Sammie's Surgery
Re: Sammie's Surgery
Oh, one other thing that may interest you...UGA had our own Vet remove the stitches (staples ?? I have forgotten) and we only had to go back one other time for a follow-up.
Re: Sammie's Surgery
Thanks Marty...yes, the vet here said he would be the one to remove the stitches/staples and do follow-ups...we may have to go back a few times...I was reading at Purdue's Paralysis research center site that they have patients come back at 3 weeks, 6 weeks all day and 6 months all day for follow-up evaluations...
I spoke with the financial officer and he said they set up on a 12 month plan, the first 60 days is interest free, then 12% interest after that...I think we can handle that!!
I spoke with the financial officer and he said they set up on a 12 month plan, the first 60 days is interest free, then 12% interest after that...I think we can handle that!!
Re: Sammie's Surgery
Sounds good...you can breathe now... 
Re: Sammie's Surgery
SAMMIE IS COMING HOME!!!!
They called and said he did really well in therapy today...stood on his own and is still maintaining bladder control...
they were concerned that his temp was up a bit yesterday, but that was taken after therapy, so today they took it before, and a few times more, and he was normal before, and up a bit during and after therapy, so they determined it was just the stress and working that raised his temp a bit...tonight he was normal as well...
I got to thinking...they are so concerned about bladder control...what about bowel control?!...I have not even heard about that...another question for tomorrow...
We will leave around 7am to take our son to his girlfriend's aunt's house for the day, so they can have some time together...son and his girlfriend, not her aunt!
but her aunt is taking them to a movie...and only my son has to pay since her aunt is in a wheelchair...people in wheelchairs and their helper get into the movies free here...
I will come back after we are home tomorrow evening to let you know how he fared on the car trip home...
Thanks for everything!!!
They called and said he did really well in therapy today...stood on his own and is still maintaining bladder control...
they were concerned that his temp was up a bit yesterday, but that was taken after therapy, so today they took it before, and a few times more, and he was normal before, and up a bit during and after therapy, so they determined it was just the stress and working that raised his temp a bit...tonight he was normal as well...
I got to thinking...they are so concerned about bladder control...what about bowel control?!...I have not even heard about that...another question for tomorrow...
We will leave around 7am to take our son to his girlfriend's aunt's house for the day, so they can have some time together...son and his girlfriend, not her aunt!
but her aunt is taking them to a movie...and only my son has to pay since her aunt is in a wheelchair...people in wheelchairs and their helper get into the movies free here...I will come back after we are home tomorrow evening to let you know how he fared on the car trip home...
Thanks for everything!!!
Re: Sammie's Surgery
You mentioned he hasn't been eating much in the past few days, so he probably won't produce much stool until he is eating more regularly. However, you can certainly ask the vets at the university to palpate him to rule out any impacted or hard fecal material (also recheck temp). Once that's ruled out, you could consider feeding him canned only for a couple days after he's home, then gradually get him back onto his regular food.
Sammie is very lucky, it is usually bladder control that can be worrisome after surgery....since he is urinating on his own normally, this is good news.
Sammie is very lucky, it is usually bladder control that can be worrisome after surgery....since he is urinating on his own normally, this is good news.
..........Traci
Re: Sammie's Surgery
SO-o-o-o-o-o glad to hear he's ready to come home!!!
"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." ~ Josh Billings.
Re: Sammie's Surgery
Long day...but we are home and settled in for the night...
We left the house around 8am and had snow lastnight and about half the way down there...so we took longer than expected...
got to Ames around 1:00 and the surgeon...a resident,adjunct instructor came in to talk with us, give us instructions for therapy at home, and said that Sammie far exceeded her expectations...more than she ever hoped, especially os soon after surgery...she was very excited and fianlly said she would just go get him...she went and got him and carried him in her arms...we spoke his name and his tail just started going 90mph...we were happy to see that...then she said, watch this...she put him down, and he was wobbly, but he held his own and walked to us...supporting himself...and as soon as he saw the carrier, he could not get to it fast enough and kept nosing the door, so I opened it, he went in, turned around and at down like he was saying he was ready to go now...
We got home, got him out of the carrier and he peed before we came into the house...got him settled into his crate and he ate about 1/3 a large can of food, and drank some water and took his Zubrin...now he is resting comfortably...
I took some pictures...here is a link to the photo album...it is easier than posting pictures here...
http://photobucket.com/albums/v727/Tamb ... 20Surgery/
The read only password to view this album is: view
We left the house around 8am and had snow lastnight and about half the way down there...so we took longer than expected...
got to Ames around 1:00 and the surgeon...a resident,adjunct instructor came in to talk with us, give us instructions for therapy at home, and said that Sammie far exceeded her expectations...more than she ever hoped, especially os soon after surgery...she was very excited and fianlly said she would just go get him...she went and got him and carried him in her arms...we spoke his name and his tail just started going 90mph...we were happy to see that...then she said, watch this...she put him down, and he was wobbly, but he held his own and walked to us...supporting himself...and as soon as he saw the carrier, he could not get to it fast enough and kept nosing the door, so I opened it, he went in, turned around and at down like he was saying he was ready to go now...
We got home, got him out of the carrier and he peed before we came into the house...got him settled into his crate and he ate about 1/3 a large can of food, and drank some water and took his Zubrin...now he is resting comfortably...
I took some pictures...here is a link to the photo album...it is easier than posting pictures here...
http://photobucket.com/albums/v727/Tamb ... 20Surgery/
The read only password to view this album is: view
Re: Sammie's Surgery
Me again...Sammie is sitting in his crate just smiling at me...he shows his teeth when he smiles....and he just got done doing a feel-so-good head to tail body shake...
Since he was awake and alert, we got him out of his crate and held him some, but he wanted to stand, so my husband supported him while he stood in the middle of the living room wagging his tail....
****************
15 minutes later...we are back inside....Sammie had to go potty...and he pooped...I took him out on a leash, as we were told, and let him just walk right in the direct vicinity of how far the leash goes, and he did very well, was not even dragging his right foot as much, and that was his weaker side when he went in and has been since...
Of couse, when we came in he was shaking and breathing a bit heavy...that was quite a workout to get that moving...
So he and i just sat on the couch with him wrapped in my arms until he got warm...it does not help that his entire back is nekked...until he quit shivering, then I placed him back into his bed, where he is drifting off...more like fighting...sleep....
Since he was awake and alert, we got him out of his crate and held him some, but he wanted to stand, so my husband supported him while he stood in the middle of the living room wagging his tail....
****************
15 minutes later...we are back inside....Sammie had to go potty...and he pooped...I took him out on a leash, as we were told, and let him just walk right in the direct vicinity of how far the leash goes, and he did very well, was not even dragging his right foot as much, and that was his weaker side when he went in and has been since...
Of couse, when we came in he was shaking and breathing a bit heavy...that was quite a workout to get that moving...
So he and i just sat on the couch with him wrapped in my arms until he got warm...it does not help that his entire back is nekked...until he quit shivering, then I placed him back into his bed, where he is drifting off...more like fighting...sleep....
Re: Sammie's Surgery
As far as therapy and care at home...he can be out of the crate when we are in the room...he can sit on our lap or the couch beside us, or us on the floor with him...support him standing and massage his legs as well as down his spine and alongside the staples...he can also go on short leash-walks for potty breaks...
we are also to move his legs through rangel of motion exercises...again we can do this while he is resting with us on the couch...
in 3 weeks we call her back to let her know how he is doing, and we will tkae the next steps from there...
we go to our own vet in 10 days for staple removal...and I just need to watch them, but they look wonderful so far...
That's about all for now...I just cannot believe how well he is doing already...I do not want him to do too much too soon, but the surgeon did not seem worried that he walked already...so I guess as long as it is short ones and he is comfortable, then we will keep doing it...
She said if he keeps up at this pace, he may be ready for short 10-15 minute walks as early as 3 weeks from now...
we are also to move his legs through rangel of motion exercises...again we can do this while he is resting with us on the couch...
in 3 weeks we call her back to let her know how he is doing, and we will tkae the next steps from there...
we go to our own vet in 10 days for staple removal...and I just need to watch them, but they look wonderful so far...
That's about all for now...I just cannot believe how well he is doing already...I do not want him to do too much too soon, but the surgeon did not seem worried that he walked already...so I guess as long as it is short ones and he is comfortable, then we will keep doing it...
She said if he keeps up at this pace, he may be ready for short 10-15 minute walks as early as 3 weeks from now...
Re: Sammie's Surgery
Last Post for tonight and I am off to bed....I forgot to mention the TOTAL COST....$1522.63...that was for EVERYTHING...ER visit after hours...ICU...myelogram...surgery and all related supplies...6 days of kenneling...daily therapy...meds...I am VERY happy!!