A visit to the local vet is not something I look forward to with this hound because what should be a simple drive a few minutes away turns into an epic and traumatic trip – for me. I generally warn the staff and doctor at the surgery beforehand THAT EDISON IS ON THE WAY! This is how the event unfolded today.
I’m sure many of you have read all about his past visits when I used to be on fb. For those who haven’t heard, this is our latest visit we survived today. Edison Earl is a giant schnauzer. Because I had pre-arranged our visit we were expected at about 9:45 as it’s generally quiet at the surgery this time of the day.
Edison knew something was up because he started glaring at me shortly before we left. My dad (the brave soldier) said he would go with and block the beast from trying to climb in the front and sit on my lap.
Step 1: Armed with a bag of biltong as a bribe to get Ed to behave I managed to get him in the back seat – he jumped out.
Step 2: I coaxed him back in and he hopped over the seat and sat in the passenger seat.
Step 3: I got him out; put him in the back and got my dad in and realised we hadn’t opened the gate.
Repeated step 1, 2, 3 to open and close the gate. It should take exactly 6 minutes to the surgery from my dad’s house, but with a frothing, slobbering dog doing leaps and lunges trying to get to the front of the car it takes 25 minutes – one way. Upon arriving I usually make a hasty retreat to get him out as fast possible so I could take him for a few laps around the garden to lift his leg on every conceivable twig, stick, wall, tyre, blade of grass and tree he can find. He jumped over the front seat punctured my dad’s leg and opened what seemed like an artery – he’s on blood thinners and so you can imagine what it was like. The helpful receptionist dressed his wound.
His dogness walked about on three legs (the back one lifted ready for the spraying action) for a good half hour. Finally with number 1 out the way and not a drop of piddle left in his bladder I bravely started towards the entrance. Edison in the meantime decided he hadn’t left enough information or evidence to say he had visited and promptly drops the smelliest number 2 near the door. No one noticed so we sneaked in.
Our turn came to see the doc. I dragged Edison into the consulting room by way of a harness and a bag of biltong by his nose. He must have had a flashback of his last visit there and went into a rage. We muzzled him – to no avail, so a sedative was administered – to no avail, so a second one slightly stronger was given. To avail! His legs gave way under him and he fell into a deep peaceful slumber staring at me.
I closed his eyes as if he were dead and said a little prayer over him. I sat on the floor next to him stroking his head with my bleeding thumb that had a gaping hole in from his tooth when he tried to get the muzzle off.
My dad meantime was sitting outside nursing his wound. What a sight we must have been! The doc took full advantage of his comatose state and gave he him a thorough check up. He needed to weigh him and between the two of us we managed to drag his carcass like a walrus to the scale in the reception area. We deposited this huge heavy bag of fur onto the scale with his head dangling off the end. Weight: 55kg’s. He was then given an injection to wake him.
About ten minutes later he started stirring. He tried to stand and realized that his legs were still asleep and he probably convinced himself he was paralysed and started bellowing like a cow with a hoarse throat at the loss of movement. His front legs eventually woke and he sat up, and then he tried to stand but his back legs couldn’t move. He howled and howled. The noise was horrendous!
Convinced he was destined to a life of immobility he laid down and did his best to throw a fit. He lay on his side thrashing his legs around frantically frothing at mouth like a rabid dog. Such a drama queen. Everyone that came into the surgery was very concerned with this dog in a dreadful medical state. He wasnt.
I managed to get him in the car with the help of a delightful lady and we drove home in peace. Edison had come to the conclusion he was now only a two legged dog and sat on the lawn in the same spot for two hours not moving once. Thankfully a bicycle came past and unbeknown to Edison he had made a miraculous recovery and ran frantically around the yard like an Olympic sprinter chasing him!
And dad and I? We are exhausted!
Have a super week and if you own a pet, give them lots of hugs and love!
Blessings to you all, Avy
