When your dog is injured, do you know what to expect in terms of your dog’s healing, and visits to the animal hospital? When should you expect the splint to be removed? There are some general guidelines, although of course only your dog’s veterinarian has enough information to determine what is right and healthy for your dog, and when.
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Here is my time line for my injury, when my x-rays were taken, my surgery on my broken ankle, my bandage changes, when my bandages were removed and when my splints were removed. In general, my parents and my doctors made these decisions, not I.
Day 1: I was hit by the car and brought to the emergency room of the animal medical center.
Day 6: My parents pick me up from the animal medical center and bring me home.
Day 8: I go back to the local animal hospital for a bandage change and check-up.
Day 9: I am rushed to the local animal hospital when I start bleeding profusely from my lacerated penis. The doctors fix me up and send me to the big animal medical center. I go home! All is well. (Except that from now on, the shades in the living room will be drawn and no children will be able to come over to our home . At least for a while.)
Week 2, Day 6: I go to the local animal hospital for a bandage change and check-up.
Week 2, Day 2: I return to the animal medical center for my “Day 9″ (counting from when I was allowed to go home) examination.
Week 4, Day 4: I go to my local animal hospital for a bandage change and a check-up.
Week 4, Day 7: I return to the animal medical center to see the surgeon. He will decide whether or not I need surgery on my broken ankle. He also changes my splint. He decides I need surgery.
Week 5, Day 2: I go into the animal medical center for surgery on my broken ankle.
Week 5, Day 3: I have surgery on my broken ankle, though I’m asleep and don’t know what’s going on.
Week 5, Day 4: I go back home!
Week 7, Day 1: I go to the local animal hospital for a bandage change and a check-up.
Week 7, Day 4: It has been two weeks since my surgery on my broken ankle. I see the doctor again for an examination. He is really happy with how my leg is healing, and I get to go right back home.
Week 8, Day 1: I have a bandage change at the animal medical center and get to meet new friends and dogs. This is an emergency visit; my parents have discovered I’m chewing at my splint and my bandages are wet.
Week 9, Day 2: I have a bandage change at the animal medical center. I get treats! It has been 4 weeks since my surgery.
Week 10, Day 3: I go to the animal medical center for my bandage change.
Week 10, Day 4: I go back to the animal medical center when my parents discover I’ve been chewing on my splint and my bandages are wet.
Week 11, Day 4: It has been six weeks since my surgery! I go back to the animal medical center for another bandage change, and to make friends with some new animal friends. I get treats!
Week 12, Day 3: I go back to the animal medical center for a bandage change. It has been 7 weeks since my surgery. Although he was going to only take x-rays at this time, my doctor removes my splint!
Week 13: Day 3: I go back to the animal medical center for x-rays on my broken ankle. It has been 8 weeks since my surgery. My doctor removes my bandages!
There were a few other times when I had to go to the animal medical center for bandages changes – when my parents found me chewing on my bandages and splints.
We have the same routine in the evening, starting with the evening walk with Phil. Either before the walk or after it, Jane feeds me my dinner and tries to make it interesting by pouring some chicken soup into it. If I don’t eat it, she says “Joey, eat. Eat your dinner.” She wants me to eat because I cannot take my medicine on an empty stomach. Some people say that dogs don’t speak English but I understand exactly what she wants from me. She wants me to eat my dinner.
