Thread: Dogs!

Poor, Travis. Hope he feels better soon. A good indication is that he’s eating again.

Put the cone on
If he chews the bandage and tears the stitches you will have a lot of problems with infections.

Originally Posted by rolodave

Put the cone on
If he chews the bandage and tears the stitches you will have a lot of problems with infections.

The Vet said that I only needed to keep the cone on if I wasn't going to be able to keep an eye on him to make sure he didn't mess with the bandage.

As I posted he's only tried to lick at the bandage twice all day. To be honest I really don't think that he can actually reach to chew at it as his tongue barely reaches. But I am keeping a close eye on him. I'm retired and don't have any appointments and he goes with me wherever I go. I did make a quick run to the supermarket earlier today when we were heading home from the dog park and when I got back to the rig, I checked and his bandage was dry so he wasn't licking at it while I was inside. So I think we are good to go. I'll be sure to post if we do have a problem with him chewing or licking at it.

The antibiotics are probably causing his loose stools. Happens to humans too.

I give my guys slippery elm when they get upset tummies or the runs. Takes about a day to set them straight.

Early morning playtime was quite animated today and pretty entertaining.

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Well Travis had a visit at the Vet's today so they could check on his tail. While all of the internal stitches (I presume they will eventually dissolve) One or two of the external stitches had pulled loose so they re-stitched them and wanted me to keep the cone on him but once I told the Dr about how the so dramatically traumatized him he said, I'd done the right thing by not making him wear it.

But he felt that something had to be done to keep him from it so I told him that my oldest daughter had told me about how her dog had some kind of an inflatable 'Doughnut' to keep her dog from being able to lick some stitches.

So here's Travis with his new 'collar'. He doesn't seem to mind it too much but it's funny when he tries to fit in places he used to but can't. (Like under my computer desk while I'm sitting at it)



I was charged $13 for the plastic cone when his tail was docked but N/C for the doughnut so I'm thinking it's just on loan as my bill was only for $19.50 for re-bandaging the tail. I found that they retail for about $25 so I'll make sure to have it cleaned and sanitized before I return it.

I was surprised when the Dr told me that the external stitches would need to stay in for about another two weeks but as my dad used to say "Don't ask just anybody, ask somebody that knows something"

I am not sure about dogs, but they have soft cones for cats. you can fold them down at about eye level and it is enough to keep them from getting to the stiches but doesn't seem to bother them nearly as much. May be something to consider if you need it again. They also store easier than the plastic ones.

Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

Poor, Travis. Hope he feels better soon. A good indication is that he’s eating again.

He is feeling better today. We had a good night last night. He slept on my bed all night and even let me sleep in.

For breakfast he only ate a few bites of the dry (and expensive) dog food so I put 1/2 pint of the same chicken bone broth in it and then he ate it all up. He readily took both pain pills and his antibiotics BUT yesterday when I gave them to him I didn't notice that he carried them in his mouth for about 15 minutes and spit them out when I let him outside to pee and poo. . But when I gave them back to him he swallowed them--go figure--

Another new change today is that for the first time since he got home he climbed up on to 'HIS Chair' and has been dozing on it off and on all day.

I took him to the Human Society's Dog Park to run and play and he had a ball. However when he took a dump there it was quite loose. He's had loose turds every now and then and the Vet prescribed some Probiotics and they have helped but not entirely stopped the occasional loose stools. I'm thinking that the antibiotics that I'm having to give him is messing with his gut and killing the helpful bugs.

He's only licked at the bandage a couple of times and when I tell him NO he leaves it alone so I think we'll make it to Monday as I believe that's when the bandage comes off. I failed to ask if the stitches were dissoluble so I need to send an email asking about that.

Anyway, it looks like we are on the right road to recovery.

Travis and I would like to thank all for the concern and well wishes.

I had a dog which ran off, got hit by a car and a good Samaritan picked her up.
Tail was broke, so the vet did the deed. She wagged her ass from then on and her tail did not damage things anymore.
Happy ending!

Travis is a good dog and seems very patient about everything that’s happened. He’s a good boy.

One positive outcome of his surgery is that all the breakables on your coffee and end tables are much less likely to go flying as a result of an enthusiastic tail wag.