Daily observations of my simple life.

Sunsets:  In the foreground  is my new pergala that is built off the back porch. I have planted a grape there hoping it will take off and cover the pergala. The best sunsets are when we have some cloud cover. This was taken last week. .

A Difficult Day:

Just before Thanksgiving I took a trip to California.  Before leaving I gave my dog Manna a bath, that's when I discovered a growth just below her rectum.  It actually looked like she was growing balls. Last week I took her to the vet and made the appointment to have it removed. Yesterday  was surgery day. The growth had doubled in size. I dropped her off at 7:30 a.m. being told they would call me about 10:30 after surgery to let me know how things went. At about 11 a.m. I began to feel anxious thinking I should be hearing by now. At 11:30 the doc called and said her first surgery had gone longer than expected and they were just taking her in.  I said I would come in so I spent the day in town.

After surgery I could hear her whimpering and waited patiently until the doctor could come for the post surgery instructions. I was told it was not a fatty tumor and so we would have to wait until the histiology to learn the results. After the instructions we loaded her up and I took her home. It was not a pleasant evening. The collor they put on her was so long that there was no way she could even drink water. That was the first order of the day to trim about 2" off the collar. She whined and looked at me like I was a betrayer.  I petted and spoke softly to her.

This morning she is in much better humor and actually wagged her tail at me a couple of times.

I adopted Manna 6 or 7 years ago. She must have been about 2-3 at least as she was a mature dog. She is a border collie, almost completely white with a black mask. She is voice trained so she seldom has to have a leash. She will walk with me and not even look at another dog unless they come too close to me than she snarls. I was told by the foster mother that they had had a hard time finding her a home because she kept running away. Well she stuck to me like glue and has never wanted to leave. We have been close companions. When I visited a friend in Texas who has issues with dogs I was a little nervous and concerned.  When we arrived she made a comment about the fact that I had a dog in a very defensive way. Within the hour she said. " I love your dog!"  That is because Manna is so well behaved. This morning with the collar shorter she wanted to check out her wounds. I said "NO" and she smiled, wagged her tail and stopped immediately. The collar is to keep her from picking at the wound. Even with it shorter we will have to figure out how she can eat. I may have to spoon feed her. Giving her pills last night went well, so I'm hoping this morning it will too. 

Manna loves her evening runs out in the wash. Out in the wilderness she always stretches out and runs, smells everything, and explores in full freedom.  Oh, how I hope I don't lose her. She has been such a wonderful companion. 

Posted by: cactusandquail at 15:06 | link | comments (3)

Comments:

#1  19 December 2006 - 22:29

 

Anna- sure hope you get a good report on Manna. My niece's lab had to have his dew claws removed and has worn one of those collers for 3 weeks, he looks like the RCA dog. Things heal faster with them on, he had pulled stitches out.-Lynne

Anonymous

#2  20 December 2006 - 01:57

 

She sounds like a great dog and companion - I am keeping my fingers crossed that she is OK and heals quickly. Does she herd Cheriki and Sage?

mafidl

#3  20 December 2006 - 11:32

 

Reading your post makes me miss my wonderful dog again; he died a couple of years ago at this time, and he was like a little kid at Christmas, always excited to open his gifts.

Watch that shortened collar; she might start picking at those stitches when you're not looking.

InMyLife

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