#bella update

[dragonbleps]

So we took Bella in for the consultation. She recommended the TPLO, as we did with the other leg last year, although this time her patellar ligament is probably fine so theres a little cost reduction in not having to do much with that

The earliest time they could get her in for surgery would normally be about 2 weeks from now EXCEPT... they had a cancellation today and could squeeze her in. So dad said yes

So Bella will be in surgery today and if everything goes well, we'll get a call in about 2 hours to say she's done. They'll keep her overnight and we'll pick her up tomorrow.

I've got her bedding in the wash, and I'll get the crate out tonight and clean it.

She's otherwise pretty healthy so all should go well, but good vibes can't hurt 🙏

[dragonbleps]

So, tomorrow I'll be calling the vet in the morning to see when I can get Bella in for an assessment on her possible CCL injury.

She has an appetite like normal but has not gone potty since the accident on Saturday night. idk how she still has any room ljsdfg. I carry her outside but since she can't balance right now, she just hops towards the door to be let back inside, and i carry her inside back to her bed.

.....Hopefully my car starts. I've been forgetting to connect it to the charger and both parents will be out tomorrow.

Dad says he can cover the cost for whatever tests they need, but surgery is still.. uncertain.

[dragonbleps]

Vets were able to squeeze Bella in this morning, thank goodness!

They cleaned her nail and had a look at the toe. Said it's still pretty attached so they don't wanna remove it. It started bleeding a little as they were examining it, so they wrapped it

I'm supposed to keep the wrap (and cone) on and bring her back tomorrow morning to check on the nail again. I was given pain management medicine and antibiotics for her. She just got her first dose with her breakfast :)

So far so good ❤

[dragonbleps]

The eardrops and antibiotics have been working wonders for Bella, and her ear is no longer angry or red or stinking. It's also starting to clean itself out again, but we have doggy ear cleaner to help her out, too :)

[dragonbleps]

Even though Bella's technically all healed up from her TPLO and the bones/implants look good, she STILL has the cone on, because every time we take it off, she's good for a few days and then tries to lick a hole in her knee

Vets said if she keeps it up, they might have to have another surgery to take the implants back out (apparently this is rare but happens, and dogs can usually walk fine after recovery, which is shorter than TPLO recovery)

hopefully once she's back on her apoquel she'll stop licking....

[dragonbleps]

Bella had her first 10 minute walk today since surgery! Haven't been able to for the past few days bc it's been rainy. And she's tuckered but if I'd let her walk more she would have! So I'd say that's a good sign :)

[dragonbleps]

Bella went approximately 12 hours without the lick sleeve but it's gotta go back on RIP, she licked the scabs off and they were more attached than i thought

[dragonbleps]

Also, we finally got the OK from the vet to take Bella's lick sleeve off for good (although if there was still a lot of scabbing left I would have kept it on anyway), and it's almost entirely healed! There are still a few small scabs but they're barely hanging on so I'm sure they'll fall off on their own in no time.

I also put her previous and favorite bed down for her to lay on (it was too high of an elevation to step onto before) and she's SO so happy, she hasn't looked at her leg once, she's so happy to just be laying in her bed.

I'll still put the cone on her at night just to be safe, but I'm glad to have the lick sleeve off, and clearly Bella is, too :)