Our boy is home already and doing great!
We had a call from the hospital this morning at 8 that Ray had had a good night and was handling things well. This afternoon, the doctor felt he was dealing with reduced pain med levels well enough to go home! I frantically vacuumed and washed towels and dog bedding, wanting to have a clean environment ready for him.
At the hospital, Ray came hopping down the hall with enthusiasm and energy. He spotted my husband and I waiting and the tail was set a-wagging. We greeted him with equal enthusiasm, no tears. The doctor remarked that, amazingly, he is probably in less pain now than he was with the tumor.
He is heavily bandaged and will remain so for the next 7-10 days until the sutures come out. Back on the Tramadol at regular intervals. Heat packs on top of the bandage a few times a day to promote healing. He has already shown a great enthusiasm for water, baked chicken breast and his favorite spot under the kitchen table, so things seem to be returning to normal pretty quickly. He is able to hop outside to wee just fine, with us close by to monitor, of course.
The weight lifted from our shoulders feels enormous. I can’t thank everyone here enough for your support and encouragement.