“Hey, Dog…your bed is over there!”
“Srsly…you can go to your own bed”.
“You are drooling big time, Dog!”.
“Can’t you do something about this?”
Bear’s good report
Today was the big 8 week post-op checkup at 9 weeks.
It was a mad co-ordination of an orthopedic vet and his travelling surgical team…Dr. Calm and Calm Veterinary… and Bear and me.
We all survived.
At 11:15 a.m. I headed for Kila, MT (Calm Veterinary) with computer, Kindle Fire HD, smartphone and SNACKS including dog treats.
At 1:04 p.m. we received word that the travelling surgical team were on their way with a 30 minute ETA. It was Dr. Calm’s day off but she had agreed to be at the clinic for a joint session.
Bear’s medical team assembled about 1:30. Bear was whisked away for x-rays. Then I was whisked away to assist in the x-ray procedure.
One look at Bear and a comment that they had muzzled him at one point and I called a halt and took him out of there for a calm-down break.
After some quiet time and hands on checking of knees, hips and back – we tried again with Dr. Calm and myself at his head and feet AND “gowned” in protective gear that weighs a TON. We “flipped” Bear, spoke quietly, held and the xray was taken in short order.
The x-ray along with the manual exam showed Bear’s surgery leg was fully healed – YEA! The manual exam of the non surgery leg was good as were his hips but the x-ray showed some fluid on the knee of the non-surgery leg. So…the instruction was to go to normal activity, and see how things go. Bear also had a chiropractic adjustment on advice of both Drs and we go back in two weeks for another.
The hope is that there is no tear on the non-surgery leg and that it is just muscle catching up. If there is a tear, it will probably be evident as things progress. I am relieved that there was no immediate suggestion for the 2nd surgery.
We came home via the grocery where I procurred cheddar goldfish crackers and a bottle of wine…fell OFF the color detox wagon!
The sun was shining.
It had been a beautiful day to drive to Kila and back and I thought maybe Bear would want to spend a bit of time on Beardog Point.
No…he just wanted to go in the house.
He stood by the treat cupboard so I gave him a Greenie.
Nom, nom, nom!
Nom, nom…
more Nom.
And that’s all she wrote.
Lights out.
Day is done.
I am so glad I have wine and goldfish crackers.
Tomorrow is another day.
North shore Flathead Lake
The North shore of Flathead Lake.
It was 40F and raining. What looks like shallow water is snow melt turned to ice over sand.
The entire area will be covered with water when they allow the lake to rise in the spring, but right now, the lake is about 100 yards out.
The sand has been snow covered, but 2 days and nights above freezing and a little rain took care of that.
But, we had a good walk.
Happy Bear!
Today is week 8 post-op – hard to believe! Due to scheduling conflicts we could not get an appointment for radiograph and checkup until next Thursday at week 9. We continue on leash which is just as well considering the ice and snow and walking conditions.
Starting the 8th week
The weather guessers were correct…last night there was a weather disturbance.
I was up uncharacteristically late last evening. Bear and I had our last walk at … *GASP* … 9:45 p.m.!! It was precipitating a kind of hard snow – fast and furious – pellet-like in nature. There was enough fallen to cover our 5:00 tracks.
I woke to a temperature of 34F, not much more snow and the dripping of melting runoff from the roof.
Midday, the sun and blue sky surprised me. I made a mad dash to town – stopping for a walk and garbage run and then a grab of some supplies. Forecast for the weekend looks marginal and I favored a mid-week dry road run. Town was a mess! As in, why weren’t all those people at work??? But needed items were acquired and we headed home.
The sun was shining in the yard and I intended another two hours of work and then…and THEN…some time in the chair with Bear…on Beardog Point.
It was loverly.
Bear has been limping a bit on his non-surgery leg, so we have been taking things extra easy and some time in the yard in the sunshine was just the ticket for both of us. I did not distract by trying to take photos – just enjoyed the sun and quiet and fresh air that had a warmth and softness that felt like Spring.
But, that chair. That is where I sat – for the first time since Bear’s surgery. Bear was laying – a little distance in front of me…watching the game trail, smelling the air, listening. Just like we like.
Today, is the start of week 8 post op. Schedules of the surgeon and Dr. Calm are proving a bit difficult to coordinate so I think we will not have our 8 week post op appointment until week 9 or 10, but it is good to be in the 8th week.
And the moon is nearing full and it is beautiful in a clear Montana sky as we start the 8th week.
A messy week
It was a messy week. The weather was messy. My schedule was messy. I had a day of spills on Wednesday including a cup of coffee that jumped out of my hand and I am STILL finding sticky coffee splashes in unexpected places.
But today, Saturday, after a messy start of freezing fog and snow flurries…
The sun came out!
Beautiful. Only 18F, but beautiful…especially in the warm sunroom.
I know. The number of herbs have dwindled…by more than half. And the rosemary and basil are not looking especially good. The parsley looks thin as I’ve been using a lot of it but I think that it and the chives may survive my gardening skills.
Just outside the sunroom…the herb graveyard. I have high hopes that the lavender, spearmint and peppermint will revive in the Spring as I put them out during a week when it was above freezing and told them to go dormant until June 1. We’ll see. I am not surprised, but I am a bit disappointed as the herbs gave the room a nice feeling. But I am not disappointed enough to go buy more and subject them to my not so green thumb. I WILL try again next year :) !!
Bear’s back end as he checks for critters…and a close up is coming in case you’d like to leave now…
I was watching Bear watch the game trail and noticed his legs. They are positioned the same and he is bearing his weight equally on both – hurrah!! No odd angle and the foot on his surgery leg is solid.
The walking conditions have deteriorated this past week and we’ve not been able to do the distances prescribed. But we are out and about and I call him in the house now and again to get him up and walking. All continues to progress well.