As always, I am humbled by the outpouring of support and trust shown by the readers of this blog. Actually, "readers" just is not the right descriptor. It feels, as it has for over a decade, that there is a family here. And as a member of that family, your trust when I reach out for your help in supporting a stranger is one of the great honors of my life.
By the end of the first night I was able to Zelle $500 to Coco's owner to help contribute to the cost of the surgery that was needed. Any donations that continue to come in will be sent subsequently.
Last night, the long time DGMSer who reached out on behalf of Coco's owner Suzi, provided me with an update for you all.
Coconut was just released from surgery. They did find some additional injury to fat and connective tissue up his whole side and even over the back requiring a drain for full healing, but no major muscle tears, abdominal wounds and no spinal injuries. The surgeon explained "I had to take out a lot of tissue but it was all tissue he doesn't really need." The FHO (femoral head ostectomy) itself was uncomplicated and he is expected to make a full recovery.
I'll be posting another update tomorrow when he comes home and changing the goal from estimate to actual. He's allowed to be moving around the house but not running, jumping or active playing. Wish us luck on that front...
Suzi also explained that another reason they strongly recommended he stay with at the vet while waiting for surgery, other than needing pain management, was that, as long as he was with them, he stayed high in the urgent surgery queue. If he went home, he'd be moved to the regular surgery queue and his surgery would have been delayed 3 or more weeks.
Our beautiful dog, Oreo, had the FHO surgery on both femurs during her life. While neither was the result of an attack, rather her anatomical make-up that made for severely shallow hip sockets, I can attest that waiting any length of time is pure suffering for the pet. (In FHO surgery, the head and neck of the femur is removed and the scar tissue that develops creates an artificial "joint" - I was amazed both times at the recovery and mobility Oreo regained post surgery.) So thank you for helping make the operation possible and timely.
I promise to keep you all updated as I hear more from Suzi and Alexandra, who reached out to ask for our help.
As always, I am eternally grateful to be reminded that the world still has far more good people than bad - the good just work quietly while the bad make all the noise.
Linda
Coco in his kennel at the vet.
Glad Coconut has a good prognosis and is doing well. How we love our furbabies.
Posted by: Nikki in nyc | Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at 08:00 PM