Sorry for the delayed post but things have been a bit busy. I wrote a whole post at work one day and then discovered you can't copy and paste into Blogger on a PC (like you can on a Mac). Dopler had back surgery two weeks ago and I am pleased to let you know that he is recovering beautifully. He had surgery on a Wednesday - the vet said he found a large section of ruptured disk and was able to remove all of it and cut a small void to avoid an future issues at this site. We still don't know how the rupture happened - it seems like it might be a genetic issue which is very, very rare in Greyhounds. The vet said he was pleased with the surgery and was optimistic about recovery. We picked Dopler up the next evening and he was pretty excited to see us. He was able to walk and take care of business all alone which was great.
The day we brought him home
Judy arrived that evening to be Dopler's caretaker for the next week since the vet suggested 24 hour care for at least 4 days. Thursday night and Friday morning were rough since the pain meds were not as effective as he needed. He paced and cried for an hour and a half before his 5am meds but finally rested after that. I called the vet first thing that morning and we increased the pain meds which made Dopler much more comfortable. I was fearful for a few hours there he might have to go back to the vet for the stronger drugs- I am happy we were able to make him comfortable at home. He was slow to get up and down for a few days but was able to move around pretty well considering he just had a major surgery. By Monday he was really doing well and we were seeing improvement every day. We took the bandage off the incision 5 days after surgery and I was super impressed at how clean that was. He had 12 staples! We took him to the vet last Saturday to have them removed and although he was not pleased to be at the vet (poor thing) he took the removal like a champ.
The incision site today - healing so well but we don't know if he will ever re-grow the hair
Two weeks after surgery he is really doing great. We are trying to slow him down most days- he really wants to go for a walk and even play but that is not allowed for at least another two weeks when he goes back for his 4 week check up. We had been confining him to a bedroom during the day while we were gone- that lasted about 3 days. He decided to destroy a nightstand out of frustration. So now he has free reign again which has been fine. Due to our long hours at work and Dopler's condition we have decided to hire a dog walker to come every day around lunch to let him out and give him some company. He seems to be loving her! He has quickly become the most expensive thing in our house....
Just another Dopler related expense
It is Mardi Gras season here in New Orleans. It is really about a month long celebration but the real meat of it started last Friday and runs until Tuesday. We went to our first parade on Sunday, although I have been to Mardi Gras before it is different as a "local". Tulane has Monday and Tuesday off and Jason gets Tuesday off but plans to take Monday as well. Look for a Mardi Gras post coming up!
