Sunday, May 1st

Mac is doing fantastic....On Thursday, I was getting the dogs food ready and I heard a comotion in the living room, next thing I knew, Mac was in the hallway peeking at me in the kitchen. Food, the great motivator....he had gotten himself up on his own and walked, on his own...7 days after surgery...I would have never thought it would have been so soon....now today, three days later then his first time getting up, is doing it more, and walking around unassisted, goes outside...but before he gets to the stairs we put his harness on and help him down the stairs. Once down he is free to roam the yard...tonite he did a lot of investigating....loving life....and then when he is ready to go back in, he heads for the stairs. It is amazing the progress he has made...he is back to his old self....it is going to be so nice to WALK into the MSU Vet Hospital.....they will be so proud of him....

Baby steps....

I think Mac is doing well...Its been 7 days since his surgery. His incision is healing nicely, and his staples come out on Monday. His biggest challenge is getting up from a lying down position. He has come so close to getting up on his own. We are working on having him just sit, but most times he gets in that position, and he wants to get up. Mornings are a little wobbly still. He wears the harness and is guided gently, he is learning to keep his back legs spread apart, and not crossing them. Some days he goes right up or down the stairs, without hesitation, sometimes...he pauses at each step. He could be taking it easy, or enjoying the outdoors, or just doesn't need to *go outside*....we are practicing patients, sometimes the whole process on warming up his hips, putting his tee shirt and harness on, feeding, and walking outside takes the better part of an hour. He sometimes hurries so fast into the house I can barely keep up with him, straddling him like a horse, with one light hand on the harness. We find that food is a great motivator. If Don walks in front of him with a piece of apple, or dog bone..he practically runs into the livingroom..his run is a hop, hop, hop...ears a flopping... : )
He is smiling...and is a happy dog...

MAC IS HOME....

We went up to Michigan State this morning around 10:30 to get him.....he looked great....he walked assisted out to the car. Two of the Vet students put him in the car...and on the way home we said, "how are we going to get him out"....just as he has to learn, we have to learn. We did it...and we guided him on his walks outside....we were all a little wobbly at first, maybe *tried* too hard...we need to learn to let him rely on himself more, we need to hold back just a little so he can build his confidence...The last trip outside was around 10:30, and it went much better, I barely guided his back legs, Don had the harness...he even walks up the stairs....assisted of course. He will have to be assisted for probably a month or more...it is our new reality right now....and our priority....We are just so happy that he is home....

For Mac....

On Tuesday, April 19Th, 2011, our dog Mac had to undergo radical surgery. A year ago March he was diagnosed with a sheath tumor on his front left leg. We had it removed, however it came back, as they will do we later learned. This is a low grade cancer. When it came back it was three separate tumors, they grew fast, and eventually one ruptured. We had a decision to make. Say goodbye to our best friend of 15 years, or the ultimate cure; amputation. Because he is in good health and spirits and still *loving life* we decided on amputation. Surgery was done on April 19Th. at Michigan State Veterinary School, in Lansing, MI. He couldn't be in better hands. They have called us in the morning and evening with updates, because he is older it will take a little longer to recover. He is up walking with help, and eating. They say he has a great demeanor. He is a gentle, loving dog, who has a brother dog, and three cats at home. We recently had to say goodbye to two cats within the past 6 months; Jazzy and Spooky. Jazzy and Mac grew up together....
BAG-O-BONES the name of this blog will be a venture I will be starting soon. I will be making and selling dog bones for a donation to help incur the cost of Mac's medical bills. I hope to get the process in motion soon, so please check back for updates. Thanks for visiting...and please keep Mac in your prayers for a steady recovery.