Guinness the Gimp

Hi Everyone – Well . . . . it was two weeks yesterday when I joined your wonderful tripawd community.  I must admit it has been a challenge but we’re now kind of – sort of finding our new normal.  My gas and anxiety have been under control and I am more comfortable with what I’ve been dealt with.  I know walk without a panic in my brain and face, which makes me very happy.  My stitches came out the other day and the vet said all looked good.  I need to go back in a month for a chest x-ray and we hope that it remains clear.

My mom has taken me out for a very SHORT walk the last couple of days.  It’s been nice getting out of the house.  I’m learning that I can no longer lift my leg to do my business.  I almost biffed a few times but I’ll figure it out.

My mom is no longer as stressed but the thought of chemo still fills her mind as she is not sure what to do.  My brother doesn’t want to put me through the pain and my mom feels the same way.  The results are mixed but my mom also wants to do everything she can for me.  Sigh. . . .

Anyway, I want to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who has responded with support and advise.  I don’t know how we would have gotten through this very challenging time.   Go USA.  Woof!

Well, it was one week today when my right front limb was removed.  The first couple of days at home did not go well whatsoever.  I was so miserable and my mom and big brother had no idea what to do.  We are all EXHAUSTED!!  We had to figure out what was giving me bad gas – wasn’t sure if it was the meds or the food.  Well, my mom was giving me special goodies in order to get me to eat so that might have been it.  I guess meatballs, chicken, and a cheeseburger didn’t quite agree while taking all my meds.  I’m happy to say that it’s now under control and I am taking my meds with no problem.  WOO HOO!!

I am getting a hang of walking / hopping under control and that is really cool.  The panic is beginning to leave me.  I am going to the bathroom with no problem and I’m really not sure why my mom claps and tells me I’m a good boy.  I did this before so what’s all the fuss??  I still try to pee while lifting my leg but I’m finding that it doesn’t quite work.  I almost biffed a couple times.  I’ll get it really soon.  So far, my days have been lounging around and doing nothing.  I wanted to play today and went to the pantry where my mom keeps all the tennis balls but she wouldn’t let me.  At least she let me chew on one for a bit so that was good.  I truly do miss playing catch.  A tennis ball is the only thing that I am interested in and I cannot wait to play catch with my mom and big brother.

I am starting to twitch today and it makes me uncomfortable.  I think that’s normal but mom’s not sure so she placed a call to the vet today so we’ll see when the vet calls back. 

My next big step is for my mom to think about chemo.  She is really conflicted and she’s not sure.  She is really torn and she knows a decision needs to be made soon. 

I want to thank everyone who has responded to my blog – my mom, my big bro, and I truly do appreciate it.  This is a wonderful community to be a part of.  Woof!

Today started off really well and then quickly went down south again.  The good news is that I didn’t doggie OD so we were all happy about that.  I ate and drank this morning and then I had to go potty so my mom grabbed the beach towel to take me out.  We went outside and I froze.  I didn’t like having the towel on me so my mom finally got the hint and removed it.  Boy, did I show her and my older brother what I could do.  I hopped to the rose bush and I pee’d all over it.  Then I went across the yard and pooped under the tree.  My mom was really concerned but she didn’t need to be.  I did all of this and then went back into the house without help!!  My mom and big brother were smiling and telling me what a good boy I was. 

I took my new med and about Noon I started passing gas again and that gave me anxiety.  This is the worst gas and anxiety I have ever had and my mom said it really stunk.  My mom called the vet after a couple of hours and she is stumped.  She’s never heard of a dog getting gas over meds so we’re not sure what’s causing this.  So, my mom have me Gas Ex in hopes that this will help but she only gave me half a pill just in case my body wouldn’t take to it.  She didn’t want a repeat of yesterday.  Well, that helped a little but not much so she gave me the other half a couple of hours later. 

I was able to take myself outside to go potty a few times today.  I am very stubborn and don’t want help . . . this is the only way I will go out.  My older brother said I look like a penguin when I walk . . .  . that’s funny.  Well, hopefully tomorrow is a less gassy day cuz I don’t like this at all.  But I am very happy with my progress and so are my mom, my bro, and my vet.

Well. . . today started off good but got pretty bad mid day.  One of the meds that I’m taking makes me have gas and I don’t like it when I have gas.  I was very anxious so my vet prescribed me tranquilizer.  I took one and I didn’t do well.  I threw up a little and then I pee’d all over my dog bed and the floor.  It was not fun but my mom and older brother were very nice about it.  My eyes got very glossy and then I was coughing or hiccup’d, not really sure what it was.  My mom has been freaking out throughout the day.  I know she is really concerned about me but after my accidental doggie overdose, I will be well.  The vet said that she was going to give me another new med tomorrow and take me off the one that makes me gassy.  Wow, what a nightmare this has been .  I sure do hope I feel more normal tomorrow cuz I don’t like feeling this gorked!!!  This sucks!!

Hi – I’m home but not very comfortable.  I don’t feel like sleeping, I don’t feel like taking my meds, I don’t feel like going to the bathroom, and I wouldn’t let my mom ice my boo boo.  All I want to do is walk around but they don’t want me to and I don’t understand.  I am making it very difficult for my older brother and my mom.  I heard my older  brother say that they should have just put me down.  That made me and my mom very upset.  This is hard on all of us.  What they didn’t realize is all I wanted was to sleep on the mattress.  My mom is suppose to sleep on this mattress, which is on the floor and I was suppose to sleep on my dog bed.  I’m finally resting . . . three and half hours from when I got home. 

I hope tomorrow is a better day and I hope my older brother is in a better mood with a good night sleep.  I guess my mom will now have to sleep on the couch.  Sorry mom . . . love you!

Hi – My name is Guinness.  I am a Ridgeback mix and 8 1/2 years old.  I live with my human mom, my human older brother, and six cats.  I was diagnosed with bone cancer in the right front limb on Wednesday, July 11, 2012.  This was my mom’s birthday and it wasn’t very happy for her.  The vet provided my mom and brother with options but they said that amputation wasn’t an option.  They said that they would consider options and call back.  I don’t know why they wouldn’t consider amputation.  So what – I don’t have my spare leg?  My lungs are clear and my blood work was fine.  Why wouldn’t they consider it?!!??  Well, on Friday, July 13, which was my lucky day, she made the decision to amputate woo hoo!!  Thank God she listened and came to her senses.  I really don’t know why it took her two days . . . REALLY?

I was taken to UC Davis on Thursday, July 20, 2012 and they amputated on Friday the 21st.  The surgery was very long but it went well.  I am really nervous and don’t know what’s going on.  They had to give me anxiety medicine to calm me down.  Today, Saturday, July 21st, the staff took me outside.  It was nice to smell the fresh air.  They say that I am doing good and that I might be able to go home tomorrow, Sunday the 22nd.  But, that is a big might.  I sure do hope so because I miss my mom, my big bro, and my bed.  I’ll post more on Sunday about my journey.  I know my mom is looking forward to my return but she is very nervous as well.  She said it’s like taking an infant home from the hospital.  You get home and then say “what do I do now?”  My mom is very strong and I know she’ll do well.  Thanks for reading.