When Coco starts peeing, you better get out of the way because that stuff is movin’!
I took Coco’s harness and leash with me to visit her yesterday. I was ready to demand my dog, break her out, head for the hills. Okay, not really, because then I remembered I was going to be out of town all day on Wednesday, which meant I really shouldn’t take her home until after Wednesday. Bummer. But I talked to the doctor, and they are very pleased with Coco’s progress.
I didn’t get a really good photo of her yesterday because she was either nosing at the door as if she wanted to figure out a way to open it herself and make a run for it or she was right up in my face.
Do notice that she is putting her leg down more, which is a good sign. She doesn’t put weight on it for more than a second, but she wasn’t even putting it down before. She is, of course, somewhat hampered by the bandage, especially because it wraps completely around her paw. The reason they started wrapping her paw also (there is nothing wrong with her paw) is because moisture was getting in that way.
She is healing well and they are re-bandaging her only every other day now. I’m going to take her home on Friday. Yay!!!! She will be restricted for awhile. She will have to stay in the house, only taken out on a leash to use the bathroom. I’ll be out of town on Wednesday, which means I won’t be here to take her in and out, and she’ll be having her bandages changed on Monday/Wednesday/Friday, so I decided that I should wait out Thursday and take her home on Friday after her bandage change–if I took her home Thursday, I’d have to turn around the next day to take her back for the bandage change. (It’s a bit of a trip to go there, so while I’m eager to take her home, it’s just more sensible to wait until Friday.) For at least another week or two, I will be taking her three times a week for bandage changes and checks. This will taper off gradually until she’s completely healed.
Her prognosis–we just won’t know for awhile, but it’s a good sign that she’s starting to put her leg down. Until the bandage is off and remains off, she won’t really have the leeway to use her leg normally, and it will take time for her leg to strengthen since she won’t have been using it for weeks. It will still be months before she really gets back to whatever her new normal is, but things are looking more optimistic than they were a week ago as she is trying to use the leg.
I’m not sure how long I’ll have to keep her in the house on restricted activity. The risk is of her wound re-opening, so she doesn’t need to be gallumphing around in the goat yard until she’s firmly healed. Chloe is currently in the goat yard most of the time, so when Coco comes home, I’ll leave Chloe there and bring her to Coco in the house for an introductory visit. I’ll let Coco lead the way from there as to how much time she wants the little whippersnapper to spend keeping her company in the house. And in the beginning particularly, I’ll have to watch whether Chloe gets too rowdy, so her visits may be limited. Trouble is, Coco is full of energy, PERFECTLY FINE–except for her leg, so I expect she’s going to have some serious antsy pants once she gets home and is stuck in the house.
She’s also, by the way, a significantly large animal to keep in the house, possibly for several weeks, so this should be interesting.
But–the next time I go to see her, I’m not leaving without her!
P.S. Chloe has been such a joy here–and a pain, of course, because she IS a puppy.
liz2 says:
Thank you for your report on lovely Coco. Glad to learn she’s feeling energetic & making progress. She must get so excited while you are there that she can’t help but pee! Happy to hear about Chloe, too. Does she stay in the goat yard overnight? Love the photos.
On February 28, 2012 at 2:16 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
liz2, Chloe is staying in the house at night, in a crate now. I bring her in before it gets dark, then take her out in the morning when I go out to do chores.
On February 28, 2012 at 6:05 am
bonita says:
Good news about Coco. Vet must feel relatively confident if she’s allowed to come home, even with 3x a week bandage changes. Can you rig a ramp/stairs or similar to help you get her in and out of the car with as little trauma as possible? Perhaps ask one of the vet techs for suggestions, they’re accustomed to moving dogs (even big ones) from place to place without the dog’s assistance. thns for pix. That’s a much better looking bandage than before.
On February 28, 2012 at 4:35 am
MaryB says:
Come on Friday!
On February 28, 2012 at 6:24 am
Diane says:
I was just thinking you should bring Coco home. And I saw this post and was so happy for you!!!! I was missing her too and I never met her. Feels like it from reading about her on your blog. lol.
On February 28, 2012 at 7:20 am
Miss Judy says:
So glad Coco is progressing. I know you will be relieved to have her home.
Chloe sure is cute. She’s going to grow to a beautiful adult!
On February 28, 2012 at 7:31 am
Yankee in NC says:
wow, that was in impressive puddle created by Coco.
I am so happy to get to read an update on her and see that she is doing so well.
It should be very interesting indeed, to hear about the antics that Chloe and Coco will create.
On February 28, 2012 at 7:45 am
Old Geezer says:
Clearly, Coco is fully cognizant of the old maxim, “When life hands you lemons …”
On February 28, 2012 at 7:49 am
Julia says:
So glad Coco is doing so well!
On February 28, 2012 at 8:07 am
KellyWalkerStudios says:
Happy that Coco is coming home. We’ve missed her. Just one suggestion, and you may do some research on this, but everything I have read says you should not introduce dogs inside, especially if one is not 100%. I have always introduced my dogs on leashes in the yard. Or taken them for a short walk together which may not be possible in this case. I think what happens is some dogs are protective of their “space/home” and feel invaded by a “newcomer”. Just a thought.
On February 28, 2012 at 9:18 am
Murphala says:
That’s an ‘accident’ of some magnitude! Whoa. I’ve never seen so much from one dog! So glad your girl is getting better and will be home soon. :happypuppy:
On February 28, 2012 at 9:49 am
beforethedawn says:
Glad to hear Coco gets to come home soon. 🙂 Enjoy Chloe’s puppyness while you can! Before you know it, she’ll be too big to pick up. Cute pics of her and Morgan.
Jessica
On February 28, 2012 at 10:58 am
Merino Mama says:
So happy about Coco. I know you’ll be ecstatic to have her home! :snoopy:
Those pictures of Chloe are sooooo cute! I want a Chloe!!!
See you at the Agritourism conference tomorrow!
On February 28, 2012 at 11:18 am
Remudamom says:
That’s good news. Was it only a wound or was anything broken?
On February 28, 2012 at 11:57 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
Remudamom, a wound. Her leg wasn’t broken.
On February 28, 2012 at 12:13 pm
JerseyMom says:
I’ll second the idea of introducing them somewhere neutral. You might have to be kind of creative to do it that way under the circumstances though. Given Coco’s size and the fact that you don’t want her to get too excited and re injure herself…..caution is advised, I guess. I’m so glad she can finally come home and it will be great when she and Chloe can romp around the goat yard!!
On February 28, 2012 at 12:49 pm
lupansgirl says:
SOOO glad Coco is feeling better and heading home soon!
Oh, and a small piece of advice:
Don’t “encourage” Chloe to “stand up on” people…
It’s really cute now, but when she’s over 100 pounds? Not safe!
… Don’t ask how i know this … 😕
On February 28, 2012 at 1:28 pm
stacylee says:
I am glad Coco is doing so well, and that the new puppy is working out. They are so beautiful! My sister’s neighbor has one and the kids all call him “the bear dog”. I saw him once in their yard carrying a whole deer leg in his mouth!! It was halarious. The dad’s a hunter, and I guess that was “the bear dog’s” share!
On February 28, 2012 at 2:38 pm
lifeisgood/ Melinda says:
Since Coco has to stay in the house while she is recuperating and you want Chloe and Coco to get used to each other you might want to try this trick…
take a towel and rub it all over Chloe really well, take the same towel and put it in with Coco…….and do the same with a towel for Coco and put it with Chloe. That gives the dogs an opportunity to get the other dogs scent without the “in your face” meeting. Then introduce them while Chloe is in her crate since Coco is the alpha dog here, but Chloe has had the lone role since Coco has been on vacation. If that goes well, neither of them can hurt the other, then allow them short times on leash together. That way you or Morgan can separate them if necessary without either getting hurt. Finally, when you are satisfied that they are well acquainted you can feel comfortable leaving them off leash around one another. Just a suggestion.
On February 28, 2012 at 2:51 pm
TeaCup says:
So glad Coco is getting better and Chloe is just adorable. Yay!
teacup
On February 28, 2012 at 5:37 pm
yvonnem says:
Poor Coco, she gets so excited and thinks she’s coming home! (Better make sure she pees before you put her in your car Friday!)
On February 28, 2012 at 7:46 pm
Auntie Linda says:
HA – When I saw the title of this, I thought “Oh, I can totally relate”, as we have a new puppy here. And then I saw the picture, and was AMAZED at Coco’s capacity! Made me appreciate my puppy’s little puddles. That girl can go!
So glad to hear she is doing well and is set to come home this week. Best of luck with the ride home.
On February 29, 2012 at 8:28 am
Ms.Becky says:
oh yes, good news about Coco. I’m surprised at how big Chloe has gotten, or maybe it was difficult to tell her size until seeing her with Morgan. It seems she’s become a whole lot bigger! She’s so adorable, I’m anxiously awaiting the homecoming of Coco and the story to be told of these two meeting. :hug:
On February 29, 2012 at 11:20 am
BuckeyeGirl says:
Chloe will have the “puppy card” to play for quite some time. It’s a rare dog that will actually hurt any puppy and I can’t believe that Coco would be in that .1% of dogs that will harm a puppy, though she may bully her a bit my pushing her around or giving her the cold shoulder for a time. I’m betting that Suzanne will have it worked out! :happypuppy:
On February 29, 2012 at 12:55 pm