Could part of the facial injury involve the mouth or jaw?
Those possibilities need examination rather than assuming Rosie's only problem is external swelling.
Her Shoulder Changes How She Stands at the Bowl Too
Rosie avoids loading the injured side normally.
The opposite front leg takes more responsibility.
Her body angles slightly.
For a few minutes, she manages.
Then she needs to rest.
Making food and water easily accessible prevents ordinary necessities from becoming additional endurance tests.
The First Improvement Appears in Her Sleep
One night Rosie begins to roll.
Her cheek approaches the mattress.
It touches.
Her eyes open.
But this time, she does not jerk upright.
She simply lifts her head.
Adjusts her neck.
Returns to the healthy side.
Then closes her eyes again.
The entire interruption lasts only seconds.
That Is Different From the First Nights
Earlier, accidental contact ended the nap.
Rosie would wake completely.
Her body would become tense.
She would spend time repositioning before she could settle again.
Now the contact still matters.
It simply does not produce the same reaction.
That can be a sign that comfort is improving, even while the injured side remains protected.
The Swelling Begins to Decrease
As treatment progresses, Rosie's face slowly looks more symmetrical.
Not normal yet.
Just less dramatically enlarged.
The shaved areas make every change easy to see.
Her wounds begin progressing through healing.
The shoulder remains sensitive, but Rosie moves it with less hesitation.
Visible improvement and functional improvement begin occurring together.
Then Rosie Starts Resting on Her Chest
Instead of immediately lowering herself onto one side, she settles sternally—chest against the mattress, both shoulders positioned more evenly.
At first, she remains there only briefly.
Her head stays elevated.
Then she becomes tired and rolls onto the healthy side.
Still, the new posture matters.
For several minutes, Rosie can rest without keeping the entire injured side suspended above the bed.
She Begins Moving Her Head More Freely
Early on, Rosie seems to turn her whole body rather than rotating her head very far toward the painful side.
Later, her neck movement becomes easier.
She looks toward sounds.
Follows activity outside the kennel.
Reaches toward her water.
Those ordinary movements suggest the injured region is becoming less restrictive.
But bedtime remains the hardest test.
Sleep Removes Rosie's Careful Decisions
During the day, she can protect herself deliberately.
At night, her body shifts before she thinks about it.
That is why accidental contact during sleep becomes such an interesting measure.
Rosie cannot prepare for it.
She simply reacts.
As that reaction becomes smaller, something is changing.
One Night, Her Injured Shoulder Touches First
Rosie is sleeping on the healthy side.