esrosedotblog

A bit more normality today.

We went to pick up Marcus from the vet and brought him home.

He is a little dopey but seems to be doing fine. Hard that he can't tell us, in a way. On the other, it is obvious that he knows he is safe and with his Dads so silence might be just the thing.

When we arrived and he was brought out he was all excited and it seemed that there was nothing wrong at all. I met the vet who did the work. She is great as is the hospital.

We are home and trying to figure out what is probably not a complicated med schedule but seems so. We are kind of fucked up and out too. It all seems so hard, the new routine. But like anything we are just on the learning curve and we are not that dim bulbs.

For the moment we are eschewing the dread head cone. This may be risky but we shall see. He will be closely watched.

When we got home, the friskiness just went out of him and he mostly has slept.

Warm compresses for three days every four or five hours for five minutes. John has been assigned that one.

So this is our project for now. Not a bad piece of work given the importance of the big boy we are doing it for. Another side of love, it is not a chore.

Labels: Marcus, veterinarian

We had to take Marcus to the vet today.

He swallowed something, a hard object now identified as a toy, and it wouldn't come out.

So, they went in and took it out and at the same time cleared another unidentified object from his intestine. Since they were in the neighborhood.

The vets are very good and he has already had his operation, will recuperate tomorrow and be ready to come home Monday afternoon (another word for "tomorrow") or Tuesday. I vote for Tuesday but that is not so much up to me. The day is already very busy. Chiropractor, a meeting, a date at the dentist.

But we will do what we need to do to get him home where he belongs.

It was very upsetting at first but we have talked to the surgeon and Marcus' regular vet and they say all is well.

We don't much worry about his missing us as he will be sedated right up to the return home.

Needless to say all of the smaller toys will be removed before he arrives.

No fun for anyone but we are very happy the news is good and his return imminent. It is very quiet around here just now.

Labels: Marcus, veterinarian

BOOKED

Today's movie time was booked by a visit to the Vet for Book.

Doctor Cutler.

We wanted to ask about his "stiffness" and to have a general look at his health.

First, he got weighed. Oh oh. 6-7 pounds over his fighting limit.

Back to the old 1.5 cups per meal twice a day.

Next, the stiffness. Not bad to have been giving him some aspirin. Another anti-inflammatory might be better. Will do a blood test to see if the aspirin is causing any trouble or if, conversely, there is any reason he cannot do another milder, possibly, med.The weight gain alone could also be causing trouble. She has us doubling his glucosamine input as well. 1000 mg/day.

She notes that his front legs are a bit stiffer on extension than his back ones.

Heart OK.

Ears normally slightly infected. So are mine. So are yours. Keep on with the regular application of ear drops every one or two weeks.

All in all he did pretty well.

We got a bottle of Flagyl pills to use if he has a case of the runs. We used to use it for Franklin and it was outstanding. It is a targeted antibiotic. Works fast.

This time we remembered to take a stool sample.

We will hear results of the bloods and the stools tomorrow.

So.

There went an hour and a half and 360 dollars.

Labels: Booker, veterinarian

FREEDOM

We went to the vet today to get the stitches taken out of Booker's ear.

We have grown fond of his Doctor, Pattie Thongnamsap (I Think Thai, American Thai, the staff calls her Doctor Pattie). Also his technician Liz. They like him too.

I think that they like us because they have changed protocol and had the Doc meet with us every followup time. Usually, the dog is taken "out back" for the tech procedure and then brought back.

We had a front row seat for the stitch removal.

Booker is a "brave boy" as Dr. Pattie put it. We were amazed to see him use his best Airedale stoic genes. It had to at least be uncomfortable. Everything went as planned.

We were not sure if they would take the dread cone off but they did. Something of a celebration.

Funny, he seems the least impressed. It is gone, why make a big deal out of it? But he is visibly relaxed and, more important, we have not seen him fuss with the ear at all.

It is wonderful for us too. There is no way that we could ignore it. Always in the way. And, he is overdue three weeks for his bath at the groomer so he is just a bit ripe.

All in all a great day.

Yay team!!

And no more vet visits every five days.

Labels: Booker, veterinarian