Beach buggy boy

So this morning, Gandalf decided he was GOING to get out and run. He was singing and barking (my “no barking, only singing” command [ha ha] was ignored completely). So I let him out.

Got the thong (red and white stripes). Threw the thong…he swam out and got it. Then he ran off with the thong down the beach again. Wh-hooo!

Why a thong (i.e., the rubber footwear all australians wear in summer)? Well, it floats and doesn’t bounce, so there’s none of that skidding happening…bad for his front paws. This thong has survived 5 years approximately. He likes this one above all of the others I’ve collected over the years.

He’s sleeping now but keeping a good eye on me…when are we going out???? We will go out shortly, take the vet clinic afternoon tea…visit with his favourite nurses.

Beach boy

Ok, so do I STOP him from running down the beach? (I did…) But I threw his thong for him a few times and waded into the water with him in case he got into trouble…but no. I worry that he will do too much! It’s only day 13.

My Gandalf

I should have described Gandalf more!

He is a border collie (blue). The avatar pic is a drawing I did of him for my vet…the vet also has a couple of paintings in his surgery, and even has a huge photo of him on the side of one of his hospitals…you can see his picture (a few years old now) on their website (Marion hospital).

http://www.southvet.com.au/

Yes, my vet and all the other vets and nurses at the hospital know gandalf and love him.

He’s the most beautiful soul, with the prettiest face–it’s like he’s an old soul, wise.

I’ll take some photos tonight at sunset–we always walk (him in his buggy) along the coast (not on the beach…that would be torture unless he can get out, and I just think one big swim a day at the moment is enough).

He’s 7, 8 at the end of March. He has been working as a hearing dog for me since he was 8 months old. He is incredible. I get vertigo, and he picks it before I do. So of course at the moment I can’t work out whether he’s worrying about me or he needs something. I guess you now can understand how much he means to me.

Last week I stopped his anti inflammatory, previcox, but gave it again today. I think he’s going to keep needing this to keep his front legs from getting sore. No tramadol today. I gave tramadol yesterday just because I couldn’t work out if he needed it or not…he’s so stoic. He just sometimes gets quiet. And then he hears my neighbour…oooohhhh and off he goes.

So, today is day 13.

He was back on antibiotics last tuesday (now finished) because it looked pink under his incision on his underside. Didn’t want to take any chances.

He walked (actually, ran) out of the clinic 3 hours after his surgery. I had to put a lead on him. But he was seriously going to get out of there! I was sobbing and laughing (terrible combination) and there were hugs all around. He hasn’t yelped or fallen over once.

So I guess I should just relax. But it’s so strange and worrying, especially after 5 failed operations.

I’ve been feeding him steamed/lightly boiled chicken breast with carrot (tonight it is purple carrot) and homegrown zucchini. I’ll sprinkle a bit of joint guard on this just before he eats. I’d been giving him this so he had a “low residue” diet, but wonder whether I should be giving him something different. I obviously will need to keep his weight down (he’s currently 23.1 kg).

People around me look at him and say “he’s doing so great don’t worry about it” and I guess that’s the right thing. But I just want the best for my boy and don’t know if I’m doing the right thing….

I’ve been sleeping on a very thin of foam on the floor (so same level as all dog beds and last week swapped it for my mattress…which Gandalf easily gets on now…but will have to rethink my bed…it was very high, and he used to jump up onto a blanket box to get on to it. I gotta say it’s hard getting up from the floor….any suggestions here….:) I know dogs aren’t supposed to sleep on beds, and he doesn’t…much….just likes to come up for cuddles before going to his own bed. And if I’m not around, he gets on my bed.

thank you so much Becky, for your welcome. I think I accidentally deleted the post…damn I want it back…..:)

A strange new world…

My darling Gandalf had three months of operations (5 in all) to try and re-model his arthritic hip/leg. Finally the muscles just wouldn’t hold the leg in place and 12 days ago had his right back leg amputated.

He had his first swim two days ago. It’s a great thing to see, but instead of feeling joyful, I’m feeling scared and worried constantly. Is he ok? Will his other leg cope? Will his front legs cope….is he in pain?

His other hip is a pseudo hip–he had a femoral head excision last year…that took two operations. His front paws are missing a line of bones, and don’t bend backwards as paws usually do.

But I have a buggy for him, and we walk down to the beach and along the beach until there’s a nice spot for him to get out. He seems to want to do more, but I’m so worried about him overdoing it.

This is so hard!