Fourth (and Final?) Surgery

Back in early January, our mobile dog groomer (you know that sketch van that drives around town that pulls up to your house, "grooms" your dog, and return him/her shaking 20 minutes later) asked me if I knew there was a fatty tumor on Parker's chest.  Do I ever pet my dog anymore to even notice that he had a tennis ball sized growth between his neck and chest?  Nope.  Shame on me and us for not noticing.  But thank you dog groomer for pointing this out to us!  She said she has seen a lot of dogs through her years as a groomer and this kind of thing is common in older dogs and cockers.  She thought it was worth mentioning to his vet on his next visit.

Conveniently, Parker had a follow-up appointment at the vet for a bacterial skin infection the following week, so Jason brought up the tumor.  The vet was 99% sure it was a fatty tumor and typically they do not remove them, but since this one was so big and near vital organs, he felt it should be taken out before it caused major issues.  He could do it, but if he got in there and it was too difficult for him to remove based on proximity to major blood vessels and organs, he would sew him back up and recommend a specialist (more expensive).

Decisions, decisions.

Jason and I have joked about not paying for a major surgery if Parker needed one.  Terrible, I know.  Would we choose to say "nah, you don't need to live much longer" and forgo a surgery to prolong life for our children?  Absolutely not.  So we decided to skip the cheaper option, using the regular vet, and go right to the expensive dog surgeon to take care of the tumor in one surgery.  And there goes the much needed tax return needed to buy food and cover our Verizon bill...

I was complaining about Parker's needed surgery at a mom's group event shortly after this appointment.  Another mom quickly chimed in that she had a great dog surgeon who wasn't board certified so it made her cheaper.   Done.  We would go through with the surgery and I had a surgeon.  Check!

A few weeks later, I took Parker in for his consult.  Dr. Walesby is great.  The way she calmed down my panting-like-he-is-ready-to-have-a-heart-attack dog put me at ease.  In fact, my 30 minute consult was the most relaxing part of my day; the kids were at home with a babysitter.   Wow, what a difference it makes to take your dog for a check up instead of your kids.  I didn't mind one bit if Parker licked the floor, picked up random specks of dust from the floor, or sprawled out on the floor.  Typically I am breaking a sweat keeping all of my children's body parts for touching any surface that might have icky germs on it.

Parker went in the next morning for his surgery.  Thank you Jason for doing that difficult job for us.  He said Parker watched him walk out of the building with sad eyes.  And that my friends, it how we ended up with a dog in the first place!  Those sad, make-my-heart-melt eyes with the slight head tilt that makes give the cocker spaniel its name.

Dr. Walesby informed us after surgery that it was best that we had the mass removed.  She had to scrap it off his veins and muscle.  She had to do a little bit of reconstruction once she was finished cleaning it off.  She felt she got all of it.  Parker was sown up with 11 staples :(  He spent the night at the vet (THANK GOODNESS!) and came home the next afternoon.

Parker was so happy to be home.  The kids were excited to see him too.  His incision looked pretty nasty and as expected, Parker was scratching at it with his hind legs.  We needed a t-shirt or something to deter him from opening the wound.  The best idea was to use Jason's undershirt and a hairband...

Parker rocks the 80s look

Parker was put on a 3 week exercise restriction (no walks, no stairs, no jumping, no running...), which is actually fairly easy since we have to leash him to go out to the bathroom, he is a lazy dog anyways, and he likes his crate.  The more difficult tasks were to ice the wound three times a day for 15 minutes, for 4 days, then do the same thing for another 3 days, but use heat.  Are you kidding me?  I think he let us put a bag of frozen peas on him for 15 minutes TOTAL over 4 days.   Worst dog parents ever.

His shirt got upgraded multiple times over the three weeks

A practically free dog Halloween costume
from Petsmart.  He's Peter Pan in case
you couldn't tell

It's a little tight... it lasted about 4 days

The Richard's gave us a small boy
t-shirt which was perfect!

As you see, the jumping restriction only lasted about a week before we gave up and let him on the couch.  That's his favorite spot to sleep.  He liked watching Lady and The Tramp with Evie on lazy afternoons

Now that I have a cocker, Lady is spot on to how
Parker acts.  Good job Disney.

Three weeks to do the day, Parker returned to Dr. Walesby and received a good bill of health.  The mass was just a fatty one and surgery was the solution.  He had his stitches removed and was cleared to be a "normal" dog again!

You can't even tell where he was opened!

The only reminder of his surgery is his goofy haircut.  They shaved half of his body and some of his legs.

The t-shirt nicely covered his bad hair-do

You can see where he had his IV 

Even though he looks a little funny, he still
has amazingly soft and beautiful fur!

Parker lives to see another day... and another 7 years.  Our pup is about halfway through his expected life.  As much as we hope this is the last surgery (after two eye surgeries and being neutered), I have a feeling there will be a few more things down the road.   We are glad to have our faithful friend back to his normal self.