Noggin's Medical Adventure

I recently discovered a lump on my best friend Noggin which the veterinarian determined needed to be removed. This page is just a place to keep a simple track of his status for those who care about him, and to say a heartfelt thanks to any and all who have helped us through this "adventure."

Stop by my PHP Musings blog if you'd like to share any comments, suggestions, etc.

Latest Status:

• 30 DEC 2008: Noggin had his stitches removed today, and the technician who removed them said it looked like things were healing nicely, so hopefully we've reached the end of this adventure.
• 24 DEC 2008: BENIGN! I finally got the call from the vet today on the lab results, and the verdict is it was non-cancerous. I don't believe I could receive a better Christmas present. Noggin and I thank you all for your support, and wish you the happiest of holidays and a wonderful new year.
• 21 DEC 2008: Noggin started paying too much attention to the area with the stitches, so I decided it was time to put on his "Elizabethan collar" (that's what the instructions from the vet actually called it). The new photo to the right shows a perplexed dog wondering what he did wrong to deserve this.
• 20 DEC 2008: Noggin did the "cookie dance" today (a quick 360-degree pirouette to the left when the word "cookie" is mentioned). He's definitely showing more energy now, though he still sleeps more than usual and shows some signs of discomfort: occasional groans and shifting his position on his bed or sofa cushion with an abnormal frequency. Hopefully we'll get some good news from the lab early this coming week so I can really enjoy the holidays.
• 18 DEC 2008: How do you get a dog to swallow his antibiotic capsule? Well, for Noggin, the solution is to coat it in a bit of peanut butter. After he spit out the first one a couple times then wouldn't open his mouth for me any more, I hit upon this scheme, and it worked like a charm.
• 17 DEC 2008 - 7:30pm EST: Noggin is back home now, looking tired, sore, and perhaps a bit peeved that I'm not allowed to give him any food or water until tomorrow. I'm a lot happier now, but still have to wait out the lab results on the biopsy before I can breathe easily again.
• 17 DEC 2008 - 3:30pm EST: The doctor said the surgery went well. I'll be bringing him home in another 3 hours or so. Now we wait for the biopsy results.
• 16 DEC 2008: Took Noggin to the Cinnaminson Animal Hospital today, where veterinarian determined that the lump I had discovered needed to be removed and biopsied. I left Noggin there overnight so that the surgery could be performed the following morning. Any prayers, positive thoughts, and or incantations toward the success of the surgery and a negative result for the biopsy will be much appreciated.