Second Surgery - Metal Bone Plate Removed

After a two weeks of anti-inflammatory (Rimadyl) and muscle relaxers (Methocarbamol) without any improvement, it was decided that the metal bone plate in Koda's leg should be removed. Eleven weeks after his first surgery, he underwent his SECOND surgery - to help him recover from the first one. *sigh*

I was able to drop him off for surgery and pick him up the in the same day. At 4:30pm when I came to get him, the techs brought him out and he started thrashing and flailing - still groggy from the anesthesia and confused about his gigantic appendage.

Exhausted and disoriented, he laid down on the lobby floor while the techs called the surgeon RIGHT THEN to see if it would be okay to cut off the bandage (it was supposed to stay on until the next morning).

Cleared to removed the massive cocoon of a bandage.

Lots of layers of cotton to compress his leg and prevent swelling.

Dr. Munjar had cut Koda open the same incision from the first surgery. He said it's cleaner this way and because blood vessels have not yet formed through that scar tissue it's actually better to cut there. If he made a second incision, the strip of skin between the old and new incisions would be cut-off from blood supply and become a sort of "dead zone." Interesting.

The first night home was extremely difficult. When I got him home, he just kept crying and whimpering on and on and on. He was anxious, swaggering like a drunk and agitated. He kept pacing. We have to keep him quiet and NO STAIRS for 2-3 weeks because his leg is even more fragile now that the bone plate was removed, leaving 6 big holes in the bone! They said he could easily BREAK his leg!!!! If that isn't stress, I'm no sure what is! If he breaks it, it will be another surgery and another 8 week recovery!

We tried confining him to his kennel to get him to stay still. He kept crying. It was so heart breaking! Finally, P ended up sleeping on the sofa back in make-shift Camp Koda.

The next 2 weeks will be tough because Koda is not allowed up the stairs. We may cautiously try to "wheel barrow" him up with his backside in a sling. But if he struggles and falls, it would be really bad. So not sure it's worth the risk, even though Koda desperately wants to go upstairs. He keeps standing in front of the staircase, looking up longingly.

Koda will now spend his days, doped-up on antibiotics (Simplicef), anti-inflammatory (Rimadyl), pain killers (Tramadol) and anti-diarrhea/tummy anti-inflammatory (Metronidazole - he'd had a 24-hour bout of liquid diarrhea over Memorial Day weekend, oh joy). If he didn't calm down after his first night home, I would have to give him a sedative on top of the rest of his meds. Thankfully, he appears to be more relaxed today.

It's going to be a tough next 2 weeks. For some reason, I kept thinking the recovery after this second surgery was going to be a breeze. I was wrong. It's still going to be a long haul as we baby step towards full recovery.