Week 4 - still in prison but with some new friends

Hello to everyone! Hope your holidays are going well. I am starting to feel really good - but still confined here.....oh well I am being real patient cause it's Xmas time. I was a big boy and stayed alone for the first time xmas eve. I was upset when I heard all the gifts being put in the car, cause usually I get to go for a sleepover at Caramel's house - but not this year. I knew I would have some new toys within the next few days. For Christmas Moxie gave me "Boomer" he is in the photo with me. I love Boomer!! Hope all my fellow TPLOers got lots of fun stuff for xmas. Moose - I was sooo worried about you, glad things got better and when you are settled in your new digs, hope you update us.

More Snow!!

As much as I love the sun in the summertime and I lay on the lawn chair near the pool, I also LOVE the snow! Unfortunately, I can't play outside in the snow now which is a real bummer. I love to "dig" and "rescue" toys that might be under the snow, but I can't do any of that this year. However, here are a few photos to see my leashed life in the snow.

Mom...just watching some football!

Sundays are usually spent watching football with mom. Pre-surgery we would always cuddle on the couch and watch together. Since this prison thingy that I have lived in for the past weeks, I have snuck up on the couch once. Well today - woohoo football day - I did it again!!! Mom got up to go upstairs and didn't move the box back to where it should be. I stole her spot and look woohoo best seat in the house, see the TV screen?? Now let's hope she doesn't catch me here. OH no there's the flash on the camera, i'm busted!

Hey Moose....

I'm here buddy. Things are good - cold, snowy, but good. Just relaxin' and tryin' to keep busy and yet calm at the same time. I am psyched for Santa to come, mom tells me i've been real nice this year, so i'm wondering if he's going to have lots of stuff for me. I love cookies...but I hope Santa knows that i'm watching my weight during this prison time so I get low-fat 1 calorie cookies...but they are yum and cranberry flavor. Tomorrow it is supposed to snow all day again - I will be watching football with mom.

Wanna cuddle??

Just a relaxin' day - weather is not great out there, it's been cold, snowy and just not the sunny weather I enjoy. OK - so it's really cause the surgeon says I need to relax for another 6 weeks!!!! Ahhh my blanket - now does someone wanna cuddle with me??

My big day!

I got to go in the car again today...yay. Thing is I was on to it quickly where I was going. I was happy when I saw I was leaving the backyard - however, it didn't take me long and I was on alert. Does it show in the photo?

TRIVIA TIME:
Can you tell which photo was taken on the way there and which on the way back home?

I got to the vet and with all the snow and ice around, we had to be really careful. Once inside, I waited for Marilyn to come get me, hurry...cause I know the staples are being removed. They came to get me and wow that was fast!!! I returned and was READY to get back in the car and sleep on the drive home...oh how I love the car, just not on the way to this place. Yay, my next appointment is January 27th - WOW that's next year. Everything is fine, i'm to rest some more, don't know how much more resting and taking it easy I can do, but that's what the doctor ordered.

Christmas decorating

Yay...Christmas decorations. I love when my stocking gets hung on the mantle. However, why am I not up those stairs helping out and sniffing in all the boxes? No tree this year as we are always in the den, but we must decorate the mantle and leave the stockings for Santa.

2 hour pass

Look at me....I am in the car! I escaped prison today, hmmm it was quite easy though, they brought me on a leash to my favorite place - the CAR! Woohoo....problem is, what i'm seeing it the road to the vet hospital, oh no. My mom keeps saying that she isn't leaving me there overnight again, so that makes me feel a little better. So we get there and i'm way too excited, I mean I haven't seen anyone or ventured outside my backyard for 1 week. Humans...I see humans yay. I am waiting for Marilyn to come get me to take off my bandage - this hockey stick as some have called it. So she comes to get me and takes me away and off comes the bandage. Wow I feel weird without it, I can move. I hop back out and she says everything looks good. Keep me calm for another week and we'll see her next Thursday at 1pm for the removal of my stitches...ouch! Awww the car ride home - so peaceful, I know where i'm going - back to my comfy make shift bed.

Day 6 - Post op....being my old self

Well today is day 6...and since yesterday Parker is experiencing Prison Fever. He is still pretty cooperative but has been a little more like himself. Yesterday morning I was sleeping when he jumped on the couch to my feet - he has not attempted this to date. Quickly grabbed the sling and brought him back down off the couch, not allowing his back leg to touch when coming down. This morning he threw up, which worried me a little, but his stomach settled and I fed him 2 hrs later and from then on he's been fine. I will mention it to vet tomorrow on our 1st week follow-up appt. Today he is crying a bit, but almost like a grunt cry, as if he is frustrated. A few photos of how he is adapting to his "cast" on his leg and still determined to be the cute attention grabber that he is....

Day 4 - Post Op and he's getting bored already

Well it has been 4 days since his surgery. He is a trooper, he is doing well for the most part. He certainly has nothing to say about being in his prison. He has not shown any signs of discomfort at all, except yesterday. He wanted to sit on the bad leg, which he has done b4, but when he went to sit down, with the bandage and all its' quite stiff - he for some reason let out a huge yelp - which I have Never heard Parker do. It tugged at my heart. He quickly laid down on the good leg and looked at me with sad eyes. I rubbed his belly and he went to sleep. Last night he woke up at 3am and just wasn't sleeping anymore. I think it's more a discomfort due to the bandage then anything else - cause he just can't always get comfortable. Otherwise he is doing great all around. I am still a pack of nerves though...guess it's to be expected.

Day 2 - Post Op

Well last night he slept better than expected, and I actually got some sleep too, sleeping right beside him but on the couch. We are all set up, it's like a huge slumber party . He has not cried at all since he's home. He is getting used to the cast (bandage) on his leg, he is funny when he can't move, he looks at it and kind of gives it a dirty look. He is more like himself today but still tired so he naps often. I am happy that he is doing this good with it only being 2 days post op. Right now he is sleeping at my feet and he has figured out how to turn on his back and how his belly, not an easy task with the huge bandage weighing him down, but he manages to be as cute as ever.

Back home....

He is home and back in his "prison". He hasn't shown any discomfort, mostly just takes him a while to get comfy to sleep. His leg being wrapped up the way it is makes it awkward to say the least. I am sitting with him on the floor, I can't leave his side. Everytime he moves, I freak a little...it looks painful to me. However, he seems ok. He did need a potty break and that went well too. Now about the bandage, the vet tech mentioned that some surgeons do and some don't. The other surgeon at the same place doesn't put a bandage and this guy bandages him up...anyways, whatever works, I guess. One day at a time!

Car ride home!!!

Picked him up and he was extremely excited....as a lab should be! Got him in the car no problems. Being prepared is the best way and the only way I could've done it is with all the helpful information people have posted. Our make-shift sling was made out of an old bedsheet. The vet tech seemed impressed that we were all prepared for his homecoming - are you kidding??? I have been so stressed over this since the day the surgeon told us he needed TPLO. Hopefully him coming home to exactly what he'd been living - with the exception of his leg being all wrapped up would be OK with him.

So quiet without Parker

At about 1:15 they called and said Parker is out of surgery. It was like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Everything went routinely, only that he vomited during the surgery so they gave him anti-acids to ensure no inflammation in the esophagus. Today was a very quiet day without having him here. This evening called back and he had been awake and doing well. They kept him on the pain killers and slowly weaning him off the drip. I was wondering how I would sleep tonight - excited that he's coming home tomorrow, but worried at the same time.

Surgery Day

It's 5:45am and we had to wake up, Parker was thinking huh....why is it still dark out and she wants me to wake up? Usually, I wake her up. Of course he then quickly awakes and thinks he is going to eat. I told him we're going in the car and he was up on his feet....waiting!!!

Before Surgery

The day before Parker's TPLO I spent it with him, mostly cuddling with him on the floor in his "prison". I took a few photos of him and this one represented what I thought he might be thinking - "maybe if I look at you with my cute face, you won't bring me to the hospital tomorrow"

Photo Diary

Lazy days....

Parker's TPLO is scheduled for Thurs. Nov. 27th, drop off is at 7am. For the next few days he will continue to be held captive (as he calls it) in the den. He is all set up with his huge duvet, pillows and his toys and a 42" LCD flatpanel with surround sound. He doesn't complain about being down here and it's the "getting used to" phase pre-operation.

Specialist Vet Visit - 11/18/2008

Been dreading this appointment. As we walked in there was a chocolate lab with a shaved back leg that looked exactly like Parker, thought it was his sister, as the age was the same. Turned out not to be. Her name was Coco, she had had the TPLO surgery to fix her CCL problem. Her owner Merle reassured me that Dr. Dupuis was the best TPLO guy in Canada. It was a sigh of relief and yet thoughts raced thru my mind about my poor baby boy. Everyone at the DMV (Lachine) was super nice and friendly and Dr. Dupuis concluded Parker had a torn CCL and required surgery. We went home and contemplated the procedure.

Limping....???

Noticed a slight limp which would come and go. It seemed more noticeable after one of his naps. Took him to the vet for a visit. He loves the vet as she always feeds him cookies...yum! She decided xrays were needed and those came back with great results of his hips but did show a little "something" on his left knee. A prescription of Rimadyl was given for the pain and swelling. He was to be on strict rest and no "sports" for 8 weeks. Oh boy that meant, keeping him calm, no squirrel chasing and no roughing with other dogs. He was going to the Condo (kennel..shhh) for his summer vacation as we were off to Myrtle Beach for 2 weeks. We mentioned it to the Franki at the kennel and she said we'll take good care of him. Of course being the concerned dog mommy I called, emailed almost everyday and she let me know he was fine and enjoying his stay. Picked him up the morning after our long drive back to Montreal from Myrtle Beach. He was so happy to be back in the comforts of his home....

Summer 2008

Parker loves the outdoors and the sun, he is usually out chasing squirrels or he loves to laze around, or as my neighbor puts it - relaxing at the "spa", cause he lays on the lawn chair looking out to the pool.

Parker's Intro

He was born in Stoneham, Qc May 19, 2005. Pick up of the new pup was July 23rd. Immediately, fell in love with this puppy who got the name Parker from Spiderman (Peter Parker). 3 hr ride home and he was already the best dog i'd ever had. Fast forward to 2008, he has turned out to be the best dog ever and my best friend!!!