oiran: cherry blossom (Default)
oiran ([personal profile] oiran) wrote2004-09-23 06:23 pm

sick puppy update

just...ew: Talked to vet and there's...no news. No idea what the hell is going on, what he might have gotten into, etc., but a day's course of antibiotics made them feel confident enough to stick a needle in the giant neck lump. Unfortunately, it revealed very little goo, which was not what anyone expected. There are all kinds of tests being done, but no results as yet. Still entirely up in the air whether this is bacteria or fungus or even both.

I was told he had developed a new swelling along his jaw, but I was still unprepared for the egg-sized bulge dragging his lip down. I was told he was still having eye goo, but it hadn't gotten so far as to be a gooey red crust around each eye when I'd dropped him off yesterday. The neck mass is still huge, but now it's shaved, so he looks lopsided and frankendoggish and just...weird.

As soon as we got home, which is always and forever the part of the car ride where he finally believes I am not going to abandon or kill him, he got very happy-dancey and tail-waggy and seemed almost fine. Once inside, he ran upstairs to my "office," did a little dance, and then flopped down on his bed and made himself comfortable. He then began some grooming, which included using his forearms to rub/scratch his eyes and snout. He looked up at me and...

God. This was so gross.

Okay. He looked up, and he had thick, gooey, red blood oozing like paint out of both eyes and down his face, with strings of reddened pus stretched between top and bottom lids. He was busy trying to wipe this onto his legs and bed so he could...be a dog and lick it up. I ran into the bathroom and got a bunch of tissue and tried to wipe it off of him without puking, which was touch-and-go for a moment there. See, up close like that it...it kind of stank. Gah! It seemed to hurt him for me to touch the mess, which is no surprise. Once I got the worst of it off, it seemed best to let him handle it in his own fashion. Of course, now he has blood staining the pale, brindled sections of his legs, his bed, and still gooey around his eyes. But at least it's draining, I guess.

I was going to totally baby him and bring him up on the couch (if he'd do it - he won't usually) and later the bed...but I don't want bloody dog-eye pus all over everything. I don't even want it on the dog, after all. Of course, it has been recommended that I try to find a way to put a warm compress of some sort over the lumps in order to (at which point the vet snickered) "bring them to a head." I am preparing myself to use the word "pustacular" in earnest tomorrow, if not sooner.

My poor, disgusting baby. And, as mentioned, we still have no fucking clue what's wrong, what he might have gotten into, or why he's reacting like this. And now I'm half-worried that it is somehow contagious and I'll have goopey red pus dripping from my eyes any minute now.

I have some experience with this sort of grossness

[identity profile] mz-bstone.livejournal.com 2004-09-23 05:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Had a dog with anal abscesses.

One --

get an antibacterial handwash. Use it before and after touching le poochie.

Two --

Warm wet cloth gently over the oozing areas and then a firm swipe down (Folling the lids). Maturating or suppurating are nifty terms for a pus-filled abcesses. *g*

Three --

Wipe off dirty bits on legs, and contaminated bedding. Throw old sheets over it, maybe, or towels -- it might be easier.

Four --

Stinky? Vic's Vaporub or mentholated ointment or something under the nose. Tiger balm, even. Cuts smell to zero.

B

Re: I have some experience with this sort of grossness

[identity profile] rhiannonhero.livejournal.com 2004-09-23 06:25 pm (UTC)(link)
You are always so helpful, Brighid. I'm keeping all of this in mind in case I ever need it. Especially the Vic's Vaporub.

Re: I have some experience with this sort of grossness

[identity profile] mz-bstone.livejournal.com 2004-09-23 06:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Hrm.

Sister works with animals. We get the wounded and the sick.

So maybe helpful.

Wish my proofreading was better. The ideas, faster than my fingers!

grr.

Still. I don't mean to sound like a know-it-all. My life's just offered me some weird (and sometimes gross) experiences.

B

Re: I have some experience with this sort of grossness

[identity profile] rhiannonhero.livejournal.com 2004-09-23 06:34 pm (UTC)(link)
No! You don't sound like a know-it-all at all! :) I was being sincere. I always appreciate how helpful you are.

Re: I have some experience with this sort of grossness

[identity profile] mz-bstone.livejournal.com 2004-09-23 06:38 pm (UTC)(link)
hokay.

I know I get sorta pedantic, so I worry.

Thank-you for the kind thought.

B

Re: I have some experience with this sort of grossness

[identity profile] velvetglove.livejournal.com 2004-09-23 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, thank you! I was just kind of dithering with repulsion and worry, but these are things I can actually do ;)

The bed has a cover that zips off, but I think that for tonight I'll just do as you recommend and throw some towels over it or something.

[identity profile] meret.livejournal.com 2004-09-23 05:23 pm (UTC)(link)
I hope he's okay! *worried*

[identity profile] velvetglove.livejournal.com 2004-09-23 07:20 pm (UTC)(link)
I hope they get some lab results back tomorrow. It's pretty scary - this came on so suddenly, and there's absolutely no indication as to what might have happened to him.

Thank you so much for your concern.

[identity profile] twigged.livejournal.com 2004-09-23 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, that is really very gross. Poor poochie. He must feel like he's been hit by a truck. :( So, you think that it's draining though? I mean, faster than it's filling up?

[identity profile] velvetglove.livejournal.com 2004-09-23 07:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, after the hideous red rain of pus and scab, he clotted up again and is now sleeping. It's hard for me to think this is getting "better" when it's so much worse now than when I dropped him off yesterday. But, I still love and trust the vet, so I'm sure he's doing what needs to be done. If not, I know where he lives, and I can kill him if I have to.

[identity profile] pun.livejournal.com 2004-09-23 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
You know, at least you have a vet you really trust in all this. I know we've talked about how I'm similarly in love with my vet, and it really is such a comfort when something scarry like this happens.

Once when my dog seemed really sick I had to take her in right away, and my usual vet wasn't there and it was so awful!

[identity profile] rhiannonhero.livejournal.com 2004-09-23 06:26 pm (UTC)(link)
I guess they let you take him home because he's not in immenent (sp?) danger and he'll rest better at home? Oh, poor, poor baby pup.

[identity profile] velvetglove.livejournal.com 2004-09-23 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
He doesn't seem to be suffering, particularly...but then again, you know what he's like. He doesn't really show signs of much of anything, ever. He sleeps. He goes outside when forced. Sometimes he gets all nutty and plays for five or ten minutes, but that's not even every day. He loves me with a devotion that borders on annoying. But last night when I got up to get water or pee or whatever, I really did miss the click of doggy toenails on the wood...

He was very happy to get home, though.

[identity profile] rhiannonhero.livejournal.com 2004-09-23 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Poor baby. This makes me so sad!

[identity profile] pun.livejournal.com 2004-09-23 07:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow. Your poor, poor puppy! And poor, poor you! That is awful. And remarkably gross. I hope he gets better soon!

[identity profile] velvetglove.livejournal.com 2004-09-23 07:24 pm (UTC)(link)
It is remarkably gross. If you were to send me Sleepy!Clark to read, it might make the dog feel better. Yes, it really might.

[identity profile] pun.livejournal.com 2004-09-23 07:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Hee! You know what happened? The last scene is a big mess, and I was going to get it into some shape where I could send it to you, and then I just kinda didn't. But I'm working on it right now, I *swear*!

[identity profile] pun.livejournal.com 2004-09-23 10:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Just in case it doesn't go through I'm letting you know I just sent it.

And by the way, I accidentally hit the send button before I'd signed the email so I didn't mean for the end to be so abrupt. Sorry.