Best doctor in the world is the Veterinarian. He can’t ask his patients what’s the matter. He’s just got to know. ~Will Rogers, American humorist, author, and actor
I Monkey here, with a continuation of yesterday’s tale.
(What, you haven’t read it? Leave right now and do so or this part won’t make sense. We’ll wait.)
Since Mama wasn’t getting any medical help from my dogtur, she promptly called another vet but was told I’d have to wait two weeks before they could see me.
Holidays, you know.
In the meantime, they told Mama to keep me quiet so my paw can heal.
Don’t they know how impossible it is to keep a herding dog quiet??
No running around inside or out. No playing chase or fetch. No leaping off the sofa or trying to race Mama up or down the stairs.
How boring is that, huh??
And we’d had NINE inches of new snow, just begging for me to explore it.
Well, Mama started taking me outside to potty … on my leash, people — and she refused to let me chase things or run.
Tell me what’s wrong with this picture, won’t you? We have a nice, fenced backyard, yet I can’t access it? Isn’t that one reason people want fenced backyards, so their human kids and fur-kids can run and play safely?
Huh.
How’s a pup supposed to run off intruders like cats and squirrels with his mama tethered to him and hollering to leave the wee beasties alone?
Sheesh.
In all fairness, this wasn’t a picnic for poor Mama either. She hates cold weather — especially that below freezing, windy variety with feels-like temperatures in the single digits.
Yet there she was, bundled like Nanook of the North and reminding me every few minutes to “go potty.”
C’mon, Mama, sometimes I Monkey don’t need a potty break. Sometimes, I just want to step outdoors for a look-see.
When the day for my new vet appointment arrived, I Monkey was apprehensive. Would they like me? Would I like them?
But New Dogtur was super-nice! He examined me gently and knew right off what was wrong.
Besides a cut in my carpal pad (which was already well on the path to healing), I Monkey have a terribly itchy bacterial infection on my back (for which I’m now taking antibiotics). That’s because our wonky weather — all that rain, followed by dry, cold, and snow — caused bacteria to proliferate.
New Dogtur gave Mama some self-sticking bandage thingy (in neon orange) to wrap around my wrist so I can romp safely in the snow.
Without Mama.
Woo Hoo!
That’s a win for BOTH of us.
I Monkey with my neon bandage thingy
Domer says I’m still on the injured reserve list, but I’m making progress. Isn’t it grand finding the proper care team?
Note: Would you believe Mama never heard from the first vet? No apology, no wondering why we requested my records be sent elsewhere. Nothing.
Signing off for now, I Monkey, once again king of my yard.
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
Sounds like you’ve got yourself a new vet, Monk. I’m glad to hear that your carpal pad is healing and that your neon orange bandage is letting you be free to run and play again. Mama must be happy now that she doesn’t have to wait outside with you. It’s no fun being injured!
No, Miss Barbara, it’s not fun being injured. I Monkey don’t recommend it, even as a surefire way to get pampering and attention!
I’m glad you let us know the rest of the story sooner rather than later! I was a little worried, although I suspected the injury, however anxiety producing, wasn’t terrible. What’s terrible is the response of that first vet: or should I say the non-response. That seems so odd to me. Most vets I’ve had experience with or heard about are so caring the humans who turn to them say things like “If I get sick again, I want to go to a vet!”
In any case, all is well, and romping is possible again. Enjoy your new freedom — and what may be your new vet!
Miss Linda, I Monkey fully agree with you. And so does Mama. She’s never found a vet who charges so much yet fails to respond to emergencies during off-hours. And then for her to cut us off like that, with no explanation.
Our first batch of snow (total: more than a foot!) has melted away, but we’re expecting more this weekend. And it’s going to get below zero, too, making Mama awfully glad not to have to stand outside while I sniff around!
Phew! what a relief to know that all is well. Now, Monkey, you can romp and frisk in the snow as Shelties were meant to do.
I Monkey know you know Shelties love romping in the snow, Miss Laurie! And what’s the point of having an ideal place to romp if you’ve got an injured paw? Mama tried booties on me, but that didn’t work as well as the neon bandage. Of course, the booties would have been more weather-appropriate, but I Monkey couldn’t figure out how to walk in them, heh heh!
Glad you are improving, Monkey, and the new dogtur is on the case, yay! 👏🏼
Thank you, Miss Eliza. I Monkey think New Dogtur is going to be just fine. He wants to see me in another week to check on my healing, and I aim to impress him with my progress!
You might not like hearing this, Monkey, but perhaps hurting your pad was a good thing since it led to a nice new vet who discovered your other problem! Pat knows exactly what you’re talking about as far as not always “needing” to go out. Sometimes it’s just to survey the realm! I’m glad everything is on the mend now!
Thanks, Miss Kelly. I Monkey don’t particularly like antibiotics, but I was scratching so much that poor Mama thought I was going to scratch myself raw. New Dogtur did an outstanding job in explaining things to Mama, too — she likes knowing the whys and wherefores, ha! I’m glad to know I’m not the only pup who sometimes feels a need to “survey the realm.” On windy days, I Monkey hear things — and smell things — and I’ve just got to go check ’em out!
So glad you’ve been released from the leash, Monkey! (And that your poor mama has been released from the other end of it…) Humans can’t help worrying about cuts and things, but I can see why you’d rather be chasing critters than stuck inside, healing! I’ll tell you a secret, but you mustn’t tell your mama I told you. I used to be the human of a little poodle called Sandy who once hurt his paw. It got better quickly, but in the meantime we all made a fuss, giving him extra pats and cuddles because he couldn’t chase critters. For the rest of his life, if ever he was in the bad books, he’d lift that perfectly healed paw, look pathetic and whine. It worked every time! It made us laugh so much we couldn’t be mad at him any more! Try it on your mama…
I Monkey have long heard how smart poodles are, Miss FF, and your story about Sandy confirms it. This is brilliant! Look how much attention and extra love he got, just by “faking” an injury. Why, I Monkey must take notes on this and give it a try for myself. I’m not sure Mama will be hoodwinked, but we’ll see. And if there are extra cookies in the mix, it’s a win-win, heh heh. Thanks!
wow! We are glad you’re almost all the way better. What an experience! Was the first vet your regular vet??
Yes, Miss Dawn, the first vet was my regular — I Monkey have been going to her practically my entire life of five years. Mama said she could’ve forgiven her if she’d bothered to phone on Monday and explain just what kept her from helping me over that weekend. Like maybe if she’d apologized. Or groveled. But silence? That’s inexcusable. Her voice message at the clinic gave us the number to call or text for emergencies. Which Mama did, to no avail. Maybe some other pet was having issues, too, but we still haven’t heard a thing. Hard to believe, huh?
Very hard to imagine, but not so hard either. When Katie was about 13 she started to have behavior symptoms that perhaps her gall bladder was a problem. I took her to her regular vet office and found out the vet we liked, and the reason we went to this place, had left and no one told us. So we had to see the ‘old vet’ who was basically a farm vet, doing large animals. Wasn’t into family pets. I asked for an ultrasound and he refused saysing she was old and we wouldn’t do anything if we did find sludge! Well! We walked out of there and never looked back. We took her to another vet an hour away (during covid no less) who did an ultrasound immediately and said yes she had sludge and to watch her for signs of pain and if she exhibited pain to get her to ER immediately. Which we did and she had gall bladder surgery when she was 14. When she died at 15.5 I sent an email to the old vet who had been sending us postcards to remind us about her shots etc, to tell them she had died. Never heard a word from them. The vet we were seeing, the one an hour away from us, who had given us the extra time with her, cried when I told her we were letting Katie go free. She’s the vet we take Pen to now, though we do go to a local one for her normal shots.
Oh, gee, this makes my eyes leak. First, because I sort of “knew” Katie, and second, because no dog should have to go through something like that. Perhaps because we live in a more rural area, vets here are few and far between. The U of I has a big vet school, but who knows where the graduates wind up? I probably could’ve hauled the Monk an hour to the specialty emergency clinic, but he’s not particularly good about car rides — especially when he’s bleeding. I know the new vet worked him in as fast as their schedule permitted. Part of me would like to know just what was so important to the former vet that she couldn’t respond to my frantic cry for help, though.
Could call and ask. Or let it go and move on with the new, kinder, vet.
So glad you found a new dogtur, Monkey. It is important to have someone you can count on in emergencies. I’m a;so glad he spotted that bacterial infection. It will be a much nicer holiday for you and mama.
Thank you, Mr. John. I Monkey agree (and so does Mama). If you can’t count on your dogtur when there’s a crisis — and they only want to see you during “banker’s hours” — why, that’s not much of a service, is it? Maybe that AI-thingy will be better … with robots caring for everybody 24/7?!?
Ha ha ha. Who knows about AI? I sure wouldn’t want to see a robot for medical advice. Have a good weekend, Monkey. Tell Mom to have a good one, too.
Thanks again, Mr. John. Give the girls my best … and remind Tempeste that acorns and leaves aren’t food!
Will do. 🙄
Monk, I LOVE how you refer to your doctor as “dogtur” – BRILLIANT play on spelling. LOL!
After reading your first post on Wednesday, I was so nervous, wondering how this story was going to play out. And I am sooooooooooo happy to read that you found a new dogtur, who was quickly able to diagnose your issue and are now on the mend!
*doing the happy dance*
That final photo of you is ADORABLE! Such a handsome face you have. And I’m digging that fancy orange wrist thingy. Looks like a sweat wrist band!
Oh and btw, feel free to send some of that SNOW my way. We haven’t had a single flake so far. However, we might be getting some this weekend!
Always enjoy your post, Monk! Much love to your and Mama! Have a super weekend!
X
I Monkey am sorry to have caused you worry, Mr. Ron, but thank you for your concern. Yes, I think I’m on the mend now, but it’s been a long road.
So you like my neon bandage, huh? Yep, it’s pretty cool-looking … until it gets wet. Then it won’t stick for beans, and Mama has to cut another strip out for me. And you should’ve seen her when I Monkey lost it out in the snow, hee hee!
Speaking of which, you haven’t had ANY snow yet?? Oh, my. Mama is totally ready for Spring already. We had 9 inches right after Thanksgiving, followed by another 3.5 inches two days later. Just when everything was nearly all gone, we got another 4 inches, starting things up again. And we’re supposed to get more over the weekend. While I Monkey love romping in the cold, wet white stuff, Mama says she’s a Southern gal, who’d like a White Christmas. But then, it can all go away!! XX
Hi King of the Yard Monkey 👑! Powder Puff Princess Yorkie here.
Feeling relief after reading post part two. That’s quite the Thanksgiving Holidays Story! I Yorkie am so glad that you are on the mends with a fancy smancy neon orange wrap. Did you get a sliver of sympathy turkey bites?
Nine inches of snow? That is taller than me! I would absolutely be smothering in snow that high. Now I have been in snow 4 inches high during 2004 Christmas time. It is freezing. Being born in Corpus Christi TX I am a Southern Doggo like our mamas.
Were you able to watch the National Doggo Show on Thanksgiving Day? Any favorites? My mama was cheering for the gray giant poodle. 🙄The sheltie was gorgeous and we thought of you. I Yorkie was very happy with the Best of Show winner who also won best of the hearding group. Her black hair looked so soft and she could dance like a queen!
King Monkey up with the continued healing! ❤️ 🐾🐾🦃🦃🦃
Hey Yorkie! I Monkey loved the beautiful Best of Show doggo! You’re so right — she was gorgeous with her flowing black furs and her majestic attitude. She really owned the ring, didn’t she?
When I go outside, I’m up to my chest in cold snows. Mama puts a warm coat on me, but I won’t wear booties. She figures I’d probably just shake them off anyway, and it would be Spring before she’d find them again.
My ancestors are from Scotland, so cold weather isn’t a problem for me … but Mama hates it. I think she needs a nice flowing coat like mine!
Happy Howlidays to you and your mama!!
Our thoughts of your mama dancing through the pretty spring tulips just to find missing booties had us laughing! My mama has tried putting socks on me, but I take them off as soon as she leaves the room. After 13 years, I think she would figure out that I will never wear socks!
Happy holidays to ya”ll. 🎄
Socks??? I Monkey won’t wear them either. As you know, I don’t do dress-up, heh heh!