Tuesday morning Jackie and I hopped into the car, she was excited for an "outing". I felt like a traitor. This was to be no ordinary "outing". I was shaking all the way to the vet, but tried my best to stay upbeat and positive. In the exam room, all my resolve melted and I just held my precious, trusting Jackie and cried. Dr. Steve discussed the time frame of the surgery and then they took her away. I went into the coffee shop for a short time and then went on home to spend the day, waiting, with Gracie.
Dr. Steve called at 11:30 and said Jackie had come thru her surgery with flying colors and we could come for her at 4:00. I waited for Ron to get home and we arrived to get Jackie shortly after pick up time.
Jackie was in a morphine stupor. Unable to walk on her own, Dr. Steve carried her to the car for us. Her eyes were "wild" and impaired by the drugs, she was terrified by every noise and movement. Having read all of the information on the surgery, I knew that the next 24 hours would not be easy. We settled Jackie into her bed and prepared for a long night.
And it was.
We were to keep the leg iced on and off to help with the swelling. Jackie didn't seem to mind. We wrapped it in a small towel so it wouldn't freeze her leg. So when Ron went on to bed he left me with a fresh bag of ice. Jackie whined constantly and was only comforted slightly by my vigil by her side and the feel of my hand upon her. Gracie did not know what to do and I witnessed an "Alpha" behavior I can only imagine is necessary for survival in the wild. Gracie became very dominant, stomping her front paws and growling at Jackie. Could Jackie's whining have initiated a instinctive survival of the fittest behavior? All I know is that I had to keep Gracie away from Jackie. I HAD TO. I told her that Jackie needed to rest and Gracie just needed to go outside on her bed. She did. I think it was very upsetting to Gracie and she wasn't sure just what her role should be.
Eventually, the ice melted and when I thought Jackie had dozed off, I got up to replace the melted ice bag with a new one. MISTAKE. I was only in the kitchen, she could see me from where she was, but she jumped up and ran, stumbling and falling into the dining room. Had we not had the gate blocking the stairs I do believe she would have attempted them. Forgetting fresh ice, it took me about 45 minutes to get her calmed down and back into her bed. Needless to say, I did not leave her side again that night.
I had the foresight to take the next few days off from the shop. We kept Jackie on strong pain medications and I continued to sit with her for several days, only leaving her side when Ron would come home and sit with her. Keeping her quiet. She was able to make small trips to the yard to potty but Grandpa carried her up and down stairs for the first two weeks. (She HATED being carried!)
Her recovery has been slow and steady with one set back which required a new two week, full rest period. Her latest checkup was very encouraging, however, and we are hopeful that she will be back in full strength and leg function by the time we head to the cabin this July. Typical recovery time is 4 months until she can run and jump and chase deer!
Jackie has been an ISU case study. Students have been taking measurement tests of her leg and the pressure she is putting on her foot as time passes. Dr. Steve says Jackie may become his "Poster Child".
Over the weeks, dealing with Dr. Steve, we have come to know him and he us and our medical relationship has changed. He now knows us by name and knows both Gracie and Jackie. What a milestone THAT is. I am grateful for that.
May 16, 2013 - We are celebrating Jackie's Seventh Gotcha Day! The girls and I took a very short walk into the mountains. Short because we are breaking recovery guidelines with our extended outing. We had Kosher Hot Dogs for lunch! Yum!! and best of all, enjoyed ICE CREAM after dinner!
JACKIE - Our BIONIC Dog! What a trooper she is!
"A very wise dog woman once told me that dogs find owners, not the other way around. They pick you and they choose to stay with you. The deeper the bond, the harder it is to say goodbye. I know I'd rather have any moment of time with a dog I love and suffer the mourning than not have the time at all." -from "You Had Me at Woof. By Julie Klam
I couldn't agree more.................................
And it was.
We were to keep the leg iced on and off to help with the swelling. Jackie didn't seem to mind. We wrapped it in a small towel so it wouldn't freeze her leg. So when Ron went on to bed he left me with a fresh bag of ice. Jackie whined constantly and was only comforted slightly by my vigil by her side and the feel of my hand upon her. Gracie did not know what to do and I witnessed an "Alpha" behavior I can only imagine is necessary for survival in the wild. Gracie became very dominant, stomping her front paws and growling at Jackie. Could Jackie's whining have initiated a instinctive survival of the fittest behavior? All I know is that I had to keep Gracie away from Jackie. I HAD TO. I told her that Jackie needed to rest and Gracie just needed to go outside on her bed. She did. I think it was very upsetting to Gracie and she wasn't sure just what her role should be.
Eventually, the ice melted and when I thought Jackie had dozed off, I got up to replace the melted ice bag with a new one. MISTAKE. I was only in the kitchen, she could see me from where she was, but she jumped up and ran, stumbling and falling into the dining room. Had we not had the gate blocking the stairs I do believe she would have attempted them. Forgetting fresh ice, it took me about 45 minutes to get her calmed down and back into her bed. Needless to say, I did not leave her side again that night.
I had the foresight to take the next few days off from the shop. We kept Jackie on strong pain medications and I continued to sit with her for several days, only leaving her side when Ron would come home and sit with her. Keeping her quiet. She was able to make small trips to the yard to potty but Grandpa carried her up and down stairs for the first two weeks. (She HATED being carried!)
Her recovery has been slow and steady with one set back which required a new two week, full rest period. Her latest checkup was very encouraging, however, and we are hopeful that she will be back in full strength and leg function by the time we head to the cabin this July. Typical recovery time is 4 months until she can run and jump and chase deer!
Jackie has been an ISU case study. Students have been taking measurement tests of her leg and the pressure she is putting on her foot as time passes. Dr. Steve says Jackie may become his "Poster Child".
Over the weeks, dealing with Dr. Steve, we have come to know him and he us and our medical relationship has changed. He now knows us by name and knows both Gracie and Jackie. What a milestone THAT is. I am grateful for that.
May 16, 2013 - We are celebrating Jackie's Seventh Gotcha Day! The girls and I took a very short walk into the mountains. Short because we are breaking recovery guidelines with our extended outing. We had Kosher Hot Dogs for lunch! Yum!! and best of all, enjoyed ICE CREAM after dinner!
JACKIE - Our BIONIC Dog! What a trooper she is!
"A very wise dog woman once told me that dogs find owners, not the other way around. They pick you and they choose to stay with you. The deeper the bond, the harder it is to say goodbye. I know I'd rather have any moment of time with a dog I love and suffer the mourning than not have the time at all." -from "You Had Me at Woof. By Julie Klam
I couldn't agree more.................................
No comments:
Post a Comment