Monty Has A Weird Lump: Chemo Started Post 384

[iluvgreys]

Sending more prayers for an uneventful recovery and staying quiet and calm as your sweet boy heals.

[Guest greytmonty]

Poor Monty and poor you. As you may know if you have been through a big surgery with another dog, the first days are the hardest - the surgery site is so new, and you and he need to get into a routine and smooth ways of doing and handling. If you live alone, see if someone can come and stay with you for at least the first day or two, if only to keep an eye on Monty while you have a break or run an errand.

 

Here are some other things that helped us when Rickie had his surgery for hemangiopericytoma - he must have had a 100 staples - they had to create a skin flap because of the amount if tissue removed.

 

- you can get people incontinence pads at the drugstore that are plastic on one side and absorbent on the other, if that helps with the bedding instead of / in addition to the plastic underlayer on the bedding

 

- we confined him to one room (the kitchen) where there was no furniture to climb on, and where he could be in a safe corner but still where the action is

 

- my husband or I was with him continuously for the first 2 weeks - we are fortunate in having jobs that allow us to work at home when we need to

 

- we were religious about putting a cone on him except when we took him out to potty (like you, leash only in the backyard for the first while); tried the bite not and the soft cone but found the rigid one worked best - YMMV - he had no spare tissue so it was crucial that he not tear open the incision

 

- we got one of those soft compresses from the drugstore that you can heat or chill and we used it, wrapped in a dish towel, alternating warm and cold, several times per day - the cold for swelling, the warm to encourage circulation (may not be an issue for you - it was for us because of the flap needing to maintain blood supply - we didn't want to lose any skin). Check with your vet if you like this idea, because with the drains etc., it may be contraindicated in Monty's case.

 

- we turned the dining room into a bedroom - pushed the table and chairs into the living room and closed it off, then moved a mattress to the dining room, along with multiple dog beds (again, nothing to climb on)

 

It does help in the early days that the pups are on so much pain medicine that they don't want to do too much anyway. I hope things go smoothly. You and Monty will be in my thoughts and prayers.

These are amazing suggestions and i am printing out your post. I have not been through this before. I forgot to ask the vet if he can go upstairs but I bet he can't, oy vey. We will all have to sleep in the living room with him.

I have a bite-not collar as he gets frantic with the E collar. I know it will work and doesn't freak him out as much. I am going to buy the incontinence pads you suggested.

We will make the couch un-climable with pillows on it.

My husband and son will help with his care, although they are gone all day tomorrow.

thanks again, Karen

[CaliforniaGreys]

We'll keep a candle lit here too. I wish I had advice to offer to make the healing process easier, but it sounds like Rickie's mom has you covered! Lots of continued prayers for your boy.

[turbotaina]

Sending good thoughts for a swift and uneventful recovery for Monty.

[Guest trevdog]

Hoping for a quick recovery. It sounds promising that the vet feels she got it all and that it was encapsulated.

 

Prayers for a good report too.....

 

Will he be able to go home tonight?

Edited December 12, 2008 by trevdog

[carronstar]

Sending lots more prayers and good healing thoughts to Monty, and all of you.

 

Rickiesmom has great suggestions. I went through a similar surgery with Scarlett. I put my mattress on the floor. I put her mattress on the floor. I took my two weeks vacation so that I could stay home with her. The one time I had to leave the house, I paid my upstairs neighbor's daughter to dogsit her. I was able to use heat on her but she didn't have a drain so I would check with your vet.

 

Make sure you make a little time for yourself every day because this is emotionally draining.

 

Monty, heal well for your mom and just do even more napping than usual. No jumpies.

[RobinM]

Oh Karen- I feel your pain and wish there was something I could do.

 

You have my thoughts and prayers for a super fast healing and even better prognosis.

[cowpantslady]

hoping for an easy uneventful recovery

i am a firm non believer in "usually" and statistics

i there is a one in a billion chance it could not be cancer then monty could be that one

it is is aggressive in 99% monty could be the 1%

my dad was given a less then 5% chance of making it thru the night he lived another happy healthy 22 years

we were told saullie would only live 3-4 months tops with osto and no amputation etc

he lived another year

i was told not to worry there was less then a 1 in 250,000 person chance i would have this condition

i do and finally i was told from diagnosis to death 18 months tops

i am healthy 10 years later and going strong

monty will fit into my school of thought lol

 

[4My2Greys]

Poor Monty and poor you. As you may know if you have been through a big surgery with another dog, the first days are the hardest - the surgery site is so new, and you and he need to get into a routine and smooth ways of doing and handling. If you live alone, see if someone can come and stay with you for at least the first day or two, if only to keep an eye on Monty while you have a break or run an errand.

 

Here are some other things that helped us when Rickie had his surgery for hemangiopericytoma - he must have had a 100 staples - they had to create a skin flap because of the amount if tissue removed.

 

- you can get people incontinence pads at the drugstore that are plastic on one side and absorbent on the other, if that helps with the bedding instead of / in addition to the plastic underlayer on the bedding

 

- we confined him to one room (the kitchen) where there was no furniture to climb on, and where he could be in a safe corner but still where the action is

 

- my husband or I was with him continuously for the first 2 weeks - we are fortunate in having jobs that allow us to work at home when we need to

 

- we were religious about putting a cone on him except when we took him out to potty (like you, leash only in the backyard for the first while); tried the bite not and the soft cone but found the rigid one worked best - YMMV - he had no spare tissue so it was crucial that he not tear open the incision

 

- we got one of those soft compresses from the drugstore that you can heat or chill and we used it, wrapped in a dish towel, alternating warm and cold, several times per day - the cold for swelling, the warm to encourage circulation (may not be an issue for you - it was for us because of the flap needing to maintain blood supply - we didn't want to lose any skin). Check with your vet if you like this idea, because with the drains etc., it may be contraindicated in Monty's case.

 

- we turned the dining room into a bedroom - pushed the table and chairs into the living room and closed it off, then moved a mattress to the dining room, along with multiple dog beds (again, nothing to climb on)

 

It does help in the early days that the pups are on so much pain medicine that they don't want to do too much anyway. I hope things go smoothly. You and Monty will be in my thoughts and prayers.

These are amazing suggestions and i am printing out your post. I have not been through this before. I forgot to ask the vet if he can go upstairs but I bet he can't, oy vey. We will all have to sleep in the living room with him.

I have a bite-not collar as he gets frantic with the E collar. I know it will work and doesn't freak him out as much. I am going to buy the incontinence pads you suggested.

We will make the couch un-climable with pillows on it.

My husband and son will help with his care, although they are gone all day tomorrow.

thanks again, Karen

 

Wanted you to know that Monty and you will be in my thoughts as you wait for his pathology report. Regarding the incontinence pads I thought I would mention that I got some for Nadir when he was having problems with incontinence. They were the 39" x 54" size pads for $9.99 at Target and for $7.99 at Wal-Mart. I know they were about a 1/3 of the price of the ones you get from the medical supply stores.

 

[Guest SoulsMom]

Sending more good thoughts. I know how very worried and tired you must be

 

You're going home with both Rimadyl and Tramadol? Isn't it usually one or the other?

[Guest greytmonty]

Sending more good thoughts. I know how very worried and tired you must be

 

You're going home with both Rimadyl and Tramadol? Isn't it usually one or the other?

I think she said both but maybe I am mixed up, I will look at the d/c instructions tonight.He is coming home at 6 pm.

[patricia]

Sending my prayers for a quick and easy recovery. Angel LaceyLaine had that exact same incision with her melanoma resection. Please kiss Monty for me.

[Jackandgrey]

Sending more good thoughts. I know how very worried and tired you must be

 

You're going home with both Rimadyl and Tramadol? Isn't it usually one or the other?

I think she said both but maybe I am mixed up, I will look at the d/c instructions tonight.He is coming home at 6 pm.

 

 

It can certainly be both. Good luck Karen!!!

[Guest greytkidsmom]

Praying for a smooth recovery for Monty and his Mommy.

[turbotaina]

Sending more good thoughts. I know how very worried and tired you must be

 

You're going home with both Rimadyl and Tramadol? Isn't it usually one or the other?

I think she said both but maybe I am mixed up, I will look at the d/c instructions tonight.He is coming home at 6 pm.

 

 

It can certainly be both. Good luck Karen!!!

 

Yes - it's fine to take them both together. Rimadyl should help relieve pain and swelling and tramadol is a pain blocker. They're fine used in conjunction.

[nyGreys]

Sending lots more prayers to all of you. Give Monty a big kiss for me.

I know how very worried you must be.

[Remolacha]

I am so glad the surgery went well! It sounds like the next couple of weeks will be challenging, but I'm sure you will all do fine You might want to consider a crib mattress for his bed, it's about the right size and already has the plastic cover! Good Will is a good place to get old towels if you need extras.

[tamborine]

Thinking of Monty this morning....

 

How is he doing?

[Guest greytmonty]

Monty is doing ok. He had a hard night, up and down , crying and looking confused . He was a very good boy and pottied outside. He got more pain meds today and ate a small breakfast! He hates his no bite collar. The incision is huge and gross looking . DH says I cannot post such a gross picture. He has 2 drains and a lot of blood and other d/ c. He is lying quietly. Sam and I slept in the living room with him and will do so til Monday. After Monday he gets one drain out and might be allowed to sleep upstairs.

Edited December 13, 2008 by greytmonty

[Batmom]

Just sending along some extra hugs and prayers for your boy.

[ml529]

Hang in there sweet boy.

[Patsy]

Thinking of you all this morning. Hang in there!

[Fiona3]

Sending good thoughts for Monty to have a quick recovery. This has been so nerve wracking for you and your family. Hopefully the next few days will be calmer for you and Monty will be able to feel more comfortable.

[RobinM]

I know how difficult the first several days are and that look of total motification they express in their faces. So confusing for them.

 

I am so sorry you all have to be going through this.

[Guest jettcricket]

...Karen...sending good thoughts to you, Monty and your family for quick recovery.

 

Give that boy a gentle kiss from me.