Whew!

Zachary went in for surgery today.  His spleen was three times its normal size and they will send it off for a biopsy, but nothing else obviously wrong jumped out.  He's got really bad arthritis in his knees as well as his spine, and we'll need to get him on something for that, but his hips are fine.  He was running a temperature for no obvious reason so he will be on antibiotics to address any possible infection and to clear up a skin infection on his belly.  All things considered, it was a big success and a huge relief.



Zachary, in post-op care

 

Cabell, our stand-by blood donor.

I took him in this morning, along with Cabell who stayed with him all day in case they needed a blood donor.  I had breakfast and ran around town for a while killing time, wanting to be nearby.  I eventually just went back to the vet's office and sat in the lobby until it was over.  I came home and Clay then picked up Zach and Cabell after he left work.

 

Zachary back at home,
making a stop at the pee bush on his way inside.

This morning he could hardly walk and that's why I had taken him in yesterday.  The xrays they did for that discovered the enlarged spleen.  We still aren't sure what was causing his mobility problem, maybe displaced organs?, we will just have to see how it is as he recovers. 

 

When he got home this evening he was walking better and looking perkier than before the surgery.  That's pretty amazing considering the extent of the operation he had. 

 

If you've never met Zachary, he's completely bonded to Clay.  He's Clay's dog far more than mine and he's really Clay in canine form in a lot of ways.  The thought of losing him today just scared the crap out of me.  

We are amazed that he looks and feels as good as he does this evening.
Pain meds are great.