06 June 2008

Holding my breath

I am holding my breath this morning. Snoopy has to go into the vet to have a harmless fatty tumour (lipoma) removed from his arm-pit. It is the size of a clenched fist. According to the vet, if allowed to get much bigger, it will squash his blood vessels and muscles, so needs to come out for that reason. It is a routine operation and Snoopy should be home again by suppertime. This morning he looked most upset (suicidal even), because I would not feed him. Nil-by-mouth for the operation, you see. I shan’t breathe again until he is home.

8 comments:

lebanesa said...

keeping everything crossed for you.

Anonymous said...

How is Snoopy? Please let us know.

CJ xx

ADDY said...

Crystal - Thanks for your concern. According to the vet, Snoopy is a bit of wimp. He does appear to be in a lot of pain and is letting us know about it!! We collected him at lunchtime, as the vet felt Snoopy would be distraught without us all day. He yelped down the two steps outside the vet's, yelped into the back of my car and yelped up the stairs at home. All afternoon, Snoopy looked a bit phased, kept standing up (and yelping) then would stare ahead, as if not quite sure where he was and where he wanted to go. Then he would try to lie down and yelp some more. He had a painkilling injection and I have painkiller tablets to give him, but I think the wound is still so fresh, it'll take days before Snoopy calms down. He did manage two small bowls of water at suppertime and I gave him a small saucer of food, with a painkiller. As I write he is zonked out on his bed, so I am hoping by morning he will wake up brighter. It does get to me when animals are in pain. I'll report again tomorrow.

aims said...

I know exactly what you mean. It's horrible isn't it?

Everything crossed for your dear Snoopy.

ADDY said...

Latest bulletin.... the patient had a reasonable night, though did whimper a bit now and again. I ended up sleeping on the floor next to him (I know, don't say it!!), so I could stroke his head and reassure him. This morning he seems to be fully out of the anaesthetic and a lot brighter. He even managed to get down the stairs to go out into the garden for a wee. He is now lying sphinx-like (so ON his armpit), so things can't be that bad. But then I am still giving him painkillers. Thanks for all your good wishes.

blogthatmama said...

I expect poor Snoopy is being a pampered pooch today. I've never, ever given a dog's armpit a passing thought until today.

ADDY said...

Bulletin No 2...... Snoopy seems so much better today. He has been out for two very short walks - about 50 yards or so and back - just to get him moving a little and get a bit of fresh air. He was not even limping and even bounded down our stairs, whereas yesterday, he could not go up or down a single step without yelping. He has about 4 stitches. I was able to examine the wound more clearly today,as he allowed me to. The vet did not shave the area - strange, I thought he would - so it is difficult to see amongst all the fur what the scar looks like and how long it actually is. Thanks for all your concerned comments.

laurie said...

boscoe has several of those fatty tumors, but so far they aren't huge. good luck to snoopy. dogs are always outraged when you withhold food, but fortunately they forgive the minute they get fed.

let us know how it goes.