trini
Forums Sage
Yup...I think Gavin has just met his match with that 30" cone...he is going to be one frustrated pooch! He is not looking super thrilled...
Trini
Trini
Gavin's radiation treatment
- Thread starter Cindy
- Start date
Lanie
Forums Enthusiast
Oh my! Pretty sure he can't get to his paw (or anything else) with that on.
Cindy, you've gotta be one of the strongest women ever. I really admire you and Gavin both. This has been quite the journey and I don't have the words to express how grateful I am that you were able (and willing) to document this to help others. I hope it's all improvement from here.
Cindy, you've gotta be one of the strongest women ever. I really admire you and Gavin both. This has been quite the journey and I don't have the words to express how grateful I am that you were able (and willing) to document this to help others. I hope it's all improvement from here.
ghggp
Moderator
HOLDING MY BREATH THAT THIS IS THE POSITIVE END OF A LONG JOURNEY FOR BOTH OF YOU! 
No where to go but UP from here!
No where to go but UP from here!
Cindy
Premium Member
We are both just doing the best we can 
The most challenging part is timing. He needs his pain meds every 8-9 hours. I have an hour commute each way, so I need to work shorter days. Traffic is awful if I leave work after 3 PM, So I need to work early hours. So far we have meds at ~4PM when I get home, and ~7AM when I leave. Gavin needs his leg washed and coated in the morning before I leave (takes about 45 minutes), So I need to get up before 6AM so I have time for that plus the normal things like a shower before leaving for work. I soak his leg once in the evening, too. I am aiming for around 6-7PM. Using a hair dryer to dry the coating (on cold) helps make it quicker, btw. Not gonna try it for the inbetween dryings though, cause the top of his foot is so sensitive.
Gavin goes back to the vet tomorrow for a check-up and cleaning of his foot. With the huge cone. Seriously, it is almost as big as he is!
It basically looks like the top of his entire foot has been scraped off. It is less bright pink now and just a dull pink with a small amount of superficial scabbing that comes off easily when washed/soaked. Very rarely does any blood make an appearance, and that is usually at the top of his toes. I will post pictures when it starts to look different.
I took today off of work so I could soak his foot 3x today as part of damage control after Yesterday's licking, and so I could do a dry run on leaving him with the new cone on. I was gone for about 2 hours, and the leg was as I left it So next week we should be just fine.
The most challenging part is timing. He needs his pain meds every 8-9 hours. I have an hour commute each way, so I need to work shorter days. Traffic is awful if I leave work after 3 PM, So I need to work early hours. So far we have meds at ~4PM when I get home, and ~7AM when I leave. Gavin needs his leg washed and coated in the morning before I leave (takes about 45 minutes), So I need to get up before 6AM so I have time for that plus the normal things like a shower before leaving for work. I soak his leg once in the evening, too. I am aiming for around 6-7PM. Using a hair dryer to dry the coating (on cold) helps make it quicker, btw. Not gonna try it for the inbetween dryings though, cause the top of his foot is so sensitive.
Gavin goes back to the vet tomorrow for a check-up and cleaning of his foot. With the huge cone. Seriously, it is almost as big as he is!
It basically looks like the top of his entire foot has been scraped off. It is less bright pink now and just a dull pink with a small amount of superficial scabbing that comes off easily when washed/soaked. Very rarely does any blood make an appearance, and that is usually at the top of his toes. I will post pictures when it starts to look different.
I took today off of work so I could soak his foot 3x today as part of damage control after Yesterday's licking, and so I could do a dry run on leaving him with the new cone on. I was gone for about 2 hours, and the leg was as I left it
So next week we should be just fine.
ghggp
Moderator
I wish I lived closer... so, I could offer support physically not just virtually!
At times like this, we all wish we could be there for you to ease your burden.
Gavin may not want to trust all of us SN strangers with all his medical needs...but, I am sure MOM would let him know we only want the best for him!
I know there are sheltie lovers out there who would feel honored to help a fellow sheltie lover in need!
You are one dedicated owner! Bless you!
At times like this, we all wish we could be there for you to ease your burden.
Gavin may not want to trust all of us SN strangers with all his medical needs...but, I am sure MOM would let him know we only want the best for him!
I know there are sheltie lovers out there who would feel honored to help a fellow sheltie lover in need!
You are one dedicated owner! Bless you!
Cindy
Premium Member
Thank You so much for the kind words and thoughts
I have a neighbor who would be more than happy to help with the medicine, but I am leary of how she would handle the whole situation (large cone, limping on 3 legs, leg all covered in cornstarch). I don't want to in any way put more on anyone than they are prepared for. A dog with huge radiation burns needing medicine is very different than a healthy Gavin needing a walk. And I feel better being home with him as much as possible.
And even my dog loving and owning friends don't REALLY understand what is entailed with the radiation burns. They know it is intensive nursing, but no one is really volunteering to come over and help (people ask if they can do anything, but that is more out of habit, you know?).
Seriously, I have a whole new insight into the life of caregivers now. And it makes me sad
My stint as a caregiver will end soon, but for millions of people it probably never will.
I have a neighbor who would be more than happy to help with the medicine, but I am leary of how she would handle the whole situation (large cone, limping on 3 legs, leg all covered in cornstarch). I don't want to in any way put more on anyone than they are prepared for. A dog with huge radiation burns needing medicine is very different than a healthy Gavin needing a walk. And I feel better being home with him as much as possible.
And even my dog loving and owning friends don't REALLY understand what is entailed with the radiation burns. They know it is intensive nursing, but no one is really volunteering to come over and help (people ask if they can do anything, but that is more out of habit, you know?).
Seriously, I have a whole new insight into the life of caregivers now. And it makes me sad
My stint as a caregiver will end soon, but for millions of people it probably never will.
Cindy
Premium Member
So apparently Gavin is now using his super huge cone to scrape the cornstarch off of his foot That is what Shannon said anyway, since he was at the vets today for a cleaning (under anesthesia) and a check and managed to remove his cornstarch. I bought a 30 inch comfy cone from amazon, which was waiting for me after work, which will at least make it more difficult as it is heavier and not as thin. The only other thing I can do is sedate him, which the vet did say I could do but only after I mentioned it. Funny how the surgeon was all about how I really need to sedate Gavin and this vet is hesitant.
We have another check up next Friday, and the vet doesn't think he will need a heavy cleaning with anesthesia. My understanding is that the skin between the toes is the most painful when it is raw (hence anesthesia) and they hope that will be healed up by then.
I will be doing 3 soaks a day Saturday and Sunday, and hoping that Monday goes well. I am debating just giving him a sedative Monday vs seeing if he gets into any trouble with just his cone. I guess I could try and set up a webcam so I can monitor him from work. It would be easy enough to have the laptop positioned to see his pen.
That is what Shannon said anyway, since he was at the vets today for a cleaning (under anesthesia) and a check and managed to remove his cornstarch. I bought a 30 inch comfy cone from amazon, which was waiting for me after work, which will at least make it more difficult as it is heavier and not as thin. The only other thing I can do is sedate him, which the vet did say I could do but only after I mentioned it. Funny how the surgeon was all about how I really need to sedate Gavin and this vet is hesitant.We have another check up next Friday, and the vet doesn't think he will need a heavy cleaning with anesthesia. My understanding is that the skin between the toes is the most painful when it is raw (hence anesthesia) and they hope that will be healed up by then.
I will be doing 3 soaks a day Saturday and Sunday, and hoping that Monday goes well. I am debating just giving him a sedative Monday vs seeing if he gets into any trouble with just his cone. I guess I could try and set up a webcam so I can monitor him from work. It would be easy enough to have the laptop positioned to see his pen.
ghggp
Moderator
Hanne
Forums Sage
"I guess I could try and set up a webcam so I can monitor him from work. It would be easy enough to have the laptop positioned to see his pen"
It can give you peace of mind.
I bought one when Minnie (who had never learned to be alone) would stay home alone in the kitchen the first 4-5 times.
And there I could see that she chew on the bone and when she was tired of that, so she just laid herself to sleep - and was not at all weeping for her mom was gone
It can give you peace of mind.
I bought one when Minnie (who had never learned to be alone) would stay home alone in the kitchen the first 4-5 times.
And there I could see that she chew on the bone and when she was tired of that, so she just laid herself to sleep - and was not at all weeping for her mom was gone
Cindy
Premium Member
The utility of a webcam would mostly be that I could record it and watch later and maybe see how he is doing it.
I don't have a desk job, and most days I am at my desk only to eat lunch.
The likelihood I would actually see him removing it is slim to none, and my ability to see the leg once it has been removed is also pretty slim unless Gavin has that rear leg just hanging out for me to see. Even now, I have to re-position him and his legs all the time to check on it. So I probably wouldn't find out until I get home.
And since I live 45-60 minutes away, once he has gotten the coating off there isn't anything I can do but leave work early (if I can). And really, what is the difference between 1 hour and 4 hours of the cornstarch being off?
I am really leaning towards a sedative.....
I don't have a desk job, and most days I am at my desk only to eat lunch.
The likelihood I would actually see him removing it is slim to none, and my ability to see the leg once it has been removed is also pretty slim unless Gavin has that rear leg just hanging out for me to see. Even now, I have to re-position him and his legs all the time to check on it. So I probably wouldn't find out until I get home.
And since I live 45-60 minutes away, once he has gotten the coating off there isn't anything I can do but leave work early (if I can). And really, what is the difference between 1 hour and 4 hours of the cornstarch being off?
I am really leaning towards a sedative.....