone who's been through it. I must admit over the past week or so, I've wondered if I made the right decision in having the TPLO done and should have looked into alternatives, but you give me hope that it will get better.

      He has the lampshade off when we go out for walks and when I can sit with him and keep him occupied or if he has his Kong or a chew toy. I'll be almost as glad as him when the lampshade can come off again :-) xx

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  5. Sorry he, and you, have these problems. I did like the image of the little people crawling to see him so he doesn't jump up though.

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    1. I make the big people do it too, Patsy ;-) xx

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  6. What wonderful care you give Dusty, Teresa, and although he has been unlucky to suffer these problems, he is so very lucky to have you. I bet he'll be raring to go out for some lovely long walks in the spring and you might have your bed back by then too. I had to sleep on the sofa all through Christmas week and appreciated my bed so much afterwards, but that was only a fraction of the time you've been sleeping downstairs. I hope you're more comfortable than I was. I had to share with three cats who claimed I was bottom of the pecking order and gave me the saggy end. xxx

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    1. Thank you, Joanna. My bed is an inflatable camping bed with a fold out chair bed on top and it is surprisingly comfy. At first I was just using the chair bed and ended up with a lot of aches and pains. I love it that you let your cats have the most comfy end of the sofa :-) Harley has taken over my place on my bed! xx

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  7. Tim 'n' Ted send loads of licks and tail wags and sympathy to Dusty's humans for looking after him with so much love and to Dusty for having to wear the lampshade. We've been there, done that *doggy shudders*
    xxx

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    1. Thank you Tim 'n' Ted. I know you lovely boys will know how Dusty is feeling xx

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  8. Teresa, Dusty is one lucky dog to have you as his owner. I hope his recovery comes soon, and you ( both?) can sleep upstairs again.

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    1. Or unlucky, Frances as I seem to have a knack of choosing pets with medical problems. We could sleep upstairs now if he'd stay on the bed, but I know he'd be jumping on and off all night and I've not been successful in getting him used to sleeping in his soft crate. Ah well, one day :-) xx

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  9. You couldn't csre for Dusty anymore than you have beenTeresa. I really hope he recovers quickly.xx

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  10. Poor Dusty - how lucky he is to have you x

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  11. The important thing is that Dusty is improving, and I'm sure he appreciates all you're doing to help him in his recovery.:-)

    Take care of your health too, meanwhile.

    An an extra pat for Dusty.

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    1. Thank you, Carol. I fear he's starting to see me as the big meanie who won't let him go where he wants at the speed he wants. He enjoyed the extra pat though :-) xx

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  12. Oh, dear, just when he was doing so well. Glad he's got you and glad you don't have to get muddy, cold and wet. Lots of love heading your way for Dusty and your family, Teresa. Give his ears a ruffle from me. xx

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  13. My heart goes out to you and Dusty for having to go through all this. Once he's back on his feet, he'll soon forget about all the trials and tribulations though. Hopefully by the time better weather comes, he'll be able to run about and enjoy it.

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    1. Thank you, Joanne. I'm hoping this will all be a distant memory for him one day in the not too distant future :-) xx

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  14. Oh bless, My thoughts are with you Teresa and Dusty. I've been there with our pets. Paryers and hug.

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  15. There is something about a dog wearing one of those cones...I do hope Dusty gets back to normal soon. Have had some trouble commenting of late but have been reading! The little people sound lovely - very caring. :-) X

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    1. It's such a sad look isn't it. He's only wearing at night now as he's not gnawing frantically at his leg during the day. I just have to bite the bullet now and trust him to leave it alone overnight!

      I've had trouble with some blogs too, not being able to comment. It seems to do that every now and then! xx

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  16. Sorry to hear Dusty is still having problems. At least he is getting all the love he needs. Hopefully this will help him to heal faster. Have a lovely weekend.

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    1. Thank you, Nicola. He has his next x rays on the 16th Feb when we'll find out if his bones have healed. He seems to think they have as he's started trying to leap about which is nerve wracking! :-) xx

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