Homecoming

On September 28, 2008, four days after checking in at the NWVS to undergo an operation to repair his liver shunt, Curly Joe came home. He wasn't all that excited to see us when we picked him up, but he was pretty gorked up on codeine, so I wasn't insulted. He slept a lot the next couple of days, but his appetite was good and he was obviously happy to be home. I had to tether him to heavy objects a lot of the time because the urge to chase cats proved far too great, even for a puppy with 18 staples in his belly.

His recovery went really well, considering what dire straights he'd been in just a few days before. When his pain meds ran out, he had one bad day and then he was back to normal.

When we picked Curly up from the vet, they gave me release papers for him:

Summary: Curly Joe had surgery with Dr. Donna Lee Taylor to repair a porto-systemic shunt. Unfortunately, the shunt was found to be intra-hepatic and could not be ligated. Dr. Taylor entered the abdomen and also the chest in attempts of finding an extra-hepatic shunt. Curly Joe had some bleeding and hypotension during anesthesia. Post-op Curly Joe was very critical and overnight after surgery, he had developed hemothorax and was administered multiple pRBC transfusions, a plasma transfusion and was ultimately given several auto-transfusions over 24 hours. About 48 hours post-op Curly Joe was much brighter and started eating on his own and maintaining his PCV count. He has severe hypoproteinemia with TS of 3.0 and Albumin of 1.3 (Albumin improved - post-op = 0.7). Curly Joe is being sent home today and will follow up with Dr. Taylor.

Medications:
1) Cephalexin 250mg capsules: Give 1 capsule by mouth every 12 hours with food. (antibiotic) Next dose is due at 8pm.
2) Codeine 30mg tablets: Give 1/2 tablet by mouth every 6 hours for pain. Next dose is due at 8pm.
3) Purchase Pepcid 10mg tablets over the counter. Give 1 tablet by mouth every 24 hours - next dose is due this evening.

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS
1. Strict exercise restriction. No running, jumping or playing. Only take Curly Joe outside on a leash to urinate/defecate.
2. Monitor incision daily for any signs of redness, swelling or discharge. If any of these signs are noted, please have Curly Joe rechecked by a veterinarian.
3. Keep an e-collar on at all times to prevent Curly Joe from licking at the incision site.
4. Monitor Curly Joe closely; if he becomes lethargic, stops eating or drinking or starts vomiting, please have him rechecked by a veterinarian.
5. Schedule a recheck with Dr. Donna Lee Taylor in 10-14 days for a recheck. Please call her team on Tuesday to give us an update.
6. Please feed Curly Joe the L/D diet.

I followed those instructions faithfully (except for that minor bout of horseplay, but that was two weeks after his surgery), and recently took Curly Joe back to NWVS for his check up. As we sat in the lobby, at least two techs walked by and greeted Curly by name. He's a rock star to these people. They took him in back for the recheck and came out to tell me the doctor was thrilled with how well he is doing. I had taken him to my regular vet a few days before to have his staples removed, but was concerned about some swelling in that area. I was paranoid it was a hernia, but the tech told me it was his body's reaction to the internal sutures. She said it would go away as soon as the sutures were completely dissolved. Whew. Other than that, he was in great shape. He now weighs 26 pounds!

When we first got him, he was scrawny. His ribs were showing, his fur was patchy and he had a skin condition. I believe that the L/D food I've been feeding him, as well as the Hepato Support and 3V I've been mixing with his food has really done wonders for him. The doctor said he looked amazing and that I should keep doing what I've been doing.

The tech told me Dr. Taylor was going out of town for a week, but is still looking for other options for Curly Joe and would get back to me as soon as she found something.

Today, a little over a month later, Curly Joe continues to improve. He still has a messed up liver, but for now he is doing well. He still hasn't learned that cats hate to be chased and that he shouldn't turn his back on the geese when we're out in the yard, but he takes everything in stride and keeps me laughing with his antics. Sometimes we'll be out in the yard, and I'll look over and see Curly standing there with his front legs wrapped around Tank's neck. Or I'll go to call them in and see Tank running for the door on three legs because Curly Joe is running alongside him with one of his legs in his mouth. A leg or an ear, Curly's always got something that doesn't belong to him.

Halloween will soon be upon us, and I promised LaShea I would buy Curly a costume. I found the perfect one for him and took pictures yesterday. I will post them as soon as I get the film developed.

Until next time . . .