Well, its the start of 2024 and I thought what better time to pass on an update on little Penny...
Firstly, thank you to everyone who contributed to her treatment and/or sent good wishes as she fought for her life.
Penny was released from the Vet hospital in manchester to be cared for at home a bit earlier than normal because the vets felt that she was not eating or doing as well as she might because she was so scared. We were asked if we would be prepared to treat her at home and do all the dressings on her tail etc which of course we were - and as soon as we finished the chat on the phone we were in the car on the way to get her.
After a lengthy explanation of her condition, medication etc and 4 attemps by the vet to show us how to dress her tail we left - as we got into the car park she wagged her tail for the first time and the dressing bounced down the car park.... lol
Apart from the recovery of her system from the metacam, her tail had become necrotic and we were told once she had fully recovered and had time to build herself up her tail needed amputating but it was being managed with antibiotics and cleaning so would be ok for a while.
I re-dressed the tail in the car and off home we headed.
Her tail was cleaned and re-dressed ever other day, she had a battery of tablets and started with small meals.... after a month she was back on full portions of food and eating like a labrador eats...
we started laser treatment on her tail to help improve blood flow and our vet felt there was a possiblity we might be able to get the tail to heal... so the long journey to save the tail started...
regular laser treatments, dressing changes every other day, manuka honey and... the 20ml syringe - the best invention known to anyone needing to dress a tail...
It took about 3 months but her tail finally healed.. On top of that she has put weight on and progressed from a rib cage you could play a tune on to one nicely covered... you can still feel the ribs but no longer see them sticking out..
Her tail has fattened and her fur regrown and she looks stunning (Yes I'm biased).
She is now pretty settled in the house and approaches visitors for a fuss within minutes - a far cry from when she arrived and was terrified of everything and everyone...
When she is out, she is still on high alert and spooks very easily but we have now reached a stage where i can stop and she will let someone walk past without going into a complete panic... Still a long way to go but slow imrovements are there...
She is loved and looked after, not just by us but by the boys who took her to their hearts as soon as they saw her on day one and she is now completely secure in her home and able to relax for her nightly cuddles..
A few photos below for you and thanks again to everyone.....
![Image](https://www.homealabrador.net/images/appeal/P5.jpeg)