Another Horrible Observation

March 2019
Five months past surgery for tumor removal.

Comet was doing well. He was alert and active, eating well, spoilt as ever, and a happy little old dog.

One day when he was sitting outside, we noticed that the metal brace that had been put in his lower jaw to hold it together during surgery was visible. I got crazy and made a frantic call to the vet. he said that if the brace could be seen it had probably dislodged and he would need to remove it. He told me to fix a date for the surgical removal, make sure Comet fasts for eight hours and bring him for the surgery. I made the appointment.

The night before the surgery, we decided that we should not put him through that unnecessarily. The brace was not troubling him so why put him through anesthesia and all the other problems associated with surgery. I cancelled the appointment. I made the decision to get the surgery done only if it troubles him in some way. In the days that followed, we noticed that it was his lower lip that had moved to expose the brace. The brace was not dislodged at all. I was so happy we had not got the surgery done.

We kept watching it carefully and there seemed to be no problem at all.

April 2019

Comet was due his inoculations so we took him to the hospital. His surgeon was on leave so I spoke to another vet. She said that I should watch the brace carefully. If it causes any bleeding or infection, I need to get it out, otherwise I should not bother him with surgery. I was grateful to her for that advice that put my mind at ease. 

October 2019

It is one year past Comet's surgery. The brace has not troubled him at all. It is more visible to us, but that's it.