Willow's Journey

I worked at the clinic the morning of her surgery. She came into work with me and I put her in large run until the doctor could get to her. I helped the doctor take an x-ray of her chest. He wanted to make sure the cancer hadn’t spread to her lungs yet. As I placed the cartridge in the scanner I was terrified to see the results. But thankfully Dr. Vice gave her an all clear! I then helped him take her blood for some blood work before the surgery. All of her levels were also normal! I was so thankful. I couldn’t handle anymore bad news. I left for class around 9:00 so I thankfully wasn’t there for the actual procedure. I would have been a mess.

The receptionist at the clinic called me at 11:30 to let me know that Willow was out of surgery and everything went well. I went to visit her after my classes and meetings were finished and she was doing so well. I had heard that dogs can adjust to life with three legs very easily but who knew that the day of her surgery she would be walking out the kennel door to use the bathroom outside! She got in and out of her kennel and squatted outside with no problem. She also didn’t seem to be in any pain. Of course she walks rather slow right now. It’s cute to watch her look at steps/ledges with confusion. She’s not quite sure how to maneuver those yet.  But I know that all of this will get better with time.

They gave her pain medicine and and antibiotic to prevent infection. Her bandages can come off in a couple days and her stitches in two weeks.  Soon, we are going to talk about our chemotherapy options. I just assumed we would do it at the clinic but it sounds like he might refer me somewhere else with more options. All of that is confusing right now but I’m sure the more it’s explained I’ll hopefully understand.

She has been such a trooper through all of this. She has always been so good at taking her medicine. She acts like theres nothing wrong at all. I’m really hoping her appetite returns to normal soon. I also can’t wait until her fur grows back because she looks a little ridiculous right now! Now we wait for the incision to heal and to hear more about our chemo options.

On to recovery!

Side note:  My roommate who is also a tech at the clinic told me that she bit Dr. Vice! They said she must have still been slightly under the anesthesia and got frightened or he accidentally touched her in the wrong spot. As he was bandaging her she had a small accident and he went to move her away from it and she bit him! I don’t think it was bad at all. Everyone was so surprised and so was I to hear this news! She really is the most gentle dog I have ever met. I’ve never heard her growl or seen her snap at anyone or anything!