Monday, December 29, 2008

12/30

You think taking care of kids is a challenge until you have an injured dog. OK..I've been VERY lucky, my kids have never had anything seriously wrong (knocking on wood). What's up with the dog isn't particularly serious either, but it's driving us both (the dog and me) crazy.

Over the weekend, Berkeley developed a hot spot on his neck near his ear. He scratched and scratched and scratched until he had a seeping raw wound. Today we went to the vet and she clipped the fur around it to get it cleaned up. She had to give him a tranquilizer shot to be able to do the clipping, and she also gave him a steroid shot to try and relieve some of the irritation. She put him on two medications, plus I have a topical medication to fight infection. AND, he got a collar which is making him nuts. It's not one of those lampshade collars, it's more like a huge flat flexible donut.

This poor animal is miserable. The vet told me that he would probably come home and be lethargic after the shot, but the exact opposite is happening. He doesn't want to lie down with the collar. When he does, he rests a little while then springs up in complete agitation, runs around the room, then drops to the floor and starts scratching madly. I have to keep him from scratching but of course, I can't sit down and explain to him why he has to stop. I'll hold his leg down and talk to him and he whimpers. He's wrestled the collar off twice but I think I finally have it secured to his normal collar so he can't get out of it. I'm a little afraid to go to sleep because I don't want him tearing at that wound all night.

I feel terrible for him, he's so uncomfortable. Poor baby, he just got up and ran across the room and is standing facing the corner. I think he is tired, but he can't settle down. I hope eventually he'll be so exhausted he'll just crash for the night. If he doesn't, I don't know that either of us will sleep.

6 comments:

Jon said...

I sure hope Berkeley is feeling better soon. I always hate to see dogs being forced to wear the boo-boo collars (as I call them). I don't think a donut collar is much better....

Lisa :-] said...

Years ago, we had a dog that just went nuts when he heard fireworks. Our vet recommended that we give him benadryl as a tranqulizer. We gave him a half a tablet and it would knock him out long enough for him to sleep. Talk to your vet and see if she can recommend a mild sedative for him...

BosieLadie said...

OMGosh! Poor Berkeley! How frustrating for you too. I am sure the steriod injection will start to help soon, reducing the inflamation, reducing the itching. At least, I hope it's soon. I wonder if "winter" is just rough on his skin as it is mine and a whole lot of others, where our skin just gets so dry and irritated, wonder if there's a very mild, soothing shampoo that will moisturize his skin (once he's all healed up) so he doesn't start itching and scratching again. Good luck!

Cindy said...

Aw, poor Berk! Please tell him I'm thinking of him, heehee. By today he should be feeling better - ?

Hope so!

xo Phin, who is again snowed in!

Nancy said...

OMG...the poor little guy. Please write me and tell me how's he's doing. This breaks my heart.

Love ya
Nance

Nancy said...

PS.

Hope it's been easier for YOU too!!
Horrible feeling so helpless in communicating to a dog.