Friday, August 09, 2013

The return of Conehead the Barbarian

Look who's home!


And wearing the cone of shame! He actually came home Wednesday but I didn't get a chance to post yesterday. The vet let him come home a little early because he knows us, and knows that Tristan doesn't run around a lot, and is happier at home. Nice having a vet for a friend! Dave isn't the one who did the surgery, but he told us to call or email anytime with questions. 

Dr. T did the surgery and he is an excellent surgeon, well-known in this area. I know him quite well too (he's been to the farm!) so I felt really confident that Tristan would do well in his care.


Tristan is doing very well, despite his enormous incision (approximately 40 staples!) He has been sleeping a  lot and eating well. He's on good pain meds and antibiotics. He's getting around well and I'm seeing a lot of tail-wagging.


This dog does love sleeping on hard floors.

But eventually I enticed him onto his comfy bed.


I've ordered him a more comfortable "cone" to wear, which I hope will show up today. He has to have that thing on for two weeks. The last time he had surgery, he had a cone for three weeks. He LOVES to chew on incisions, so that time we worked up from from one reasonable cone to a HUGE cone plus a neck brace so he could't turn his head to get at the sutures on his leg. I even made a music video about it. I'm hoping this time around, things will be easier. 

And if you're squeamish, don't look at the next photo! It's not only a little graphic, but a little, er, revealing. (Sorry, Tristan!) Myself, I'm fascinated by these things. When I was a kid, my Dad owned a medical/surgical supply company and was always showing me surgical tools , books, and movies of things like grotesque eye operations. Of course I loved it! My mother used to call me a "gory little kid." I like to think of it as curiosity! :) Anyway, don't scroll down if you don't wanna look. And thanks to you all for your kind thoughts and words for our dear old dog. His tumour was a hemangiosarcoma which is a very nasty cancer. It's highly likely it has spread, and the long-term prognosis is not good. But short-term, we are more hopeful, and at least I know he won't die from bleeding out from an enormous ruptured tumour, which is what usually happens to dogs with hemangiosarcomas. They are usually not diagnosed until the dog is dead, because the tumours are so well hidden in the body, frequently attached to the spleen. 

I just happened to notice a swelling in Tristan's belly, and only when he was sleeping on his back with his legs in the air. So I told Gordon to mention it to the vet when he took him in for the gum surgery (they did nip off that gum growth, no problem!) They did an ultrasound and that's when they saw the tumour. When I picked up Tristan, Dr. T. came out to chat. He said "That tumour was the size of a small cat!!!" Given that Naomi weighs about six pounds, the same as the tumour, he chose an apt description.

We'll just take it day by day and enjoy Tristan while we have him. :)

Okay, leave now if you don't want incision gore!

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25 comments:

  1. I know how lovely it is to have the furry monsters back home when they are ill.Enjoy every single moment of your doofus!! That's some neat stapling..Tristan's working it well!
    Jane x
    XXX for Tristan

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  2. Happy to see him home. Paws from Herman and Dutch.

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  3. Anonymous10:09 am

    So glad the patient is doing well!

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  4. Anonymous10:20 am

    I'm so relieved Tristan is home again! What a good boy. And what a nice, neat job of suturing (or stapling!)too.

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  5. Poor widdle baby! The should have put a ZIPPER in, it might have been easier! Purrs and head scratches to Tristan the Conehead--and I hope that he has many many loving and FUN days ahead of him. *smooches*

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  6. Welcome home, Tristan. hugs

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  7. Poor thing! I hope the new cone works well and that Tristan takes to it.
    We had a dog who had to wear a huge cone and we got the definite impression that she was ashamed to wear it. She did not want to go out of the house and turned her head to avoid your gaze when you looked at her.

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  8. Bloody hell; now that's what you call a SCAR! Don't dogs look stupid with a lampshade on their heads.

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  9. Poor Tristan. It's got to be difficult to negotiate around that huge cone. I know he needs it to keep him from opening his sutures/staples, but it must be hard to scratch an itch... (or to see around corners). Hope the new one is more comfortable. And glad he's doing so well.

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  10. Oooh! poor thing, I hope he has a speedy recovery.

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  11. He is so lucky to have 'parents' like you guys.
    He looks happy to be home.

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  12. So glad he's home. Tail wagging is good.

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  13. Oh my gosh, that's a huge incision! I'm like you though, I enjoy all the gory medical stuff :) I used to actually see back and neck surgeries on a daily basis in my job. I worked for a rep who sold things like screws and rods to neurosurgeons. It was so cool!

    I hope Tristan gets better soon. He is receiving the best possible care, so I know he will do well :)

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  14. Nice job. I worked for an oral surgeon once; I know neat when I see it! All the best to Tristan, and the two of you.

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  15. It's wonderful that he's recovering and so glad to be home. That looks like a nice clean incision and I bet he's dying to get a look (and a lick) at it.

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  16. Oh, poor boy! But so glad he's recovering so well.

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  17. Sending healing love to your boy! I'd hate to have to wear a "cone." XOXO

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  18. Well, I'm pretty squeamish, but I sneaked a peek. Poor guy, I hope he'll feel better now that the cat-size tumor is out. Ugh. How nice that you have a vet friend who understands.

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  19. So glad to see Tristan is recuperating at home. He may not like the cone but to me, Tristan is wearing the cone of "Victory". He made it through his surgery and was able to join his pack again with a bit of tail wagging to boot!.

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  20. Hoping for the best for the fine old boy. That is a scar to scare with and be proud of.

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  21. Aw poor guy!♥ That is one BIG incision. Will he be able to pull those staples out? Cause otherwise their saliva is the best med to make him feel good fast. We wish him a fast recovery, and hopefulyy the stupid cancer has not spread!

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  22. What a trooper. Sending all good thoughts for Tristan. He's a very lucky boy to have you.

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  23. Sending Tristan love from Chicago. <3

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  24. Wow that's some incision! Glad he's home and on the mend.

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  25. Poor Tristan. I've got a cone head on the couch beside me too!

    I love looking at gore too btw!

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Thank you for all your comments, which I love to read!