Betty's ray of sunshine

 

BETTY'S RAY OF SUNSHINE

As we enter week 4 post operation, Betty has good reason to smile... her infection has subsided, wound has healed and the vet has at last removed her stitches! Horaay! We celebrated this progress with a teeny tiny, very slow walk, at one of Betty' favourite local haunts ... and as you can see, she was positively beaming!

We still have a long way to go to recover Betty's full mobility after TPLO surgery. At the moment after her infection, she is still under strict vet's restrictions, but slowly and steadily, growing in strength. Each day we take very short lead walks to gently rebuild muscle loss in Betty's leg; she hasn't run for many weeks which was always her biggest joy, but she is an amazing dog, adaptable and always willing to find the best in life, whether that is a cuddle, a sniff, or simply a short walk on the grass in the sunshine ... or eating the top of my banana!

Yesterday I was able to fold away the pen which has been Betty's safe space for the past few weeks; now the living room feels more like home and less like a doggy hospital. We still have gates placed across stairs and doorways to prevent accidents of course, but my girls are able to share living space once more and it is clear to see they take comfort from being together as sisters again. Hopefully it won't be too much longer before they can play in the garden together again!

In the meantime, this is our week 4 update ... still being careful, but now feeling cautiously optimistic and able to enjoy some sunshine!

Bionic Betty

 

BIONIC BETTY

Betty's recovery after her knee surgery was proceeding well last week, but out of nowhere, my poor girl took a dip in mood and stopped using her bionic leg. On further investigation I noticed the surgical incision was oozing... never a good sign! My husband and I decided not to take any chances and raced Betty back to the specialist vet, over an hour's drive away. He confirmed that poor Bets had developed a post surgery infection in her wound ... so, armed with strong antibiotics, we brought our girl home, feeling anxious. Having a member of your family go through major surgery is a rollercoaster of emotions and extremely stressful as you will understand.

Anyway, thankfully Betty is doing better today and tentatively using her leg again. It seems those antibiotics are starting to do their job ... which as you will understand, is a massive relief.

Hopefully we will soon be back on track with Betty's recovery. She is an absolute star patient, so compliant and gentle. Get well soon Bets, it will all be worth it in the end ... with that bionic leg healed and strong again, freedom beckons!

Doggy Hospital

 

DOGGY HOSPITAL

My poor Betty ruptured her cruciate ligament several weeks ago whilst playing ball and running like the wind, as she so loves to do ... despite putting on a brave face, she has been in severe pain and deteriorating while we waited for TPLO surgery. After an anxious twenty four hours, including an overnight recovery stay in doggy hospital, we drove for over an hour yesterday, to collect our precious girl.

Betty amazed my husband and I by walking unaided with her nurse across the car park, where we were masked up and waiting for her as per current Covid19 rules and regs. She was clearly foggy headed, very tired and wobbly, but determined to get back to us for a big cuddle and home. It was such a relief! She rode home on the back seat of the car, snuggled on my lap.

Our first night at home has passed smoothly. Betty is a model patient and mostly just wants cuddles and quiet. She is suffering from separation anxiety and now cries if I leave the room, which is new to us, so I need to help her build back confidence and trust that I won't leave her while she is recovering. I have a mattress on the floor next to her pen so we can sleep together at night and woke this morning to the gentlest of licks on my hand. I wasn't sure whether she would manage to get to the garden without a sling under her tummy to steady her this morning, as walking is currently a mix of three legs and the odd toe tap-hop with poorly leg, but little Bets is a tidy girl and wanted to do her toilet on grass without a fuss, like the lady she is. She walked out steadily on her lead, up the ramp we had prepared to the lawn, did her business, then walked right back in again for a big sleep in her pen... even the smallest trip to the garden is exhausting for her.

We will be 'in recovery' for several weeks as this was a major surgery and Betty now needs to rebuild muscle strength and heal slowly and steadily. It has been a worrisome, anxiety filled few weeks, but this operation will give Betty back her life. Now that it is finally over, I am hugely relieved and ready to give my girl everything she needs to make a full recovery in the weeks and months ahead.