27 Jun 2007 06:50 PM

Moose Update: He's Healing and We're All Adjusting

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

     

It's been twelve days since Moose had his tail amputated -- he was hit by a car on June 8th and broke his tail badly enough that the nerves and blood vessels were mostly severed. We've had two post-surgery check-ups, and the vet assures me that everything looks good. Since I've had a few e-mails and PMs asking after the big lug, I thought an update was in order.

Sponsors (article continues below)

Stitches: for the most part, things are just fine with his stitches -- he's got a good six inches of stitches running up his rump. Moose has had a bit of "gapping" on some of the lower stitches, and the vet closed the space (twice) with a dab of liquid bandage. Other than that, things look good. We're scheduled to get the stitches out on Friday.

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Moosebob Squarepants! Moose wasn't too excited to pose for pictures.

Medications: thanks to Moose's chewing a large sore on his tail before the surgery, he's been taking antibiotics since the 13th. He finished those and his anti-inflammatories on Monday. After a week and more of crushing three pills into every meal, it's nice to not have to worry about that anymore!

Pain Levels: the first few days after surgery, Moose cried a lot. It was obviously hard for him to find a comfortable position and settle down to rest. I could tell when the pain medicine was working, because he would actually be able to just flop down and sleep. As the first week went on, he cried less and relaxed more easily -- which was a BIG relief for me. I still worry about bonking into him and hurting him, and I've been sleeping VERY lightly when Moose is on the bed with me.

Mental State: some days are better than others. In the last few days, I've seen glimpses of the "old" Moose -- wanting to go for long walks, eager to explore the landscaping, curious about other animals we encounter. Earlier today he was tugging me along, eager to sniff and explore. There are still moments when he gets spooked and runs for the door, too. The other night, he decided he wasn't leaving the paved walkway in front of the apartment, so he laid down while Lally walked around and did her important dog work.

So... all in all, we're doing well. I'll be glad when his fur grows in a little more -- we've gotten a lot of wide-eyed stares and gasps when people see his shaved rear end and stitches. Thank you all for the well wishes, concern, and support!

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

NewroticGirl`s avatar

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger

Send this to a friend

2 comments so far

Michele Cheplic (29375) 27 Jun 2007 11:18 PM

Glad to hear Moose is on the mend. BTW, my daughter's eyes got as big as saucers when she saw a tail-less Moose. She's never seen a tail-less dog before. I just got her a stuffed puppy that came with a kennel and a vet's kit. I just hope she is not inspired to chop off her animals' tails now that she saw Moose's picture. :)

Courtney Mroch (7323) 28 Jun 2007 12:52 PM

Oh poor Moose! It's somehow more shocking to see his picture with no tail...he looks naked! But at least he's doing better, the pain is getting less, and surgery went well. So happy for the update. Here's to hoping he incurs no further traumas!!!!

Discuss this article

You must be logged in to tag, rate, or comment on this item.

Not registered? Register now, it's free and only takes a minute.

Add a Comment