After five days in the surgery hospital in Spokane, Kodiak came home to the ranch this evening. (See original post on his surgery here.) Jerry Black, our fabulous volunteer who makes so many trips for us, drove to Spokane today to pick him up.
We slid Kodiak out of Jerry's truck on some bedding and gently set him down on the porch at Widget's House, our disabled dog building. Jerry helped me while I washed him up. Kodiak wanted to go for a walk, but his legs just wouldn't work at all ... we tried again and no luck. So we helped him pee, I cleaned him up again, and then we moved him over to his bed on the porch.
The surgeon had cautioned us that Kodiak would be very weak and might not be able to walk after the surgery ... that it might take days or weeks for him to get back to where he was before the surgery. And there's a possibility he might never return to even that compromised level. This evening his legs just folded up underneath him, and he couldn't pull them out by himself.
Despite all this, Kodiak was very happy to be back at the ranch. He drank lots of water, ate a full dinner, and ... as you can see in the photo above ... he enjoyed surveying his domain again from the porch. (He had no idea I had stuffed his meal with several medications.)
Even though the surgeon couldn't fix his problem, the operation was still a major one. It opened his back right down to the sheath surrounding his spinal cord. This is what his back looks like now. The patch contains a transdermal pain medication. We'll take Kodiak to our local vets to have his stitches removed in two weeks.
Of course, we had really hoped the surgery would help him walk again, but we knew there was a chance his condition wasn't operable. Now our goal will be to keep him clean and comfortable. We know his neurological problem is progressive, and only time will tell how far it will advance. For now, we're going to help him enjoy his life the best he can. We can tell he isn't ready to give up, and so neither are we.
My feels are the same as the other's...such a gentle giant. It's good to see him back on the porch.
Posted by: Karen/SA,TX | August 29, 2005 at 06:39 PM
It's hard to believe that he is still smiling so pretty and content when you look at that massive incision.
He must know how much he is loved.
Posted by: Mandy, Laramie, WY | August 29, 2005 at 05:10 PM
Thanks so much to Jerry for safely transporting Kodiak back to the ranch. It's great to hear that he's drinking and eating. Love to Kodiak and all of the other great animals there.
Posted by: Roz | August 28, 2005 at 07:54 PM
Welcome Home Kodiak !
Posted by: Leigh | August 28, 2005 at 01:02 AM
Thanks to Jerry for getting Kodiak back to the ranch. I'm glad he's drinking and eating heartily. That boy's been through a lot but he's in the best possible place. Love to Kodiak and all the animals at RDRAS.
Posted by: Roz | August 27, 2005 at 11:40 PM
The last line tells it all. Thank you for your love for him. Welcome back, Kodiak! Here is a bunch of ear scratches.
Posted by: Jean/Nevada | August 27, 2005 at 10:06 PM