Author: Christine

Franklin the Flatulent

Frank n Farter

Frankie

Mr. Magoo

Whatever you want to call him… because he does answer to all of the above… is having the time of his life!!!

I cant believe it has been 11 weeks since Franklin’s amputation!!  11 weeks!!!  My gosh.. on Tuesday, February 26th will be 12 weeks.. 3 months since he became a tripawd!

I really did not think that he could become any cuter!!  And I will admit.. that is is getting a bit more spoiled than normal.  He now claims a spot on the couch beside you whenever you sit on it.  He LOVES to snuggle… he loves to play.. and he still loves to fart.

Oh yes.. the farts.  Have you ever been lying in bed.. all snuggled in with your covers tucked up under your chin, curled up on your side with a big fluffy pillow holding your poor overworked head.. and you sigh… a big sigh, just before you are supposed to fall asleep.  BUT.. instead.. as you go to inhale for your relaxing sigh, unknowing to you, the invisible cloud of aroma has reached the top of your mattress area.  You know that aroma.. that some dawg has eaten 14 burritos and topped it off with a pot of chili fart!  That aroma where you swear that something has crawled and died somewhere, really really close by!  That aroma that you swear the dog has taken a number two on your mat right beside your bed!

now.. back to the relaxing sigh… well that has now turned into a gagging, eye watering, cough where you immediately have to flip your body over to the other side of the bed so that you don’t taste it!  Now that you have turned over, your brow furrows because what do you hear over your shoulder?  A relaxing sigh… from the dog!

It’s been a busy time of year for our household..  not only do I work full time at my regular job, but I also have my own home based business where I make goats milk soap, bath and body products.   So this is the time of year where I am making massive amounts of soap… in the last 5 weeks I have made about 180 pounds of soap, different fragrances, colours, as well as unscented.  I also make sugar scrubs, body butters, bath salts, bath bomb cupcakes, lip balms, shea butter sticks and.. yup.. dawg soap!

So.. it has not left me much time to sit at the computer and type.

One of the things that I have noticed is that Franklin’s fur is growing in kinda “whispy”.  I think I read somewhere that that can be from the antitbiotics that they are on after their amputation.  He was on penicillin, I can’t remember what dosage as I threw the bottle out.  I called the vet today and left a message for him to ask.  I know that I have read in some of the posts here on the site that their dogs fur grew back after about 5-6 months.  So, when I think of those two things, I think that it will grow back eventually.  In the meantime, he has some dapper sweaters that I have bought him to wear.  I just sewed up the left leg so that it covers his amputation scar and he is all set to go for his walks.

I know that eventually that day is coming.  And on that day, I will be posting here in his blog telling you all that he is running around like a goof at Rainbow Bridge.  But I hope and pray that day will be a long while from now.

Yet, the past few nights I have noticed while he is lying on his dog bed that his breathing is heavy.. almost congested.  I hope that it is just the way he is lying.  We have an appointment on March 16th for our annual shots.. and I think I am going to get an xray done then of his chest just to ease my mind.   It always sits in the back of your mind that it’s going to come back.   After all.. if he has ended up with the cancer in his lungs, well.. part of me doesn’t want to knos that either…   know what I mean?   He’s 14 years old..  and I think if, and that is IF, it is there.. then I will love him a little more, spoil him a lot more, and thank god for each day he is still with us.  After all.. if we had not done the amputation, he might have been running around Rainbow Bridge like a goofball at this time…

Bark atcha later…

I thought I would finally post a few pictures of Franklin’farter on his tripawd journey….

Here is Franklin one week after his surgery.  He was bandaged up since the surgery and had to go back every 3 days for a bandage change.  This was his second bandage since he came home.  This was on December 10th – his surgery was December 4.

He had no problems claiming his spot on the couch!!

Here he is after his final bandage change.  This would be approximately on December 15th.  I do believe this shows he is felling pretty good!  I have to admit.. one leg less makes for some excellent belly & chest rubs!!

You know life is good when you use your best friend as a foot rest… lol

Today has been a lazy day.. the whole weekend has been lazy actually.  I haven’t felt that great this weekend so it has put me into more of a snuggling on the couch kinda mood, which the old fart does not mind!!

I have stopped taking Franklin every day for long walks as I have found that he has been showing signs of weakness?  soreness? tiredness? in his front leg in the evening after our walks.  So we have been limiting our walks to just 15 minutes every other day and spending more time in the backyard walking around, lying on the deck checking for squirrels and hopping up and down the deck stairs.

I guess I am just afraid that his front leg is going to give out.  He does have a bit of a weaker back leg as well , on the right side, from blowing his knee muscles about 4 years ago.  We have come so far and he is doing so great I am selfish in the fact that I don’t want anything to happen to him I guess.  lol    Yet, I don’t want him lying around all the time because then he is not exercising the legs.  geesh.. what a tangled web!

I know that the walks are strengthening his leg yet I don’t want to push him too hard either.  After all.. it has only been 7 weeks since his operation.  But my sweetie did take him for his walk today.. and so far he has been ok…

Just one day at a time is the way I am looking at it, and taking it with a smile.  After all, if we did not go through the with amputation, there is a good chance that maybe he would not be here with us at this time.  Or if he was, he probably would have been in too much pain to be happy to be with us.

I don’t regret the decision to amputate one bit.. The only thing that I do regret is that I should have done it in September when we first found out about the cancer and not waited till 2 months later.

I took Franklin to the vet Friday.  I wasn’t feeling great so I took a vacation day from work and ended up driving down to the vets during the day.  I wanted him to check his incision because I had felt a few hard spots under his incision and just wanted to make sure that everything was ok.

Happy go lucky Frank’n’farter was happy to see everyone.. and when the vet came into the examining room, he left the door behind him open.  Well.. Franklin went out the door and down the hall with the vet running after him.  I just laughed when he brought him back.. I said to the vet.. “he can run faster now than before!”

Needless to say.. everything is fine.  Vet was very happen with the healing, etc and those hard spots were just some scar tissue underneath where the incisions were done for the amputation.  He explained that the swelling was finally all gone and that now you can feel where the skin was stitched inside, etc.    We weighed him and he only weighs 43 pounds.  When he went in for his surgery he weighed 50 pounds.  Obviously Franklin has lost a little weight on top of the weight of a leg.  Which is good, because that is less weight that his front leg has to support.

What can I say.. I’ve never been through this before..  so I didn’t know.  I was afraid it might have been some lumps underneath that may have been bad.  lol  The vet told me no worries.. and to call or come in any time I have a concern with Franklin.

So…  I guess all my concerns way back when have been confirmed…

yes… 13 year old dogs can have their legs amputated

yes… they do manage fine on 3 legs without that pain in the 4th leg

yes… they do figure out how to eat a pig ear with only one paw on the front

yes… they do become so much cuter!

yes… they do turn into snuggle whores on the couch with you when you watch the news

yes…  he is a happy dawg…. again.

bark atcha later

Well..  I haven’t been very faithful to my blog here with Franklin’s progress.  Unfortunately I just don’ t have lots of time in the evening to sit down and type..  and during the day while I am at work is not good.. Big Brother Watches You!!

Franklin’s surgery was 5 weeks ago.. I cannot believe that 5 weeks have flown by so fast.  I did call the vet today because I have noticed that there are some hard lumps underneath Franklin’s incision.  I’m new at this tripawd title and I just want to make sure that it is not fluid build up.  His incision is clear, clean and not red so I am hopefully crossing out infection.  My “vet in my head” tells me that it could just be scar tissue.  But, we are going to the vet’s on Thursday to have a quick check up.

I have been trying to get Franklin out for a walk every day.. and we walk down to the end of our street and up onto the dyke by the river.  This guy loves to walk along side on the hill… maybe he feels balanced!!  lol

We didn’t go for our walk today.. or yesterday…   I think the old fart over did it a bit.  On Sunday night when he went to get up, he kept falling forward.. like his leg was sore, pained or possibly asleep!!   But I did notice that there was a bit of a difference in his “tri-hop” so we just took it easy for a day or two.

That has got to be everyone’s worst fear.. that they hurt the one leg left on that end, whether it be the front or back.  I know it is mine..

Other than the lumps that are under his incision, Franklin is doing pretty darn tooting good!  Ha ha.. pardon the pun.. “toot”  get it?

His appetite is good, bowels are good and he has almost got it down pat on how to hold a treat with his one paw so he can chew on it.  Otherwise, he goes and lays down in the snow and uses the snow to help him hold it.  lol

I have a few videos of Franklin that I am going to try to upload.  I tried to upload the one video of him at 3 days after surgery and it just did not seem to work.. geesh.. I am not a computer genius at the least!

On Christmas Day.. it will be 3 weeks since Franklin had his surgery.

I’m fortunate to report that he is doing amazing.  I know that everyone does not have that privilege.  Franklin has been the model patient.  He has now been off his pain meds for 2 days now.. and I don’t see a need for him to continue with them at this point. 

His bandages are now off and I have his thundercoat on for some comfort at this time.  While I type this, he is lying beside the bed on the floor on his favourite blanket.. and yes… he has farted!!  I do believe my eyes are starting to water!  My Gawd….what has died in this dogs inards?     phew!!!!  man….   wow…

Things I have noticed about Franklin:

His sparkle is back in his eyes…. 

He walks alot faster than he used to.. or should I say gallop….

he naps more.. which is ok as he is using more energy getting around…

he drinks more water.. I believe because he is using more energy to get around

he still stumbles a little bit… some times

belly rubs are easier with out that leg in the way!!

I now have wall to wall carpet in area rugs…  as well, I now have outdoor carpet on my deck because when I stepped on it the other night, the water had frozen from the rain and it was a sheet of ice..

I do not regret the decision to have Frankie’s leg removed… I think it was the best thing for him…      Merry Christmas everyone!!  I know that this Christmas is going to be extra special because 4 months ago.. I didn’t know if he would even be here at this time.  I tell you, if I had a dollar for everytime my dogs made me smile… I woudl be a millionaire!!

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Just had to share this one… 4 days past his surgery.. and he’s a trooper! Notice the tail just a waggin!!

Mind you… we did not let him be active all the time.. he was confined to the tv room for the first 6-7 days, and then our bedroom for the evenings.  We let him have access to the dining room the second week.  He is still confined to the tv room, dining room at this time…

Soon he will have the run of the house again…

such a sweetie… no matter how bad his farts stink!

bark atcha later!

Well.. it has been a few days… yikes.. almost a week since I have posted here…

Franklin went to have his bandages changed on Thursday the 13th and he was such a goofball in the vets office.  Wanted to check out everyone!! lol

I have noticed that there is more of a sparkle in Frankie’s eyes these days.  Seems to be the old Franklin that we were used to.  Not sure.. maybe it’s the Medicam.. lol

Anyhow.. I have started to decrease his pain killer now.. instead of giving him 22kgs worth.. I have cut it back to 16… and in a day or so.. I will cut it back to 8.. and then nothing… I will keep an eye on him to see how he is doing pain wise but he has really been great.  And I don’t want to keep him on a pain killer if he really doesn’t need it.

Frank’n’farter has not experienced any of the panting, or trembling that I have read about.  His feedings are good.. water intake good, and outside duties good.

He goes back to the vets tomorrow to have his stitches removed.  They said that they will bandage him one more time and I can remove the bandages at home after 3-4 days.  I like this idea as it will prevent Maggie from trying to clean his scab.  After the bandages come off, I will use his Thundercoat for a little bit till his scab on the incision has totally healed up.

This has been a hell of an adventure… and one I do not regret!  When I see his happy waggin tail.. his smile with the tongue lolling and the spark in his eyes.. there is absolutely no question that I did the right thing!!

bark atcha later

Well… it has been 6 days since Franklin’s operation.. and I have to say.,. my doggers is doing AMAZING!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, I was at a 4 day craft show out of town from Thursday till Sunday so my sweetie was the one to go get him from the vet hospital on Thursday by himself.

Here’s a summary of what has happened:

Day 1 – Tues   Franklin had his surgery obviously and he did very well!  Was doped up most of the day but slept peacefully, heart was good, breathing was good.  He stayed at the hospital that night.

Day 2 –  Wed   Franklin was up, and went outside to pee and poop!  He was still a bit dopey, but did eat and drink.  Was sleeping on and off due to pain meds but was doing very very well!

Day 3 – Thurs    Franklin could come home!  He has eaten again, peed and pooped again.. although they could not confirm if he farted.  Lol  My sweetie picked him up and brought him home.  Our other Springer was very happy to see him… he is all bandaged up but the tail is waggin!  I think he is happy to be home!  My sweetie will sleep in the room with him through the night.

Day 4 – Fri    He has been getting the 3 legged stride down pat…   Our worst part is Maggie who is so exciteable knocking the poor guy off balance.  It hasn’t happened yet but we have come close a few times.  Have been taking him out to pee on a leash.. but he has not pooped yet at home.  His appetite is good, and he is on pain meds in the morning and antibiotics.  We have kept him confined in our TV room which is 10×10 with his dog bed and water dish.   He climbed up on the couch by himself when my sweetie went to the bathroom!!!!  Geesh!   Sweetie is grumpy from sleeping on couch… lol

Day 5 – Sat   He’s getting antsy in the tv room  – he wants to come out into the kitchen to be with my sweetie while he is prepping dinner, etc..   Still going outside to pee, etc.  but has not pooped yet.  :O(  I got home at 7pm that night.. and he heard my voice and started woofing…   very excited to see me.. and me excited to see him!!  He was rolling ground on the ground between my feet.. happy puppy!  I freaked out worrying he was doing damage !!!  yikes!    I took him outside on his leash.. and let him off the leash on the lawn.. and he pooped!  Obviously my doggers is not a leash pooper!  That night.. we took him into the bedroom which is where they normally sleep on their beds beside our bed.   He woke early, restless and needed to go out to relieve himself.  After that, he curled up again and slept.

Day 6 –Sun    He’s getting happier by the day.. big grin and tail a waggin!  Had to go the my last day at the craft show, but I got home by 8pm that night.  He has snuggled on the couch with us for a bit… with help to get down so that he doesn’t do that on his own… slept through the night in the bedroom on his bed..  taking his pain meds and antibiotics  like a good pup.  I can confirm that he HAS farted!

My son thought he would be funny and ask him to shake a paw for a treat.  Do you know he sat up on his haunches to give him his one paw!!??  Amazing dawg…   just freaking amazing!!!

Day 7 – Mon   Went to the vet’s to get his bandages changed.  Vet is very pleased with his progress… says the incision, etc looks good, healing well and is clean!  He said to continue what we are doing.  Not to let him have the full run of the house yet, still confine him but he can come out for little visits.    He has to go back on Thursday to get the bandages changed.. and his stitches will come out on Monday!

Pretty doggone good if you ask me!!!

Franklin’s surgery was a success!

He’s pretty heavily sedated.. and sleeping peacefully.  Breathing is good.  Heart is good.  He hasn’t been up to pee or anything yet because he just had the surgery done this morning.

I called back at 3 oclock to see how he was and he is still sleeping.  I told them I would call back at 6 before they closed to see how he is.. probably still be sleeping then!! lol  But I need to do that.. I need to know..

When he was weighed in this morning.. he weighed 49 pounds… I’m thinking.. how much does a leg weigh?  5 pounds?

The said he is bandaged up in a pretty pink bandage.  I said.. “what?  Pink?  my gawd.. thank goodness he’s sleeping.. he might see that and think he had a sex change!”

They are going to put blue on him tomorrow!

My heart is a bit lighter now….

Well…   today is the day.  I just came back a few hours ago from dropping off my happy dawg at the vet’s for a front left leg amputation.  I had to sign the good old release form.. you know.. blah blah blah, leg amputation.. blah blah blah.  I told them.. “Hey.. make sure you take the right one!  .. No.. hang on  it’s not the right.. it’s the left.. you know the one with the huge bump on it!!”   Lol     Wow..   now the wait begins…

He was one really energetic dawg this morning.. I wonder if he knows what is happening.  I know, I know.. you all understand when I say this..   Yup.. I explained everything to him.  Told him why he was becoming a tripawd, that he would be pain free, cancer free but alas… unfortunately  not fart free!  I just hope he got it!

My hubby on the other hand.. well.. he was a bit of a basket case..  But once that call happens to say that everything is fine.. Franklin is good… albeit lost a little weight…  my hubby will be good to go I think.

Yesterday, Franklin spent the day at the Doggie Spaw!  Lost 2 lbs of hair I am sure!!  I figured he would enjoy being pampered by his groomer and he would look soooo handsome for his surgery today!  And my oh my, he does look handsome.. doesn’t he?  Now that he is shaved down, you can really see the tumor on his leg.

Of course, humor has helped me get through this..  and I will admit that there are times where I have a pretty sick sense of humor.

We were sitting there trying to come up with ideas of what to do with Franklin’s leg.  My son wanted to have it made into a back scratcher, my hubby said we should make it into a hat rack… or maybe a key holder.. could hang the car keys, etc off his nails if the paw was upside down…

My daughter was sitting there and I said.. Hey…   we should have his leg cremated and bring it home!  She just kind of looked at me with that “oh my gawd mother.. what are you going to do” look.  I then told her.. when the time comes that Franklin leaves us (which all animals do) then we could get him cremated, bring him home.. and mix the two together, shake him up and he is whole again!!

She called me sick….  (insert raised eyebrow here)

My hubby just called me with another suggestion…   a front door knocker….    Yup, he is sick as well.

Will post later on outcome….

Bark ‘atcha later