Today's update, all signs excellent! She is feeling SO much better today than yesterday. I have had to sweep the house for balls and tugs, much to Shortstack's dismay -I had family keep her the night before last, and was worried about bringing her into the fold since they play rough. But it was almost like she knew. I'm sure some of it was smell, even I was bothered by the medicine-like odor. I slept on the floor of the office between the two and had to turn on a fan. Not from the EB gassing either, but the weird antiseptic smell coming from Rose. She probably leaked two cups of fluid during the night. The vet cut four incisions in her skin to alleviate pain, and when she would sit up, they would just pour. I have never felt sorrier for an animal or less like eating food in my life than the last 3 days. But she is SO much better, and I just have to remind myself that tomorrow's are going to be brighter with each one that passes.

I have lost some trust, and things she'll usually tolerate are suspicious. She's yelped twice today, neither involved ANY pain, just anticipation of pain. Once was because I tried to put a cone on her to shower, the other was trying to cut tape off her ankle. I've never really given her much choice in the matter -I'm doing your nails, you'll get treats and affirmations and put up with it. But I can guarantee you such a task right now would be difficult. She's terribly jumpy and if anything is in my hand, it is to be feared. Poor thing must have really gone through some trauma with the with the first surgery, let alone the "dehisense with evisceration."

The one short car ride I took today, she was very alert so I brought her along. It was to my shop which is right by my vet's office. She whimpered upon each exhale as we pulled through the intersection of the vet's office and began pacing. I especially do not look forward to the drain removal Monday or suture removal late in the week. I told my vet about it, and she might walk me through the drain and I just do it at home. Getting her cleaned up and in a T shirt took a lot of praise and reps for a dog that will usually let me do anything to her. I really do think she'll be way better off with me doing it than taking her in the way she is right now. For the next few days, every time I get in my car, I am driving Rose to the vets, giving treats and leaving. Hopefully I can get her to come inside for treats then leave a few times before suture removal.

" For the next few days, every time I get in my car, I am driving Rose to the vets, giving treats and leaving."

ALWAYS a good thing to make the vet's office less scary.

Did you tell the vet about the amount of draining? Maybe it's totally normal; it just sounds like something to mention.

Dr. Betty?

How is eating/pooping?

First defecation was last night, small but normal. She paced around the whole backyard assuming the position today so I gave her some peace, but I couldn't find anything. No poops on our short (50-100 yard) walks. Appetite has been bad to the point it has been hard to get all the meds in her, but it was like a switch flipped last night. She suddenly wanted anything.

My vet said the draining didn't overly concern her since it was watery and mostly after she'd been still for a while. I saw it pouring out of open wounds and saw how much was on the towels on her bed, so was pretty alarmed. She's drinking a lot, which makes me feel better about all the leaking. I was surprised they'd cut deep holes through the skin in 2012, that seems so from the era of leeches and blood letting, but in spite of being hard for me to look at as a dog owner, they sure appear effective.

I don't remember if I shared that the vet didn't feel like she was "safe" to stay overnight again. Looking over Rose's chart from the 24 hour clinic, no surprise they let me take her home!

"6:00 AM patient became restless and vocal. Acepromazine 0,5 mg no effect
Dexdomidor, patient somewhat more comfortable.
Patient is QAR and wagging tail but becomes aggressive with anticipating any intervention or pain"
Patient has dislodged IV cath line and is being very aggressive at any efforts of restrain. Attempted to muzzle, unsuccessful. Patient traumatized rostral are of left nostril with hemorrhage along with burst vessels in left eye."
"Propofol to effect"

Oh my poor, poor baby. Makes a little more sense now.

Oh, man .....

The poor girl.

It will be hard to be upbeat and calm for her, but I know you can do it.

By the way, that first poop after general anesthesia can be a major hurdle, so just telling you that you should be relieved and pleased.

Keep an eye on that, though, OK? Because even tramadol can clog things up (although not nearly as bad as some). You don't want her to have to strain.

Chip, I don't know you or Rose but I'm sorry you and she have had such an awful experience. It sounds though that she is doing better day by day and I hope she continues to improve and all this quickly becomes a bad memory. I do have one suggestion, you mentioned a drain removal on monday (I work in the human medical field) and I'd suggest you premedicate her or ask the vet to premedicate her for pain at least 30 minutes before the procedure, drain removal is quick but it can be a little bit painful and may help her deal with it better.

Glad Rose is continuing to improve!

I'll throw this out here - I am not a fan of acepromazine for sedating an agitated dog. The way the drug works it can kinda immobilize the dog without doing anything for it's mental state, ie, the dog still feels the same mentally but can't react at all. That's why I will not use it for thunderstorm anxiety.

Sunday update: Rose is doing well and wanting to play. She's nuzzling the couch rolling on her back, wagging, and making "happy" vocalizations. Then upon trying to pop to her feet, realizes the discomfort. My vet asked me to take her resting breathing rate. I was hoping for below 30, but 74 seems to be the norm. Lots of shallow, quick ones, even when sleeping.

To my dismay, she's getting even harder to deal with from a fearful perspective. I tried to cut her bandage off today, and she was terrified of me. So I had a petting session, and pulled the tape loose, stretched the gauze, and slid it off her waist instead. This is a dog I could easily roll on her back, handle feet, tail, anything a week ago. Also, she seems to start panting when I pet her. I am stopping petting sessions upon panting, I hope that's the right thing.

Outside of that, everything is better today than it was yesterday. I am still afraid to turn my back on her, and worried about her discovering her sutured area. I am avoiding the cones because of her stress, and hopefully my donut will arrive tomorrow and be easier on her.

I would let the vet be the bad guy and stop touching her ow-ees as much as possible. I would definately let the vet remove the drains.