It's been awhile!

I thought about this blog today, went to my computer, logged in and thought to myself... Why haven't I updated this blog in FOREVER? Well, to be honest, it's because Charles is all better. His hair has grown back, he has completely forgotten that he had a major operation, and all is back to normal. Other than me freaking out every once in awhile when he is about to jump off the couch - everything is back to our status quo! And we are thrilled.

Charles slowly worked up to his former exercise level. But this took some time. Only in the last month have we gone back to our really long walks. I would take him on shorter walks, increasing week by week. All that's left of Charlie's surgery is a scar that you can feel (if you try) and see (but only if he lays a certain way and his skin drapes over). If you didn't know about his operation, you would never have noticed.

Lots of things have changed for us, we have moved out of the city and now are commuting downtown during the week. This means longer days for Charles but there is a high-school aged girl across the street who takes him for a walk in the early afternoon. This is perfect for us! I still watch him on the webcam and he sleeps all day. This always eases my guilt, but not enough to stop our 5:30 am walks and then our hour long ones after work! This sucks as it's dark out all the time right now! I recently bought a glowdoggie LED collar. I'm waiting for it to arrive and will review it once I've had the chance to use it.

Thank you to everyone who sent emails and wrote comments on the blog. There are so many people who have gone through this and it's nice to know you're not alone! It's also great to see so many dogs having the surgery and having such positive outcomes!! I have been surprised by the number of people who have written to me, asking questions and telling me their stories. While I wish none of us and our dogs had to have this happen, it's great to know that these dogs have such wonderful people who truly love them and will do the right thing when it comes to looking after their best friends!

Cheers to 2012 (and updating this blog!)

Jen & Charles

Charles walking after surgery

He is getting around really well. A little bit sloppier in the back legs (weaker, tendency to trip a bit), but otherwise amazing!

Another Day, Another Toy!

Follow up Appointment

Today we attended for our follow up appointment! Charles got his stitches out and the Dr. said he was doing excellent. He would require 2 more weeks of crate rest, and then slowly he could go back to his new normal. That is, no ridiculous playing, stairs or jumping of any kind. We can live with that! The next two weeks will be hard since Charles thinks he is all better! Here is a picture of Charles with his stitches out. Looking pretty good and his hair starting to grow back too :)

Surprise!

Since Charles was on the mend, he was not able to join his buddies at Unleashed in the City for day camp. Charles would normally go out 2-3 times per week for a few hours with his friends to Cherry Beach. He loved this so much and was definitely missing it. On Friday, Kate from Unleashed dropped off a special 'get well soon' gift for little Charles.

We let him open the package and choose one of the MANY toys Kate had sent us. The card was really cute as well and was from all of his friends at Unleashed. The gift was very generous and Charles was thrilled! A big thanks to Unleashed for thinking of Charles.

He now gets to have a new toy every few days and is beside himself. He destroys them usually within 5 minutes but likes to collect his victims and then cuddle with them after.

The Next Five Days

One of our early morning walks to Power St.

Charlie's pain meds were now reduced to only twice per day. This was significantly easier for me (no more leaving work early). Right away I noticed the difference in him. Not only was he feeling better, the reduced meds made him less sleepy. Sleepiness was a lifesaver in keeping him in the crate! Now, he had more or less forgot he had an operation and was awake a lot more. He started crying in his crate if we were home. I would hear crying at 1:30 in the morning and have to go out and console him, and then ultimately close the bedroom door. He was definitely doing a lot better. Within this timeframe he was already feeling significantly better than before surgery.

He had come to like his crate, just not if we were home. It made me feel a lot better to be able to see him from work as I had set up a webcam. I did notice that he was a bit more restless on these reduced pain meds days.

Everything is looking up and I am thrilled!!

The First Five Days

Having Charles home was great. He was very sleepy and his meds made him even more so. He was taking pain killers 3 times per day and they really knocked him out. All he did for the first 5 days was as follows:

6 am - wake up - small breakfast with pain meds
6:30 - after pain meds had kicked back in, drive to dog park for grass and washroom purposes. We went early so there would be no other dogs there and it was the only place he would go to the washroom. He was leashed of course.
9 am - small breakfast #2
Back home to bed - to crate
2pm - Another round of pain meds, small diner, walk immediately outside the building for a quick pee
6 pm - dinner and drive to dog park to go to the washroom
10pm - quick pee and pain meds
Bedtime

Charles basically slept the whole time. I would carry him everywhere. The only walking he did would be when he sniffed to go to the washroom. He really was self-limiting and spent most of the time in the crate. When I was home I would leave the door open and he would just stay in there and watch me. After these 5 days, Charles' painkillers would be reduced to just 2 times per day.