The staples are out!!
Yesterday was the big day. The day that Sampson got the staples out of his leg.
Really, the staples are coming out? And I can stop wearing the cone? Can Delilah eat it?
The surgeon took my leash and I said, “Can’t I go with him?” I was told that typically owners aren’t allowed with the dogs because sometimes the dogs get protective of their owners when they are removing them.
After the staples were removed we met with the Physical Therapist. We discussed our strategy for Sampson’s recovery. When she asked, I told her I want him to be able to run and hike off-leash again. After watching him walk, she feels like he’s still favoring his leg and not walking properly on it. (I really wanted to say, well when you lay around for 23 hours and 50 minutes a day, it doesn’t surprise me that he’s not walking properly on it. But I didn’t.) She gave him some cold laser treatment and we got him in the water treadmill for a few minutes.
I will be working on stretching his hip muscle out, work towards increasing his walks gradually up to fifteen minutes twice a day and continue working with him on his weight bearing exercises. In two weeks he will begin a two times a week for four weeks therapy program with her.
He has also been cleared to have a bit more freedom in the house as long as we can monitor him and yesterday for the first time in over a month, he got to walk up the street.
He was a very tired, but very happy dog.
Someone, anyone please tell me why I wanted a Lab?
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. My dogs are going to be the death of me. Whether it’s worrying me to death, doing something outlandish and giving me a heart attack or tripping me, sooner or later it’s bound to happen.
You all know what a clown Delilah is. The truth of the matter is I really need a video camera to record every crazy thing she does, because most of her crazy antics aren’t captured on camera. And there’s really no way I can describe some of the things she does.
Take yesterday. I noticed Delilah’s nails were horribly long, so I grabbed the nail clippers and took her outside. She does great with the front paws, in fact I say “Paw” and she places her paw in my hand and lets me trim her nails BUT when it comes to the back feet, she about loses her mind and I’m not sure why. She thrashes about something fierce, not in an “I’m afraid” kind of thrashing but more like, “Holy Woof I’m pretty sure I’ll get a treat after this is done,” kind of way.
Well I managed to get her first back foot trimmed and then it happened. She jumped up, smashing her head into my face and jamming my glasses into my eye. It hurt so bad I immediately started crying. And then I started cussing. And then I asked myself, “Whatever made me think I wanted a Lab?”
I’m pretty sure makeup will cover the bruising.
As if that weren’t enough, the LaCrosse season started and our field has been turned into a practice course. Yesterday on our walk Delilah decided to let them know in no uncertain terms exactly what she thinks of them using the field.
I think she was pretty clear, no?
Don’t worry! I cleaned it up. But I had to laugh first. I couldn’t help it.
Has your dog ever left a loud and clear message? Did you know this is Thursday Barks and Bytes Blog hop hosted by 2 Brown Dawgs and Heart Like a Dog? Grab the badge and join the fun.
Bless your heart! Miss D did a number on you, didn’t she! Well, you know that you wanted a Lab because you knew you’d never have another dull moment. And if you ever get a Lab/Corgi mix like Ducky, you’ll be glad you had Delilah first! LOL
They have SOME NERVE using Delilah’s field to practice on! I don’t blame her for trying to let them know how she feels about it! I’d have laughed, too.
You know, I don’t remember whether I was there in the room or not when they took Callie’s staples out last year after her surgery. But I was last week when our regular vet took the staples out of her rump (from where he removed the cyst). She is so good at the vet. About the only thing she doesn’t like is the x-ray business…she squirts and wriggles to get off the table. I’m happy for Sampson that his staples are out though. I have a feeling that minus the cone, you’ll see rapid improvement in his gait and his leg usage. There’s a term for it but I can’t remember what it is…my mind is blank right now.
*squirms* — damn auto-correct! I swear one of these days I’m going to disable the damn thing!
Great news about the staples coming out and good luck with building up the muscles. You poor thing! Hope it looks worse than it feels 😉
Oh dear hope the bruising is not too bad this morning. Pip absolutely hated having her nails done after she was hurt by a vet tech by accident. The only way we could do her back one where as if you are shoeing a horse and that was a fight. Good news about Sampson. Onwards and upwards. Have a tremendous Thursday.
Best wishes Molly
I couldn’t help but laugh either! Ahhhhhh…..Delilah!
Great news about the staples and Samson. Hope the bruising goes down quickly without hubby getting too many looks, I went through a stage where I was having to inject warfarin in my stomach one summer. I ended up covered in bruises all over my stomach. Of course it was summer and so I was wearing strappy tops and shorts – the looks the guy i was with at the time got, I’m certain people thought he was beating me up! Bless him
That is a lovely smile on the first picture, congratulations with the staples out. Sounds like still some work ahead so hope Sampson continues to heel well 😉
So glad the staples are out and PT can begin! We’ve always been present for any staples or stitches removal. It calms our dogs and we’ve even helped to restrain them.
Laughing with you about the wop you got from Miss D. Not only have I been wopped by the dogs, but by the equine, too. The really good one was one time our mammoth jack happened to swing his head around and catch me. He had a mouthful of hay and some jabbed me right in the eye. Let me tell you, I don’t look good with an eye patch 🙁
Mom has asked herself many times why she got a Kuvasz as Katie brought her to tears so many times the first five years or so. On the other hand, Mom does like a challenge and we all provide that. We are independent breeds with independent thinking…so is Mom for that matter. As for your face, you and Mom are probably looking similar after the camera smashing her nose incident and then us shoving the front door into her forehead. Make up did wonders those first few days for her. Glad to hear Sampson can start the real road to recovery!
Hooray for staples being out. I bet Sampson’s stamina will come back now that he can move around more. 🙂 I wonder if Delilah is nervous because she can’t see exactly what you are doing when you clip her back nails. Freighter still isn’t great about nail clipping, so I sympathize.
SOOOOOO happy to hear that the staples and Cone of Shame are GONE!!!
I like to have all of my nails trimmed… butt Ernie’s BACK feets are Ticklish.. So he wiggles and jiggles them when mom trims them.
Oh yay!!! So glad the staples are out!!!! And yes no doubt I would be walking funny if I had been laying around for that long!!!! I am glad things are going well though, and I hope things can get back to normal soon enough for you guys! And OUCH!!! Your poor eye!!!! I know what you mean about the back legs! Koda is like that! Not so bad with his front but his back? ….eek!
Message read loud and clear, I certainly agree!!!! hahaha!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
What is it with the back paws. Roxy is the same way. Except she can’t give me bodily harm. LOL
You and Delilah make my little Poodles, Chihuahua and Mutt seem very boring. However in a choice between boring and pain, I will have to choose boring.
Great news on the staple removal.
Yay!! So happy you got those staples out. Mom is laughing cause we are going to be the death of her. She gets up earlier and earlier (4am) before work to give me my 5 medicines and take us for a walk
Snorts
Lily & Edward
How dare they invade her field? LOL
I am so glad to hear that the staples are out and the cone is gone….yay!! That has to be such a relief for all of you.
Our Lab mix Maggie was a jumper. We did our best to train her not to, but at the time we had a seasonal camper and the owner of the campground was kind of a know it all, and thought he could let Maggie jump on him even though we didn’t want her to. Yup….he got his payback…a solid hit to the chin (no permanent damage though).
You certainly didn’t deserve it though! I do think you and Emma’s Mom might make quite the pair right now!
Cute pic of Samson! Hooray for a bit more freedom! As for that crazy girl, Delilah – Rita did something similar to me last week. Bashed me in the nose so hard that I was howling and crying. My nose hurt for like 5 days after – every time I’d put lotion on my face I’d wince. And, yes, the makeup covered the bruising! Oy.
So glad Sampson ins on the mend.
You know you wanted a Lab because as nutty as she is, she makes you laugh out loud every single day I bet! Glad Sampson is mending…
Do you mean to imply there are homes where a Lab would not be wanted?
Sure people can get things backwards but to not want a Lab – why their thinking must be pure broken!
Silas hates having *any* of his nails trimmed, but if anything he’s slightly better with the back feet. Dogs aren’t all that aware of what’s going on back there, which can be a pro or a con I guess. We, by the way, have to make it a two person job. Somebody holds Silas’s head, somebody (ahem, me) does the trimming.
I’m glad Sampson’s staples are out! Now you can start him really getting better again.
When I was naughty before obedience school, Mom said I was trying to kill her by zigging and zagging when we walked. Now I have learned to walk nicely…. Most of the time….
Love and licks,
Cupcake
So glad to hear you ate in the mend with your amazing momma you will be yourself in no time
Retro rover
How about doing her back nails on a different day…then she will do two and get a treat..and next same
So happy that Sampson finally got to take a walk. One big step towards many more.
As for “Why’d you get a Lab?” Toby makes me ask that many, many times. Yet, I know I’d get another in a heartbeat. LOL! Guess Labs are really good con-artists, what with their lovable eyes and sweet temperaments.
I’m so glad that the staples are out. We have lots of surgery experience around here, and we know that Sampson will get back to where you want. Slow and easy – and expect ups and downs. We are pulling for you!
I couldn’t help but giggle. Yay for the staples coming out!!
Oh sorry you got your face bashed! I was sitting on the floor playing with Thumper one day when he flew around like a banshee and popped me in the chin. It hurt like hell, and I thought he had broken my teeth. Lol. I can’t trim his nails either – last time I tried, I got ONE toe done on his hind legs. Labs….what we would we do without them?
hahaha Delilah you are one funny girl dropping a poo right there and behave don’t be cracking your mom’s face. I hope you are feeling better soon. My gang hates their nails trimmed and it is always a struggle. Have a great weekend.