Not: Osteo In A Toe - Yeay!

[Xan]

I'm glad Cosmo's doing well! I'll have to check your thread to see how he did last night, all "commando" and all!

 

Brilly just had his first bandage change. It looked remarkably good, all things considered. No swelling, not overly red (as in, no redder than the patch they shaved for his IV). I told the tech about the trick of reducing the stickiness of the tape by dabbing it on some cloth first, and asked her to put some cotton between his toes. She used a nice lot of really soft cottony webbing all around his foot for padding, too. He was shaking during the process, but is recovering his composure now that we're home. He's even putting nearly as much weight on it as he did before the amp, so that's progress. We're still using his harness to help take the pressure off when he does stairs (3 unavoidable stairs at each of our 3 doors), or goes in or out of the car.

 

DH took last night's watch, and said that Brilly was restless, getting up and pacing down to the bedroom door about every hour or so. I think we've reached the point where it will be more restful for all of us to be back together than separated. We're still keeping him safe from the two others, who are both classic bulls in the china shop!

 

Onward to healing!

[TwiggysMom]

It sounds like Brilly is doing great!

 

I've had at least 2 fosters with toe-amps (but long-healed before they came to me, so I didn't go through the bandaging phase). They did just fine without the toe - never seemed to miss it at all.

 

And I agree that you'll all probably sleep much better if you are all together.

 

Keep up the good healing, Brilly!

[greysmom]

We put an xpen around Dude at night after his amp to help keep the others from stepping on him.

[Xan]

That makes sense. Since Pogo, the biggest potential step-on-knock-over offender already sleeps in an x-pen for just that reason, Brilly will get to sleep in the open. ***Wishing for a restful night for us all! ***

[krissn333]

for a nice restful night

[Xan]

I asked over here, but will try here in case anyone who's following this checks in:

Brilly's bandage got wet on a potty walk in the wet grass. (I'm not pointing any fingers *cough*DH*cough*)

 

Should I wait 'til tomorrow's scheduled bandage change at 9am, or do it myself tonight?

 

What do you think?

[robinw]

Glad all is well and he's home!

[Guest greytkidsmom]

Don't know the answer to your question about bandage change but Glad press-n-seal wrap is great for covering up bandages when you need them to stay dry. Tear off a square, have the dog stand in the middle of the square, and wrap it up and around the foot. I would suspect that as long as it isn't soaked through you should be good 'till morning.

[Xan]

I love that idea about the press 'n' seal wrap! I picked some up while he was in surgery. The vet gave us this neat boot that is working great (when it is put on, that is ... ) so we haven't had to use the plastic wrap, but I'm keeping it handy none the less.

 

We did go ahead and change it. It was soaked through to the skin, so I'm glad we did. He was practically asleep through the whole thing, so I guess it doesn't hurt him too badly!

[krissn333]

[Xan]

Went in for our scheduled bandage change today, and everything is looking very good. There was some waiting after the bandage was off for one of the vets to come take a look at it, and he actually put his weight on it a bit. It must feel very very weird to him, even more so after being wrapped up in padding for several days. He did stress a bit about being told to lie down and then being held there, albeit in a very gentle and friendly manner, while stuff was done to his sore foot.

 

They did tell me that the path report is going to take a little longer than usual because of the size of the sample. So. Tick ... tock ... tick ... tock ...

[TwiggysMom]

FWIW, my regular vet (not one of her oncologists), told me that the longer it takes to get a potential osteo diagnosis back, the better - that means there is more bone to dissolve.

 

It already sounded hopeful that this isn't osteo, so I would take this as good news!

 

I'm glad to hear that Brilly's non-toe is still looking good!

[Xan]

To dissolve? That's how they do it? Huh. How about that. Well then, I'll take it as hopeful, too! Thanks!

[NeylasMom]

Sounds like things are going well and you won't need it, but just in case or for future reference that gel I mentioned is Veterinus Derma Gel.

[Xan]

Thanks, Jen! We're doing well so far, no sores or other weirdness, but it's good to know just in case!

[Xan]

Update May 30: Path report came back and there was no cancer! The toe still had to go, as the bone was proliferating and chipping off due to some trauma somewhere along the line, causing pain and chronic inflammation. So, no toe; no more toe pain! WHEW!! :confetti

 

[Batmom]

[Charlies_Dad]

Fantastic news!!!

[msnikkerdoodle]

Great!!!!

[NeylasMom]

Great news!

[cristar]

Yahoo for NO cancer!!!

 

And he'll do just fine without that toe.

Rest easy now mama and enjoy that sweet old man.

[Xan]

Ain't that the truth! Hey, cristar, how are you all doing? I checked earlier and didn't see any recent updates. Don't make me stalk you!

 

Thanks for all the good thoughts, folks!!

[cristar]

Doing fine. Frannie went in for her revision and the margins are clear.

They said no special diet, no chemo, no nothing except to bring her in every

three months or so just to check and maybe do ultrasounds and x-rays just to

see if there's anything brewing in there.

I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that no more of those bright red spots start

popping out on her abdomen again.

 

Good thing out of all this - I lost 6 lbs. in the past month....dog stress!

Thanks for asking.

Love that old boy up and look at it this way - you have one less nail to trim now!!

[KF_in_Georgia]

Xan, it's lovely to read good news like that.

[GreyPoopon]

:yay