Well, there seem to be some tensions between my vet and the veterinary hospital. Not too surprising, I guess, but when it comes down to sending me and my dog back and forth without someone saying “yes, bring him in and we’ll take care of him right away,” I get irked.
At any rate, the vet and I talked it over. Hammer probably had bleeding and hemorrage yesterday, which resulted in the massive swelling and redness/bruising. The bleeding is causing some edema, but is probably over.
Hammer is now on antibiotics (we still don’t know why he wasn’t given them on Thursday). The Deramaxx was probably not the right drug to give him, as it also has a blood thinning property (grr), so he’s on something now which is a strong painkiller, a narcotic, and not a blood thinner. I’m to watch for swelling to tightness, as that would indicate more uncontrolled bleeding, certain respiratory distress (unlikely), and of course the general problems one can have with an elderly dog (my big fear is DIC again, because treatment is blood thinners + transfusion, and he would not be able to take that).
He’s down to 74 lbs., and you can see the last four ribs (three is normal). He also looks wasted away in his back end. I picked up a canine physical rehabilitation flyer– I’m not sure if it’s something we can afford, but he’s definitely going to need to get back to his full physical strength slowly, and I don’t know if we can do that ourselves or not.
If my extra userpic time ever runs out, Hammer’s icon is going to be one of the ones that stays, just cause I use it so damn much.
Hammer has considerable redness and swelling this morning. He was very coughy all night, and in quite a bit of pain. The redness extends down his neck 7 inches and is about 6 inches wide. Swelling is extensive– he looks like he has one of those flappy turkey necks. Two days ago, the redness was 4 inches in diameter.
He’s going to the vet this morning at 11. With any luck, this is normal swelling, or something small that will resolve itself in a week or so.
I’m recording Conspiracy on HBO right now. Interesting so far; it’s about the “Final Solution” in 1942 Germany. *shudder*
Worked out this morning, but it sucked and my left ankle and knee gave me crap through the second half, so I walked it.
This came up in comments to this post, and it got me thinking.
My reasons for not wanting to go into a medical field largely have to do with the huge amount of work involved, the stress of having people’s lives depend on you, and squeamishness around blood.
But I should re-think that last one.
My reactions to:
my own blood at a “natural” time: Oh, well. Guess I’m not pregnant. Good.
my own blood oozing from a wound: Ohshitohshitohshitohshit *thud*
my own blood going through a tube into a donation bag: Oh, hey. I should probably not watch that, in case I vagle again.
someone else’s blood oozing from a wound: [I almost never see this; John less of a klutz than me] Let me get the first aid kit and help you out.
the dog’s blood oozing from a wound: Well, where is it, dangit! Hold still, silly!
blood on the carpet: Dammit. Let me get the cleaner.
vomit/feces/urine on the carpet: Dammit. Let me get the cleaner.
skunk on the dog: Dammit. Let me get the tomato juice– and DON’T LET HIM IN THE HOUSE THIS TIME!
So, I think that while my own blood makes me kind of woozy, everyone else’s is fine with me.
Now if I could just get past that whole responsibility thing. I mean, medical professions have some serious job security.