I was really hoping to spend a nice, peaceful Christmas with my family and enjoy almost 2 weeks off work.
It's not worked out like that.
I never anticipated my older dog, Nikky, jumping out of the car before I was ready for her and hurting her back. She just wasn't getting better, so yesterday to the vet we went. Because this is such a suckass little town, the only decent vets are nearly 35 miles away in State College (home of Penn State Univ.).
So, to Mom and Dad's vet we go. Vet is suspicious that there might be a blown ligament in her knee plus a back problem. So I drop her off overnight for xrays.
Luckily, no dysplasic, their orthopedic person looked at her and says the knee is fine, and the disks in the back all appear to be fine, no hip dysplasia, but there is some arthritis -- it's just a badly wrenched back.
So, I load her in the car, and she's having problems walking on the slick floors that the vet has, and promptly falls. Vet gives her an injection of high-powered steroids and Rimadyl (to be started Friday after the steroids).
By the time we get home, she's very, very sore and won't let me lift her. Call the vet. Vet says muzzle her to avoid being bitten, that it will probably hurt her, but I don't do any damage. So, I get her up and get her in the house.
Lots of pain, call the vet back and ask for a prescription for Tramadol to make her more comfortable.
Run and get that when it's filled at a pharmacy in town (good pharmacy, locally owned, and does gangbusters business even with the WalMart super center across town).
Get a tramadol into her, lay down with her and hold her, shed a few tears out of stress/relief/pent up frustration/guilt, and try to relax.
She's resting comfortably now. Doesn't seem to be having any pain, even is moving around a bit.
I, on the other hand, a tired as hell, stressed out beyond all belief, chain smoking-wreck right now. I had hoped to be back in Virginia tomorrow, but now I'm in limbo...
But, with rest and medications, my dog is going to be OK, so that's at least something.
