Nelson’s eye surgery for eversion of the third eyelid was a week ago today, so we are on day seven of ten days wearing a cone. To say this has been a rough week would be an understatement. Trying to keep a healthy, normally active, one year old hound quiet for ten days is nearly impossible.
Last Thursday wasn’t so bad because the little guy was still full of anesthesia and pain meds, so he was perfectly fine with a cone and sleeping non stop. His eyes looked pretty sore as they were all red. Mom couldn’t even tell if the third eyelids looked better or not.
Friday the real challenge got started. Mom gave him the medicine from the vet to make him sleepy, but it didn’t seem to work at all. We have him in the big “playpen” in the living room. He was standing on his back paws pushing the entire thing all around. It was more like the quiet meds made him wilder than usual! The vet office called and said it would be fine to give Nelson a higher dose which did help, but only for a few hours.
Day two, Saturday, was the absolute worst day so far. Nelson was just wild and would not settle down. Mom put him in a crate while she walked Olivia and he opened up the cone. Next she put him in a different crate and walked Bailie. This time he chewed the tabs off the cone and it was open again! If he scratches his eyes he can do real damage, so this is a big problem. Mom called the neighbor and he gave us some duct tape to hold the cone together.
The situation was bad as Mom was going to see Gramma and to a birthday party after that. What would she do with this maniac? On the drive, they stopped at the vet to get a new cone. Mom told Nelson the cost would come out of his treat account.
Of course, the medicine didn’t really make him tired, so he was fighting in his kennel most of the day. Finally at the party he fell asleep for a short time.
Sunday he napped a bit more here and there and was not quite as destructive or wild as the previous two days, thankfully! His eyes are also starting to look better.
Mom lets him out of the playpen for short amounts of time a few times a day, and at night, he is in the bedroom with us, but the cone is always on. He really wants to go outside and run and play.
As the days go by, Nelson seems resigned to a lousy life in a playpen with a cone, but he doesn’t understand why. He is napping more in the afternoon at least.
His eyes continue to look better and they don’t seem to bother him at all. Still, the cone stays on for the full ten days.
The new challenge is the snow. Nelson insists on sticking his head in the snow and dragging the cone along filling it with snow. Since we are in the midst of a huge snowstorm, this can’t be avoided. All of us will be so thankful the moment that cone comes off our brother. It sure has been a huge challenge!
My GBGV Life is joining Brian’s Home Blog in the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
What a challenge this has been for you and your family, Nelson. You’re almost there, buddy. Hang in there just a little bit longer!
The challenge is real around here and it starts the minute we wake up. Poor little guy, he just needs to give in and relax, but we are giving up on that hope after a week. Only a couple more days.
that is a clever way to get rid of the cone when you fill it with snow like a kong… nelson we wish you all the best for the last 3 days with the cone and we hope for super good news from your mama and from your vet
The good news is that I don’t have to go back to the vet unless Mom sees something wrong. My eyes should just heal, ad the stitches will dissolve on their own in 3-4 weeks. We are so looking forward to getting rid of the cone!
Nelson, you look so sad. Only a couple more days and it will be gone.
He is sad because he is a happy guy who loves to play and he can’t. Once the cone is off, he will forget it all and be back to himself.
Hang in there Nelson. It’s just as hard for your mom.
Sending healing hugs. ♥
It’s hard for all of us, but we will make it. Just a couple more days.
I feel so sad for my cone head friend. He just doesn’t understand the cone or the isolation. I would possibly be just as cranky and annoyed! Just a few more days until freedom! XOXO, Sparkle
He isn’t really cranky, just kind of sad. There isn’t much anyone can do with him because the cone is always in the way. He has enjoyed flexi leash walks down the block and back. Mom lets him romp a bit and it feels good to him. Sunday afternoon Mom will remove the cone.
Don’t know who to be more sorry for – you or Nelson! but only 2.5 more days!!!
Mom feels so very bad since he is such a happy, playful, paws on kind of guy and now he is stuck doing nothing. But, his eyes are looking good and hopefully they will never give him trouble again.
He will be so happy. You have more will power than I do. Ifitwas my dog it would have been off already n
The dr said a lot of people take it off earlier and their dog scratches or rubs the eyes and they end up having surgery to repair the damage. Mom wants to go through this once and only once plus it is a lot of money to have surgery and we would rather not spend it on surgery, so she is holding firm to the ten days. Her guess is that 7 is probably enough but they say 10 to make sure it is not too soon.
As I mentioned on an earlier post, I do not envy you!! The two weeks Levi had to wear a cone (on and off) were complete hell!!!! You’re almost out of the woods. Hoping you are all ok, I saw you got SLAMMED with a ton of snow! Be safe!
The snow is great, but we are sad that Nelson can’t come out and play, that is really tough. We are getting down to the final cone days and it will be so sweet when the little guy can get back to his fun life!
You’re in the home stretch now Nelson….Hang in there!!!
xoxo,
Rosy and Sunny
He is starting to give up hope we think. All of us feel so sorry for him, but we know it will be back to normal soon.
This is one of those times when the thankful will be when it’s over!
Taking that cone off can’t come soon enough for our whole family!
ugh! the cone can be so awful! Hang in there! You are almost there. Its so important so that everything works from the surgery. good luck!! Your friends Lilly and Chester
Mom is very strict about it staying on 24/7 for the full ten days. We can’t wait to take it off Sunday.
Just think how happy you all will be after day 10, that’s a good excuse for a celebration party! Thanks for joining our Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
That will be the best thing, and it can’t come soon enough. Nelson is driving us all crazy.
We all hate cones! We feel for Nelson and we do hope that he everything is successful and he does not have to wear another cone! We think a pawty with loads of dog running outside is on his agenda! Purrs Marvelous Marv
We are really looking forward to him getting that thing off. Sometimes it is more of a weapon than anything around here!
Purrty soon you’ll be looking back on this and how fast it went by :-). Happy healing! xo
That is what we keep telling ourselves, but in the moment it seems like forever.
Awwww what a sweetheart and pretty darn patient too! Hugs to all!
Mom says I am doing well for a normally crazy young boy.
Coning is always a struggle from the dog who wears it to the family that must put up with all manner of trying to get rid of it. On the plus side, Nelson’s eyes look pretty doggone great. Just a few more days…hopefully they’ll go quick and he can get back to being a busy but happy boy.
Today is the last day and we are all looking forward to saying good bye to this dreadful cone!