Buzzupdate

Update: 7:30 pm

Thanks for the good thoughts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He did need his molars removed, and unfortunately they were not hanging by a thread but rather were very firmly rooted. The vet told me it took her two hours to get them out. Her poor hands..............

She wanted to keep him for the afternoon, and keep him on IV, as his kidney values are raised. (She said she is managing another leukemia dog, who is on the same meds and whose kidney values are also a bit high..... She wanted to keep him well hydrated to help his kidneys deal with drugs/trauma/whatever.)

I got him about an hour ago. He can't wear a collar, given where his incisions are (for the bump removal), so DH went along to manage the doors so I could just carry the dog.

Pathology report on the bumps "in about a week" and go back in 10-14 days for stitch removal. He's supposed to have vincristine in 14 days anyway, so......

I did not give him any meds this morning, as he was not allowed to eat, so when he came home, he needed his prednisone (takes it to keep the leukemia suppressed) and his amoxycillin (a precaution due to the dental work, with his chemo-suppressed immune system).

I usually stuff pills down throats. I began dog ownership by pilling with the three cheeseball method (just cheese, then cheese+pill followed immediately by another just cheese). Then DH's shepherd/husky Spot got wise, and started spitting out pills. Ok, I can learn. If pills need to be stuffed down throats, I can do that....... So that's what I've done for the last 25 years.

But with his mouth all sore and full of holes..........................

Tonight the pills are smushed into canned food.

He has been pretty fussy since I got him home. Not sure how much is because he is hungry (I was only allowed to give him a quarter of a can, and a maintenance diet of this food for him would be about 1.75 cans, and he hasn't had anything to eat since yesterday evening, so he's starbin'!). He doesn't usually fuss about being hungry, but after such a traumatic day, well, who knows what he's fussing about.... When I take him downstairs he acts like it's food he wants, but maybe he's just uncomfortable and wants anything nice to take his mind off it..................

I have tramadol for him, but was told not to give him any until late.

I called the vet 20 minutes ago (my vet is open 24/7, hallelujah), and was told "Give him a dose of tramadol now." So I did (with a little more food as it's hard on the tummy).

I hope he can go to sleep........... And I'll plan to give him some more tramadol at midnight or 1:00 am.

Thanks again for the good thoughts! Much appreciated. I think I need a nap. Or a stiff drink......

End of 7:30 pm update


Buzz has been doing very well.

Eating (including big milkbones) normally (that is to say "voraciously"). Fetching a toy for 5, 10, even 15 minutes, some days.

Today he is at the vet to have a couple of small bumps removed, and maybe a couple of teeth. Both bumps have been there and have been watched for over a year, but one of them got big enough (the size of two kidney beans) to push both our local vet who is managing Buzz's chemo and the oncologist at MSU to say "get it off."

So today we'll get it (and its smaller, different, cousin) off.

Buzz has seemed like his teeth hurt, after chemo. I mentioned this to our vet, who said that his gums are way receded around his molars. "Hanging by a thread." So I think he will be having them out.

He will come home with two shaved places (one right where his collar hits in the front), and an ouchy (but shiny clean) mouth.

Poor guy.

I am doing a pretty good job of regarding this as an ordinary day in the life of a 10-year-old-plus dog.

But when they make you sign the "do everthing vs. do not resuscitate" thing, and on top of that, someone else brings in an oldster to be put down.....................

Send him a good thought, if you would........

Thanks.