Silly Sully

 

Well last week was definetly not been a quiet sedate one.  Let me start off with Sully's graduation photo from Canine Training School

Sully ended up with a badly broken leg after his leg was caught in his long lead (10m) and he decided to chase a bird in our backyard.  :-(  Sully and I had been out gardening for a good 1/1/2 hours - me gardening and he sniffing, investigating, chewing on sticks and resting.  I was showing my husband what I had done in the garden and packing up when this happened.

Other than the the initial yelp and cry in the yard, Sully didn't seem in extreme pain although he would not put pressure on his foot. As it was 5:30pm we thought we would see how he was in the morning.  Still the same not showing any signs of pain other than wouldn't walk on his leg.  So off to the vet at 9am, where she stretched his leg out -nothing, she moved his leg another way - nothing, then she put a little pressure on his knee and he casually turned his head and looked at her, no noise, that was his only reaction.  The vet said we would have to come back the next day (Monday) for X-rays as he has possible torn some ligaments and maybe broken his knee.  Back for the X-ray then get a call saying he had badly broken his knee and he would have to fly to Brisbane for surgery (thats a two hour flight south).  This cast went on as we had to wait to hear from the Brisbane specialist when they were available to operate to organise flights.  In the meantime, thankfully, a friend - who is in the trade with working dogs recommended another vet that could do the surgery here in Cairns. :-0 This vet looked at the X-rays and said he could do it but we had to wait as Sully had eaten.  

Now Sully was waiting at home with this lovely cast on his leg which he was starting to chew, even with a cone on his head.  So I had given him a chew bamboo bone that we had bought when we first got Sully at 8 weeks.  Back then he was too small to hold the bone to chew, so I cut some ribbing from the neck of a t shirt and tied it and knotted it and tied and knotted it at least ten times.  Firstly, so it was secure and secondly so the knots would raise the bone a little.  Well…… when I had given Sully the bone I glanced up a couple of times and could see that he wasn't chewing on the cast so good back to my book, third time I thought you are really getting into this bone I better have a closer look.  Sully had somehow chewed all of the fabric off in a matter of ten minutes.  My husband and I looked at each other in disbelief although we knew with Sully it could be possible as he had swallowed an anklet sock when we he was 3 months old and had to take him to the vet for them to induce vomitting.  So off to the vets we rushed, me thinking the fabric he swallowed was probably 15cm in length at the most.  Sorry for the gross photo above but that is what Sully had swallowed the top length is about 30cm, the smaller sections are the knots. How he swallowed that top section whole is beyond me….not a cough or a gag at any stage.  The vet kept saying he was a cool dog, I was struggling at the time with the word cool, :-)  when he had swallowed this and had a cast on his leg.

Sully has now had his surgery - three pins are now in his knee. The first photo above was his first night home with us - second night after surgery.  Second photo shows the bruising towards his ankle and the line above is the neat finish from the surgery to his knee - he has internal stitches. 

 Our next journey is the six weeks of restricted movement.  Thankfully he loves his crate, as you can see in the photo (something I never thought I would have for a dog but we bought it at 10 weeks because Sully was/is very hyper - best thing ever).  

Yesterday, was day five after surgery and we can tell that Sully is feeling better.  He is putting a little pressure on his injured leg and he just wants to move, and jump.  He is chewing any toy we give him to pieces.  Yes, he is so over the crate life and the short trips to the toilet.   

Omg!!!! six weeks is going to be so long.  :-D  I forgot to mention that Sully had just been desexed so had spent the week and a bit prior with a cone on his head already.  I think that is just making this ordeal seem like we have been at the vets forever.

If anyone has any suggestions on keeping a 6 month mini poodle busy while on restricted movement please share.  I have remembered to give him a carrot to chew on and we started learning and playing the magic cup game - hiding a treat under a cup and he guesses which one. Otherwise life is pretty ordinary.