Brief Update with photos

Well, dad has been taking me on morning walks for quite a while now and I no longer pant hard by the end of the walk, I guess my stamina is getting better. I got very nervous during a bad thunderstorm and mom invited me under her computer desk which is in the family room where I am confined. I really like it under there and go in all the time pushing past mom's legs. She tries not to kick me and I hear her complain about how much harder it is to type, but hey she showed me the place!

Note from mom: If I had only known the trouble it would cause! She takes up half the space, but I am such a softy and let her stay! I try not to roll the chair into her, but she puts her nose so close to the wheels sometimes!

July 4 and the following weekend

Best July 4th and days prior and after EVER!! None of those loud professional fireworks or goofy neighbors setting any off. I did not have to hide under the bed (which was a good thing since it is upstairs). Here I am lounging around that day, mom dressed me for the occasion.

You can see my left leg a little bit and can't tell it  had been shaved 8 weeks earlier. I still have my outer coat to grow back there, but the under coat has come in quite nicely -at least this is what mom thinks.

We did have some VERY loud thunderstorms this past weekend and I was not a happy camper, but mom let me lay down under her computer desk. I hear she had quite the time reaching the keyboard, but I felt much better and did not quiver at all over the storm, besides we needed the rain!

8 weeks post op

Well besides having the best 4th of July EVER and not having to hide under the bed, I have started walking more. I LOVE my walks with dad and so far he has only had to scold me once or twice about not paying attention to him. Those new smells are awful good and I just forget myself!

With all the fire danger around here they cancelled all professional fireworks shows and that was OK by me!

Mom saw me walking back from my extended walk today (on Thursday they started to walk me a tad farther) and she said I looked good, maybe a little tired and my back left leg was not quite as straight in the walk, so now they keep watching me!! Also I noticed I only got the one big round pill this am. I guess they are not giving me the rimadyl to see if I still need it. I don't do a great job of letting them know I am in pain, but limping will be the first clue!

That is all for now, cooler temps this weekend, house already open to get fresh air, seems like a great weekend could be in the works. Hope yours is too.

My Horizons are expanding!!

It seems that my healing has progressed enough that I can go out on short walks! WOW!! What fun. All those new smells and people to see. Plus rabbits! Dad takes me out after breakfast since it is a tad warm later in the day and we walk to the end of the block and around the corner a little bit. I hear him tell mom I am doing better on the leash. They seem to have some problem with me pulling and mom is considering a harness for me because I just get so so excited when I am with her I bounce around and try to play tug o war with the leash. She can't figure out why I don't do this with dad and I ain't talkin!

So far no limping after the walks, so I think starting this Thursday I get to go on longer walks. Also if it cools down maybe some afternoon walks too. Oh boy!!!!

6 Week Post Op X-ray - UPDATED

Well Miss Maddie has been cleared for Phase 2 of her recovery. The x-ray looked good, but healing was a little slow, so for phase 2 we will walk her for 5 - 7 days at  1/4 to 1/2 mile before increasing the length, rather than increasing at 3-5 days. The surgeon and our vet is happy with the results so far.

It has been VERY hot upper 90s to 102 degrees so we have yet to walk her outside. We will start soon and walk her at a slow pace to the end of the block and back. If she shows no signs of pain or limping after doing this for 5 - 7 days we can walk farther, gradually increasing the length up to the 16 week post op date. Then she should be fully healed and muscles developed, etc. and she will be free to do stairs and go out in the back yard without a leash and have free reign of the house again. She will be soooo happy!!

UPDATE: I decided to add a photo or two.

Here is Miss Maddie lying with here left rear leg (surgery knee) behind here. Undercoat seems to have grown in and she is now working on the outer layer. They shaved her rear end curls off on one side too! I noticed some are coming in gray, but I told here she could just sit on them!

Why I love my dad by Maddie M.

I love my dad (and mom too)  because he gives me lots of head rubs and belly rubs, he calls me a good girl, gives me milkbones (although I notice since my surgery I only get half a bone) he is just a nice human. Now the big reason I love my dad is that he forgets to close the baby gate that keeps me in the family room!! Sunday I made it into the kitchen (up 6 steps) and this morning I made it into the master bedroom (up another 6 steps). Boy was mom surprised when she came out of the bathroom to see me greeting her. I gave her my best wiggley butt greeting and tried to stay non-chalant so she'd think this was the new norm, but noooo. She said, as she grabbed my collar, "Why Maddie what are you doing up here?"

She got me safely downstairs despite my trying to run down them like a shot, and watched me walk around to see if I had a limp again. I did not, and did not cry as I went down so we hope all is well.

I wonder what nice thing dad will do next???

I made it into the Kitchen!!

Yesterday while dad was not looking and had left the gate open, I went up stairs (6 steps) into the kitchen!!!! If it was not for those darned wooden steps and kitchen floor I could have been more sneaky, but dad heard me and got me back safe and sound into the family room.

Mom is sometimes a messy cook and I find all kinds of goodies along the baseboards. I was so close to checking things out!

Yesterday for some unknown reason they decided to move my crate closer to the fireplace and more out of the traffic zone. That is ok, but it is sitting on one of my favorite places to sleep (out in the open). I heard them mention that dad's mom was coming for a visit and this would allow more room for (ALL of ) us to get around and for her to sit in the lazyboy. I like it when we have company, more people to forget to close the gates!!

Note from mom: Maddie's little trip up and down the stairs does not seem to have hurt her any. She walks and sits like she did before. Not much news here on the recovery front, just waiting for the 6 week x-ray to see how much healing there is so far. June 21 is the 6 week mark so I hope to have a good report then.