And the winner is...

[ksmith]

...yup, kennel cough. Not as bad as it could be. The vaccine likely blunted it some. We're going to see if it can resolve on its own, since King and antibiotics don't get along all that well.

Bit of a dust-up when vet, who King does like, tried to take his temp. He had never done anything like that before--mouthed her arm through her coat, enough to leave a bruise. Vet and I had a talk about the changes he's been through recently--she sees the differences in him more than I do. He apparently does miss Mickey more than I thought. The trying-to-crawl-in-my-lap thing, which is only a few months old, probably started when King realized Mickey was sick. If that's the case, he knew it before anyone else did.

He may not be feeling too great from the kennel cough, either.

Anyway, he and vet made up. Vet and I talked some more. Then King and I went back to meet Gabby, who someone left at the vet's a few days ago, tied to the front door. A terrier mix, about 26 pounds. She will get bigger--she's very underweight. Very sweet. Does tricks. Is eager to please. She gave me her paw, and was very happy to let me pet her.

It's tentative. No aggression shown by either party--body language said "he's OK--she's OK". The vet still needs to check Gabby out--see if she's been fixed, etc. I take King back Friday for a date to meet her outside.

Comments

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I try to be there for him, but there's apparently a Mickey-shaped hole in his life, too.

[torrilin.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it sounds like it. Most dogs I've known just don't bite like that without being horribly upset. Guard types are *very* reluctant to bite humans under normal circumstances... and that's the kind of dog I grew up with and like best.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

It was strange. I saw exactly what he did, a rapid-fire series of nips on one spot on her sleeve. He really restrained himself--vet knew it. She said he could've gotten her if he had wanted to, but he held back. He just didn't want that thermometer in his rear.

So vet and I sat on the floor. King stayed on the other side of the examining table for a few minutes while vet and I talked. Then he circled around the table and licked her face, which was his apology. As we talked, he licked her face again, put his head under her arm, then tried to stand on her lap. So alles forgiven.

King then tried to stand on my lap, too. I have the bruises as a reminder.

I knew he wasn't himself, but yesterday was a glaring example of how far he's deviated from plumb.