It's Leap Day!

I'm not really sure what Leap Day is, but I'm not going to worry about it.  I have sunshine on my shoulder and life is good.

Joey,
The Greyhound Who Is Very Content

Ourdoor Toys?

Yesterday, I decided to take my large hedgehog outside for some sun.  As I was laying there, I thought that it would be fun to toss him around in the yard.  Mama told me that I was getting him all dirty.  She asked if I wanted my outdoor toys.  I didn't know I had outdoor toys.   I was only here a week before I was put on restrictions, so I don't think I ever had a chance to play with them. Mama brought out the toys.  One ball has a rope attached to it.  She thought I would like it best, but I'm not really sure what to do with it.  She put the rope in my mouth and I just dropped it.  Scout came out to investigate and she put the rope in Scout's mouth and she dropped it.  Mama laughed at us.  I like the blue ball better.  I'm still trying to figure out how to play with it, but I like it.

The green fence you see in the picture is just the fence that keeps me out of the main yard.  It's not the fence that is holding me in the yard.   It will probably come down or be expanded after my surgery. 

Our weather is supposed to be good all week, so I plan on spending as much time as possible outside.

Joey,
The Greyhound Who Has Outdoor Toys

Tired Today

Thank you to everyone for your words of support about my upcoming surgery.  Mama was upset over it Saturday night.  She feels really sad that I am going to have another surgery and she hates putting me through it.  However, she thinks it is necessary for me to have a normal life.   I hurt my foot two weeks ago and it is just getting back to normal.  That's what happens.  I bang my foot or whatever I do and it takes 2-3 weeks for it to get better again.  The vet agreed with Mama that the plate and screws could be bothering me.  The x-rays didn't show any problems, so it's not like a screw has backed out.  I just don't have much "padding" between the plate and my skin.  If taking the plate out doesn't help, I will just have to take pain medication.  We are very hopeful that it will help. Plus, it's not good for the bone to grow over the plate which is already happening.  Mama just wants it to be over with and hopes that I'm not in pain for very long after the surgery.  If the staples come out in 10-14 days, don't you think I will be feeling okay by then?   I think I will just be really bruised for a few days.  Why are they using staples instead of stitches that dissolve?  I told you Mama asks lots of questions, but she didn't think of that one until we got home.  We wish my surgery could be sooner, but my vet has conferences to attend next week and he was booked up this week.

Yesterday, I was tired from my vet visit.  They took an x-ray and then they took blood and did an EKG to make sure I was ready for surgery.  I didn't realize how tiring it was until the next day.  However, when Daddy asked if we wanted to go to the park, I was ready.  He said I could jump in the Jeep myself, so that was cool.  We went to the state park near our house.  We walked in the woods which is my favorite thing to do.  We didn't walk as far as we had on Monday, but it was enough.  My vet was impressed that I walked a mile on Monday and it didn't bother me.  After our walk, we drove through the park and looked for other dogs and deer.  We only saw one dog.  Mama kept telling me what a good boy I was in the Jeep.  I didn't whine like I normally do.  After we got home, everyone but Mama took naps.  At dinner time, Mama said she had a coupon for a free pizza and asked if we wanted to go with her to get it.  OH BOY!  TWO RIDES IN ONE DAY!  I was a good boy again and didn't whine.  Mama commented that I seemed to have changed in the last week.  I've become more loving, a little calmer and I was riding better in the Jeep.  Am I growing up?  Maybe, maybe not.  LOL  Mama said she hopes I continue being this good.  I'm not saying what is going on because I have to keep her guessing. 

This morning, I am still tired, but that's normal for a Monday.  I look for rabbits whenever I go outside.  How do you like my stand?  Mama liked that my tail was up somewhat like a Pointer. I had been sitting in the yard, but stood up when Mama pointed the camera at me.  Those darn bunnies drive me crazy!  

Wow, this was a long post.  I need to get in a nap before I move to the deck for another nap.

Joey,
The Greyhound Who Is Going To Teach Those Bunnies A Lesson Soon

The Plate Is Coming Out

I'm back from my doctor's visit.  He took an x-ray of my leg/foot and everything looks good.  All the screws are still in place.  There is a extremely small gap between the top of the plate and my leg.  The bone is starting to grow over the plate in one place.  He said that wouldn't be a problem though during surgery.  He agreed with Mama that the plate and the screws could be bothering me since there isn't much there between them and my skin.  Mama is big on asking questions and finally she asked the one that made up her mind.  She asked him what he would do if it was his dog.  He said he would take the plate out.  She was pretty sure before that answer, but if he would have said he wouldn't do it, she would have had to really think hard about it.  She doesn't want me to have surgery, but she also wants to give me the best chance of living a pain-free life.  She and the vet are also concerned about the bone growing over the plate.

There is a concern that she never thought about and that is that there could be an infection living under the plate and when the plate is removed, it could run wild.  The vet will send off a bacterial culture right away and hopefully it comes back okay.  Yep, something else for Mama to worry about.

The surgery is set for March 13th.  I will spend one night in the hospital.  I will come home with staples and they will come out in 10-14 days.  Oh, I will also be shaved in several places again.  They are going to give me an epidural so a spot on my back with be shaved this time.  I'm going to look like a patchwork quilt again.

I am no longer on any restrictions!  However, that ends on March 13th when I get to start all over again.  It won't be as bad as last time though.   I don't think I'm going to do any real running until I'm all healed.  My leg hurts when I have taken off in the house and it's just not worth it.  I am able to get in and out of the Jeep on my own now, so that's really cool.  That, of course, will end when I have my surgery.

Remember how I looked when I came home from the hospital in September.  I looked pretty sad back then.  This surgery will not be as bad, but I'm still going to be shaved again.  Yikes!

In about a month, this should all be over with and I will be able to run and place like a regular greyhound.  Roo Roo!  

Joey
The Greyhound Who Is Going To Be Plateless Soon

Today Is My Check-Up

I forgot to tell everyone yesterday that Mama said thank you for all the birthday wishes.  She spent the day working on a sewing project.  She wasn't feeling quite right, so she didn't have pizza.  She seems to be better today.

We showed Daddy our rooing video.  He thought it was cute until we starting rooing live.  He turned off our video and told us to be quiet.  I told you he was the fun police.  We are still happy that he is home though.

Today is my check up with the vet.  I am ready to go now, but my appointment is not until this afternoon.  I think we should go to the park, but Mama said it is too windy and cold today.  It's going to be 45 later today, but tomorrow it will be 60.  In a normal winter, we would be excited about 45 degrees, but we are spoiled this year.  Our daffodils have already bloomed.

I guess that is about it for day.  I'm just counting the minutes until I get to see my friends at the doctor's office.

Joey,

The Greyhound Who Is Whining Because He Wants To Go To The Doctor Now