We have "company" at the Ranch ...

[Cinder & Smoke]

THANKS, Staci !!!

THANKS, God!!!
&
THANKS, PTers!!!

Those PT Prayers did their Magic
and God musta been lissnin!!

Bipp & MiniBipp (who looked like Mutt & Jeff when they pranced in to
the Clinic), pigged out on bisquits from the office staff during check-in.
We all crowded into the powder room for a minute, then soaked up more
attention at the counter. Doc D brought a chart to the counter, then
began to fawn over her 'favorite' mini-patient. SmokeMutt was NOT to be
ignored, and Doc raved about how 'soft' his fur was. I said Fish Oil Pills did it, and it became obvious SHE was a Fish Oil Fan, too.

I took the opportunity to suggest I wouldn't be unhappy if Heidi got
another bandage to protect the tender spots on her "new paw". Doc D
admitted she'd tought about that, too. She promised to give the paw a
very close exam before deciding on NO bandage. "Here, I'll take her back!"
And off trotted Heidi with her Favorite Doc!

Heidi returned with a >grinning< Doc B in tow ... and MiniMutt did have a
bright new wrapper on the foot. Doc said till she builds up a callus where
tha pad is missing at the base of her toes, we'd better protect the new
skin. OK by me! We return on Wednesday IF we keep it dry till then.

Twenty minutes later Doc B came back and said Smokey was OK except
for a bad case of Arthritis in that knee - NO TUMOR!!
He's now OFF the Rimadyl unless he has a relapse of knee pain ... then he
gets a few days of Rimadyl until the pain stops.

We bought a few more shares of Vet Stock at the counter, made a 10:30
am Appointment on Wednesday for MiniMutt, and we ALL pranced out!

So tender-foot Heidi is making GOOD progress;
and Gimpy SmokeMutts has his trick knee back - but it won't kill him.
I'd say it was a GREAT DAY at the Vets!!




THANKS to One & ALL
for your thoughts, Prayers, & Well-Wishes!!

/s/ Smokey, Heidi, DAD, & Cinder, too!

[Bengalz]

Great Update

So happy to hear that Smokey is in no danger of losing a leg and that with a little help, now and then, can be moving right along

And poor little Heidi what an ordeal for such a little cutie; good thing she has Uncle Phred to take care of business

Well done! It's all GOOD

[Cincy'sMom]

What a great update!!! So glad it was a good trip to the vet!!!

[lizbud]

Phred, sorry but I'm just now getting all caught up on Heidi & the problems
she's been having. Sounds like you both have come a long way. I'm so glad
her paw & leg recovered so well. better than anyone thought was possible.

Praying that she and Smokey are both doing so much better.

[Kona & Oreo's mom]

Hooray! That's great news for both pups!

[Freckles]

Great, Phred. That's the news we want to hear.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Here we are at Thursday, September 18, 2008 ...
And NO major crisiseze since the last one!

The first two weeks post-Findlay were rather quiet ... Heidi's been at the
Ranch the whole time, and the New Foot has been doing quite well.
She's been good about not bothering it - so the cone has been OFF since
the Findlay Gathurin. Too soon ...

Monday, the 8th, she 'bothered' the wrapper - Big Time!
The New Foot seemed to survive the attack ... we did a Tuesday PM
Vet Visit instead of our scheduled Wednesday morning appointment.
Doc D. gave her a re-wrap, but hinted it was about time for her to start
bare-footin it ... I look at that idea with some misgivings ...
That's now become a VERY Expensive New Foot - and I keep thinking that
it's "safe" inside the wrapper! Maybe she should get 'training wheels'?

This last week has been a Trial of many Tribulations ... the New Wrap was
*shreded* on last Thursday ... Cone ON! and I did a re-wrap myself.
She *IS* a good lil patient - stands on the puter desk and lets me work
with The Paw without much of a flinch or a wiggle.

DUMM me - I'd let her go coneLESS for meals and if I was *watchin her*.

Ever try to *watch* a lil Min Pin?

On Saturday evening I was re-wrappin for the THIRD time ...
I did a *super job* with Wally's imitation Vet Wrap ... she'll NEVER get
this one off! Then I worried I made it too tight ...

She pranced in (coneLESS) to see Doc D. on Wednesday (yesterday).
I saw the Tech parading MiniMutt in the hall while Doc D. observed ...
Doc appeared a few minutes later (in surgical scrubs) - my heart
fluttered. Tell me I didn't ruin her paw!

"NO more Bandages!" announced Doc D! We're doing more harm than
good to keep it wrapped up ... it needs air to finish healing.
"BUT - she cannot be allowed to lick it!!)

In came Heidi leading her Tech Buddie ... and BARE FOOTIN it!
She had a new collar - WAAAY too short to keep her away from the foot!
Tech said the next size would be way too big ... OK - I didn't argue. Her
BIG collar was at the Ranch - I'd refit her as soon as we got home.
Doc suggested we stop at the Pets Supplies Plus and grab a bottle of
"Bitter Apple" - use it on her toes, not the raw spots.
And we got a pill bottle of "Novalsan paste" to smear on The Foot.
"Oh, you can use the "Preparatioh H", too. Alternate that with the
Novalsan. And ... DON't let her lick that foot!"

Doc's last words - "Call me tomorrow --- I'm going to worry until I know
she's OK with The Foot."
(I just called Doc --- I think I could feel her *smiling* over the phone!)

Since yesterday, Heidi has been "using" the New Paw a little more every
hour. Yesterday it was usually "tucked & stored" up tight to her body.
By evening, it was partially lowered and occasionally "touched down".
Today, she's almost always on all FOUR when she's standing; and I've
seen her both walking and running with all FOUR a few times.
Wish us luck with wearing it in without any more problems!

I hope we're 'ready' for Sunday ... Unka Pat & Miz Joan are headed West
to celebrate Daughter Leslie's Birfday on Sunday and return on Monday.
THAT means we're Dawg Sittin for Miz Cali (the easy one) ANNND ...
Miz MOLLY - the rather Ruff & Tumble Houndy Girl I helped get adopted
at Cali's Howze. (Wonder if Pat & Joan will ever forgive me for that!??)

It's going to be a *challenge* to keep Molly from using poor lil Heidi as a
soccer ball / Squeekie Toy ... but we dropped in at Cali/Molly's Place
yesterday on the way home; and lil Heidi stood up and gave Molly a
faceful of Cone + Attitude after Molly got way too rough with MiniMutt.

Hopefully, by keeping Molly either leashed to ME or my chair, we'll be able
to prevent any TOO ruff playing with the Smallest Rancher.

As always, Wish us Luck; and whisper a Prayer if you can.