Home from the vet's

[ksmith]

King has lost 4 pounds in the six weeks since his sprained leg visit., and is now down to 118. He was seen by the old vet who used to own the practice and now fills in during busy days--Old Vet always felt King should have hovered around 100 pounds, which seemed way too light to me. He still feels that way, but he did say that King is really solid, and another 18 pounds might not be doable. Ten may be more of a possibility, so we will shoot for that. King has more of a waist now, and I can feel his backbone for the first time in a while.

Vet visits have become more of a struggle. King recognizes everyone--they can all pet him, and he munches the dog biscuits that the tech gives him. But he is really edgy, and for reassurance he paws at my legs hard enough to bruise. I have a doctor's appointment on Wednesday, by which time the bruises should be nice and bloomy. I may do what I did when King was a challenging yearling who used to go after my arms, and take his photo along with me. When medfolk spotted the bruises and asked how I got them, I would show them his photo. There was something about the look in his eyes as he stared into the camera. They immediately understood.

I took Gaby along for moral support, as well as to get a weight. She's up to 34 pounds, which is perfect. King's former vet thought she should weigh about 35 pounds, and at 34 pounds, she is nice and springy, with a great deal more muscle while retaining a pronounced tuck. So, since late August, she has gained 8 pounds.

They had to take King in the back room--that sounds so ominous--to get his blood. Then they brought him back to me for phys exam, inoculations, and bordatella-up-the-schnoz. Gaby got bordatella as well, which resulted in much snorting and headshaking.

It's still a struggle to get King into Kuro's backseat. I can't get him to take a leap and hop onto the seat--he did it by accident on the way down, but no go on the way back. I finally got him in by pushing the front seat all the way forward to give him room to step onto the floor, then up onto the seat. I should have done that in the first place. Hope it solves the problem.

Gaby still doesn't like the car thing. She jumped in on the way out, but I had to lift her in on the way back. She then proceeded to curl up on my seat, and I really had to push her to get her to move.

Now they're home. King's in the dining room, keeping an eye on the backyard through the French doors. Gaby is here in the living room, at my feet. I'm watching Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network--I really like Ina Garten--after which I will shop. It's still only cloudy, but it's cold and the wind is picking up.

Comments

[michaeldthomas.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that the pups are healthy.

rarelylynne and I really want to get invited to an Ina Garten dinner party. :)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

King had a blood draw, and they managed to get a urine sample. He's officially a senior dog. Up to now, his test results have been golden. May it continue.

I want Ina Garten's house in East Hampton. Her kitchen. The views of the ocean.

[slave2tehtink.livejournal.com]

second the hope that King's results will be good for years to come! How old is he?

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

He's going to be *8* in another day or two, which is late late middle age for a dog his size. His right hip is already a little wonky, possibly from arthritis given his breed mix--GSD and Lab. And I had noticed a few weeks ago that his lower right fang looked discolored. According to the vet, the root probably died. This won't be a problem unless the site becomes infected, in which case we may be paying a visit to the same doggie dentist who checked out Mickey's deformed fang.