Nothing a Few Hot Packs Won't Fix

It's been a week since the last update on Riggins and his recovery from TPLO surgery. And what a difference a week makes!

I grew very concerned last week regarding the bruising and swelling of Riggins' leg, so I put in a call to the veterinary surgeon. He advised that I should place heat packs on the leg for 15 minutes and do so three to four times per day. He stated that results should be seen within a few days, and all swelling should resolve itself within five days.

I used one of the microwave gel packs that can be used for hot or cold application. I placed it into the microwave and wrapped it in a kitchen towel. It was pliable enough to wrap around Riggins' ankle, and he must have found it soothing because he didn't move. I also applied it to the back of his leg as well as some the area above his incision.

Within two applications, the swollen areas were no longer hard and began to feel much more fluid. Within two days, the swelling was virtually gone. Ah, the relief of knowing that we'd avoided a trip to see the vet!

Outside of the swelling and bruising, Riggins' goofy personality has returned in spades. You might be thinking this is a good thing. Uh, you haven't met this one...

For starters, Riggins is finally eating his food without assistance. We went from days and days of my feeding the kibble to him piece by piece to my simply holding the bowl for him. He's now chowing down all on his own.

I had to laugh at the many pieces of advice when I posted the "handfeeding" issue. Did people really expect me to not feed a dog who just had a bone sawed in two and reattached?! Would they refuse to feed a family member who didn't want to eat?! I think not!

Besides - and I've said it a million times - Riggins is not like other dogs. This one has the post-surgery sympathy routine down to an art. And why wouldn't he? Aside from the usual neuter, he's been operated on twice for cancer and now this.

Riggins only wants - when he's hurting - what we all want when we're hurting. A simple acknowledgment of his pain and a little help to get through the pain.

With the food issue finished, Riggins is also testing the physical limits. He so wants to burn energy that he has a unique technique when walking outside to go potty. He knows he has to walk on the leash; however, he also knows that the leash six feet long. So..That's easy. He waits until he's a full 6 feet behind me and then tries to "run" to be six feet in front of me. Wagging his tail all the way, I am screaming, "NO RUNNING!!!!!!"

Riggins' regular vet laughed when I told him of our little challenges. He reassured me that I'm doing everything I can to keep him calm...ex pen, leashed when pottying, etc. If I continue to do that, all will be right with the world.

Yesterday Riggins had 22 staples removed from his leg and is somewhat interested in licking the incision; however, he's good at listening when told not to lick. It must be itchy as it heals, so I'll be keeping an eye on that.

We'll continue to coast through the next two weeks and must arrange for his first rehab appointment in two weeks.

Until then...Cheers!

King Riggins Holding Court

It's now been a week since Riggins had TPLO surgery. Before I give the official update, a little history lesson....

Riggins is named for the great fullback John Riggins who played for the Washington Redskins and was named MVP of Super Bowl XVII.

In case you haven't a clue about football, Riggins was and is the legend of the Washington Redskins. His on-field play and off-field antics endeared him to many and granted him many nicknames...Riggo, the Diesel, Honorary Hog. However, after winning Super Bowl XVII in which he ran the famous TD run on a 4th and 1 play, Riggins announced, "Reagan may be President. But tonight I am king."

So...Keep this in mind as I give you the latest news on ol' Riggo.

In my last post, I mentioned that Riggins' leg was quite bruised and swollen. It seemed to continue to swell until Monday. I grew quite concerned because the bottom of the leg was as big as the top of his leg. There was also a great deal of heat coming from the leg, but the suture line remained clean and showed no signs of infection.

On Tuesday, when I checked his leg, I could push my finger into the swollen places and leave a fingerprint. It was time to call the vet.

The surgeon who performed the procedure stated that it was not unusual for a dog to have swelling and bruising; however, the "hardness" of the swollen areas around the ankle were cause for concern. While it sounded contrary to reason, the vet advised the use of hot compresses several times per day.

Hot compresses to the rescue. Within a few treatments, the swelling began to dissipate. While it is definitely still swollen, it's not painful to look at!

On Wednesday, Riggins was very agitated. He was panting and circling over and over to find a spot to rest. Worry set in that he was experiencing more pain than the pain medication was able to overcome. At a loss, I began to wonder what to do next; and a dear friend said that he would let me know what I needed to know...Was he getting better? Or worse?

Riggins refused to eat unless I hand-fed him. He refused to make eye contact and would nibble one piece at a time. I was getting more concerned.

After dinner, we slowly made our way outside with the sling assisting his every step. He did his business and limped his way back toward the house. As we passed by the beach entry to the pool, Riggins turned a hard left and walked into the pool despite my shrieking, "NOOOOOO!!!!!" He laid down in the pool with his bottom up in the air and his right leg poised to the side. After a long drink of water, he got out of the pool, shot me a glance, and shook off.

Riggins then gingerly stepped over the grass and plopped himself down for a little R&R in the sun. I cajoled, begged, and ordered Riggins to get up and come in the house. Nope...He wasn't budging. I stood there beside him and waited for him to move along.

And then it hit me. He was feeling much better. I was the lady-in-waiting.

King Riggins was holding court.

A Long Road Ahead - Day #3

Don't laugh, but I've decided to medicate myself right along with my beloved Riggins. After watching him whimper, whine, swell, bruise, and pant, I'm taking a Pepcid for my belly when I give Tramadol and Benadryl to him! We're a mess!!!

Yesterday was a much better day than I anticipated. Riggins allowed me to put warm compresses along the suture line while putting cold compresses around his very swollen ankle. He is also getting a bit more restless and wants to walk around the yard when taken out for potty breaks. The vet told us this was OK as long as he's on a leash.

Still we have decided to let him go out the back door, but - if he wants to cruise the yard - he has to come back in via the garage to lessen the distance. He seems fine with this route and - after one round of this - followed the same path this morning.

Some key things I've noticed are:

Appetite
This has probably been the most heart-breaking aspect. For a lab who lives for food, there is nothing more depressing than handing him kibble or a bowl of rice, cottage cheese, and chicken and seeing him either take some and spit it out or just turn his head. He did finally eat some of the rice mixture last night, and he ate some this morning as well as some of his dry kibble.

Riggins thirst is being satisfied, and he does drink water whenever it is offered. That has been the saving grace, as I know he's not going to dehydrate.

Bruising and Swelling
The vet told us that Riggins would bruise a reddish/purple bruise and to expect swelling of the ankle. It's the extent of the bruising that is shocking. It starts at the top of his leg and goes to the ankle. It's on the inside of the leg, so you can't really see it until he stands up to go outside. At that point, I cringe; as I cannot imagine the pain that he must have or the overall trauma to the leg.

The swelling is the most worrisome to me. I am considering measuring the normal ankle and the swollen ankle to make sure it doesn't continue to swell. I have applied cold compresses to it but am not seeing any reduction. Then again..It doesn't seem to be getting worse.

Overall Mood
Riggins is and always will be the smartest dog I've ever met. He understands that he isn't to lick the suture line, so I've been able to tell him once and leave it at that. He also likes to have the fleece blanket over his naked half, so that's prevented unnecessary licking.

I've also told him that he's to remain on the rug in the family room because the hardwoods could be dangerous. He's found himself a spot and rotates on that spot depending on where we are and what he wants to see.

Riggins will also wag his tail depending on what he wants. "Do you want water?" (no wag)...."Do you want me to pet you?" (no wag)....Do you want a potty break? (no wag)....Do you want me to sit with you? (wag, wag, wag)....I sit with him, and he takes in a deep sigh and snoozes.

In fact, yesterday I curled up next to him on the floor; and he snuggled into me. The next thing I knew...I was waking up to see the "completed" room on the HGTV show I was watching after having just seen the "before" room on the same show.


All and all, we're getting by. We know it's a long road, and we are blessed to have many friends who have called and emailed to check on him. The vet is close by, and I know folks would help me if I needed to get him loaded and taken to the vet. I just pray that he continues to heal and doesn't have any complications.

Until next time...Happy Valentine's Day!

Riggins is Home - Night #1

Riggins came home yesterday afternoon after his TPLO surgery on Thursday.

We met with the surgeon who performed the surgery and were able to see "pre" and "post" surgery x-rays. It seemed a bit surreal to be seeing the first x-rays and then the second with a stainless steel plate and six screws into the bone. We could also see where the bone had been cut, rotated, and screwed back into the tibia.

The drive home was excrutiating, as Riggins laid in the back of the Jeep and cried and moaned. I swear he was not only in pain but also giving me the "what for" for dropping him off at the house of torture. He continued to cry and moan until I said, "I hear you. I know you're ticked. Now lay down and rest." With that, he stopped the crying and moaning and laid down. (Have I mentioned that he's human?)

The evening was much like I expected...Riggins whines constantly and wants the reassurance that we are here with him. We set up a puppy pen in the family room so that he could be with us but confined. He is none too happy about this because he detests being separated from us - even if only by a wire gate. The good news is that the vet said he does not have to be in all the time. If we are out with him and have good voice command, he can lay at our feet, etc.

We do need to assist Riggins when he walks on the hardwoods or stone floors or when going outside. The vet gave us a sling which we wrap around his back half and lug the 96 pound lug like an awkward stack of firewood. His movement is pretty fast, and he slightly weight-bears on the affected leg. The vet assured us that all of this is fine. He just doesn't want Riggins to take off running on us or to jump.

Anyway, Riggins was mainly thirsty last night and drank many, many bowls of water. He rejected food and (gasp!) even peanut butter until about 9 PM. I was grateful that he finally took some food since he had to take his painkillers and Benadryl at 9 PM. And, of course, Fred won him over with a little bit of cheese!

There was not much rest for the weary last night. We put the puppy pen in our bedroom so that his routine would be relatively similar to every other night. He froze when it came to walk into the bedroom on the wood floor, so Fred picked him up and carried him in. Riggins then cried and whined throughout the night. Fred opted to sleep in the spare BR (no need for 2 exhausted people in the house), so I had to find him at 1 AM when Riggins needed to go out. I wasn't sure how Riggins would do without both of us helping him, but - by 6 AM - I had it down pat.

I also spent about 30 minutes in the puppy pen with him at 3 AM. He woke up crying and moaning really badly. His pain meds weren't due for another hour, so I crawled in there with him and was able to keep him somewhat calm until he got his next dose.

This morning...Water (check); potty break (check); food (won't eat it...will try later); pill schedule written down (check); e-collar off (check); e-collar back on (check - tried to lick incision minute I went to get coffee); coffee (check, check, check).

Surgery Day - So Far So Good

For those of you who have never met him, Riggins is one of a kind. He is truly a human who so happens to be trapped in a four-legged body which is covered in blond hair. He just "gets" things and responds to everything you do and say.

So...As I went to bed last night and carried with me a heavy heart, I told Riggins to lay down on his doggie bed which is at the foot of our bed. Riggins just stood there and looked at me. When I said, "What do you want?" He wiggled from shoulders to bottom and gave a fake little stutter step as if he was going to jump on the bed.

I naturally did want any good pet mom would do. I told my husband to pick up the 95 pound beast and put him in the bed! (I wasn't throwing my back out...Oh, honey!....)

Note...This also meant that almost 3 year old lab was booted to his crate. I swear this was Riggins' version of a "last hoorah" and getting one over on his younger brother!

Riggins settled in and snuggled with me all night. In fact, at one point, he woke me up by smacking with his front paw and then wagged his tail and gave his front right leg to me for a quick massage. He then laid back down, took in a deep breath, and sighed himself back to sleep.

This morning Riggins was less than happy with the lack of food, but he managed to find a hidden piece of kibble and was delighted to crunch down on it. He also got a bit of peanut butter for his painkiller and off we went.

I really liked the two surgeons who met with us. They were thorough, answered my questions, and treated Riggins like the four-legged human that he is.

They advised me that the tibia plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) surgery would take place around 11:30 AM and last for 60 to 90 minutes. They also went over an explanation of TPLO which mirrored the research I had done via the internet.

If you're not familiar, TPLO is a surgery required to repair the lack of stability in the stifle joint which occurs following the rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL). During surgery, the tibia is cut and rotated to form a plateau where it meets the stifle joint. A plate and pins are then inserted into the bones to provide for stability as well as function of the stifle joint.

While it sounds pretty horrendous, the success rate is higher than the old method of using suture material which was similar to fishing wire to stabilize the joint.

At 12:10 PM, the surgeon called and said that they were finishing up. Riggins came through like the Hall of Fame pro that he is and was fortunate in that there were no tears to the cartilage around the knee joint.

Today I will be preparing the house for his coming home tomorrow. It's a snowy day here in north Texas, so it's a good time to do a big of cleaning, prepare his "quiet areas", and perhaps take a nap!

The Day Before Surgery and Thinking Back

Well, it's officially less than 24 hours before we drop off our beloved Riggins for his TPLO surgery.

At 8 years old, this yellow lab has had one heckuva life.

Born on November 21, 2001, Riggins was the puppy that I did NOT want. Don't get me wrong. I always wanted a lab, but I had visions of a cuddly sweet little thing who would just loooove me. Instead, I quickly became acquainted with a 5 pound ball of fury who believed that I was a big chew toy.

The breeder had put little yarn collars on the puppies so that prospective owners could pick their pups. I fell in love with the green one and the orange one. My husband spotted "the blue one" who - as I first remember him - had his sister by her little red collar and was yanking her across the breeder's garage. I was mortified. I didn't want this terror. I wanted a puppy who would love me - not eat me!

So...The breeder - sensing a marital feud of epic proportions - proposed that we put the puppies back in the whelping box to see who would come out of it first. I put "the blue one" in the far back corner and - delighted that I'd beat my husband at this game- grimaced when "the blue one" knocked over his fellow littermates and hurdled himself out of the whelping box.

Naturally, I would not be defeated; so I asked the breeder for another test. She suggested that we see which puppy would jump over the PVC pipe around the small kennel in which the whelping box was located. I again placed "the blue one" as far away as possible. He, of course, enjoyed this game and sized up the PVC pipe and leapt over it while his littermates looked at it like it was the climb to Half Dome in Yosemite.

Yep...I was stuck. However, I had one final card up my sleeve. The breeder's husband was not in the garage to witness this catastrophe. When he came into the garage, I asked him which pup he'd choose. Without hesitation, he announced, "The blue one. He'll be your greatest challenge and biggest reward."

And - as I wait anxiously for tomorrow to begin and Riggins' surgery to occur - I agree. Riggins (aka, "The Blue One') has been my greatest challenge and biggest reward.