We have "company" at the Ranch ...

[Cinder & Smoke]

Please ~ NO Scolding or 'I told ya so's' ...

Oh gee, if I were watching someone else's dog,
I'd have that pupper leashed up tight;
the responsibility would worry me too much!

We only "accept" reasonably well-behaved and somewhat obedient Mutts for
Sleep-overs at Phred's Place. And for the First Visit, the newcomers are assigned to
a Resident Mutt who escorts by being TIED to the new kid's collar.

But Heidi, the Mini-Mutt, HAS been here before and has been (mostly) cooperative in
staying on the Ranch property. We won't mention the *Froggin* at and IN the pond ...
but the pond IS "ON" the property.

Words to regret!

Sunday (7/06/2008) should have been the tip-off of things to come ...
Mini-Mutt had been good about staying in the front yard whilst under a sharp eye
and constant reminders of 'Heidi, stay CLOSE!" Sunday afternoon the Hiking Ferrie
beckoned for her attention ... I looked away for a moment and like a shot she was
rounding the back of the pond and headed east ... HEIDI!!!!!
She paused at the front corner of the neighbor's house ... slowly turned and trotted back.
GOOOOOD Girl!!

Monday we started out *tethered* to the Big Mutt - MUCH to Cinder's dismay. Since I
wasn't sure either of them had paused long enough for a pooh, Monday afternoon
I sent them out UNtethered ... and dual Pooh-Stops were soon accomplished.
Cinder trotted back to the porch ... Mini-Mutt turned towards the pond and quickly beat-feet
east to the neighbor's house. HOLLERIN did nothing to slow her down ...
She circled their house and *vanished*!

I threw on enough clothes to not get arrested if I had to get out of the car,
threw the Search Dawgs in the Bus, and we headed east ... to find NOTHING!

We put a couple hundred miles on the Search Bus Monday evening, knocked on doors,
drove the Church Camp, and visited Heidi's House a dozen times.
Pat & Joan hopped in their truck and did road patrols for a few hours.
I *hollered* out the front door every hour, all night.
By noon Tuesday we had a hundred 2-photo Lost Dog fliers printed and were passing
them out to houses, businesses and gas stations, 2 Post Offices, and had the Sheriff and
County Dawg Pound alerted. Wednesday we dropped fliers at three Vets and the Dog Pound.
Heidi's older Skin Brudder came home every night and either drove or walked our block.
We all searched for SEVEN Days ...
On Monday, the WEEK after she vanished, the Horse Guy charged up our drive on his
lawn mowin tractor ... and told me "I think I know where 'that dog' you're looking for is!"
WHERE, Peter?
"Back our driveway, where it turns into the woods. She's hurt ... tried to bite me."
I tossed the Search Dawgs in the Bus and we flew up Peter's drive ... he was sitting
on his tractor *pointing* towards the woods where his lil Muutt was sort of circling ...
And THERE was HEIDI!!

She was shaking, hold up her left rear leg, but the paw was drooping and limp. She was
covered in something semi-white ... I gently called her name ...
She seemed to panic and acted like she'd take off, then thought better of it.
I got close enough to touch her head ... then scooped her up and dashed back to the Bus.
I blurted out a heartfelt Thank You to Peter, who just returned a HUGE GRINN!
I had the Fancy Clinic on the phone before we cleared the driveway --- a fast summary
of what I saw and that she was a Doc Mike's patient got me a "Bring her Right IN!"

I dumped the Mutts at the Ranch and streaked towards the Crago Clinic.
Called Doc Mike on the way; Debbie answered and said she'd call Crago and Fax Heidi's
records over before we got there.
Called her Mom - no answer. Called Skin Brudder Adam ... "I FOUND HER!!
Call your Mom - we're on the way to Crago's - she's pretty sick."

I scooped her up and carried her into an empty waiting room (lunch time).
The Girls took one look and ushered us into an exam room.
I sat on the docs' roller stool and gave her a good look ...

Heidi was in shock - a blank stare was all I got. She lay on the bad leg (her choice),
showing me her back ... where the lil white crawly things bagan to appear from nowhere.
I began gently flicking them off with tissues into a pile, spraying the pile with table disinfectant,
and moving them off with more tissues. UGGH!
I was gaining on the lil crawly things when Doctor Jamie D. came in ...
"What ARE these things??"

"Those are *Maggots* and blood - she's been attacked by flies.
She has a broken paw for sure - we need X-rays to see if her hips are damaged.
I'll start cleaning her up (she'll have to be shaved and bathed) and get the X-rays.
Be back in a while."

Doc D. came back and offered "good news" = "only" her paw was broken and her back
would take a while to heal, but she'd recover with few problems. She'd be staying a night
or two to stabalize things; but she'd already *perked up* just a bit.
I was allowed a quick visit - she had a large Lower Bunk with piles of blankies.
I told myself she recognized me ... but I'm not so sure. She dozed off ... Bye, Kiddo.

I paid off the estimate and hundred or so more.
I called Mom (Tami) for the third or forth time and headed home.

I picked her up a couple days later (Mommy had a last-minute Dawter Crisis).
She appeared with her paw in half-leg cast/bandage, and a Body Wrap covering
the front half of her back where the worst skin damage was.

Better 'save' this ... more in a minute ....

[Daisy and Delilah]

Now there's a scary story, Phred!! Oh my gosh. How awful. Through the whole thing I'm worrying about you with heart trouble on top of everything else I'll read the next part after this but right now, thoughts and prayers going out to Heidi and you and everybody else.

Edit: I just read the Labor Day Gathering thread. Stupid me, I thought this just happened. I guess I scanned too fast.

Believe me Phred, this could have happened to anybody. When pups feel like running, that's what they do. I hope all of you are better now. Heidi is a cute little doggie.

[Cinder & Smoke]

She was going back every few days for a Bandage Change on her back and
eventually her paw wrap.
I had the Vet Call one day because Tami had to go somewhere ...
I handed Heidi off to one of her now MANY Vet Tech Fans in the waiting room and she'd
either *prance off* beside the girl or *Hop UP* and "Ride" back for treatment. As they'd
pass into the treatment areas, I could always hear multiple "Hey, it's Heidi", Heidi's here",
HI Ya, Heidi"! They did their thing, filled her up with threat, and she pranced back
across the waiting room to go home. I was going to keep her overnight if Tami was late.

About 8:00pm I felt her brush past and flop down under the 'puter.
A lil later I moved my foot and stepped on something "squisshie" ... ???
I looked under the desk ---
The "something squisshie" was Heidi's brandy new BODY WRAP - with a Neeked Dawg
laying beside it! OMG! Tami will never believe this!
Heidi had managed to CRAWL OUT of the Vet Wrap bandage - almost like a turtle
'walking out' of it's shell.

I took her home ... yuppers, Tami did NOT believe she "crawled out"!
We tried to *stuff* her back in ... no go.
Tami tied the wound dressing down with surgical tape and gave her a stern
"GO to BED, Right NOW!"
I took he back to the Vets' Place the next morning ... NObody believed she had
"crawled out" of The Wrap. OFF she trotted for a RE-wrap.

Heidi returned a lil while later --- sportin a Monster Wrap from in front of her front arms,
arm holes, and then extending the length of her body.
"She won't get outta THAT One!" said the Tech!
Heidi mumbled something about it fitting a lil *snug*!

She improved to NO wrap on her back and side, and a smaller cast / bandage on
her leg, exposing more of the toes. (BAD Idea!)
She appeared after the body UN-wrap and promptly began *licking* her back. I said we
NEED a Cone, please. She was whisked off and returned with a normally-sized cone.

All was well for the week (other than Heidi terrorizing the House Kats and Big Brudder Amos,
the White Shepherd, with her *bonking* of everyone with her cone).
BIG Trouble developed over the weekend --- she managed to kick her bum paw INSIDE
the cone ... and started a destructive licking & chewing when no one was watching.
By Sunday night she had raw bones exposed and had lick off her paw pads.
Tami called me in hysterics ... I said I'd take her in on Monday, not knowing how
BAD it really was.
Tami called Monday to say she had an appointment after lunch ... and that SHE'd
take her in, "Probably for the last time."
I said I'd be over at 1:00 and I'D take her in.

I didn't really get an argument, and managed to leave with Heidi and withOUT Tami.
I never *looked* at the paw closely --- but it did look gross!

We were seen by Doc B - the Head Guy. Doc D. was off ...
It's a Bad Sign when the Vet takes one look and lets out a >>GASP<
He looked some more, touched it, and said "We're going to have a hard time saving
that foot. We'll TRY; but I'm really not sure it can be saved. She'll for certain loose
the two outer / opposite toes - there's just nothing left of them.
She'll have to stay here for several days --- probably the week.
Who should I call?"

I told him to call her Mom, but not to listen if she said to pull the plug ...
I said this is Paid Up to whatever it takes.

Jumping ahead ... PROGRESS was made all week - HydroTherapy on her back AND
her chewed up foot did wonders. Doc Jamie bagan to tell Tami that Heidi's foot was
actually Looking Better!
Tami visited Heidi twice during the week; and asked if *I* wanted to ride in with her
for a Saturday visit? YEAH!!
Heidi about crawled through the apartment bars when she heard us ...
I asked for a leash ... "What for?" asked Tami.
We're going for a hike out back, sez I.
"We can't take her outside, can we?"
SURE ya can, sez the Tech ... she was out this morning!

... more in a minute ...

[captain]

Goodness me Phred - what action at your ranch ......

[Cinder & Smoke]

We headed for the back door ... Heidi pranced out and PULLED us toward
the grassy patch ... she needed to be there!
She bounced around with her shorty tail *waggin* in a blurr.
Tami said "She hasn't been this happy in a month!"

Back inside, Doc D met with us and for the first time hinted that The Foot
just might be OK! Doc D was coming in HERself to feed, water, walk, and
bandage change Heidi - once again Saturday night, and twice on Sunday.
If all went well, she'd go HOME on Monday.

Tami called on Monday --- come over before 2:00 and I could ride in to
pick her up and hold her on the ride home!

We had to schedule DAILY Clinic visits for Hydrotherapy on her back and
on The Foot; with a bandage change every day.
The Girls started bringing her back with reports from Doc D that The Foot
"REALLY looks GREAT! It's actually growing new flesh!"
I got Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and kept her straight through. Heck,
Monday is so close, I'll just hang onto her for the weekend.

I DID take her "home" for frequent visits with Mom and the Kids.
Monday, I asked Doc about a Road Trip to Findlay and the Dawg Park.
"Sure - just keep it DRY!"
I asked Tami ... "She LIKES other dogs ... Oh, go ahead and take her!"

We were scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday ... guess
where she stayed all week?
Doc said to "Have Phunn at the Dog Park tomorrow!"
We went back on Tuesday - "Almost Healed" was the observation.
Her Tech said that Doc said this (Tuesday's) bandage would probably be
the LAST one!!

We're due back at 3:00 pm tomorrow (Thursday) for a check-up.
I'm going to ask for a light-weight "protective wrap" rather than NOTHING;
and Miss Licker IS going to be wearing that ole Hood for a few more days ...
I can't afford to let her make a meal out the New Foot again!

And now "You know the REST of the Tail!"

[shais_mom]

good luck at the white coats today Miss heidi and Smokey.


what happened to Heidi could happen to any one of us. Trust is a thing we take for granted when it comes to our dogs.
I would like to see anyone and I mean any one pipe up and say - "this wouldn't happen to me b/c I'm a perfect pet owner" b/c there is no such thing.
PERIOD.

[Cinder & Smoke]

THANKS, Staci !!!

THANKS, God!!!
&
THANKS, PTers!!!

Those PT Prayers did their Magic
and God musta been lissnin!!

Bipp & MiniBipp (who looked like Mutt & Jeff when they pranced in to
the Clinic), pigged out on bisquits from the office staff during check-in.
We all crowded into the powder room for a minute, then soaked up more
attention at the counter. Doc D brought a chart to the counter, then
began to fawn over her 'favorite' mini-patient. SmokeMutt was NOT to be
ignored, and Doc raved about how 'soft' his fur was. I said Fish Oil Pills did it, and it became obvious SHE was a Fish Oil Fan, too.

I took the opportunity to suggest I wouldn't be unhappy if Heidi got
another bandage to protect the tender spots on her "new paw". Doc D
admitted she'd tought about that, too. She promised to give the paw a
very close exam before deciding on NO bandage. "Here, I'll take her back!"
And off trotted Heidi with her Favorite Doc!

Heidi returned with a >grinning< Doc B in tow ... and MiniMutt did have a
bright new wrapper on the foot. Doc said till she builds up a callus where
tha pad is missing at the base of her toes, we'd better protect the new
skin. OK by me! We return on Wednesday IF we keep it dry till then.

Twenty minutes later Doc B came back and said Smokey was OK except
for a bad case of Arthritis in that knee - NO TUMOR!!
He's now OFF the Rimadyl unless he has a relapse of knee pain ... then he
gets a few days of Rimadyl until the pain stops.

We bought a few more shares of Vet Stock at the counter, made a 10:30
am Appointment on Wednesday for MiniMutt, and we ALL pranced out!

So tender-foot Heidi is making GOOD progress;
and Gimpy SmokeMutts has his trick knee back - but it won't kill him.
I'd say it was a GREAT DAY at the Vets!!




THANKS to One & ALL
for your thoughts, Prayers, & Well-Wishes!!

/s/ Smokey, Heidi, DAD, & Cinder, too!

[Bengalz]

Great Update

So happy to hear that Smokey is in no danger of losing a leg and that with a little help, now and then, can be moving right along

And poor little Heidi what an ordeal for such a little cutie; good thing she has Uncle Phred to take care of business

Well done! It's all GOOD

[Cincy'sMom]

What a great update!!! So glad it was a good trip to the vet!!!