Diane's dog Chelsea has been a major pert of our extended family for years. Chelsea had a pretty fast-growing tumor pop up on her chest over the past few weeks and it was time to get it surgically removed. The biopsies (yes, plural) were inconclusive so it was time to go in surgically and remove it. This required Chelsea to be taken to an animal surgical center (no quick trip to the vet).
Chelsea's surgery went well, with the doctor saying he was able to get a "good margin" around the tumor. We're all hoping for the best - pathology results won't be back until next week.
It was time to bring Chelsea home and Diane (correctly) thought she probably shouldn't do this alone, so she asked me to help her. How could I turn down Chelsea??? (oops... I mean... "How could I turn down my darling sister?" Yeah that's it...)
So, I drove into the city so we could drive together to the doctor in the northern suburbs.
I am SOOOOOOO glad there was two of us.
When Chelsea came out from "the back" at the surgical place, she was fine, but I don't think we were ready for the shock of seeing her. The big black sutures against her shaved pink skin were shocking. The incision was in the shape of a "Y", extending from "shoulder to shoulder" and down her chest. We knew that the incision would be large, but this was way beyond our expectations. The real sutures versus the disolvable sutures probably made it look much worse.
She has a shaved patch on the right side of her torso so that has a morphine patch stuck to it. Oh, man... I haven't seen the use of pain patches on a dog before... she must really be in pain...
And sure enough, as Chelsea came out she was quiet. As soon as she saw us, each breath she took had a "squeak" in her voice. She's not comfortable at all. Diane got the instructions on how to treat Chelsea over the next couple of days (no stairs, no playing, warm compresses on the incision, no change in diet, back in 10-14 days to get the sutures out).
We went outside. Diane put Chelsea on the ground so she could have a, um, walk. She walked and peed just fine, but she just looks a little out of it. She's still squeaking. We get back to Diane's SUV. Diane picks-up Chelsea and puts her in the back seat and climbs in. I take the front to drive them home.
Now, dogs - compared to humans - breathe rapidly. She still squeaked with every breath.
For the entire 45 minute trip home.
She really squeaked once when she tried moving around. She also let out the most terrible, sorrowful moan I'd ever heard coming from a dog.
It was a hard drive home.
But, she did make it home. She laid in her bed the entire them I was there. (Diane was kind enough to grill up a burger for each of us and we kicked back and watched some TiVo for a while.) She tried to sleep, but she never fidgeted. She just seemed exhausted. But at least she was quiet. She's probably more comfortable being home.
Hopefully, she'll be just fine.
2008
2005- D-List Comedy
2002- Henry Ford Museum and drive to Harbor Country
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