The Stitches Are Gone!

"Is it going to hurt?"

Another milestone was reached this morning... Taylor's stitches were removed by the fabulous Dr. Burns!

The incision has healed so nicely... it's not as "Frankenstein-like" as the last one - and the small opening even looks a bit like a paw print. Once it's healed, it should blend in for the most part. You should only see the larger scar from the part that is a bit open and still a work in progress. It will be interesting to watch his fur... I suspect that it is going to grow a bit funny by the scar. It's almost like you took a section from the middle of a patterned fabric and then sewed it back together... it fits pretty good, but it's a little off. It will be cute!

"Where are you taking me? Not the table!"

No achievement is without a challenge at our house... we do have a minor infection of the area that opened up a bit. We were able to get the stitches removed from that location - but it is red and slightly oozy. So, we are back on Clavamox (antibiotics) for another week. It's almost funny - we have definitely learned to prepare for the unexpected. If Taylor can resist the temptation of licking he can continue without the cone when supervised... so far he is doing well. But, he will be coned when unsupervised at least until the opening heals up a bit more.

It was a bit strange sitting in the waiting room today. It brought me back to June when we were beginning this journey. The memories of the tests, surgeries and conversations about cancer all came back to me. It was easy to think when you first hear "soft tissue sarcoma" and "proximal neuro-sheath tumor" - that this was the end of the world and a worse case scenario. We have come so far this summer. As we all know, the vet visits won't end even though the tumor cells were removed... in fact we even scheduled our first check-up (of many) in a month. I wasn't lucky enough to get this one scheduled on a Saturday... but I didn't want to press my luck.

While paying (or at least trying to - technology wasn't on my side this morning), I saw a handout for the Canine Caner Walk in Estes Park this weekend... although Taylor is only a sit and stay participant I need to remind myself to get our cute bandannas out and have the boys start wearing them. We need to support this great cause and do our own walk - even if it is only around the back yard! Maybe I'll even submit photos of our own walk to the photo contest... the boys are so cute, they may just win!