Gracie Doodle's Update

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I want to thank all of my DK friends for their well wishes for Gracie's speedy recovery. I brought a very groggy 71.2 lb. Doodle home and boy it sure was a chore trying to get her in and out of the car and then up on our bed. I put her there at 4:15 and she didn't move all night. I would check on her every 15 minutes and would roll her over from time to time just so she would be comfortable in another position. This morning at 7:30 she sat up and with the help of my husband went outside. First visit since she had been home and then drank a ton of water and ate half her breakfast. Her limp is not as bad as it was before the surgery. The rest of the day I had to keep an eye on her because even with the largest cone they make she was still able to lick her paw! She doesn't have a problem at all. I put a sock on her paw but she licks right through it! I think she is going to give me a run for my money!! No running or jumping for 7-10 days. When she saw the "Milan Street Clique" outside she went crazy. She wants to be with her friends and play. She was trying to run through out the house from window to window to watch them all play but she kept getting her cone caught on doorways and couldn't fit behind the sofa to look out!. She was like a wild woman. I think I am going to have to close up all the windows and turn on the A/C just so she won't hear them!!

Now for the medical stuff...they only found one fox tail but there were about 5 small pin prick holes on the same paw. They probed each one but only found the fox tail in the smallest of the holes. The vet said that the body has a way of trying to drain out infection and the holes may have been caused by that. Her paw was extremely swollen but it has gone down a bit today. Poor baby...they shaved the top of her paw and also the other leg for the IV. We are soaking her paw twice a day in Epsom Salts. Now we have to keep a watch on the paw for the next month. I read on a blog and the vet also confirmed that it is hard to find the fox tails even by probing. It can take about 3 weeks after the surgery for any others to fester up and give indications that there are still more in the paw. Since she is on antibiotics for 12 days it masks a further problem if there is one. If we see any further swelling or irritation then that means she still has one. He said the best indication will be if Gracie starts licking her paw again after it is supposed to be healed. So there you have it! I know I will never survive the 7-10 days. Gracie is going to go crazy and so am I. Oh, for those of you who live in fox tail country be sure to give your Doodles a complete paw, nose and ear check every time they are in an area where they grow! This surgery is not cheap!!!

Home after surgery...

Gracie today hanging out with me in the den! I take her cone off when I am in the room with her and supervising her!

[Chuck Holliman]

Gracie, sorry that you needed surgery on your paw for that "darned foxtail". Get well soon! I remember as a kid on our farm the dogs developing big sores from the foxtail; of course back then we let nature deal with the problem and they always pulled through.

Now that Rusty is much lighter, between the sun while swimming and the Chemo, he and Gracie look like litter mates other than the size difference.

Chuck & Rusty

[Kyoko]

Feel Better soon! Gracie!!

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Ohhhh, poor Gracie! I am so glad that she is on the mend and hope there aren't any more foxtails in there. You are a good Mommy, Nancie. Webber and Seda send kisses.

[BG and Gavin]

What an ordeal - keep your chin up Gracie!

[cheryl & oliver]

Awww, Gracie, poor baby, Oliver sends his love and hopes u get better real soon so u can go and play with your friends...Oliver says to tell you that his foot had a bad boo boo for a long time, and Mom & Dad helped make it better. So try to be good for Mom, she loves you very much....

[Penny, Comiskey & Beemer]

So sorry for your pain....hope you are on the mend....

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Awwwww.... Gracie looks like a little sad Ned on the bed, but on the den floor, I see the real Gracie Poor baby. I can just imagine trying to keep her from her Milan BFFs.

[Frannie & Callie]

Gracie - we are soooo glad that you're home! Feel better soon!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

How do you keep a good doodle down? TV? Chicken soup? Get Well Soon.

[Kathy Spyker]

Give Gracie a big {HUG} from me....Get better soon Gracie!!!