Here’s a video of Griffin from April 6:
Griffin has been recovering very well, peeing and pooping regularly, getting around better every day, and eating (with coaxing) each day. However, the last 3 nights, he has been very restless and unable to settle down, panting but not seeming to be in pain. Yesterday I emailed his surgeon to ask for help and he suggested taking Griffin off all of his meds (hydromorphone, galliprant, and gabapentin), so I did not give him the evening doses. Last night was the worst, with shaking and heart pounding (similar to how he reacts during thunderstorms) until 4am. [Side note – I found out several days later that there were fireworks being set off that night – not sure how I didn’t hear them, but it explains Griffin’s reaction since he is terrified of fireworks! Poor boy!] However, today is a different story and he has done well. He was acting uncomfortable around noon and I gave him one gabapentin. His surgeon agrees that keeping him on gabapentin every 12 hours might be the tweak to his meds that he needed. Griffin had been on galliprant and gabapentin for 2 weeks prior to surgery, so I’m wondering if the hydromorphone (an opiate) was causing the issues. Fingers crossed that we have an easy night tonight – I need some sleep!
Things in NYC are surreal due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was actually the perfect time for Griffin’s recovery as I am working from home and we are under orders to stay indoors except for occasional exercise, so I’m content to hang out with my boy 24/7 and binge on TV viewing.
xoxo Stacy
Griffin gets stronger and steadier each day!
Griffin’s incision is healing really nicely. His surgeon used dissoluble stitches internally so that we wouldn’t have to return to the hospital just to have them removed. I was surprised by the bruising that spread down his torso to his groin, but the surgeon said that is normal and is more noticeable on light colored dogs.
I know he is not supposed to climb on furniture, but Griffin has mastered getting up on the couch and my bed (which is fairly low to the ground) and I don’t have the heart to keep him off when he has always been allowed to snuggle.
