Bionic Basenji

I had a very silly post planned for today, but instead I'd like to tell you about the new foster boy I took into my home on September 9th. I've already blogged a bit about him on my website...you can get up to date and read his story by visiting here.

Yesterday Pona went back to the vet to have another surgery, which included removing his cast and installing an external fixator. My vet, Dr. Blatt, didn't think that the pin and cast combination was enough to really stabilize the bone. (Stabilizing a dog femur is tricky...the cast can never really go high enough.) My vet is so awesome. He is sympathetic to the fact that Pona is a rescue and funds are limited, so he did this surgery at no cost to BRAT. (Feather & Fur Animal Hospital in Austin, Texas!) This is Pona's new xray, fixator installed. Bionic Dog!

I picked up Pona after his surgery at about 5:30 in the afternoon. We got home, and I put him straight into his crate to sleep. If you've never seen a dog on morphine, you've never heard this sad song...

He's really okay. It's the morphine that makes him moan like that. Here's a very sweet photo...my alpha, Ike, normally hates the crate. But last night he insisted on staying in there with Pona. He cleaned Pona's eyes and ears and stayed close to him.

Here's the story from last night, as real-time as I can type it out...

At about 7pm, after only being home for a short time, Pona started to get very restless in the crate. He was so drugged and stumbling around, so I tried to calm him down and encourage him to fall asleep. I left the room for a quick moment, then came back to find him pooping in the crate, and then I knew exactly why he was so restless. Ugh! I should have known! So I open the crate door to get him out of there so I can clean it up, but he was busy peeing at that time. Like, a gallon. I finally get him out, and realize that he has stepped in the poop and is now trying out his new bionic leg while stumbling around and tracking poop all over the house.

I scooped him up and took him to the bathroom to clean his feet, then I grab a dog bed from my office and use my foot to scoot it into the front room (while I'm still carrying Pona), so that I can set Pona down and watch him while I clean things up. I pick up what mess I can with a plastic bag, take out the blanket and throw it into the garage for a wash, then I grab a rag and get down on my hands and knees to clean the floor. Poor Pona is moaning in his bed the whole time.

While I was cleaning (and not to be outdone), Tippy freaks out and pees on the dog bed in the spare bedroom. Really, Tippy? I picked up that dog bed and threw it into the garage with the rest of it.

Once everything was clean, I picked up the moaning Pona. His body relaxed in my arms, and he was quiet for the first time all evening. After a couple of minutes of cuddles, he fell asleep. We sat that way until about 10pm. I was able to set him on the sofa, where he continued sleeping. I poured myself a glass of wine, because I deserved it.

Here he is this morning. He's a little nervous about trying out his bionic leg, but it isn't painful when he does. The vet says that there is no need for me to restrict his movements anymore - it's going to be a good day!

I'm sure I'll have another update on Pona in my post next month. In the meantime, you can follow Pona on my website as well as my fickr page.