Health Updates

We picked Ruben up from the vet yesterday around 5p.m. He looks like frankendog, which is what they said he would look like. Both of his front legs are shaved, he is shaved from the top of his head to about 1/3 of the way down his back and around his entire neck. He has two drain tubes, one on either side of his neck and several stitches where the original injury, which is now the incision area, was. The vet found several more injuries upon further inspection. Bite marks on his paws and around his whole neck, bad bruising on one side of his neck/head, etc. The paws are because Ruben uses his paws like hands, and was likely trying to use them to defend himself. The bruising is from the dog bashing his head into the ground. Lovely.

They sent us home with antibiotics (10 days worth), pain meds and a collar (cone) just in case. We haven't needed the collar. He isn't eating much, but he's a night eater, so I am hoping that will change tonight. Last night he got chicken noodle soup, but I don't want him to think he will be getting that for the rest of his life!

Luckily he's not draining much at all so we are going back Friday to have the tubes removed. We have to go back toward the end of next week to get the stitches out.

He is pretty shaken up. He just wants to be held or lay around mostly, although he can be quite perky when he wants to be. We are staying at mom's today because we have a showing at the house so I have to walk him. He walks VERY fast which is not his normal pace. I sure he just wants to make sure he stays away from predators. Who wouldn't feel that way?

I'm sure his pride is wounded.

Brian was very upset to see Ruben all "fixed up" and really hasn't gone near him. The vet assistant talked to Brian about how he couldn't touch Ruben while he is healing because he could hurt him very badly. Brian either got it, or is just terrified of how the dog looks. Either way, it's made things easier on me.

Speaking of Brian, he had his hearing test today. He actually cooperated a little bit more today, which is good. I did not sit in the booth with him for the first time. It was my idea, but I was a nervous wreck not knowing what was going on. Basically his sound field test looked mostly the same as the last "good" test from last April. His bone conduction looked better. This probably means that his new tubes are doing an excellent job of keeping the fluid away. Yay!

They will retest in 6 months and see if he can be even more cooperative next time. One complication is that Brian has it in his head that he's supposed to open his mouth wide and say, "ahhhhhh" every time someone goes to examine any part of his face or head. I am thinking this may be a side effect from the dentist visit a few weeks ago. While really cute, it's definitely not a behavior that works well during a hearing test.

They wanted to schedule an ABR which requires sedation. The ENT had talked about waiting on this because he was so recently sedated (for tubes and adenoids) and I tend to agree. The ABR is not the best test-the booth is, so I would really rather avoid it if possible. We will just have to see how he does in 6 months and then decide.

We will also be visiting the developmental pediatrician (Dr. Wiley from 2 years ago) in August just to make sure we are on the right track with speech and that she doesn't see any other issues that need solving. It's just a part of the process at Children's. They always want to check from every angle-for which I am grateful!

So that's where we are with things. Ruben is healing. Brian's hearing is stable. I am still kind of a wreck about what happened to Ruben, but I will be okay.

Thanks for all of the emails and calls to check on Ru! And for weighing in on whether or not we should report the dog. Most people think we should report it, but wait until the bills are paid! I tend to agree.

Oh and we are just about done with doctors this week. I have to get a cavity filled tomorrow. Hopefully that will be uneventful!!