We have decided!

We are going to go with our local vet to do at least the beginning stages of Rigby's rehabilitation!! 

Mike set up an in-home (thats what she does) appointment for our rehab consult for Monday. Wish us luck! 

In the meantime...this is what Rigby is dreaming about when she takes her doggie naps in her sweet new bed...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Yesterday we went to the doggie doc and we had Rigby's staples removed. Dr. Prostredny had nothing but good things to say about her progress: good range of motion, incision looked great and she was very willing to give him kisses.

We talked about moving forward with physical therapy and haven't quite decided who to go to. Our primary care veterinarian has the same canine rehabilitation certification as the Annapolis practice and is much more accessible. However, she does not have certain machinery and we just really like the whole vibe happening across the bridge; so we are still torn.

Rigby is feeling better now that she doesn't have to worry about embarrassing cone hair. She's also excited about her leg hair growing back in (I, on the other hand have the opposite reaction).

One week down

It is amazing that we've already made it through one whole week! All of the swelling around the ankle has disappeared, she's using her new leg, and her long list of medications is almost finished. 

My mom sent her grandog a present for being so brave...it is almost as big as an actual couch! And Uncle Drew brought over a beautiful new bone...it is almost as big as her doggie sofa!        As soon as she climbs in her new sofa she's out like a light. She loves that thing!

Mike and I had tickets from way before Christmas (and knowing that we had to do this surgery) to go see Mumford and Sons in Brooklyn this coming week. So Marcia and Chris are going to be in charge of her daily care for a couple of days. When we get back we have her staple removal appointment. I can't wait until those things are out and we don't have to have her in a cone all the time. She really just looks like mickey mouse in the Fantasia movie with the magicians pointy hat, but she has it on all wrong. 

She found her new (BIONIC) leg!

As soon as I walked in the door today after work I noticed that Rigby was using her new leg!! That was quick! This just means keeping her contained from extracurricular activities will be that much harder from here on out.

Mike has been a tremendous caregiver. He is working from home during the day and has been critical in her post-surgery care.

We did have to make an adjustment on the crate situation a couple of nights ago. Because she can only lay on one side and has a cone at night the crate was just too tight. I woke up around 2 am to her wimpering. She just wanted to be out. So I decided our "master" bath (if you can even call it that) would now be Rigby's master bedroom...there is a fluffy Eddie Bauer fleece blanket, dog bed, and cute pink target down comforter lining the entirety of the bathroom (good thing I just performed a deep-clean) finished off with a baby gate to make it official. She is not spoiled at all!

Superbowl Sunday

Well, we made it through the first night back in the crate! 

We snuggled together in the sunroom watching the DIY channel and this show called "Too Cute" on animal planet. You can see Rigby is a blanket hog. 

Do you like her new edgy haircut??

In between naps and frequent bathroom breaks we did our first day of Physical Therapy. She didn't resist and we got the maneuvers down!

Rigby is back on Edmore

We got a call around 8 this morning from the surgical hospital to set an appointment to pick up Rigby.  They said 10 would be best because there was already another appointment right before us.

We got there a little early and at 2 after, Mike was feeling anxious that we hadn't been called back...a minute after that we were taken to the room.

Just seeing her made me tear up...I do not know why I am so emotional about this surgery?!?!

We went through the debriefing about meds and restricted activity quickly with the technician and then the surgeon came in to show us a few things. Her leg was pretty swollen and she wasn't using it at all. He said that it is quite normal for her to develop some fluid around the ankle (it could get as big as a cue ball). Also, he showed us the x-ray of her new knee! It was very enlightening. We were told we don't have to crate her fully, just limit the activity, like no stairs or furniture. When Mike is home for work she will be his office buddy. I'm sure she'll pick up the lingo quickly and aspire to become a LEED employee as well.

Mike took a video of the range of motion exercises so we can look back to remember more easily how to do them. These exercises are to be done with her everyday "until further notice". Its three simple exercises with her laying on her side that must be done in increments of 10 reps a day.

Our ride home was uneventful, although she started whining as we got closer to home. Mike and I thought she needed some pain medication but it turned out she just really had to pee!

We had some visitors already today and she seemed to be very happy to see everyone!! Rigby ordered up a nice lazy day, which I didn't mind.

On another note...marshmallows are a great way to give a dog a pill :)

So far so good...

Rigby is officially out of surgery and is recuperating!!!

Getting her to the vets office safely was a chore!! We had significant snowfall this morning right as we were supposed to leave. Luckily I married a Southern Tier Man!! Mike is a professional when it comes to driving in the snow unlike me who calls white-outs, squalls???

The doctor said there were no surprises and that we can go pick her up tomorrow...he'll just have to check on her first thing in the morning to make sure everything is okay with her.

I am a little anxious about bringing her home because now it means Mike and I will be in charge of her follow-up care. She can no longer snuggle with us on the couch (which I made sure to do A LOT of this morning) or in bed, no stairs and no jumping for at least 12 weeks. The hardest part will be telling her "No" because she is adept in the "puppy-eye" stare.

I hope the weeks fly by so I can have my couch potato back.

From Mike's Perspective:

We left for Annapolis at around 6:20 this morning. At this point the snow had just started falling. It was a pretty brutal ride until the Bay Bridge, where the roads were mostly clear. Needless to say Hillary was white knuckled the whole time.

We dropped off Rigby at 7:30 where she where she was led blissfully unaware into the care of the friendly staff. She went in for surgery at about 1:30 today and a couple hours later, the doctor called to let us know that her surgery was successful.

Now begins the 12 week recovery period. Anyone who knows us is aware that this will be the most difficult part. Keeping a 2 year old lab from jumping on furniture and unsuspecting house guests is not an easy task.

We saw at least four cars in the ditch on the way home. These Marylanders really can't handle the snow.