In my last update, we had scheduled Ludo for his amputation later this week. Due to the busy season at work and starting at my old job at doggie daycare part-time, I decided to schedule him for Thursday July 20, 2023. This way I will take Thursday and Friday off of work, be with him on the weekend, and see Monday if I need to take more time off. Luckily I have my husband and mother who are both willing to help with care and take a few days off, so I won’t have to be out of work for a whole week or two.
Part of the reason I am starting back at my old job part-time is they are will offer free boarding to my dogs plus free pet insurance even for the part-timers. This means that if there is a day here or there that I need someone to watch Ludo I can have peace of mind knowing that I could bring him over there for the day and the girls will take care of him. There are no stairs that he would have to deal with and although he does have separation anxiety, I am more worried about his healing than anything else. As for the pet insurance, unfortunately it would only cover pre-existing conditions after he had been insured for an entire year. Meaning that it would be one year from now that it would cover the cost of his amputation. But at least going forward I know that we will be covered should anything else pop up.
The vet and surgeon doing the operation scheduled him to stay with them for the night, which I am still quite nervous about. His anxiety can really be troublesome and I am concerned that he will work himself up so much that he might hurt himself. Hopefully they will keep him out of pain, he is a strong boy but more than anything he wants to be with someone and not alone.
We went for a long walk today, and I plan on walking him everyday if I can. Not only should he lose a couple of pounds, but it will strengthen all the muscles he is going to have to learn to use with three legs. I may also switch him back to his raw diet for a while, and really give him the best chance at healing quickly.
His annual at our regular vet was originally scheduled the day before his surgery. He was due to get his rabies and bordetella vaccines that day but luckily I had the presence of mind to reach out to the surgeon and ask if I should reschedule his vaccines incase they should effect his immune system right before surgery. They got back to me the next day and told me that I should reschedule those vaccines for two weeks before or after his surgery. My vet was able to squeeze us in last Friday, almost 3 weeks before his surgery.
I am anxious for the day to come, and still part of me is absolutely dreading it. I know he is such a strong dog and will make the most of his life, but my heart goes out to him.