Three weeks ago my little dog had to go in for an unexpected surgery. The poor thing was full of bladder stones, which pretty much feels like a belly full of gravel. I don’t know how long he’d had them, but he never let on that he was in pain. For a dog I refer to as my baby, he has proven to be something a lot stronger than a baby.
He went through a long and difficult surgery that left him very sore in a sensitive region. To add insult to injury, he lost his dignity when I had no choice but to make him wear a diaper, (yeah, there are diapers just for dogs). Most dogs would throw a fit, walk funny, or work hard to take that diaper off, but not my little guy. He hates it, but he takes it like a man.
Just when he started to heal, he was faced with another hurdle. A bad reaction to medication left him with painful skin lesions. I’ve never seen anything like them and I can’t even begin to imagine how much they hurt. I won’t get into the nitty gritty details, but let’s just say several of my shirts and a few blankets have stains I can’t get out thanks to those sores. He’s cried a few times, but I don’t fault him one bit. If it were me, I’d be crying a lot more. This little dog is tough and keeps his nubbin wagging no matter what.
My cat may be bigger than my dog, but his strength outmatches everyone in the house. Yesterday, he entered a difficult stage of his recovery – it’s gross so I won’t get in details – but I have faith he’ll fight through it with the same determination he’s had all along.
There are days when I just want to break down and cry (there have already been a few), but my tough little dog always reminds me to smile and keep going.
Don’t let that sweet face fool you, this is a tough little dog.
I have to give props to the staff of Indian Bend Animal Hospital. They are an amazing group of individuals who have shown both my dog and I an enormous amount of compassion and kindness.
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What’s your favorite thing this week?
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c.b.w. 2013
C.B. Wentworth 