Stitches Out! Lollypop Farm Telethon

Katie had her stitches out today! She was not thrilled about making another visit to the Vet's office. She got very upset when Aunt Pat took the leashes out, so Aunt Pat took Chloe with them to help keep Katie calm. Chloe is very good at it, giving Katie nuzzles and sniffs when she needs them. They had to wait for a while because there were a couple of sick patients ahead of them. But, they did get to meet a couple of new dogs and smell the new smells in the entry way. The Vet said Katie's incision was healing well and he took her stitches out. Thankfully, she doesn't have to go back unless there's a problem.

On the way home, there was a guy standing on a corner in front of a row of shops, dressed up as the Statue of Liberty. Aunt Pat said it was to promote a tax preparation service in the plaza. He waved at all the cars, especially when they stopped at the red light, just like they were. Katie growled at him. I don't know if she growled because she doesn't like taxes, or if she doesn't like weird looking guys exploiting a national monument representing what this country stands for to promote their business.

Tomorrow, Saturday, is the Lollypop Farm telethon. Daddy and Mommy adopted Chloe from them and we don't know what we'd do without her. Please consider making a donation to help a homeless animal.

Wonderful News!!!

The Vet called this morning, and Katie does not have cancer! It was a Hepatoid Gland Adenoma, which is a benign tumor. We're all very relieved and happy.

Chloe's been a wonderful nurse. She follows Katie very closely, especially while we're outside. Inside, she'll give Katie frequent nuzzles, watches the humans to be sure they're giving Katie her medicine correctly; and cuddling up to her as needed.

Katie's Coming Along...

She's eating better, and she seems to be moving around better. Her incision started to ooze again yesterday so Daddy called the Vet and took her over. Her incision was still a little puffy, and there was a stitch missing, so he gave Daddy an ointment to put on it three times a day.

Easier said than done. The Vet gave her the first dose. Aunt Pat gave Katie the second dose...after a bit of a chase. Katie is a little tender down there. But, she's also wary after Aunt Pat tried to put warm compresses on the area per the Vet's directions on Friday's visit. Katie did not like that at all! She got up, gave Aunt Pat a "How could you do this!" look, and toddled into the other room, where she promptly sat down on her backside so it wouldn't show. Aunt Pat managed to lift Katie's tail and took a quick swipe. She didn't know if she got the medication in the right spot, although it looked very close.

The fun continued this morning. Daddy chased Katie around the dining room table! She recognized the packaging and took off when he brought it out! Aunt Pat had to come downstairs and hold Katie before he could get the medicine on. This afternoon, Katie was in the dog bed in her bedroom, and Aunt Pat started to coo to her, scratch her behind the ears, give Katie a tummy rub, then went in with the medicine on the incision. She inadvertently got some of the medicine on Katie's tail in the process, but Katie allowed her to wipe it off. Thankfully, Katie is only on the medicine for 2-3 days, so tomorrow or Thursday will be the last day. Aunt Pat will take Katie to the Vet on Friday to have the rest of her stitches out.

Katie Had a Doctor's Appointment Yesterday...

...and she has some swelling around her incision which the Vet thought could be either a blood clot or an infection. She had lost a stitch, probably because she'd been scooting in the back yard.
She's stopped doing this, and will run a few steps, then sit down and lift her leg up like she's trying to lick that area. She can't reach it of course, which gets a little frustrating.

The Vet gave her a different antibiotic, and said to try some compresses if Katie would allow. Well, Aunt Pat tried it yesterday and today, but Katie didn't like it. At least Katie let Aunt Pat clean up around her tail. There was some dried blood as well as some...other stuff, back there. They told Daddy to call on Monday if things didn't change, and she might have to be seen on Monday. Katie won't like that at all. Chloe would love to go back not only to be sure Katie is okay, but she really likes to sit on the chairs in the waiting room! Katie's been laying pretty low all weekend. We've all been laying low this weekend. Daddy's getting over his bugs and now Aunt Pat seems to be getting sick. Chloe and I have our hands full!

Katie Continues to Do Well

She ate a good breakfast and dinner, and has gone outside as usual to do her business and greet the neighbors. Today she's explored a little more than she did yesterday. Yesterday, she laid pretty low once she got home from the Vet and she slept well last night.

Chloe keeps sniffing Katie...back there. She's making sure that Katie's incision heals properly. Chloe heard Aunt Pat tell Daddy the post operative instructions she was given by our neighbor D, who's a Vet Tech in our Vet's office. Katie's incision is partially covered by her tail, and let's face it, Katie isn't a dog to let it all hang out. Today she's been sitting down after walking a few feet when she knows one of the humans is following her.

So far, Katie's incision looks good. There's no drainage or bleeding. She's eating well, tolerating her medications and has been resting frequently. This morning she was able to lift her right leg up enough to scratch herself with, which is something she had trouble with yesterday. She's tried to lick back there, but thankfully her incision is in a spot she can't reach. She has done some butt scooting in the backyard, but, like D at the Vet's office predicted, she stopped it once she learned that it hurt.

Katie's Surgery Went Very Well

and she's resting comfortably at home. She was not at all happy about missing breakfast this morning. She wasn't supposed to eat anything after 9pm last night, and have nothing to drink this morning. She was told this many times, but Katie's a stubborn little dog. She tried to lick some of the water off of the holder the bowls rest in, but there wasn't any. Katie got excited when Daddy washed the bowls and put them on the kitchen counter as usual. But, instead of putting more dry food and then adding our canned food, he went out to start the car!


When he came back in, he put the leashes on Chloe and Katie and they went to the Vet. Aunt Pat fed me, thankfully, and got Chloe's bowl ready for when she and Daddy returned. Katie was upset, of course, since the Vet is NOT her favorite place to go. Chloe nuzzled her and kept her calm. However, Daddy was afraid that Katie was mad at him, since she didn't give him a kiss goodbye.

Even though the operation was a minor one, the humans were still nervous. Chloe and I stayed close, and tried to distract them with some fetch, some cuddling, and just being cute in general.
Aunt Pat called at 2pm to see how Katie was doing, per the Vet's instructions. They said that the surgery went very well, and that Katie would be ready to come home between 4 and 5pm.


When Aunt Pat walked into the Vet's office, she heard Katie telling the staff that she really wanted to go home! Our neighbor D, who works there, told Aunt Pat that Katie's surgery went well, and they got the anal gland out and all of the nodule. They're sending it off to a pathology lab to check it out. Katie shouldn't eat too much tonight, but can go ahead tomorrow. She's to start an antibiotic tomorrow after having a dose today during her operation. Katie has to go back Friday for a check up, and will have her stitches out a week from Friday. They shaved the area on her butt, and D said that it's normal to have a little oozing from her incision.

We all gave her a very thorough sniffing when Katie got home, especially Chloe. Katie headed straight for the water bowl after we greeted her. She drank so much so quickly Aunt Pat thought Katie might throw up. She didn't. We went outside and she did her business, and even ate a little deli turkey when Aunt Pat fed us. Chloe has been very attentive to her, watching her outside and giving her some nuzzles and reassuring sniffs. Later, Katie ate some canned dog food and has kept that down just fine. She's been resting, and getting lots of tummy rubs and behind the ear rubs from the humans.

Aunt Pat Put a Biskee on Her Head...

instead of giving it to me! Yes, she was trying to get a nice happy photo of me, but I got a little worried there for a minute. Aunt Pat gave me the biskee after I pointed out how ridiculous she looked. I know, she was just trying to make things fun for me while Katie and Chloe were at the Groomer. We went outside a few times. Last night we had some snow so I was able to roll around the snow and make a snow dog. Aunt Pat also spent some time brushing me out, which I enjoyed.

Aunt Pat picked up the girls a little after noon. When she walked into the Groomer's, she was greeted by a very friendly dog that looked to be a similar breed to Chloe, only she/he had black patches. The people at the Groomer's said that they would keep Katie in their thoughts and prayers during her surgery Tuesday, which was very touching to Daddy and Aunt Pat.
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This is Chloe before.

This is Chloe afterwards.

This is Katie before.

Katie afterwards. They both smell lovely. Not that they stunk before, mind you. But they smell very fresh and, well, like Spring. I think they feel better too. They seem to be in a much more playful mood.