Mr. Lava had another follow-up visit with Dr. Morrison on Wednesday and the results were very encouraging!  Dr. M is pleased with Lava’s bone growth and removed another pin from his external fixator device.  He is doing so well that Dr. M doesn’t want to see Lava for four weeks!  At this rate, our boy MIGHT have his fixator removed by his next visit, and we are being cautiously optimistic.

Lava did experience some bleeding later that evening at the pin site, but his foster family quickly brought it under control and he is doing fine now.  He also continues to have some pain management issues, but that is improving as well.  Lava’s foster family continues to work on his physical therapy, and he remains a goofy, happy pup!  He also seems to receive more visitors than the Skis do and is a gracious host.

A little Lava update for y’all.  He’s been very goofy and playful today.  We’ve figured out if we put his food bowl on the floor, he has to bend down and put weight on his injured leg.  Also, I gave him an interactive treat thing with the rope on it.  He has to bend over to reach it and get the treats out.  This too causes him to put weight on that leg.  Hey, whatever it takes!  He’s putting more and more weight on that leg every day.

Lava has also turned into the Hot Dog Monster!  He’s a stubborn boy who doesn’t always like to go outside when he’s trying to nap, but he has discovered that hot dogs are the greatest treat since… well, since dog treats were invented.  Now he’s willing to follow his foster dad anywhere… including the shower!

Here is a note from Lava-java’s foster pop:  “I don’t know where Lava would be today if it were not for all the volunteers and supporters of GEGR - the volunteers who put out the change buckets at events and Meet & Greets, and the compassionate people and Greyhound lovers who reach into their pockets, purses, and wallets to donate to the cause.  Lava wouldn’t have the shot at being a normal Greyhound without you.

Sleep well tonight, Folks.  You did good.  Very Good.”  

Lava had an appointment with Dr. Morrison on Friday, and the news was very good!  Despite his resistance to using his leg, he has been building up the bone density at the fracture site.  Dr. Morrison was very pleased with his progress, so Lava’s foster family will continue his strength-building exercises.  One area of concern is the weakness that Lava has developed in his ankle, so they will work on that as well.  Stay tuned for more pictures!

I think he’s getting more comfortable…

Look at them eyes!

May 16 - Lava had an uneventful trip from MASH to his new digs yesterday.  He laid his head in my lap for a little nap on the way home.  When we got home, he took two steps on his sore leg.  He looked down at it as if he were saying to his leg, “What’s up with you?”

The meeting with the “Goof Troop” went well, and they all have been very respectful of each other. When I took him out this morning, Chaos came by for a howdy sniff.  Chaos created a small choke point where Lava couldn’t get to the door.  When Chaos realized what was going on, he backed up to allow Lava to pass giving him ample room and watched as Lava hopped to the door.  Lava handled the ramp like a champ both up and down.  He also dealt with the rain in Chaos’ rain coat just fine.  Hank (the resident kitty) came out this morning and gave him a sniff.  She feels comfortable enough to climb back on her window perch right next to Lava’s area.  She is a good judge of dogs, so I feel comfortable saying he’s cat safe for now.

Lava has had some problems with vomiting in the last week or so.  He had a good dinner last night of chicken and rice and this morning of chicken, rice and noodles without any stomach issues.  He’s drinking fine, but we’ve limited the amount of water and plenty of time between food and water.  He’s lying back enjoying the soothing sounds of the 40’s on XM, and as he was lying down we heard the reassuring sigh of contentment.

So far so good…

On Wednesday, May 14, Lava had a follow-up visit with his surgeon, Dr. Morrison.  Dr. Morrison was pleased overall with Lava’s progress and took out the outer portion of the external fixator device.  The bone growth at the break site is not healing as quickly as he would like, so Lava was given a stern talking-to about putting weight on his leg and building up his bone density in order to avoid a bone graft surgery.

Unfortunately, Lava had another set-back later that evening when he began bleeding at the same pin site as before.  When the hemorrhaging couldn’t be stopped, Dr. Mac and George rushed him to MASH in Huntingtown for emergency surgery.  After some difficulty isolating the source of the bleeding, the doctors found an injured blood vessel that began to bleed freely once the pin was removed.  They tied it off, and despite the loss of blood, Lava did not require a blood transfusion.  He was able to go home the following day.

Ted and Cindy Ski are taking over Phase 3 of Operation Foster Lava to give the Nussbergers a much-deserved break.  They and Lava-java have been through a lot together, and GEGR is so greytful for everything they’ve done.  The Skis picked him up from MASH the next day and settled him into a nice spot by a window at their house.  On Friday, Cindy changed Lava’s dressing and all looked good. 

A HUGE thank-you to Dr. Mac, Nussbergers, and MASH for acting quickly and taking care of our Lava boy!  His situation was very grave but he’s got a great team rallying for him!  Special thanks too to the Skis for relieving the Nussbergers at this point in Lava’s foster care.  Hopefully this is the last of the setbacks for that special boy.   

Lava made an urgent visit to see his surgeon, Dr. Morrison on Monday April 28th. While “vacationing” at Greyhound Central Lava developed some bleeding at one of the pin insertion sites. He was first taken to be seen by our Dr. MacCubbin for evaluation. After Dr. Mac assessed Lava, controlled the bleeding, and took some x-rays she spoke with Dr. Morrison. It was decided he should be brought to Annapolis to see Dr. Morrison. With a fairly quick turn over of volunteer transporters, Lava was lovingly packed- up and on his way to CVRS in Annapolis to see his favorite surgeon. When we arrived in Annapolis, Dr. Morrison was in emergency surgery and we had a bit of a wait. We pulled some comfy pup cushions out and sat on the waiting room floor with Lava until he was taken in to have his bandage removed. Lava was a greyt sport as usual and tolerated all these procedures and moving from one place to another without one complaint.
When Lava was brought out after having his bandage changed, he was a happy, bouncy pup with a wagging tail. We were brought into the exam room to meet with Dr. Morrison. When he opened the door and walked in, Lava greeted him like an old friend. Dr. Morrison sat down to speak with us about his evaluation, all the while rubbing Lava’s ears and neck. The doctor feels there was a little too much wiggle room for the pins to move after the sponge packing was removed. This may have been the cause of the bleeding. Lava decided to remove and eat one of the sponges himself and the other sponges were removed on the 4/27 because Lava seemed so bothered by them. Lava’s surgical site and hardware is all cleaned up and repacked with fresh bandaging so, he’s good for another two weeks. Dr. Morrison would like to see a little more “filling-in” between the fractured bones. In order for this to occur, Lava needs to start putting more weight on that leg. His foster family will start doing some rehab exercises with him that will help build more bone.
Lava and the GEGR family appreciate all the support and well wishes for a full and speedy recovery we have received. This is one special hound and any person with the good fortune to meet him is quickly smitten.

Lava is taking a long weekend at “Greyhound Central Resort and Spa” on the beautiful Patuxent River while his foster family has a well-deserved respite and some quality time with their own dogs at Greyhounds in Gettysburg. He was a little anxious for awhile after he arrived on Friday, but he settled down in his luxury suite for an afternoon nap. Dinner was the Chef’s Special of dry dog kibble and a little deer meat on the side with a cheese-medicine chaser. After a little jaunt on the grounds to sniff around and do some personal business, Lava had an evening Milkbone night cap and settled in for the night.

Checking out the accomodations:

Accomodations are judged satisfactory:

Saturday was beautiful and sunny, and Lava enjoyed several walks around the grounds led by various nature guides, followed by long naps in his luxury suite. He has been a perfect gentleman guest, very polite, and always ecstatic to see the staff and receive ear scritches and neck rubs. He has been eating, taking his medicine, and getting down to business like a champ.

Sunday dawned cool and dreary, but Lava received a spa and beauty treatment! After a breakfast in bed of pancakes and syrup (OK, so it was more like a small bite after his real breakfast of dog kibble *wink*), Lava had another walk around the grounds and an invigorating massage with the Zoom Groom.  A chamomile-lavendar bath wipe rounded out the experience.  Later, he had a very relaxing pet-icure while lying in the assistant’s lap (actually, he fell asleep!).  Lava was a patient, quiet gentleman throughout the treatment. 

Nature tour:

Discussing the local flora with one of the nature guides:

Peticures are exhausting!

Lava is now resting quietly in his suite, waiting for his foster family to arrive…

Lava has another follow-up with his surgeon, Dr. Morrison, this week. Stay tuned for an update on his progress!”

Lava and his surgeon, Dr. Morrison:

Lava, on his way home from his first follow-up visit:

Lava and Dr. Mac:

Lava’s new hardware (looks good for a first follow-up!):