I know it's been a long time since I updated, but once Itzl came out of surgery, I needed both hands to hold him, to support his leg and his lolling head. I couldn't juggle Itzl in my lap and the netbook and hold him and type, too. But he's gone for some testing and I snuck home to care for Xoco for a bit.
He doesn't think he's doing fine, judging my his moans, but the surgeon assures me he's feeling no pain at all, that he's actually rather stoned on meds, andif he could talk, he'd be rambling about all kinds of weird things.
When I go back in a bit, I'll bring his favorite blankie.
I am not going to post the pictures of the surgery itself, for the squeamish, just some before and after pictures:
Nurse Jenny coming to take Itzl for surgery:
Unconscious and shaved (this is the grossest picture I'll post):
Just before he went under the knife:
As he was waking from the anesthesia:
Still not orange, but closer:
Stoned out of his little mind, he tried to alert on a passing siren. Impressed Nurse Jenny with his dedication to duty!
The stand down command finally penetrated and he collapsed back onto my arm:
I didn't put up the pictures of his ligament where it was out of its channel and trapped down the side of his leg instead of down the front of it and sliding under the kneecap, which was also out of place. He cut a deeper channel in the bone and sewed the ligament in place, then placed pins to strenghten the bone and keep the knee cap where it belongs.
So far, he's been too stoned to stand up to pee, so he's had to wet himself. When I go back later tonight, after I've spent a bit of time with Xoco, I hope he'll be steadier on his feet and can pee properly.
If all continues to go well, he'll get to come home tomorrow evening.
Thank you, all of you, for helping Itzl get this surgery. The vet says he should be able to walk better than before.
And his fur will grow back out.