5: Dogs Don’t Look Both Ways » Dogs Don't Look Both Ways

“he’s trying to tell us something”

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May 032009

Now there’s trouble. Only a few days have passed since my check up and my parents seem concerned that I’m chewing away at my splint. Seeing me chewing off pieces of the bottom of the splint, they right away put a sock on my splint to protect my toes. They’re saying something about my “toenails need to be cut”. Since I’m not running anymore, my toenails are not naturally being kept short and I think they’re saying that my toenails on my injured foot are pressing on the bandages and irritating my foot so perhaps I’m trying to make space for my longer toenails. That makes sense to me.

The next day Jane drives me back to Rotherwood, the local animal hospital. Along with my usual bandage change and the usual cleaning of my wounds, I get a nice pedicure on all four feet.

This seems to work for a few days and then I start to chew at the splint again, only this time more. Again, Jane puts another clean sock back on and drives me to the animal hospital right away. Like usual, I like the drive. It’s spring time, and she opens the rear window so I can feel the fresh air and smell the spring smells.

Here I am with my sock on.

athletic-sock

At the animal hospital, I’m happy once again. That doctor is smart! She says that by chewing at the splint, “He’s trying to tell us something”. She’s trying to understand my language and to understand exactly what I’m trying to say. Am I trying to tell her that my foot is itchy? Or that it hurts? She’s pretty smart and discovers that I have “an infection” in my toes.

Back I go on antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Really, I’m not sure what they are: All I know is that three times a day, Jane makes me eat and then Phil comes to me with something in his hand and says “Open up” and down they go.

The sad part (for me) is that the cone is back on. They call this progress?

my diet

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Apr 262009

healthy-diet

My breakfast consists of Science Diet dry food. Though I don’t always act my age, according to Science Diet I’m a “mature adult” since I’m over six years old, so I eat the mature adult variety. But now there is a different smell in my breakfast: It is something called “Condroitin with Glucosamine”.

My parents also keep my water bowls filled with fresh water at all times. Since I came home, I’ve been very thirsty.

For my dinner, I have Science Diet. But there is a unique smell in my food here too: It is something called “Omega 3 Salmon Oil”.

These smells don’t do anything for me, but they are in “the list” that my mom Jane went over with Dr. B. on Day 9. He wants me to take the Omega 3 fish oil so that my skin injuries will heal more quickly. And he wants me to take the other stuff so that my bones heal well.

Because these smells don’t do anything for me, my mom has to “trick” me into wanting to eat by putting a little chicken soup in each meal. If that doesn’t work, she has to go through her, “Joey, eat” routine.

just keep talking

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Apr 232009

The three of us remain there in the hospital lobby. My mom has a lot of questions for Dr. Kiko and continues reading from her “list”, and I remain close to both of them, on a short leash.

the-list

Jane tells Dr. Kiko that I have taken all the antibiotics she was initially given for me, and wants to know if I need to continue to take them; she wants to know how often my bandages have to be changed, if I am permitted to be free to walk around the house yet, if I have to continue to have the cream put on my belly. She wants to know something about my food, such as if she should put fish oil on my food, and other things.

I’m not paying any attention to her and Dr. Kiko. I hope they keep on talking and talking because the longer they talk, the longer I can look be enchanted by the sounds and scents of the other dogs that are walking in and out of the hospital, with their owners in tow.

Dogs other than me are marking their territory and indicating their pleasure with being in this social place.

I really love this hospital!

dogs don’t look both ways

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Apr 232009

My dreams have come true! The stitches and staples have been taken out and Dr. B says I don’t have to wear the collar any more.

caution

After the examination and procedure, Dr. B, and Jane, and I are together in the hospital lobby. Dr. B and Jane are talking to each other, and I’m preoccupied by the other animals in the hospital, coming in, going out, waiting for their appointments.

A little girl has just come over to make friends with me. She pets me.Then she asks what happened to me, and Jane has told her that I was hit by a car. The little girl looks puzzled and has asked, “Didn’t he look both ways when he was crossing the street?”

Jane answered, “No, dogs don’t look both ways.” She said, “Dogs also don’t pay attention to traffic lights or to stop signs.” Doctor B was there too and heard this and he nodded in agreement.

This seems to be an important issue.

day 9

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Apr 232009

weighing-in

Today is going to be a great day for me. I have an appointment with my doctor, Dr. B, one of my best friends. The “Instructions” said to bring me there within 7 to 10 days of my going home, and this is Day 9. Perfect.

I don’t really care why I have to go there; for me it is a wonderful thing because I get to go outside for a little bit. I also don’t have to wear the collar while I am in the car. Maybe Jane will open the car window while she’s driving and I’ll feel the fresh air blow on my face and be able to sniff at all the lovely scents of animal life that are in the air.

My parents are saying something about taking out the stitches and staples that are in my belly. I wonder if that means that I will not have to wear the cone any longer. While I am there, Dr. B is going to look at my leg and tell me if he thinks it’s getting better. Then he is going to put on new bandages.

***

At the hospital, Dr. B lets me walk longer distances, which is a lot of fun, though I’m still on the leash. There are so many other dogs and cats there; I am unaware of who is big and who is little; I am aware of males and females. Some dogs are on leads like I am, some are in carriers. There is one dog who has three legs and he is hopping around, as happy as he can be. I find the whole experience of being in the hospital wonderful. All of these dogs could be my friend! My nose and eyes and ears are always busy! My tail is wagging continuously and my ears are alert. Lots of dogs, including me, are marking the walls and posts in order to say, to each other, in our own language,”I am here!”

Each time that I go to the hospital, the doctors want to know how much I weigh, whether I’ve gained or lost weight. Dr. B needs to know so he can figure out how much medicine I should be taking. I’ve lost some weight since I was wounded. Before I was hit by the car, I was a strong 80 pounds. Here in this weighing in I’m down to 74 pounds. Jane says that that’s because I am not running, and Dr. B agrees with her: Phil and I have not gone jogging together for two weeks now. I really don’t care about my weight, but I do care that my ankle and toes heal correctly and that I will be able to run again.