4-7-01

Today was beautiful. It was 75 and sunny. There were high wind advisories out, though, and it was pretty hard to keep the car on the road out on the highway.

The kids and I walked along the lake today. All the ice is gone and the water has gone down a bit so we were able to walk along the sand the whole way. We didn't even need a jacket! Not bad for this time of year around here. We can't wait for the day when Magnum can go for those walks with us.

I've made up a list of questions for the vet when we take Magnum in. I'll probably add to it as the week goes by.

Here's my list so far:

How long will Magnum be on Rimadyl

What can I expect to see over the next 2 weeks before the stitches are removed. How much panting and whining are normal?

Bleeding under the skin and bleeding through the incision, is that normal and how much? When is it not normal and when should I call you?

How much swelling is normal? When is it not normal?

What about bruising and redness? How much is o.k. and when should I call?

do you recommend any passive motion exercises at first?

What about going potty? He usually needs to walk a little bit before he’ll go. Should I just let him walk around to potty or try to keep him in one place?

What is the role of the sling? Is it supposed to be there just in case he loses his balance?

What is considered normal as far as limping? How long after surgery is limping normal?

When will we get x-rays to see if the bone is healing? When is complete bone healing?

What would be symptoms of a fracture or a screw backing out? Of infection?

How long does the surgery take?