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. 

[Bonnie and Kona]

Hi F. True to Kona's very quiet nature, he is just depressed about this cone situation. He wants to sit next to me on the couch and that's it. It seems like he is holding his tail up a little tiny bit higher today. It has been hanging straight down for a few days so I am a bit encouraged this morning. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have a hard time believing honey turmeric will make a lump disappear. If the other lumps are sebaceous cysts or lipomas leaving them alone unless they are symptomatic would be best. Good luck at the vets. Luca freaked out with a cone and I only used it a couple of times when I had to leave him.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm so sorry to hear this Bonnie. Please don't feel that you let Kona down, you did what any of us would have done. I hope that whatever decision is made, Kona heals quickly. Hugs to you both.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Poor Kona.  Positive thoughts for his tail.  I hope it is resolved quickly.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I take Kona back to the vet this afternoon. He's very upset but I'm hoping that's because he's never needed a cone before. I might try the honey/turmeric idea on one of his other lumps. This tumor was removed and now is quite infected so I can't imagine putting anything on it. Besides it is completely bandaged.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts toward our dear doodle.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Ricki, I used to have a sign in my office that read "I have flying monkeys and I'm not afraid to use them" LOL It was a gift. Gee I wish I still had it. Looks like I could "regift"  it :-)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Donna, what a mind you have. Doodle town will still accept you but watch your step.
The honey idea is good, nothing to lose and it would be great if it worked.

[Donna K & Quincy]

I second Hazel's honey suggestion! There is actually a product you can get called MediHoney and is currently being used in hospitals to treat wounds. The honey from your cupboard won't do but the MediHoney can be found as an actual dressing or an ointment that you can apply. I did attend an information session and one of the case studies they used was a dog with a large burn, the healing was impressive using the honey dressings.

The vet tech needs to get another job, he needs to go work with the vet who did Theo's neuter, they sound like they belong together. I can just imagine if I talked to my patients that way I would have been shown the door in no time.

On a side note, I've heard of things costing an arm and a leg but apparently the cost of a visit from Laurie and Doris is a piece of t???, you get the idea. Don't want to get to x-rated in yet another discussion, we don't want to be evicted from Doodletown. :>)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Doris, Stop buttering F up. We have brains, too :) I am a genius, remember?

Bonnie, Thank you for the kindest invitation! This sounds like so much fun, but I hope if I come, Kona's tail is all healed and he is feeling great!

Ricki, LOL about the flying monkeys.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Bonnie, I'm sorry to hear this.  I hope they figure this out and Kona heals soon. And he'll still be just as handsome. You didn't let him down.  Just get well big guy.