Month: April 2020 (Page 1 of 2)

Quick post to let you know that MrB had his surgery yesterday.  It went fairly smoothly and he was able to come home with us in the late afternoon.  He’s drugged up and looks like a skinned rabbit due to his chest being shaved, poor love.  I’d laugh if he didn’t get so offended.
He’s sore and a bit confused but his appetite is good and he is accepting short walks, cuddles, back scritches and treats.  Also more treats please. 🙂

Now we wait. 🙁

Hi to all of MrB’s people. My fluffy problem child is going back for more surgery in the morning. I KNOW!!! 🙁
I found a fast growing lump on his chest that is not a fatty cyct. His surgeon will take it out and we will get the pathology results in a few days. It’s still fairly small so hopefully won’t be a major surgery.

NOT the news any of us needed right now.

MrB has had a great weekend!
We experienced a record number of “firsts.”

• First walk to the dam.  It’s quite a steep paddock with varied surfaces.  He handled it like the champ he is.  On the way back he sniffed every little thing that has been “unsniffed” for two months.
• First shake without falling over.  Sometimes a dog really needs to “shake it off” and that takes some practice when you lose a leg.  He started off with a very slow, wobbly shake with just his head.  By the end of the weekend he was doing the full body shake without losing his balance.
• First “scare my people half to death.”  He wandered off for a private walk and came back 5 minutes later from a totally different direction.  I did NOT enjoy this one.  He looked so VERY pleased with himself when he returned.
• First SIT.  He hasn’t been able to do it until now, and I think it still hurts a bit, but he’s getting there.
  
• First “cuddle on the lounge.”  (This is my favourite one.)  MrB & I like to hang out on the lounge together.  He’s my 23kg lap dog, but he hasn’t wanted to jump up with me since the operation.  Last night he decided it was time for a cuddle and tried to get up on my lap.  He couldn’t make it independently but made it with a little help from his friends.  BEST CUDDLE EVER.
• First run.  It wasn’t fast, but he chased his dad in the yard.  Adorable.

We’re at that slightly awkward phase now where he’s feeling really good and wanting to be independent, but he still has a healing wound on his side.  We have to keep him confined for a while longer.  Fortunately he is a very good natured fella and doesn’t complain too much.  🙂

[I thought I had figured out how to share photos in my post but now I’m not sure it is working.  Please let me know if you can’t see thrree photos in this post.  I am really happy to support Tripawds and become a paid supporter, but it will have to wait until I’m working again or my financial situation is a bit more stable.  We are doing alright but between Badger and the *@#^ing virus I have hardly had any paid work for 2 months.
In the mean time, if you are desperate for some Badger pics, you should be able to see them in this album:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/vuRTKMWiR5W5HABx7 ]

Check out MrB!  He’s almost back to his old self.  🙂

I filmed him to day heading down to visit his work mates, hopping along like a champion.  His wound is getting smaller every day – it’s now about 1/3 of the size it was when he came out of hospital.  We are still doing daily dressing changes but that will only be for another week or maybe two. As long as the skin keeps growing back I’m happy to keep doing the changes.  At this stage it looks like he won’t need another skin graft, which is the BEST outcome as it means he can keep his little bob-tail.  (They were going to use the tail for donor skin.)

MrB has seemed really happy and settled so we’ve now weaned him off the pain medication.  He is sleeping much better and best of all, is now seeking out pats.  (Pets?)  Before I think touch was too painful, but now he’s showing real pleasure in a good scratch and is actively seeking out a bum rub.  Ha ha, thanks Badger.  He is definitely back on guard duty, barking at people who need to be barked at, then looking embarrassed when he realises it’s a friend.  The “bottomless pit” appetite is back too, (though his tummy still seems a little unsettled.

The stiffness in his back leg and overall balance are improving every day.  The biggest issue seems to be pain in his right shoulder.  He can’t seem to lie on that side without help to change position, so the shoulder is getting very stiff.  I do passive movement exercises with him whenever we do a dressing change and this seems to help.

So the good news continues.  HOORAY!

This is a reasonably frivolous post!! That’s right. There’s NO dramatic news to share! How wonderful to be at this stage of recovery.

Yesterday whilst taking MrB for a walk, I spotted one of our neighbours who has two young daughters. They know MrB well as he used to pop over and visit their lovely dog regularly. I was a little bit worried that the kids might be upset so I kept MrB away.  Later on I sent the neighbour a brief explanation with a video so that she could explain it to the kids.

Later that afternoon I got a message: Check your letter box!  Inside were half a dozen fresh eggs and some Easter arts and craft from the kids.  The note says “Dear Libby and James.  We were sad to hear about Badger.  We hope he feels good.”  How cute is that? 🙂

I’m pleased to report that MrB does feel good.  He is starting to get up independently, stand up to eat dinner, sniff around, eat grass and be my guard dog (as long as he can bark from his comfy bed).  He even let me do a photo shoot for the kids next door….. ENJOY!