Owondo's last day on four legs
Today is Owondo's last day on four legs. I know he needs to rest, to be strong for his surgery tomorrow, but I couldn't help myself. We went on a walk to the nearby pond and I wanted to let him roam off leash for a while, but there was a cat. He was too distracted eating grass to notice to notice the meowing, so I casually called him over to hook him back up. I thought maybe he'd want to swim, but thought better of it since the scaring on his leg has opened up again and is red and exposed. It's hot in Texas and we're back home and he's sleeping by my feet.
To prepare for the big day, Mike and I have purchased and rearranged rugs on our wood laminate floors in order to give him better traction on three legs. He has an orthopedic bed coming and a harness that attaches around his waist instead of between his legs. This decision to amputate feels so sudden, but actually this day has been years in the making. I remember after his accident 5 years ago, I told my then boss, a moonlighting vet (because that's how you work in conservation in London), who was visiting from London that I was so relieved that he can still use his leg. He looked at me and said, "For now." It's only now, years later, that I know what he meant. However, I do not doubt that in my haste to fix his leg before it got too bad, I made it worse. And here we are, 22 hour pre-op.
In an effort to deal with this life change, I'm going to blog about Owondo and his life pre and post amputation. I find that there are a lot of resources out there, but still it's a decision that is loaded with guilt and pain and regret. I know that this is for his own good, and I'm actually excited to see how he does on three legs. So I'm going into this feeling bitter sweet, happy that he's still in my life, and ready for him to be pain free. It feels especially painful because he's currently on painkillers and is using his leg without a problem.
We found a vet who will do the procedure and right now I'm concerned with making sure that the procedure will be compatible with the meds he's currently taking. His joint supplement thins his blood, so we stopped that last week. Today I'll be talking all of these through with the vet techs and preparing myself for the emotional rollercoaster of tomorrow.
To prepare for the big day, Mike and I have purchased and rearranged rugs on our wood laminate floors in order to give him better traction on three legs. He has an orthopedic bed coming and a harness that attaches around his waist instead of between his legs. This decision to amputate feels so sudden, but actually this day has been years in the making. I remember after his accident 5 years ago, I told my then boss, a moonlighting vet (because that's how you work in conservation in London), who was visiting from London that I was so relieved that he can still use his leg. He looked at me and said, "For now." It's only now, years later, that I know what he meant. However, I do not doubt that in my haste to fix his leg before it got too bad, I made it worse. And here we are, 22 hour pre-op.
In an effort to deal with this life change, I'm going to blog about Owondo and his life pre and post amputation. I find that there are a lot of resources out there, but still it's a decision that is loaded with guilt and pain and regret. I know that this is for his own good, and I'm actually excited to see how he does on three legs. So I'm going into this feeling bitter sweet, happy that he's still in my life, and ready for him to be pain free. It feels especially painful because he's currently on painkillers and is using his leg without a problem.
We found a vet who will do the procedure and right now I'm concerned with making sure that the procedure will be compatible with the meds he's currently taking. His joint supplement thins his blood, so we stopped that last week. Today I'll be talking all of these through with the vet techs and preparing myself for the emotional rollercoaster of tomorrow.
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| Owondo learned how to shake from a very early age. I'm not sure if he'll figure out how to do this trick on three legs. |
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| Owondo trying really hard to understand me. His left leg is going. You can see where the screws to his implant are being pushed out by infection. There's a protrusion mid-leg from where the plate is no longer tightly screwed down. |
I am so sad about this, but I also know he is a survivor and he will figure out how to manage and he will thrive. You are in my heart, Owondo.
ReplyDeleteTo say that my heart is sad is an understatement. But I know that the procedure is in his best interest and you've thought it through. Looking forward to many more years of kisses, licks and snuggles with Owondo!
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