Whew! Carl is back with his parents!

Over the years, I have come to know that I'm a bit of an anxious person.  Weather wimp is just the beginning.  Social anxiety, i.e. second guessing everything I've ever said to anybody, worrying about how it might have affected them... you bet!

Now apply that to the current situation, where your son's beloved canine has been injured on your watch.  Never mind that you weren't doing anything wrong... you didn't have the dog wrapped up in bubble wrap and protected from potential harm... you think:  I shouldn't have taken him to that particular dog park, I should have been more alert, etc.  Then it comes to caring for the wound, deciding when and with what information to notify the kids on their honeymoon...

Thankfully, I'm a believer in getting professional help.  I'm thankful for excellent veterinarians in town.  

So, to continue the tales of Carl and his stay with Grandma...

Sunday, I insisted he stay in the cone.  He learned to get around the house (even around corners) with the cone on.  But he still tried to scratch, even through the cone.  Mid-afternoon, another stitch popped, and blood spurted on the inside of the cone.  I had already called the Veterinary ER and asked about stitches popping, describing the medication protocol he was on.  She seemed unconcerned, as long as the meds were being taken as directed.  But she also said if I was concerned, just bring him in, you don't need an appointment.  

Over we headed. Carl was a very good boy.  We had to sit in the waiting room at the ER vet for about an hour.  He did not bark or growl at the other dogs there, or even at a sedated cat that was discharged during that time.  Since the ER Vet is about the only game in town on a Sunday, they are always busy.  When it was finally our turn, the vet looked him over, and declared that it looked about what she would expect at this point in the healing.  They could keep him, clean him up, or I could take him home, keep medicating, washcloth if he would let me, etc.  She reassured me that I was doing all the right things, best I could.

With renewed confidence, I got Carl to allow the washcloth to wipe off any blood that escaped. The regular vet had indicated that there could still be some discharge or blood on the exterior, but the drainage was set to go internally, into his mouth where he would swallow.  Gross, huh?

Sunday night Carl came up to bed, getting himself all the way upstairs, cone and all.  I coaxed him even to jump up on the big bed, and he slept well overnight, cone and all.  

Something I learned from all this... dogs really need their sense of smell up close to determine a spot that's "safe" to pee or poop.  Carl "held it" all the way from Friday evening until Monday morning.  Well, the pee only from Saturday morning to Monday morning, but still, that's an incredible hold.  I suspected it might help if I took the cone off to take him out in the yard. I got a good long pee, and a nice sized poop from him at that point!  With the cone back on, he did not go again during any of our trips outdoors.

The kids left Colorado this morning, reached their house around 3, unloaded the truck, and came over for the canine hand-off.  They were packed up and gone by 4, at which point I told the cats that the dog was gone.  I brought their dishes inside.  The Prisoner followed, soon after.  Just call it the rotating pet center!

I was left with wonderful thank you gifts, including my Kryptonite in dark chocolate form.  Also some organic coffee and a new mug from Mesa Verde.

These are like Milky Way Midnight (dark chocolate with caramel) but with sea salt sprinkled atop the dark chocolate, and mega-high quality!

Whew!  I loved having Carl, but I'm ready for a break.  Tomorrow it's back to the gym and the trainer!

Life is good.  Spark on!

Wedding memories

 It's only been 9 days since the Wedding!  Seems in some ways just yesterday and in others an eternity.  Such is the nature of time.  The photographer has a website with the "gallery" of photos up for a month.  I checked with the bride to make sure she has the rights to the images before putting a couple of them up on Facebook.  One is of Carl, of course!

In the order of service, this was as the officiant (Rev Amy) was explaining how the young couple met, with their first date at the dog park, and introducing that the bride and groom had selected readings for one another.  Carl was not content with his role as ring bearer alone, and decided he was also the Wedding Singer.

The wind chill was 31℉, and most of that was indeed the wind effect.  If you put your back to the wind, it did not seem so terrible.  I look at Rosa's feet in sandals, while she holds Carl's leash... brrr!  Extra duty for the wife of the best man!

That's enough, Carl, says grandma, having put her coat back on.  I stood there petting him to keep him quiet so the humans could hear all the words of significance.

The groom, his mom, and the ring bearer, before the service.

The whole wedding party, left to right:  Best man, mother of groom, groom, bride, mother and father of the bride, man of honor.  And of course the four-pawed ring bearer in front of us all.

The bride and groom in a flirty moment right before... "last chance to run"!  Neither looks like they are going to do so, do they?

With joined hands, now bonded for life together.

Oh, yes, and promised to Alicia:  the rings photos.

Collecting them from the Ring Bearer, here.

On their fingers, here.

Life is good!  Love is eternal.

Spark on!

Days 7 & 8: Feeding pills to dog

 

Saturday morning Carl was mopey.  We managed to get 3 pills down his throat in the 6 a.m. hour.  Since all 3 prescriptions are "every 12 hours" I figure this is the best time.  I found that for Carl, anyway, cheese doesn't work as well as lunch meat as a "wrapper" given I don't have any doggie pill pockets on hand.

He had a bit of a cone break to go out on leash to pee, and to get access to food and water.  But when he was up on the couch and started lifting a paw toward that snout... well, back in the cone.  Feeling sorry for himself.  Grandma has her work cut out for herself.

What does one do when sort of "tied down" by a cone-wearing canine?  I put the new park sticker on Dexter's windshield, so I can go park-tripping for the rest of 2023.  And in between leash walks in the back yard and going between "cone breaks" and "cone wearing", paid a bill online.  

Mostly I was trying to stay alert to if he was taking a swipe, however he could, at those stitches.  I suppose I was a bit too much of an enabler, not making him figure out how to navigate with the cone on.  

Whoever said (I think it was Val) that dogs are sneaky?  Yep, and clever.  Quite naturally, they seek comfort for themselves.  Overnight, with the cone on, sleeping on the big bed with Grandma, Carl managed to rotate the cone enough to rub those stitches against the seam of the cone.  I shuffled the cone around so that the seam is above his head again, so he can't do that (until he figures another way to shift it).

Since I have it on hand, I found that the promise of a bite or two of that roast beef after taking his pills, if he's a "good boy" helps motivate him.  He's been dosed with antibiotics and pain/inflammation as directed so far.  He has by now figured out how to go down and up the stairs with the cone on.  He seems to need a little help navigating around corners.  But slowly, with Grandma being less of an enabler, he is figuring it out.  Kind of like a horse in blinkers?

For Sunday, that cone is staying on.  I had been letting him out of the cone to eat earlier, but not today.  Grandma's getting tougher as Carl is getting better.  Food and water are being hand offered, to help with cone navigation.

Yogurt (Greek style, non-fat, the stuff Grandma eats) offered as a treat.  We'll have to get around to offering regular dog food today.  

Sunday morning, the comic relief was when The Prisoner showed up on the deck to demand his breakfast.  Carl was suddenly wide awake, alert, and charged to the sliding glass door, only to be stopped when the cone collided with it before his snout would have done.  Got my blood pumping, for sure.  I leashed him up, took him out, just in case he might need to pee or poo (he didn't, just wanted to sniff the cat's trail).  One more challenge in this adventure.

Outside the house, beyond the fence, The Prisoner comes out when I refill his food and water dishes.  He complains to the management about his situation.  Rubia... well, beside the first spotting in the playhouse, we've seen her pop herself up out of the storm drain a couple of times.  That's another of her go-to spaces.  I am thinking that she's almost feral.  She normally chooses to stay inside, but she wants nothing to do with Carl.

The kids have spent their last night in the VRBO home.  They will start to head back in this direction today.  

Photos of the honeymooners show a very relaxed and happy couple in a gorgeous collection of settings.  I am glad they had this time; they deserve it!

The photos are from their "fancy dinner" on their last night in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.  Clearly relaxed and happy!  They noshed on elk and bison (herd sizes managed, feeding the tourists is a good thing).  Speaking of elk and bison meat, those, and vegan were the hot dog choices at the reception last week!

Here's wishing all a peaceful and blessed Sunday.  Whoever is in need of healing and recharging, may God bless you by fulfilling those needs.

Life is good.  Spark on!

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!

 

Day 5: Drama at the dog park

It started out as a socializing thing:  occupy Carl with visits with familiar people.  The bride's parents had expressed an interest in meeting at a dog park "if you want human company"... so I invited them to the little dog park I take Carl to whenever he visits me.  We set the time for 2 p.m. to meet there, and we did, arriving at the same time.

Carl was ecstatic to see his other grandparents and spent time making sure he knew where they were as we started out in our rounds of the fenced in area.  I picked up one set of poo, and while I was doing so, a scrum of dogs tumbled into the dirt patch nearby, including Carl and another black dog.  Growl bark, yelp!  Humans intervene, dogs separate, but clearly that one black dog was either aggressive or reactive and his human was nowhere to be found in the moment.

Turned out the human attached to that dog was on a bench on the other side of the park.  Carl shook himself out, completely covered in fine dirt... so much so that he was another color than his normal shiny black.  He had a slobber patch on his side, and there was a little spot on his cheek / side of his nose that could have just been a graze.  It was clear to me that Carl was in complete submissive posture in the scrum, on his back, belly exposed.

It wasn't until we got around to the park entrance and Bob (son's FIL) sat down on a bench, petting Carl, that we became aware that the graze was in fact a cut probably made by the other dog's tooth.  I had been keeping a wary eye on where that other dog was within the park, but he never left, and his owner only showed up after a second squabble at the gate, while Carl, Donna (son's MIL) and I were taking a second loop.

Retreat!  The owner of the other dog claimed it was the victim's fault... "that dog jumped up and he doesn't like that."  I'm sorry folks, but if your dog is reactive and you know it, you should not be letting him run around unsupervised in a dog park!  If you do take him to a dog park, you should be right with him in training mode, or keeping him away from other dogs.

Carl loves to tumble around on the ground with other dogs who like the same.  Play fights are common at dog parks, among well-socialized dogs.  Carl is not an alpha who needs to dominate.  Carl will immediately de-escalate when things get unpleasant, as he did in this situation.

I brought him home, messaged the kids "I don't want anyone to panic, but who is Carl's normal vet?  He's fine."  I did not get an immediate response, but I remembered a name from a prior conversation with my son and took a leap:  called and asked them to confirm that my grand-dog was among their patients.  I was right.  First opening they had to see him is Friday at 10:15 a.m.  I made the appointment, even though I don't think this wound is all that serious, as long as we can keep it clean and disinfected.  Stitches might make it produce less of a scar, but he's not in imminent danger of losing life or limb.

Meanwhile, the bride's parents messaged the young couple about the encounter with "an aggressive dog" and son did what I wanted to avoid:  had a minor melt-down.  Then my son processed it internally, decided that I was doing exactly what I was doing, taking care of it and avoiding disrupting their trip, because I didn't think it was as serious as the in-laws seemed to think.

Son sent me Carl's pet insurance information, then phoned to confirm the vet identification, that Carl was fine, and gave advice for how to treat the wound if I wanted to avoid taking him to a vet.  By the time he called me, he was done with the mini-meltdown, and told me about it or I'd never know he had it.

I followed his advice (I'd already done the first two steps, but he had specific antiseptic and wound care products he recommended, plus where to get them at a reasonable cost).  I did so.  While Carl was not a fan of the process, he's now washed, sprayed, and daubed.

I'm still planning on keeping that appointment.  Carl will be extra happy when his parents come to get him on Monday!

I am grateful to have had son's inlaws at the park, as Bob, sitting on the bench, was able to keep Carl away from that second dust up at the gate.

Life may have drama.  But life is still good.  Carl is fine.  Really!  And the proof that he forgives me for the process will be if he decides to snuggle up in the big bed overnight.

Spark on!

Day 4 of Carl visit

 

Carl's plate... add a couple of carrots.  He can have those.  He makes it disappear in seconds.

My plate has more veggies.  It's all very nummy!

This was day 4's luncheon.  I bought that roast with Carl in mind.  It is making several meals for the two of us.

The lawn guys were here again Wednesday with weed killer.  I was alerted by Carl and went out to warn them that I have cat food and water set out in the yard (and why), and they promised not to spray around that part.  Sigh.

Carl and I walked loops around "Grandma's dog park" Wednesday morning in the hopes that he'll be tamed down enough to go on the regular Wednesday walk with his Great-Aunt Alicia and me in the afternoon.  I've been talking up her visit to him.

As happens when distracted by animal care, Grandma (that's me) didn't get the Runkeeper turned on right away and forgot to turn it off until it talked to her at the first stop light!

The total distance is probably close to right.  

I never realized until I mapped this with Runkeeper that the paved path is essentially a triangle at Stransky Dog Run.

Alicia came at her usual time, after her work day.  We did a very short walk, into the park near my house, but turned around before we got too deep into it, because I didn't want to take Carl out by the busier street.  I used to walk him there, pre-pandemic, when he was still a pup, but there were a lot of other dogs out and about, and I wanted to take no chances of bad behavior.  Set them up for success, right?  

He was a very good boy, not even barking at the other dogs.

Home again, best buds with my sister, happy camper Carl!

He earned a reward of a bit of a run in the backyard while I loaded up his Kong with treats, then he came right back inside to collect it.

It was a good day.  The kids, meanwhile, traveled into Utah to see Hovenweep National Monument.  Hovenweep means deserted valley, in the native tongues of the region.  By the end of the day, they are at their VRBO, where they have reservations for four nights.  It is gorgeous, from the videos she posted... right on a lake in Pagosa Springs.  The house looks to be large enough and have enough bed and bath rooms for six adults... plus any smaller children that might come attached to them.  A good place to just chill if they want to.

Life is Good.  Spark on!

Cooking for human not always safe for doggos

 

The meat is safe, of course.  Some of the veggies are, but some of them are not.  There are mushrooms and onions among those things underneath, so before Carl gets a sample, it will be carefully curated.  No powdered spices (which can be too intense) in this pot.  No added salt.  Potatoes, green pepper, and carrots, oh, my.  Classic pot roast, in the crock pot.  It will be ready in time for supper.

Meanwhile, out in Colorado, the honeymooners are at a "stay two nights" place, and are out exploring Mesa Verde National Park, among others.  Their trip involves a whole bunch of National Parks, that are located in that quadrant of the Rocky Mountains.  This is a part of Colorado that I have never explored, so I'm thrilled to be following along in their shared photos.

Carl and I both slept through the night.  Tuesday morning we went on a leash walk around the nearest block, following the route of the puppy parade.  We came home and Carl checked to be sure the perimeter was secure.

Tuesdays is the day that all the lawn service companies hit our neighborhood.  This Tuesday they seemed to take turns.  One neighbor, then another company for the senior condos to our north, then after a while, my lawn guys came by.  They all made more noise with their machines than Carl does with his barking.

I ordered groceries online for pickup this evening, as Carl can't go inside and I don't leave him alone in a car, no matter how nice the weather.  Nor do I leave him alone in my house.  Well, except when I'm just out doing stuff in the yard and he can come and go.

One advantage of having Carl "in residence" is that it gets me out in the yard, and I do more yard clean up.  I'm grateful that it's a cooler week, weather-wise.  And I'm grateful for his 4 year old self, past the puppy stage.

The yard waste bins are starting to line up.  I have five of them and expect to have them all full by Friday morning's collection.

Wednesday morning, The Prisoner showed up on the deck rail pre-sunrise, looking like he does coming in from an overnight outside.  Carl stood at the door, but did not bark at the cat.  It might be that he knows we are quiet in the morning, but then again... maybe I'm making some progress.  Prisoner would have none of it, not even a silent pup... over the rail and off he went.  

The avian visitors are flitting about, too.  This chipper cardinal hopped about on the top of the older section of fence.  I took the photo through the kitchen window on Tuesday afternoon.  On Wednesday morning, Carl chased a cheeky squirrel away from that same spot, and raced up and down the fence line with joyous declarative barks.  No more squirrels... or at least make them retreat to the neighbors' trees.

Meanwhile, to the West and South of here, the kids hit "Four Corners" on Tuesday, as well as driving through a snow cloud and a dust storm.

Not sure which foot is in what state, but between the two of them, they are straddling New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah.  What a very touristy thing to do... and both came out smiling.  The non-smiley part of the day was when their truck got pelted with hail outside a brewpub they visited.

And life continues to be GOOD (always beats the alternative, eh?)  Spark on!