Sweetpea's postoperative recovery

Hi there, I said I'd update you on Sweetpea by the end of last week, but things got so hectic around here that I just couldn’t keep up, so will share now how things went for her after her operation for spaying a week ago on Tuesday 16th February.
 
17Feb21 ~ The day after her spaying operation
Sweetpea is doing so much better today after a good night's sleep.  She is still hiding in her special safe corner where she likes to go when she's not 100% ... nobody can bother her and there's no threat that we might step on her there, so she can rest more peacefully there.
 
Today she's eating and drinking, up and about when she has to go out, she lay in the sun a bit, has wagged her tail a whole lot, barked at a noise outside and even got a bit of her playful glint back in her eyes.
 
She's still very sore, but so much better than yesterday! ❤ ❤ ❤ I'm giving her space for healing 🙂
 
19Feb21 ~ Third day post-op

​Photo:  Sweetpea feeling miserable on a chair next to me with nurse Trixie watching over her ❤
 
Sweetpea has been doing so very well... playing a little, walking all over the place yesterday, wagging her tail, barking and just looking so good, but today she seems very quiet and a lot sorer.
 
This morning I saw her heaving and think she may have eaten some grass and maybe that pulled on her stitches. I am watching her closely, but she's definitely not happy. I hope she feels better later after a good sleep.
 
She even let me sweep the floor today and didn't move from her spot to try grab the broom out of my hands, so she's definitely not feeling happy... keeps licking her wound and we have to distract her from pulling on her stitches.
 
EEEK! Yesterday she was so much happier.  I'm struggling to concentrate today because I'm worrying so much about her.  Maybe the sutures are meant to sting a bit more by today... I don't know!

Photo:  Sweetpea was back to sleeping in her safe corner for most of today
 
I must tell you something wonderful!  The day before yesterday we picked up the itemized bill from the Vet: It's a whopping R3914.60 ... the same day, someone I barely know had kindly donated R500 into my personal account, so I knew that bill would be quite a bit less once I pay in that R500. 
 
I actually thought the bill was going to be around R5000 for all the Veterinary procedures the two dogs had done so I was actually pleasantly surprised at the lower bill.
 
Anyway, I look at the bill and realise that they have not included the 10 pain tablets we received for Trixie... for standby for those days she's hurting, so the bill should have been be higher.  I immediately called to let them know, because the way I see it, if I am asking for donations and then cheat the Vet, I would not deserve any donations at all to help with the bill. 
 
So the next day my son went to fetch the new bill with the cost of the pills included... and the new bill is now R3729.60  🙏
 
Someone must have made a donation into the Vet's account overnight!  Can you believe it.  What a blessing ❤
 
Oh, how I love Karma ❤
 
So, all we have left to pay is just over R3000.  I'm so grateful that my dogs have been taken good care of and have had all the necessary procedures.  The amount left to pay is well worth it. 
 
Of course, Sweetpea still has to go for a 2nd round of vaccinations next month and I think they said the month after too because these are her first vaccinations!  So, there's still a whole bunch to pay, but she will be protected from diseases and in the end, that's all that matters.
 
She's still quiet tonight and sore, but her breathing is good and her wound is a little swollen and red… not much worse than yesterday, so I'm not suspecting any infections.  She's just sorer today ❤ She had her last pain tablet tonight. 
 
FYI:  If you want to know how to feed a dog a tablet, wrap it well in their favourite treat... like inside a bit of chicken or mince.  Have another two small balls of treat ready.  Put the pill wrapped one in their mouth first and then quickly offer the next.  They want the next so quick they swallow the first to grab the 2nd... too funny!  They don't even know they took the pill.  It helps to have another pet nearby, so they gobble it quickly so the other pet can't get it... heeheee!  Sneaky hey? 😅
 
20Feb21 ~ Fourth day post-op

I woke up at 02h30 - I could see that Sweetpea is very uncomfortable, so I put Trixie in my bed which she loves and took my pillow to Trixie's bed on the floor next to Sweetpea's, so I could lie next to her. I think that made her feel more relaxed and comfortable.  I love my fur-babies so much! ❤

​When I woke, Sweetpea was lying in an awkward position… I knew she was hurting!

Sweetpea’s wound is bulging and inflamed with the sutures pulling into her wound causing her a lot of pain.
 
I only had about 4 1/2 hours sleep.  Sweetpea was in so much pain that she would not get up as she usual did to go outside, so that worried me a lot and there was no way I could sleep knowing she was suffering alone in her little safe corner.
 
By 5am, I was already bathed and getting ready to take her to the Vet to be there as soon as it opened at 08h30. 
 
When I came out of the shower, there she was in the passage, up and about, wagging her tail with joy at seeing me!  She must have gone outside on her own as I'd left the back door open for her... just in case.  She didn't look too bad at all once she was up... but still, I was taking no chances.  Her wound looked too painful and she couldn't stop licking it. 
 
In 2019, I swore I was never going to get another dog after losing Mrs Poppy Peanut, my beloved little old black Dachshund who had to be put down due to a serious illness.  That pain for me was TOO MUCH!!!  But, here I am again, with two more lovely dogs (best friends) that I absolutely adore.  Both girls are rescues who had been gifted to me and what a blessing they are.
 
My reasoning for taking them to the Vet for costly treatments is that these might be my last dogs EVER as I’m 64 years old already, and so, they will get the best I can give them, even if I have to beg for help which I hate doing... but I WILL DO IT... for them ❤ ❤ ❤
 
Note:  There might be another donation to help with this bill, but that has not been confirmed yet ❤
 
I woke a tad weepy am... lack of sleep and worry... but also immense gratitude for love and also for the help already received.  I will feel much better after visiting the Vet and knowing something has been done to help Sweetpea feel better ❤
 
21 February 21 ~ Fifth day post-op

​One day of antibiotic and pain pills and Sweetpea's wound is so much better! 

She's hardly licking at all today and her playful, mischievous personality is returning again! YAY! She is still sleeping a whole lot, but it could be the pain pills doing that to her and this terrible hot weather that we are melting in!
 
Yesterday (Saturday) was a TOTALLY WASTED DAY!  I had not slept much the night before... I was totally flat for the entire day... just sat in the lounge chair totally switched off to even the TV. I did have an hour sleep during the morning, but it only made me feel worse. I never fare well on lack of sleep.
 
Today, (Sunday) Thankfully after 1/4 sleeping pill last night (Saturday night) I had a good night's sleep.  I had so much catching up to do, but, I also had three Zoom meetings today which I absolutely loved, but they took up a large part of my day.  Two of the Zoom meetings were with my church and one with my Logotherapy community.  How grateful I am that we are still able to meet during lockdown in this way ❤ ❤ ❤
 
22 February 21 ~ 6th day post-op
We have our rascally little hooligan back! Sweetpea is full of mischief again! You wouldn't even know she has stitches in still if you saw how wild she is once more! I'm having trouble getting her to take it slow and rest... haahahaa!
 
I'm so happy... OUR LOVELY, CAREFREE, CRAZY SWEETPEA IS BACK! Even Trixie seems to be gradually coming back to life with her sister back. OH JOY! 
 
23 February 2021 ~ 7th day post-op
Life is coming back to normal and I’m very grateful for all the support, Kindness, presence and love that has been shown to us and Sweetpea during this time, and so grateful for the donations thus far. 
 
There is still a great deal to be paid on the Vet bill and the next two rounds of Vaccinations that Sweetpea will have to have done.  If you feel you could assist, please make your donation into our Vet’s account directly. 
 
ABSA: 409 475 1639 (CHEQ)
Branch code: 630 395
Reference: Donation for “Sweetpea Ryall”
 
Vet: Dirk Gouws
Monument Animal Clinic
59 Second Street
Krugersdorp North
Gauteng
1739
 
Telephone: 011 660 2813
 
email: dirkvet@monumentvet.co.za
 
Grateful thanks all the kindness and sharing ❤ ❤ ❤
 
~ Panayiota, Sweetpea and Trixie