Enough About Willie. What About Me?

Willie wasn't the only one who had surgery late last week. Trooper, our hound with the bent front legs, was always very "jowly," with thick folds of skin under his jaw. Recently we noticed some swelling there, but then it would disappear ... only to come back. It was soft, felt like fluid, wasn't painful, and didn't interfere with Trooper's eating or drinking.

But when it ballooned up again, making Trooper look like a pelican, we took him to our primary care vet clinic in Whitefield. They diagnosed it as a salivary mucocele, which means one or more saliva glands are damaged and don't drain properly. The fluid collects in pockets under the skin. To repair it -- by removing the damaged saliva glands -- requires a board-certified surgeon, which is why we took Trooper to see Dr. Josie Mallinckrodt, who did Willie's surgery.

She performed surgery on Trooper on Friday, and I drove over to  Burlington on Saturday to pick up Trooper and Willie and bring them back to the farm. Both are doing fine, by the way. Alayne and I took these photos of Trooper this afternoon.

Here's a close-up of Trooper's incision site:

Although quite a lot of the fluid drained out during the surgery, there is still some there that will continue to drain out over the next couple of weeks. You can see how fleshy he still is:

This boy has saliva glands left, don't worry. And as a drooling hound dog -- feeding him was always an exercise in not getting slobbered on! -- we joked that he could actually afford to lose a couple!

The question is, how did his saliva glands get damaged? The culprit, we believe, is Austin the blind Beagle, who shares Trooper's yard during the day. We had noticed in the past year that Austin had started "playing" with his Uncle Trooper's jowls ... he'd take the folds of skin in his mouth and gently chew and suck on them. And oddly, Trooper would let him. We didn't think anything of it. It wasn't until the swelling first appeared that it occurred to Alayne to ask, "Hey, I wonder if that's from Austin chewing on him?"

So when Willie and Trooper came home this weekend, we moved Austin to a different play yard. He's now with Louie the blind Beagle, Bugsy, and eventually Willie (Willie will be in the house most of the time over the next couple of weeks as he recovers).

Austin is one of those dogs who loves to chew on things. Over the years he has destroyed everything from countless beds, electric cords, chair legs, satellite TV cables (subsequently placed in metal conduit), and just about anything else he can find. Kongs and chew toys do not interest him. Generally only expensive "novelty" items will do. Apparently we have to add jowls to the list.

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Comments

[Lynne Parker]

I've read of dogs licking or trying to chew at what turned out to be cancerous growths on their owners. I wonder if the glands were damaged or precancerous and that is why Austin focused on them. He may have provided a cancer screening service for Trooper!

[Ann]

Trooper is so handsome, I just want to squish his face! I'm glad he's doing well and on the mend. He does look like he's had a facelift! I'm sure Austin will miss chewing on him...I hope he doesn't chew too badly on Louie, Bugsy or Willie :)

[Diane Borden, Chehalis, WA]

Perhaps someone should craft a big twisted rope knot toy for Austin, only not in the cotton thread we usually find in the pet stores, but with yards and yards of electrical cord!! Well, on second thot, the metal strands inside might hurt him, but it sounds as if cords are a real favorite.

So good to hear some good news about recoveries from surgery in your pack. You two need some up days after the recent losses.

[Kathleen Rivard]

I have always adored Trooper and wished I had a bigger home so I could adopt him, but small home, small dogs! Trooper looks like he has had a "face lift"!! :) :) What a beautiful nature he must have. I bet he misses his 2 adoring gals, the poodle sisters. I bet they never chewed his face!!! Smooches...

[Chloe]

Gosh Trooper. This is one for the medical books I would think. Austin will find something else to chew on now. You just get rested all better!!

[Mary H./Washington state]

What a "trooper!" Sorry, I just couldn't let it pass...happy he is home and soon will be feeling 100%. Love the idea of the metal conduit for cable protection.

[Kathy Hertzel]

I'm sending Trooper best wishes for his recovery. Both he & Willie are going to feel so special these next few weeks they'll both think they are the kings of the kingdom up there.

[Barb Ribinski]

That's such a sin - Austin playing and chewing on Trooper's face. What a gentle dog Trooper must be to let him do it. So glad that both he and Willie are home and doing fine. And Austin sounds like a rascal with all that chewing.

[Shirley * James/Portland, OR]

Trooper you are so adorable and we are glad you are doing well. Austin you silly boy! LOVE seeing that goof balls wonderful face. WE LOVE YOU TROPPIE!!!

[Ev]

Poor baby. I hope he feels better soon.
Voting voting voting

[Vicki Thauvin]

Glad everyone is healing! Who woulda thunk jowls fell under "expensive and novelty" category. LOL

[Lynn (in Louisiana)]

So glad to see my homeboy is still at the farm and doing okay. Thanks for the update!