11.18.15
Baloo: Three Weeks on Three Legs
It’s been three weeks on three legs, and as hoped, Baloo is back to doing everything he was pre-surgery, with the exception of swimming. To be honest though, our swimming hole is a little stagnant, and it’s not the idea of three legs in the water that bothers us, but the idea of our particular water on a still scabby wound that makes our skin crawl. We may wait for a little time to pass before getting that wound in our local creek.
However, the Bubz is less fatigued on our short-but-sweet walks through the fall colors in the park across the street. He walks for a few minutes a day, and goes a few feet further each trek out. He is anxious to go on his “usual route,” but we humans are a little more patient.
Of course, when I say “walk,” we’re really talking more of a triple-time sprint compared to the limping walk he had before surgery.
“Walking” 11-17
Fall in the Park 11-17
We are one week in to chemo, and though his trips to UCD are always tiring, we did not notice any considerable impact from his first round of treatment. We’ll go in every three weeks for another round, unless his white blood cell count falls too low.
I Get By with a Little Help From My Friends! First Day Of Chemo!
Our local vet tech is a friend, and she has been begging me to bring Baloo by for a visit so that the clinic could see him. On Veteran’s Day, Mom, Dad, and I loaded Baloo up and drove him over to our local vet to say hello! Everyone dropped what they were doing, including his vet, to run out and see him. They couldn’t believe how wonderful he looked, and were so happy to see his smiling face. Our vet hugged Mom, and told her we absolutely had done the right thing. Baloo cruised for cookies, and clearly had no idea what the big deal was. We were also pleased to see that he is down about 4 pounds despite the lack of activity, which should be helpful on his new frame.
What is very reassuring to me is that regardless of the success of the chemotherapy, I think the amputation is a resounding success. We had ‘hoped’ that Baloo would have only a couple of weeks of recovery in exchange for a return to a comfortable life. In our opinion, he had only a couple of days of mild discomfort, and nearly no issues adjusting.
We have one major goal left, and that is to get Baloo back in the water, and once that is accomplished, I would call his surgery a success.
Whether the chemotherapy is also a success, remains to be seen!
Next week my brother will get to see Baloo for the first time since his surgery. He wanted to wait to see his new “sleek” tripawd figure in person, since it’s a bit easier to be reassured that he’s doing fine to see it in person. I think he will be pleasantly surprised when the bucking bronco races through the yard to greet him!
November 19, 2015 at 12:21 am
Oh that a is just wonderful!! Baloo looks great!! Keep up the good work Baloo!!!
November 20, 2015 at 6:51 pm
YESSS!!!! Baloo is just the absolutely most perfect example of what is possible, the best recovery ever. What a role model!
He looks so happy and I can hear it in your voice too, how wonderful for all of you. Stories like yours make our efforts here so worth it, you really made our day and we can’t thank you enough for the latest update.
Can’t wait to read about your brother’s visit. If he was at all questioning your decision, he sure wont’ be now.
November 25, 2015 at 5:28 pm
Thank you Jerry! I think he trusted our call on the path forward, but it maybe has been hard to take our word for it when we tell him that Baloo can be a leg down AND better off, so I’m excited for him to see the improvement. Last time he was home thing were getting worse daily, so this should be a nice new memory to take home when he leaves.
November 21, 2015 at 2:16 pm
Yay! Baloo is doing great. So happy to see a pup loving life on 3 legs.
You may want to think about life vest for him just to make swimming a little easier for both of you. Ruffwear makes a very nice one but there are some others on the market that aren’t too bulky. It just helps if Baloo gets fatigued and has a handle so you can help him out.
November 25, 2015 at 5:22 pm
Thank you! It definitely may be time for a new vest for him. I am an avid sailor (though we’re currently landlocked away from my boat!), and my dogs typically crew with me unless I am competing. I like them to wear vests to be on the safe side, so we do have some great life vests handy when we are ready for him to get back in the water, but an upgrade would be nice. :o) I’ll share a pic of Baloo sailing soon!