Sunday, I had the best day at the dog park. For two hours I ran, jumped and rough-housed with mostly big dogs. They weren’t as enormous as me but large enough that I didn’t intimidate the play outta them.
Monday, Mom and me took our mile-long walk to the local park, where I played chase the idiot squirrels and the explore/sniff game. We walked home without incident.
I always sleep on the couch after a walk. After waking up, I jumped to the floor and have been lame ever since.
See how miserable I feel?
Mom scratched my butt while she did her deep and thorough investigation of my paw. She wanted to rule out foreign objects. Mom found nothing and I was proud I let her prod.
Tuesday was bad. I spent the day sleeping on the couch; only asking Mom to go out when I had business to attend to … ya know, like bodily functions. Apparently, my bladder doesn’t care if I can walk or not.
Mom called a few vet clinics and the consensus was to “wait and see.”
Sadly, this paw thing has happened a couple of times in the past. Mom just makes me rest (no walks or running for a month.) After the long rest I’m healed and back to my regular activities. So, My Mama thought this was the same thing until the next day.
Wednesday was a disaster. I couldn’t even put my paw down; instead, I limped on my tippy toes. If Mom came close to my paw I jumped away and started licking the darn achy thing.
The next thing I know Mom is making me get into the auto and … zoom—we are in the doctor’s office.
I immediately forgot all my pain when we entered the exam room and I saw this huge picture hanging on the wall. Shortly thereafter a cat meowing came through the speakers. My excitement about the upcoming cat-play possibilities overrode my memories of last summer’s clinic visit. Remember the visit when I had a mouth full of porcupine quills?
Alas, this doctor’s visit turned out to be more torturous than the last. On my last visit they filled me up with knock-me-out drugs before poking and prodding. During this visit they tried restraining before the poke and prod. How stupid are these college-educated two-leggeds? I’m 100 pounds of grit, well-developed strong muscles and conviction! If I don’t want you near my paw you ain’t gettin’ near it!
I felt bad for My Mama; she could hear my loud refusals to be touched. All me hound caterwauling and barking made it perfectly clear I was being tortured. My poor Mom was in tears.
Pretty quick I got a shot that shut me up. My head space was drunk with nonsense, so I didn’t care how they manhandled me.
The final diagnosis? There weren’t any foreign objects stuck in my paw, therefore it’s most likely a soft tissue injury. Mom took home pain and nerve pills and was told to keep me off my paws for a couple of weeks.
I did the drunk sway and sidestep to get to the auto. Mom had to give me hindquarters a lift and push through the door before we could drive away.
I finally made it back home and onto my special sleeping place. My head is still spinning. Don’t Do Drugs; they suck.
Mom has a backlog of unpublished posts, so no need to worry about not hearing from me. Also, I’ll keep you, my faithful readers, in the loop as I heal.
Luv, Otis
(2.24.2023)
Poor Otis, I hope he feels better. I am sure with some snuggles, kisses and treats from his mom he will be better.
Thanks for the well wishes Susan. He’s not in as much pain; thank you pain meds. I have to sneak outta the house to go for a walk. Otis would be heartbroken if I knew I walked without him!
Poor sweet Otis!
Poor Otis! Guy just likes to have a little fun and now this! Hope he heals fast
Thanks Robyn!
Get well soon, Otis!
What is a soft tissue injury? Like a bruise? I hope he is recovered already 🤞