June 20, 2013 Drop and run

June 20, 2013:

After an unsettling night, I am on the phone first thing to let the vet's office know what has been happening.  I ask to bring in Glamis right away so that they can do what they need when they have the time and not wait until late in the day to bring him in.  Today is a normal surgery day so they might be able to fit him in the schedule.

I drop Glamis off and let them know he has not had food or water so he is good to go for sedation for x-rays or whatever. I give permission to do 'whatever' as necessary.   Back up a little...on Monday - after the first blood bath but before the drama started, I had called and scheduled Glamis for a long overdue teeth cleaning and eye tuck.  Glamis has a persistent benign cyst that grows at the corner of his eye.   Sometimes, with the aid of a young pup, it gets plucked off on it's own and takes awhile to decide to come back.  It has also been surgically removed in the past.  It drives me bonkers so if he is going under, they are taking it off.  The eye tuck falls under 'whatever' so I remind them of that.

I head home to wait......I know the drill, it will be later in the afternoon before I hear.

Glamis as a baby....he was so stinkin cute

The phone rings around 4:00. Dr. Mike did not have time for surgery but was able to do the x-rays.  It is a tumor but based on the x-rays, it does not appear to have moved into the bone.  I knew this was coming but my stomach still sinks.  I have two options.  1.  remove the tumor, close the wound as best as possible, knowing it will be difficult because the gum will not stick to the tooth. - or something along that idea.  2.  remove the tumor and the canine tooth.  This will allow for greater removal of tissue and hopefully complete removal of the tumor.  With the tooth gone, the gum can be stretched and sutured to more gum - without a tooth in the way.  Easier to close and less chance of complications afterwards.  I decide Arri did fine without a leg, Glamis can live without a tooth.  He doesn't chew his food anyway.  Surgery is scheduled for the next day.

My next decision is to pick Glamis up or board him at the clinic for the night.  I waver...bring him home and watch him drool as the other dogs get breakfast or leave him in an unfamiliar place........I ask:  'is he bleeding?'   Dr Mike makes the decision to keep him in the clinic.   He will call tomorrow and let me know how the surgery went.