It’s been twelve days since Moose had his tail amputated — he was hit by a car on June 8th and broke his tail badly enough that the nerves and blood vessels were mostly severed. We’ve had two post-surgery check-ups, and the vet assures me that everything looks good. Since I’ve had a few e-mails and PMs asking after the big lug, I thought an update was in order.
Stitches: for the most part, things are just fine with his stitches — he’s got a good six inches of stitches running up his rump. Moose has had a bit of “gapping” on some of the lower stitches, and the vet closed the space (twice) with a dab of liquid bandage. Other than that, things look good. We’re scheduled to get the stitches out on Friday.
Moose wasn’t too excited to pose for pictures.
Medications: thanks to Moose’s chewing a large sore on his tail before the surgery, he’s been taking antibiotics since the 13th. He finished those and his anti-inflammatories on Monday. After a week and more of crushing three pills into every meal, it’s nice to not have to worry about that anymore!
Pain Levels: the first few days after surgery, Moose cried a lot. It was obviously hard for him to find a comfortable position and settle down to rest. I could tell when the pain medicine was working, because he would actually be able to just flop down and sleep. As the first week went on, he cried less and relaxed more easily — which was a BIG relief for me. I still worry about bonking into him and hurting him, and I’ve been sleeping VERY lightly when Moose is on the bed with me.
Mental State: some days are better than others. In the last few days, I’ve seen glimpses of the “old” Moose — wanting to go for long walks, eager to explore the landscaping, curious about other animals we encounter. Earlier today he was tugging me along, eager to sniff and explore. There are still moments when he gets spooked and runs for the door, too. The other night, he decided he wasn’t leaving the paved walkway in front of the apartment, so he laid down while Lally walked around and did her important dog work.
So… all in all, we’re doing well. I’ll be glad when his fur grows in a little more — we’ve gotten a lot of wide-eyed stares and gasps when people see his shaved rear end and stitches. Thank you all for the well wishes, concern, and support!