this was originally posted yesterday 5/27/10 but was somehow nuked from my blog. The text was luckily recovered so am re-posting since husky-related things must always be saved and treasured :)
Doc just called and Stormy is waking up after a small and successful surgery. Whew. I stress sooooo much when the buds have to have surgery/are put under general anesthesia. They have both had knee surgeries and foxtail removal (plus other stuff removed ;) ) so I’ve had plenty of occasions to stress. I think my cortisol levels go higher than Storm’s!
He had a “foreign body” in his side. I was able to extract a foxtail a couple weeks ago but it had actually gone into his skin, burrowed into his body and then I pulled out as it re-opened his skin. So the little bit that was left inside him was killing the tissue around it as his body tried to fight it. I HATE foxtails. They are noxious weeds that should be eradicated from the planet. So many dogs get them up their noses, in the ears, even in their eyes! And if you have a dog with a thick coat – it’s a nightmare in spring. Ugh.
But he came through with flying colors and with some stitches. Thankfully it was in an area that was already shaved from his ultra sound months ago so no shaving more fur!
Because of the lack of fur regrowth, I have been giving him a lot of B vits and fish oil along with their already oceanic diet. Angelus’ coat has been soooo soft. But Storm only has some peach fuzz growing in the shaved areas. So we tried some B12 injections today as well. They can only do them when the dog is under as they are a lot of deep injections. So I went for it. We should see results in a few weeks if it worked. Fingers and paws crossed.
AND the BEST thing! His ACTH Stim test (test to check his cortisol levels because of his Cushings) came back with excellent results! His levels should be at a 3-4 (if he had no Cushings that’s where they’d be) and they came back right around 4. Yay!! So the dosage of the medication he is getting now is right and we will stick with it. Whew. He will need to get these tests about once a quarter or so to monitor the levels but this is great news!
I get to pick him up in an hour or so. His doctor said, as Northern breeds tend to, he is howling a bit there but will probably be calmer once he gets home since he tends to complain when he is there and without his Mom :) And he gets pain meds for tonight and tomorrow (loads of stitches – they cut a hunk of flesh out of his poor little side!) She said if he starts to lick the area, he needs to wear “the cone” or suggested trying a small t-shirt. I promise pictures if he gets a t-shirt :) Man….he will be annoyed.
I promised him mcnuggets on the way home – this will make up for quite a lot! He wasn’t allowed any food since last night so he is withering away (his words.) And Angelus will be happy to see him. Angelus refused to eat the Greenie I gave him after dropping Storm off. He worries about his little brother when they are not together. He would probably deny that – but he does :) I’ll make sure to get enough mcnuggets to share…
as an update…they both inhaled their chicken mcnuggets :)
