Miss Mickey was scheduled to see Dr. Carlos, her amazing surgeon, on June 15th but we had a little scare so we took her back early. Scare? Yes. Both of her physical therapy docs suggested she might have breast cancer. YIKES.
You can see what concerned them on the video. When she rolls over, both mammary glands near her pelvis are very enlarged. When we first notice the enlargement, we took her to our vet because we thought maybe she had a hernia. They felt it was just an enlarged gland (only 1 side was swollen then) and probably the result of everything she experienced with the surgery. But when both PT docs commented, we got very concerned.
But the good news is IT IS NOT CANCER! It's a combination of things, including an infection. The other complication is there is milk in the mammary glands, indicating false pregnancy or she's going into heat. UGH! After all she's been through she STILL hasn't been spayed!
So we're treating the infection now with antibiotics and in a week or 2 she will be spayed. Poor thing. Another operation. But that should be the end of the poking and prodding!
There's even more good news! Dr. Carlos took an x-ray today and the hairline fracture of her spine has fused. Which is really good news since there's no keeping this girl restrained anymore. She walks all over the yard -- up the hill, down the hill, into the pond to take a drink, across the log bridge -- and all over the house -- up the steps, down the steps...everywhere! She can even jump up onto her back legs for a second without help!
Everyone at the doc's office was so impressed at how far she has come. It was a great feeling to WALK her into the office instead of carrying her. Dr. Carlos says she doesn't need to come back any more unless she has a problem.
So it looks like it won't be long before she is available for adoption -- maybe a month or so! We'll be looking for a VERY SPECIAL someone to give her a loving home. More on that later!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Mickey at The Big Green Earth Store
On Saturday, April 25, Miss Mickey visited The Big Green Earth Store grand opening to say hello to many of the people who have contributed to her care. The Big Green Earth Store is owned by Tony Fisher, the man who saved Miss Mickey's life by taking her to the SPCA after she was hit by the car.
Mickey arrived in a high tech doggie carriage on loan from a rescue friend. She had a great time soaking up lots of attention and love. She even got to taste Vanilla ice cream! And she demonstrated her ability to stand on all 4 legs -- even though her back right leg still needs physical therapy (which she starts today!).
Thanks to everyone who stopped by. More updates to follow very soon!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Miss Mickey is making an appearance!
This Saturday (4/25) from 12-2, Miss Mickey will be attending the EARTH SaturDAY event at The Big Green Earth Store at 934 South Street in Philadelphia.
There’s a big block party to celebrate the grand opening of the store. The store’s owner, Tony Fisher, is the good – no, make that GREAT – Samaritan who saw Miss Mickey get hit and rushed to save her life.
If you are in the area, please stop by to meet Miss Mickey so she can personally thank you for all the help you have provided. Plus, you’ll get to see how well she’s doing!
There’s a big block party to celebrate the grand opening of the store. The store’s owner, Tony Fisher, is the good – no, make that GREAT – Samaritan who saw Miss Mickey get hit and rushed to save her life.
If you are in the area, please stop by to meet Miss Mickey so she can personally thank you for all the help you have provided. Plus, you’ll get to see how well she’s doing!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Lickey Miss Mickey
Poor Mickey. She has 2 spots that she can’t keep her little tongue away from. One is a residual sore on her “bad” leg and one is the surgery incision on her left side. The minute we take the e-collar off she starts licking them verociously. We continue to try new ideas and today’s approach is taping everything up and around and around so there’s no way she can get to anything before we spy her.
She is a very clever little doggie. She is eager to be more mobile and walks herself around a little more each time we take her out to do her business. Now that it is FINALLY a little warmer (hip, hip, hooray!), she holds her head up high and sniffs the breeze. She spent some time today sitting in the sunshine and enjoying the fresh air.
Her bum leg doesn’t really seem to bother her but we have to limit her mobility because of the hairline fracture on her spine. The doc feels it will fuse but she needs to rest in order to assure that.
I spoke with the physical therapy vet today and she will have an appointment next week to be evaluated and begin hydrotherapy and maybe some other things. She has an amazing spirit so I’m sure she will thrive once she gets going.
Here is a link to a great video one of Mickey’s fans created:
http://animoto.com/play/SgHnb0oYViRt9Nr1akVukA
More news to come soon!
She is a very clever little doggie. She is eager to be more mobile and walks herself around a little more each time we take her out to do her business. Now that it is FINALLY a little warmer (hip, hip, hooray!), she holds her head up high and sniffs the breeze. She spent some time today sitting in the sunshine and enjoying the fresh air.
Her bum leg doesn’t really seem to bother her but we have to limit her mobility because of the hairline fracture on her spine. The doc feels it will fuse but she needs to rest in order to assure that.
I spoke with the physical therapy vet today and she will have an appointment next week to be evaluated and begin hydrotherapy and maybe some other things. She has an amazing spirit so I’m sure she will thrive once she gets going.
Here is a link to a great video one of Mickey’s fans created:
http://animoto.com/play/SgHnb0oYViRt9Nr1akVukA
More news to come soon!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The long awaited update
I picked Mickey up on April 3rd. She had been in the hospital for 3 weeks and had 2 operations. She has plates and screws repairing both sides of her pelvic bone – which was crushed when she was hit by the car in South Philly. She also has a hairline fracture of her spine but the doc feels this will heal nicely with rest. It's not too hard getting her to rest because she can't bear weight on her right leg yet. She can pull herself around a bit on her left but it's still difficult.
The first few days were hectic. She was wearing a catheter, had staples on both sides that she was anxious to get at, a sore on her leg that she finds ways to lick even when wearing an e-collar, needed a daily antibiotic shot, pain meds and muscle therapy 2x a day on both legs.
We set her up in the restful plant room right off our kitchen. She was next to a fountain and surrounded by greenery. She had been in fluorescent light 24/7 for weeks so we wanted her to decompress. So day 1, I had her just outside her crate gated in this area when I went into the bedroom for something. I came back to the smell of poop. I found that she had somehow pulled herself to the corner of the room to poop. I was astounded because I didn't think she had that kind of mobility. Then I discovered that her catheter got snagged on the crate when she moved and she pulled it right out. I don't think she had been in the house 24 hours and we have our first crisis!
It was a Saturday and the hospital wasn't open so we called our vet and they said to come in and they'll put one in. We got there and the doc tells us it's a procedure requiring general anesthesia and will cost around $1000 and they can't even do it. OMG. I called the emergency half of the hospital where she was treated and they tell us it will cost around $800. So we decided to wait until Monday and talk to the doc. However, I left for a business trip on Sunday, leaving my darling husband to take care of her with this new need to clean up pee and/or take her out frequently to pee outside. He really is the hero of the story!
Long story short, everything worked out. She does her business outside and we have had only a few crate accidents since it all happened – and none in the past 3 days. She's housebroken!
The first few days were hectic. She was wearing a catheter, had staples on both sides that she was anxious to get at, a sore on her leg that she finds ways to lick even when wearing an e-collar, needed a daily antibiotic shot, pain meds and muscle therapy 2x a day on both legs.
We set her up in the restful plant room right off our kitchen. She was next to a fountain and surrounded by greenery. She had been in fluorescent light 24/7 for weeks so we wanted her to decompress. So day 1, I had her just outside her crate gated in this area when I went into the bedroom for something. I came back to the smell of poop. I found that she had somehow pulled herself to the corner of the room to poop. I was astounded because I didn't think she had that kind of mobility. Then I discovered that her catheter got snagged on the crate when she moved and she pulled it right out. I don't think she had been in the house 24 hours and we have our first crisis!
It was a Saturday and the hospital wasn't open so we called our vet and they said to come in and they'll put one in. We got there and the doc tells us it's a procedure requiring general anesthesia and will cost around $1000 and they can't even do it. OMG. I called the emergency half of the hospital where she was treated and they tell us it will cost around $800. So we decided to wait until Monday and talk to the doc. However, I left for a business trip on Sunday, leaving my darling husband to take care of her with this new need to clean up pee and/or take her out frequently to pee outside. He really is the hero of the story!
Long story short, everything worked out. She does her business outside and we have had only a few crate accidents since it all happened – and none in the past 3 days. She's housebroken!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
