I'd like to introduce you to FrankenDozer 2.0

This is FrankenDozer version 2.0:


We met FrankenDozer around this time of the year in 2015. He had surgery on his face and it was easy. He left his stitches alone. Allowed them to heal. We only had to cone him for a day or two. He sat perfectly in his crate while we went to work. We removed the stitches. He was healed. He returned to being Dozer. 

FrankenDozer 2.0 is not quite as easy as the first version. You see, regular Dozer gets these things called Mast Cell Tumors (MCT's). I could probably write an entire article about them now that we've met FrankenDozer but I'll spare you all the details. You can read more about them here if you'd like. 

It is a pretty difficult thing to go through, however, for most MCT's if you remove them, they are gone for good. Dozer seems to be a little more prone to them than the next dog - In his case they tend to pop up more often. 

Here was the plan: lumps and bumps pop up - take them out! Hello FrankenDozer for the next 2-3 weeks. Stitches come out. Regular Dozer returns. 

It's a pretty solid plan. We remove the bumps - no more cancer. Well, FrankenDozer 2.0 has decided to take my foolproof plan and do everything in his power to make it not work. 

--

There's a thing about having a dog that they forget to tell you, those plans that you made, they won't work. The dogs like to keep you on your toes. They like to make things unpredictable and do the exact opposite of what your foolproof plan needs them to do. Here is what this past week has been like:

"Hey Dozer, we removed multiple masses in one surgery so you don't have to go through anesthesia multiple times."

FrankenDozer 2.0 - "I don't like this! I'm gonna rip out ALL my stitches! You have to take me back to the vet 4 days later and I will need to go under anesthesia again anyway!"

"Hey Dozer, you know how you're perfect with your cone on when we're home. Can you please do that so we can go back to work and not worry about you messing with your brand new stitches." 

FrankenDozer 2.0 - "I hate that cone! It is a plastic halo of death! Get it away from me! Also, I don't remember how to go in my crate! I am going to thrash around and bump my open wound all over it! Get me outta here!"

...and another vet visit. And now our 2-3 weeks of healing turns into 4-6 weeks of healing. 

"Hey Dozer, I'm going to take you to work with me and you can sit next to my desk while I work. It'll be a little bit stressful but at least I'll be there to watch you so you can let your leg heal." 

Dozer - "Nope! I'm gonna bark at people! and not sit down the entire time! I'm also going to try to take the bandaging off of my leg WHILE you're looking at me! Also, lets go home. NOW!"

So, here we are at home. When I'm supposed to be at work. 

Happy as a clam.
--

The other thing they forget to tell you about having a dog - you end up loving and caring about them SO much that when the above scenario happens you will do nothing else but change your plans and make it work so that your one and only bubbas of a dog can rest at home with the a/c on and let his surgery heal. 

Yes, dogs make life 1,000x better. I will never change that statement. However, those foolproof plans you made - don't make them. Odds are you'll just have to change them, adjust them, come up with new plans. 

FrankenDozer 2.0 it was sure nice to meet you. I'm glad all those lumps and bumps are gone. However, I can't wait to have my regular Dozer back. I miss him. 

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