Jackanory Part 17 - Boris Update

Update on Boris's recent Surgery

I had a couple of unpublished posts I'd started to write but not got around to posting as I've just been so busy with taking dad to hospital for the numerous scans in preparation for his Radiotherapy treatment next week

I opted to write this update in our Jackanory Stories that runs alongside the main blog, as the dates were just so out of sync with  the blog now

30th December 2022

Boris is off to the vets for his Librela injection today, plus we'll be discussing his upcoming surgery as to whether it'll now be as safe as possible due to his heart condition to remove the tumour on his back leg growing on one of his lymph nodes, also the large one that's growing under his ribs as well as two other lumps that felt somewhat strange in texture

If we do decide he's now fit enough to go ahead and remove these tumours, we'll also be getting some x-rays done of his elbows, spine and hips for an up to date picture on the progression of his Arthritis 

 Tania his vet will also be checking his teeth and inside his mouth to see if there's a medical reason for his excessive drooling like a blocked salivary gland

I've always assumed Boris's excessive drooling was caused by an accidental injury he sustained when he and Eko were playing and his cheek muscle got mysteriously ripped open inside his mouth and he needed surgery to repair it

Photo Description:- A head and shoulders shot of Boris looking at the camera on a cold winter's day wearing his green fleece jersey, his mouth is open and hanging off his tongue is a long thick strand of drool

It would be good if it turns out to be just a blocked saliva gland and easily fixed, his drool gets everywhere and isn't very pleasant when he wipes his mouth all over you, but we still love him even if it does make us feel a bit ill when he does it lol

19th January 2023

Apologies it's taken so long to post an update on Boris, life kind of took over for a bit

I'm pleased to say Boris has recovered really well from his surgery, although he is feeling somewhat miffed about having to wear a fat collar to stop him from licking his stitches

Photo Description:- Boris laying curled up on his bed and looking a bit miffed, around his neck he's wearing a large inflatable green collar

The four lumps that were causing concerns have all been removed and sent off for testing 

My fears that Boris would have most of his fur shaved off along his right side and off his left back leg were unfounded

It's been my experience in the past when surgeries have been done at different vets with various dogs over the years that they've been shaved approx 6" all around the surgical site

I'm pleased to say our experience at our new vet practice has been very different, if you look closely you can just about see the two areas he was shaved on his right side, it's also the same on his back leg.

I was almost in tears when I saw that his beautiful coat had been preserved

The x-rays showed that Boris's elbows although bad with arthritis haven't changed a huge amount since his last elbow x-rays approx 3 years ago

The x-rays of Boris's spine showed that he now has the early stages of Osteo Spondylosis, at this point in time it's only minor but as it progresses it will potentially start fusing his vertebrae together

But the biggest kicker of the day was discovering that Boris now has extremely advanced arthritis in his left hip, when I saw the x-ray I was shocked at the difference between them

Photo Description:- The x-ray taken of Boris's hips showing the arthritis forming on the ball joint of his left hip

I'm no expert at reading x-rays but it was so glaringly obvious that there was something very wrong, before his vet even had a chance to start telling me the result, I was said "OMG that looks horrendous!"

I only asked for the x-rays to be proactive to his current arthritis situation rather than reactive in the hope we can avoid Boris needing another anesthetic for at least another couple of years

So in conclusion we now have an up to date picture of Boris's arthritis, we already have a great multi modal pain management plan in place so there's no need to change anything at this point in time

Boris's teeth and mouth are in excellent health with no cracks or build up of any plague on his teeth. It was found that one of his salivary glands had indeed been damaged and wasn't blocked, so nothing could be done about his excessive drooling, it's just another part of Boris's wonderful personality 

We have our post op check at the vets tomorrow and it's all fingers and paws crossed that when his biopsy results come back in a couple of weeks time that they'll be benign

To be continued....

This post is linked too:-

Zoolatry Sunday Selfie 

Comedy Plus Happy Tuesday

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