well it’s been a rough few days for everyone. On the up side Izzy got her bandage changed and the incision looks good with very little drainage. After Izzy’s dr visit on Wednesday we started Metamucil, which Izzy hates. So we tried to get it in her with food but she stoped eating, guess she figured out we were hiding meds in the food. Then on Friday I thought of magnesium you can buy it at the grocery store for .98 after I checked to make sure it was safe for dogs we waited until she wanted to go outside, not for a potty break, just to lay in the sun, and I got it into her with a big syring, she really didn’t like it and who can blame her but it worked and about 5 minutes later we had our first poo !!yay!! The dr also gave her an injection to help her sleep and sent us home with more of the injectable meds to use at night because Izzy wasn’t getting much sleep and neither were we. This has worked well but I’m concerned that she will be overmedicated. But at this point she is still healing so sleep however it comes is helpful for healing.
Yesterday was our worst day yet Izzy wouldn’t eat or drink and would do a high pitched whining howl anytime I left her side which our other dogs would then copy so we had several episodes of concert howling, I’m sure our neighbors appreciated that, not. I wasn’t sure if she was uncomfortable, scared, overmedicated or just over it. So I decided to stretch her oral pain killer to the maximum window and watch her. She did seem to calm somewhat towards the end of that window so I think she needed her head to feel normal for a while. Unfortunately the meds are still necessary though so today I’m going to try waiting until she tells me she needs them instead of the clock telling me it’s time that way I can get an idea of her progress from her viewpoint. Today she seems to be resting pretty comfortably with just the once a day pain med.
As you already know, recovery is no picnic! It is major surgery and it hurts! It doesn’t last furever though!
And a belated YAY FOR POOP!!
You’re doing a good job of monitoring for pain. It is hard to play catch up once the pain hets a head start though.
Cheering for Izzy!!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
I’m glad the magnesium worked. That’s a new one to us, we haven’t heard of anyone trying it. What about pumpkin? Did you give that a go? Most dogs love it.
I hope she’s doing better this week and her pain is well-managed. Please keep us posted, we are hoping for a good update.
Yep tried pumpkin but she stopped eating anything but chicken before it worked. Magnesium is almost instant, it usually takes about 5 minutes but it doesn’t taste good, fortunately Izzy was so lethargic at that point I was able to squirt it in her mouth with a big string. 🙂