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!