Abby's Story

07/10/2021

It has been seven months since Abby underwent a serious and complicated surgery to remove an abscess that had grown in her thorax as a result of an inhaled Foxtail plant seed. A delayed diagnosis resulted in many organs being involved – esophagus, diaphragm, lungs. A lobe of her right lung required removal. She would not have survived if I had not opted for the surgery. Unfortunately, her recovery was delayed due to post surgical complications. At the time I wondered what I was putting my poor dog through – the pain – the discomfort. Friends and FB friends and even people I didn’t know sent their good wishes and encouragement (including monetary) which helped me beyond measure.
Do I regret my decision? Every day that I have her with me, in perfect health and every day that we can go out to do what she loves to do – running and retrieving has confirmed that I absolutely did the right thing. My depleted bank account will recover eventually but the fact that she is here, healthy and enjoying life as she always had has made it all worthwhile.

13/06/2021

Abby continues to do well. We are ramping up the training - distances to run and swim. She has not lost her usual enthusiasm to retrieve and puts everything she has into it!

30/05/2021

Abby is doing very well almost 2 1/2 months after her surgery. We have begun training, focusing on the water training. She seems to have no problems swimming and is as eager as ever to retrieve!

27/04/2021

https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/foxtail-grass-and-your-dog?fbclid=IwAR28wLO54AjHRyELgNwaNve2j7sF5NcExnLrYc_5lZg8gk_VrxijbHmEdC8 #1

WebMD explains the serious risks of a dog's encounter with foxtrail grass, which has seeds that can burrow into your dog's feet, eyes, ears, nose, mouth and even brain.

26/04/2021

Well, it has been six weeks since the surgery and three and a half months since this journey began in earnest. At the final visit with the surgeon, the sutures were removed and although I have only the best impression of the talented professionals at DMV, I fondly stated that I hoped to never see them again! Abby can now exercise for an unlimited amount of time each day. Strenuous exercise ie retrieving, is not permitted until we have reached 10 weeks post surgery. The bones that were cut for the surgery such as the sternum should be fully fused by then. Swimming is an acceptable exercise however and water retrieves can be done safely once the weather warms up a bit.
This has been an incredible ride and as often happens, the human psyche conveniently ‘forgets’ all of the anxiety and worry that it has gone through (think childbirth!). I will not, however, forget the incredible outpouring of care that has been shown by friends. The financial strain of this adventure has been offset by the donations from 60 individuals – some anonymously - others not. Many of those donations were from close friends and others were from people who just wanted to lend a hand. Vital, however were the words of support and encouragement that we received from so many people. When we were in the early post operative period, I had so many doubts – did I make the right decision to go ahead with the surgery - how could I put this poor dog through such suffering and how was I going to be able to pay for this medical care. The support that I received, the good wishes and the positive thoughts sent our way helped immensely to keep going on.
We have come through the ordeal and Abby is doing well. Besides missing 25% of her lung function she seems almost normal. How well she will be able to do the things she loves to do is unknown. Right now, I have my dog back and along with the superb medical care we received, I need to thank all of you! Please remember our story of the foxtail plant and look out for it!

20/04/2021

Abby Update - All is going well. We are walking up to two hours a day. Abby seems happy to be out and about and doesn't seem the least bit affected by her recent surgery. A week or so to go and she should be able to start running a bit and perhaps retrieving. Incredible to think of the progress she has made.

16/04/2021

Update Abby - It has just been over 5 weeks since Abby's initial surgery. Last Thursday the surgeon closed up the incision and since then she has been bandage free. We are up to walking 30 minutes three times a day and I think she could do quite a bit more if I let her. Doctors orders - no running - no jumping - no playing. This is certainly getting harder and harder!
One more visit to the vets next week to have the sutures removed and then that should be it!!!

08/04/2021

Abby's Update

Abby's initial surgery was March 9th. Throughout these weeks I have been at the vet's almost everyday for one thing or another. Today I feel we might be at the end of this journey - fingers crossed!! The surgeon closed up the wound today and was very pleased with the healing. He is hopeful that she will continue on this path. No more big bandage around her chest and soon no bandage on the wound either! A couple of more weeks of rest then I hope to get back to some activity with her!!

Sleeping off the effects of the general anesthestic
This is the first time I have seen her body without the bandage!

06/04/2021

Update - Abby's Story
It has been 5 weeks since she had the initial surgery. There has been slow progress that has been stalled by various complications including persistent fluid in the thorax, oozing of fluid through the incisional site and failure of the site to heal. The surgeon has had to reopen the wound in order to clean it and promote drainage. We have been going back and forth to the vets almost daily since that time. The bandaging which needs to cross her legs in the front in order not to slip, has not been holding very well. The surgeon was finally supposed to close her incision today but unfortunately he was not available. This procedure has been postponed until Thursday. The surgical vet tech has put on a tight bandage that hopefully will last until Thursday!!

Abby is sleeping off the Trazadone that I gave her in anticipation the procedure today.

03/04/2021

Abby's recovery seems to have slowed down or perhaps my expectations are too high. Back to the vet today for what I thought was a simple bandage change but the surgeon wanted to get into the wound again. He had to heavily sedate her for yet another procedure. When I picked her up he reported that he is happy with the tissue - it looks healthy and healing. He showed me a photo of the wound and it is very impressive. A long gaping hole which he sutures it up each time. At least she won't need to go back to the vets until next Tuesday when the surgeon will have another look at the incision site.
Still a little wonky from the sedative.

02/04/2021

Recovery
Abby is doing well today after yesterday's procedure. Full of life and very bored! Spends most of her time following us in and out of the kitchen.
It has certainly been a long three weeks since her initial surgery but the difference between today and a video taken 4 weeks ago just before her surgery when she was so sick tell the story.

01/04/2021

Abby was at the vets again today. This time to open the wound and clean it out. The surgeon will not re-suture until next week in order to finally let the incision heal.
She is home and a little sleepy but otherwise ok!