On Saturday, Drake and I had plans to drive to Columbus to meet Andrew for the weekend. Andrew was doing a traithalon and was not yet finished so, Drake and I decided a trip to the park before our departure would be great.
I was driving Andrew's truck and decided to put Draker in the bed of the truck because I knew how much he liked it. The park was only a mile away. I attached an old leash to a hook in the bed and put Drake on the leash. I pulled out of the driveway and was going approx. 20 mph when the GSD next door started chasing the truck :mad: I watched Drake in the rearview mirror and I saw him jump out of the truck to "get" that dog. I quickly stopped and jumped out of the truck. Draker was lying on the pavement breathing hard and covered in blood.
I was hysterical. I didn't know what had happened but figured that Drake slipped out of his collar after he jumped out. He had some cuts and abraisions that indicated that he hit the pavement wile I was still moving and I had seen his big body bounce off the street.
I threw my gym towel on the seat and picked up all 90 lbs of my Draker and rushed to the vet. A friend once made fun of me for having my vet's number programmed into my cell phone address book, but it came in handy that day! I told them I was on my way and they were out with a stretcher and a muzzle.
I put the muzzle on Drake and helped lift him onto the stretch. His mouth was all bloody and I was too. The vet gave Drake anesthesia and he was knocked out in seconds. After examining him, they found several wounds that needed to be stapled and some abraisons. They also x-rayed his entire body and found a hairline fracture in one of his ribs.
I had called Andrew on my way there, but he still hadn't called back. I didn't say that Drake was hurt but I was crying hysterically. I asked if I could go into the OR with Drake and the vet finally agreed. He figured I would throw a hissy fit if he said no. After about 50 staples and dozens of internal sutures, they warpped him up and said that he could go home.
He was given a shot to reverse the anesthesia while I paid the bill, and then we left. I had to help him into the truck and he slept on the way home The vet said he would be drowsy all day.
Once we got home, I helped him into the house and then cleaned up the blood from his fur with a spray bottle of water, a towel, and an old baby toothbrush. He was all clean and very asleep.
I am so lucky that he slipped out of the collar. He could have hung himself. I blame myself for this. I only put him there because he loves being in the back of the truck. I am a horrible mother. It will never happen again. I cried for several hours after that and Draker had his head on my lap all the way down to Columbus. He was happy to see his daddy and was even happier when Andrew got him a hamburger :D
His exercise has to be limited for a week. He is doing very well, thank God! He is limping a bit but is expected to have a 100% recovery.
