Healing, Hiccups, and the Other Side of the (Swiss) Mountain

     A big advantage, going into this amputation adventure, was that Betty was a puppy--and a fast growing puppy, at that! Her cell replication and her resilience were vastly different from that of an adult dog, and we knew that her recovery would be "surprisingly rapid." She blew our expectations out of the water! The hardest part was keeping her from practicing her newly found Olympic-level athletic skills. Her hair started to grow back within days, and soon had covered the staples. At this point, she became disinterested in the incision site, and could hang without wearing her cone for most of the day (she still slept with it at night... too bad we can't do that forever!).  We were ecstatic, to phase out most of the meds, and her spirit was that of a 100% normal, happy, healthy pup.

Watching us cook

Like any pre-schooler, she raids her toybox, so she can sleep with her babies

Plenty of puppy naps

 Smiley pup

 Puppy hiccups are the cutest kind

 Watching football playoffs

 Watching Thelma & Louise, after everyone else conked out

     Looking good!

     By day 10, we went on our first walk (talk about CABIN FEVER!). With Betty donning her "NEW COLLAR" (Lady and the Tramp voice), we delivered a "thank you" to the neighbors who'd brought us cookies, and she she seemingly couldn't get her fill of the fresh air. Our street has a dog/baby policy--everyone apparently has to have one or the other, preferably both, no exceptions. We are like the Central Park walking trail of SW Portland. She finally got to meet new people and dogs--I was elated to see that none of her new friends could tell that she was on three, until she was up close (and in many cases, until she I mentioned it!).

 

     The next day, we were able to get the staples out!!! We were able to hand deliver the thank you card we had made (on treat.com), and she was due for her booster shots, so we checked it all off the list. She was officially on the "other side" of the mountain, and could embark on her new and improved life, as a completely healthy three-legged puppy with no limitations!

We celebrated with her first bath, and she was the softest vanilla-almond puppy on earth!

We are SO PROUD of her! 

     Tomorrow will be her first day alone since the surgery, while Bo and I are at work--feeling a tad anxious about it, but much more at ease, now that she doesn't have 18 staples to rip out. I'm sending off our second "thank you," to our life savers at Oregon Friends of Shelter Animals, in the morning, and will be counting the minutes, until I can come snuggle my girl!

Onward and upward!