Kona's tail -- CUT SHORT

[Bonnie and Kona]

Several weeks ago I noticed Kona had a sore on his tail. It got to be the size of an almond with a black dot in the center. I took him to the vet. A new vet I had never seen before put him on a course of antibiotics. When the 10 day course finished the wound looked the same.

My regular vet saw him this time and told me Kona had a tumor and since it didn't respond to the antibiotics he would remove it. That was a week ago yesterday. He put him on another course of antibiotics. On Friday I took him in to have his bandage changed. It was awful. The vet tech kept calling him a baby and was hurting him when he removed the bandage. The tech told me he would have to go without a bandage now. I was concerned that would not work by the look of the wound. When the regular vet came in he immediately re-bandaged Kona's tail and told me to come back in a week to have the bandage changed. Last night I did not like the look of the bandage because it appeared to be leaking fluid. I took him back to the vet to have it looked at and his wound was a oozing pus. 

Today the vet told me Kona may have to have his tail amputated. They will decide tomorrow. I am to have his bandage changed daily now. He is wearing a cone for the first time since the surgery. This whole experience leaves me feeling very sad. 

I want his tail amputated as soon as possible if it is going to be a problem. I should have guessed that tails are really hard to heal after F's poor Luca had to have his "shortening" done. I feel like I've let my big boy down. 

UPDATE--Thursday afternoon

The surgeon agreed with the vet we saw yesterday: Kona's tail needs to be amputated. It is badly infected and with so little skin to cover the wound healing is unlikely. I am so relieved. I was worried they would try to heal it for weeks and end up amputating it later anyway. I just want it to get better quickly. While he is under he will also get his teeth cleaned. So tomorrow morning he has the surgery and then comes home in the afternoon. Yet another round of antibiotics begin tonight. 

Thank you for all of the kind words, the jokes and the righteous indignation. I loved all of your support and am so grateful for DK and the wonderful people populating this blog. 

POST SURGERY UPDATE Friday afternoon

I just picked Kona up from the vet. They said it went fine. He is drooling like mad and seems agitated by the anesthesia... kind of panting and pacing when he isn't plopped flat on the ground. I feel so badly for him. 

I'm trying not to be furious. Yesterday I told the vet that I wanted Kona's teeth cleaned since they were putting him under anyway. The vet looked at his teeth and said that would be a very good idea. His teeth were not cleaned. I am not subjecting him to more anesthesia for a teeth cleaning. I am trying not to be angry since there is nothing that can be done about it. I just feel so upset. Maybe it's because I feel so badly for him right now that the teeth cleaning mistake is just giving me someplace to direct my emotions. 

Kona's tail appears to be about 5 inches long... pretty short, but it will be cute I'm sure.

Thanks again to all of you for your well wishes and prayers. DK is the best!

UPDATE one week after surgery

Kona's tail is not healing. The vet has changed his bandage every few days. She said that parts of it aren't even scabbing yet. He is now on his fourth round of antibiotics. He seems to feel fine but the wound is not healing. When they changed the bandage I discovered his tail is much shorter than it appears to be since they have put lots of "padding" for protection on the end. I asked her if it is okay if my DH runs him and she said, "Let's stop the runs until he improves." She doesn't think that it is a problem but she wants him to just rest. I am not sure how Owen will respond to that instruction. Hoping to report better news soon. Thank you everyone for your kindness toward us. 

UPDATE two weeks after surgery

Kona's vet remains concerned about one spot on the incision not healing but otherwise it is scabbed over. I honestly cannot see the difference she is talking about. I don't have to take him in until Wednesday. She said that they think they will not remove the stitches and just leave them in until the scabs fall off. I'm supposed to be watching for any redness that might develop. 

Kona is being such a good boy not bothering his tail. And Owen has been amazing us! He is gentle and observes a little distance with Kona instead of jumping all over him the way he normally does. 

Thank you for all of your kind words to encourage me. 

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Glad that Kona done with the surgery.  I bet he will be a lot happier now that his tail will finally start to heal and I'm sure he will look adorable.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Glad the surgery went well and Kona is at home.  He will be up and about in no time.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm sorry the teeth cleaning was overlooked but glad this ordeal is behind you and Kona can start to heal now. I hope you can both get a good night's sleep and he's feeling better very soon! 

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Glad the surgery went well and hope Kona's tail heals quickly. I think bobbed tails are cute.

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Thanks for the update, Bonnie! I bet Kona is going to be ROCKIN' that new little tail in no time!  It may become all the rage and all of our doodles will want one!  Can't believe that the teeth cleaning was overlooked.  It's common for people to ask for that to be done while under for something else.  Maybe they had the weekend on their minds rather than their task at hand. Ugh!

[Bonnie and Kona]

Thank you, F. I'll be less concerned if he's pretty dopey when I pick him up.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Me too. I just want to let you know Luca was a zombie when they led him out. He didn't seem to realize I was waiting for him. But in a few hours he perked up.

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Saying a prayer for successful surgery on sweet Kona!  Anxious for a report later!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I am so sorry this is happening, but very glad you have made the decision to move forward and get this over with!!!!!!!!!!!

Is the surgery today?  Keep us posted please!!!  Thinking of y'all.

[Leslie and Halas]

I'm just now seeing this.  Sorry you guys have to go through this, but at least it will be done and over with, like you said.  I hope Kona heals quickly.  So do they know what caused the whole problem to begin with?

It's irritating that the tech treated Kona less than gently.  I've had a few of Halas' heffalumps checked, which involves a needle.  They're as gentle about it as possible, but he still doesn't like it.  After the third one was checked, Halas hid when the vet came back in to tell us it was just another fatty tumor, and I thought she was going to cry because Halas seemed afraid of her.  She took a few minutes to bribe him with a treat and get him to let her pet him, just so he would be comfortable with her again.  It was nice to know that she was so concerned about possibly hurting or scaring him.  They need to see the vet's office as a safe place, not a place where someone is too rough with them or calls them a baby.  That's just rude.