Stitches out and *hopefully* last vet visit in a long time.

Raven got his Ruffwear Harness, kindly donated by Mac’s Mom to Emily’s Mom to Raven’s Mom. I put videos on the Hopping Around Forum. Unfortunately, their measurements are dead-on. It said Medium was up to 36″ girth, Raven is 37″ and I was hoping I just didn’t measure well. But it’s a bit snug, probably by about 1″… So, we will be getting a brand spanky new one for him through Tripawds. In the meantime, Emily’s and Mac’s is working for now and is Very Helpful for him getting around…

…like in and out of the truck to go to the vet today! It was a very good visit. He got all his stitches out, still very scabby, but certainly can stay closed on it’s own. And no draining, yay. My only concern was a lump underneath the very bottom of the incision. Worrywart for mets, my vet Tom said he feels it is internal stitches that were of catgut for suturing sheet muscles. They use catgut for specific things as it creates scar tissue to make it stronger. He said it should dissipate in 90 days, so I will watch it. Probably daily!

I gave Tom a Tripawds Business Card and he was very thankful. He said he just today had to break the bad news to a Standard Poodle Daddy that their dog had OSA in his wrist. They are deciding what to do and he will tell them to check this site.

The vet said that we will recheck for lung mets each 2 months. If it was osteosarcoma, I probably wouldn’t bother, I don’t think I would want to know. But, with slower progressing Chondrosarcoma, Tom said that if we see a nodule, and Raven is doing really well, chemo would be a good option to keep his longetivity going. He will be nine December 15 after all, so we just want to keep him healthy as possible as we go along. Overall, about the best news I could hope for, and honestly didn’t dare to dream for 3 weeks ago.

And look who was out in the parking lot on the way in. A Jake lookalike. 🙂

Jake Lookalike at the vet's

Happy me, happy Raven.
Snuggle boy

Author: dsimas

Rottie Raven, 8-1/2 years old, amputee on 10-27-09 and Miles, rottie mix rescue, hopefully no cancer.

5 thoughts on “Stitches out and *hopefully* last vet visit in a long time.”

  1. I think that Raven should feel alot better now that his sutures are out. I know that Jake did.

    Hopefully Raven won’t have to go back to the vet for a long, long time!!

    Love the Jake look-alike picture!! 🙂

    Angel Jake’s Mom

  2. Yea Raven.
    I think the recovery really kicks in once the stitches are out. I know the ‘pulling’ sensation bothered Maggie, she was much happier when they came out.
    The overall news sounds good too. I know I am always on the lookout for bumps because Mag has mast cell cancer (she had two tumors removed last spring). I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been happy to find that the latest bump is really one of her little tits!!!

    Lets hope the vet visits are few and far between!

    Karen and the pug girls.

  3. Tasha felt so much better after the stiches were out and so did I. For a few days they seemed to itch her alot, and her skin was very dry, so I would rub baby oil on the area.
    Hope Raven doesn’t have to go back to see the vet for a long time.

    Jo Ann and Tasha

  4. Jo Ann, Thank you for mentioning this! Raven has been scratching what I thought was his ears and back of his head like crazy recently. So much so that I mentioned it to the vet and he said his ears were clean and no fleas or scabs, etc, not to worry. But his incision goes up to the top of the shoulder, just behind the neck/ears. And I just noticed, he is actually trying to scratch there but can’t reach it. It *is* dry and flaky! I am going to put something on it, thank you!
    Dawn and Raven

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