Day 6: update on Carl's boo-boo

By fortunate chance, Carl's "Grandpa Bob" (his mommy's dad) had the camera out at the dog run on Thursday.  Here you see several of the dogs that were there yesterday afternoon.  You can see my pink shoes in the distance, where I have gone to do my diligent "poo" duty for Carl.  Carl is in the foreground.

You can see that his coat is covered in dirt, showing that this was shortly after the time of the injury, as he came to the park clean, and the "scrum" is what got him dirty.

As I mentioned in reply to some of the comments on the previous blog, I'm over my own little vent about the incident by now.  Without someone who was paying extremely close attention at the time (and I already admitted I was busily picking up poo), we may never know exactly the source of the injury.  Knowing that Carl is getting excellent care and will be fine helps me to have a generous spirit about the whole thing.  Things happen.

I daubed the wound with 3 Way Ointment again Friday morning, and then observed what Carl did. He didn't like having the foreign substance there and scraped it off with his foreleg.  Then he licked the leg.  This reminded me of what he was doing when he came to bed about midnight... lots of licking, then tilting his throat as though he was about to howl... and swallowing.  So, he was eating the ointment!

I also noticed that it was starting to swell.  I was very glad I made that vet appointment.  We set off in the chilly rain.  Carl was quite happy to walk up to the vet's office and in the door.  He wasn't very happy to be waiting his turn.  It took about half an hour beyond his appointment time before the doctor was done with the previous patient.  I hugged Carl close so that the doctor could get a good look.  Carl really did not like anybody messing with his head.

The vet's verdict:  It was abscessed and needed stitches to heal from the inside out.  They would keep him, put him under for the minor surgery, and call me to come get him early Friday evening.  I signed all the permissions for them to treat Carl. Owner or Agent it said on the line for permission... I signed and noted I was "mother of owner".

I held Carl and comforted him while the anti-anxiety shot started to take effect, I gave up his leash to a lovely young vet tech who took him back to await his procedure.  I then was free to come home and wait for the phone call.  I messaged all the affected parties with the news.

Then I had lunch and took a nap.  The phone call to pick him up came about 5 p.m.  We have a cone for 3 days.  It's heavy.  Tail is tucked.  He was happy to see me until the cone got applied.

Poor baby in the car, with the cone.

Stitches that need protecting from that swiping paw.  

Body language on entry to the house.  Poor baby!

There are also three medications to administer every 12 hours until we run out, starting one Friday evening, the other two on Saturday morning.

I took the cone off long enough for him to eat and drink something (to go with the med that started Friday evening, but then he started to paw at his snout, so, cone is back on.

The honeymooners are in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, at a VRBO house.  It is gorgeous.  They put their feet in the natural hot springs.  Paddle board was put to use on the lake.  Their photos look relaxed and happy.  And yes, they know what Grandma is doing with Carl and his boo-boo.

Life is... interesting... but beats the alternative, always.  Spark on!