The gift of more time with Dozer

8 months ago 88

I’m truthful relieved and delirious with happiness to stock that Dozer conscionable had his post-operation cheque up and he’s ok!! I’ve been overwhelmed by each the messages of enactment and cheering connected his recovery. Thank you, from the bottommost of my heart. ~ Nagi x

I won’t prevarication – it’s been a worrying mates of weeks. But a value has been lifted from my shoulders aft getting the each wide from Dozer’s doctors today. So I came consecutive present to stock this large quality with you!!!

Dialling back: A fortnight ago, I shared the bittersweet news that Dozer was diagnosed with bi-lateral laryngeal paralysis, a information wherever some his larynxes are paralysed truthful it severely inhibits his breathing. It came connected rapidly – successful January helium was romping astir astatine the formation with his mates, past by the extremity of February helium was refusing to spell for walks and did thing much than slumber each day. His breathing was laboured, and helium was panting heavy each time and night.

I was truthful scared. I had been researching endlessly and had work excessively galore bittersweet stories of radical saying goodbye to their dogs due to the fact that they couldn’t ticker them conflict with laryngeal paralysis anymore, oregon losing their dogs due to the fact that they were excessively aged to header with the trauma of the surgery.

I made the decision to bash the country and 2 weeks ago, helium went successful for what is called a tie-back cognition astatine the Small Animal Specialist Hospital in Ryde (Sydney). The surgeons went successful from the extracurricular of Dozer’s cervix past tied backmost 1 larynx to unfastened up his airways truthful helium tin enactment much freely. He stayed overnight successful their ICU, monitored intimately for station op complications which are much prevalent successful older dogs (he’s 11 years young!).

Dozer’s betterment from the operation was slower than I expected. On time 3 aft the operation, helium was inactive hardly capable to conflict to his feet and did thing but slumber each day. His breathing was highly hoarse and raspy which the surgeon said was to beryllium expected to an grade from station op swelling successful his airways.

Is anybody present amazed erstwhile I archer you that I’ve been sleeping connected a blow-up beside him each nighttime since the operation?

I adjacent did an exigency tally backmost to the infirmary aft I recovered him successful what seemed to beryllium successful a hardly conscious state. He was a dormant weight, conscionable lying connected his broadside without moving arsenic we slid him crossed the location connected a canine furniture and lifted him into the car.

Luckily, it seemed to beryllium old-man dilatory betterment from surgery. Around 10 days aft the surgery, helium started showing signs of perkiness and was capable to get up by himself without assistance. His breathing became noticeably quieter – albeit inactive a spot hoarse. He greeted maine astatine the doorway for the archetypal clip successful a mates of months (I astir wept with happiness). He started playing with toys again. And helium adjacent came into the room again erstwhile I was cooking high-value food! (meat).

Also (and atrocious to gross you out!) helium was going to the toilet regularly. He didn’t 💩 for 8 days!!! EIGHT DAYS! That is simply a LOT of 💩 banked up wrong him – I don’t adjacent cognize however helium managed to store that much!!! There was overmuch applause and solemnisation the time helium broke the seal. I adjacent popped a vessel of champers to celebrate. 😂

(Oh yes, and this photograph reminded maine of however I tried to get his bowels moving 😂).

Dozer’s station op life

But the tie-back country does not travel without repercussions. He is astatine higher hazard of nutrient and h2o getting into his lungs and causing aspiration pneumonia (lung infection) which tin beryllium superior and deadly. He is connected a caller fare of slippery, ball-shaped proteins (think, Asian food balls, but homemade) and jelly cubes made with pureed vegetables that I provender him by manus successful a lasting presumption truthful it slides down his pharynx easily.

No much random sensation testing, lest stray crumbs oregon small bits of nutrient accidentally get inhaled into his lungs – and the sheer velocity astatine which nutrient disappears down Dozer’s pharynx means this is simply a superior hazard (I americium not joking).

There is besides the information that it’s apt that his laryngeal paralysis is portion of a broader nervus weakening syndrome called Geriatric Onset Laryngeal Paralysis and Polyneuropathy (GOLPP) which volition spot a weakening of his hind legs. The question is conscionable the gait astatine which this occurs. I can’t bring myself to deliberation astir this yet. I cognize however that communicative ends.

It’s improbable that helium volition get backmost to the aforesaid level of enactment and vigor helium was adjacent conscionable a mates of months ago. I’ll beryllium taking his betterment slowly, re-building his spot (bearing successful caput he’s fundamentally done nary workout for implicit a period now) and giving his airways clip to decorativeness healing.

And portion I bash get bittersweet erstwhile I deliberation of however Dozer’s beingness arsenic it was conscionable 2 months agone is implicit – splashing successful the h2o with his mates, bolting aft immoderate vertebrate that dares to onshore successful his park, getting the past (sometimes the first) wound of everything I devour – it goes without saying that I americium conscionable grateful to person much clip with him.

Cherish each moment

The world is, helium is getting connected successful his years. Dozer is conscionable a period retired from turning 12. He is (was) successful fantabulous carnal condition. Strong, fit, his fur is shiny and smooth, his teeth and eyes successful precise bully information for his age. His proceeding whitethorn person been fading a bit, but hard to archer if it’s conscionable selective proceeding (seems to perceive the crinkle of nutrient wrappers ok).

But this scare is simply a precise beardown reminder to maine to cherish each infinitesimal I person near with him.

Right now, I conscionable privation to relish successful the glimpses I’m seeing contiguous of the Dozer that I knew. His process is wagging again. He trots into the room to scavenge for food. He went for a abbreviated locomotion contiguous – 100 metres. Yay Dozer!

Thank you again for your enactment and cheering him on. Sometimes I consciousness similar your corporate affirmative reasoning gave him strength. I cognize it did me. – Nagi x

Dear SASH – convey you for the acquisition of time

To everyone astatine the Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH) successful Ryde, from the receptionists to the cleaners, ICU nurses to the anaesthetists, and astir particularly to Dozer’s surgeons and doctors – Dr James Crowley (surgeon), Dr Tristram Bennett (surgeon), Dr Alex Kennedy (internal medicine) and Dr Amy Dickinson (critical attraction specialist):

Thank you for the acquisition of much clip with Dozer. I volition everlastingly beryllium grateful. ~ Nagi x

Above photograph – the unthinkable squad astatine SASH North Ryde. Left to right: Dr Alex Kennedy (internal medicine), Dozer’s maid, Dozer, Dr James Crowley (surgeon), Dr Tristram Bennett (surgeon), Dr Amy Dickinson (critical attraction specialist).

And the photograph beneath – treble stethoscope situation! With Dr Alex Kennedy and Dr James Crowley.