Life is never dull

There are adventures aplenty when a dozen dogs are running your life.  Yesterday was no exception.  Our Ken surfaced from his morning kennel routine with a head shake (not likely ear mites) and the comment that 'we may have a problem'.  Apparently the Tuesday evening gardening session was accompanied by an Airedale flight of fancy.  One of the youngsters managed to unscrew the top from a watering can and pass it off to Clint who likely had asked nicely that this be done.  He has always had a penchant for plastic - considering it a food group, perhaps his favourite.  This little escapade was not shared until Clint refused food on Thursday morning.  Clint is not a food snob.  Watching him through the day, there was every possibility that there was not an issue since there  are girls in season and that can cause food disinclination in even the heartiest of eaters.  However, by dinnertime and another snubbed fancy meal, antennae were twitching.  Chantelle's august presence was requested and she and Lee did an exam.  Nothing conclusive.  Clint was then put in a run, had a good drink of water and promptly flowed downward to rest on his knees.  It was an unusual performance and definitely not normal.  Time to call the Vet.  Interestingly, while the technician agreed that he did need to be seen right away, she also advised that there was no time to see him and he would have to be taken to the emergency clinic when it opened an hour and a half later.  After Lee shook her head (no ear mites there either) she decided that a call to the new 24 hour clinic in the city might be in order.  The word on the street is that Four Paws Veterinary Clinic on Lady Hammond Road is well run and impressive.  The bright young woman at the front desk took a phone history and suggested Clint should come for a visit immediately.  Off went the Regalridgemobile (had there been a mention already that Chantelle was in her lovely pj's?) to the city.  The new clinic is, in a word, fabulous.  It is very well equipped, spotless, busy mid-evening and well staffed.  From reception through exam and radiograph, it was a seamless process with complete client involvement.  Dr Emma is a talented and engaged veterinarian with strong listening and communication skills and diagnostic talent.  She begins with the least invasive processes and moves forward with a sensible plan, keeping her client informed and part of the process at every step.  At no point was there a sense that things were not under control.  In the end, surgery was necessary and still the communication continued with a call at 3:30 am (by Lee's request) to provide outcomes and a full explanation of the surgery.  There was certainly every opportunity to have stayed at the clinic through the full process since the clinic is open 24 hours a day.   The surgery was complicated but successful - the various and sundry pieces of plastic had found their way to interesting spots in Clint's digestive system and are now happily resting in a zip lock bag for reference material as we prepare for Clint's lecture.  Lee has visited, taken him out for a slow walk, managed to get him to drink on his own and to take a mouthful of food.  He remains at the clinic on iv and heavily medicated but we are hopeful that he will be able to come home soon.  And there endeth the day's adventure. 


There has been no sleep.


We are punchy, at best, but soldiering on.