Anvik is home. Unfortunately, the good news almost stops there! I finally got to talk to his vet tonight when I picked him up. The reason that there is no intestine damage is that once he had opened Annie up, he discovered it wasn't his intestine at all. Anvik's KIDNEY had popped out!!! My vet says this is the second time in his career he's seen this and the other dog had other massive trauma from being run over. Dr. Rick said it's so rare that he can't even find a mention of it in all his reference manuals. There was some hemorraging in the kidney itself. So in a couple weeks, Anvik will need to go back to the vet for bloodwork. Dr. Rick is worried that there could be permanent damage to his kidney.

It also means that Anvik can't have any pain meds. Any pain medication is processed in the kidney. Any extra stress on an already damaged organ could be devastating. He is clearly in pain. His eyes are dull; he's holding his head and tail low. He looks exhausted. After his last surgery, with pain meds, he pranced out of the office, wooing and howling his head off. I haven't heard a peep out of him. It's breaking my heart to see him in such obvious pain, but I can't risk doing permanent damage!

Above the surgery site, there is another lump. It's from badly torn muscles. They have been sewn together as much as possible, but some are so seriously ripped they can't be sutured! Anvik may always have a lump there. His healing may take longer since the muscle has to heal on it's own, but he will heal.

He has to spend the next two weeks on pure crate rest--outside on leash to pee and back into his crate. Once the sutures are out, he can go for short, on-leash walks. In about a month to six weeks, if all goes according to plan, he can start pulling again--short runs with the slower dogs and build back up to long, fast runs. I don't care if Anvik couldn't pull ever again; he'd still be here and be well loved, but Anvik would care. He loves to work and he would not be happy if he couldn't.

The other good news was the bill wasn't quite as massive as I was expecting! I'm glad to have him home. I'm almost looking forward to hearing the death howl!