Doggie Disaster

Yesterday morning, just as the kids were getting dressed for school, Libby put her paw through our family room window trying to get a squirrel that dared to come on the patio! 

 

The previous owners had this crazy window that is 3x4 panels that starts 10 inches off the floor.  Nuts.  It was double paned, she broke the interior pane when she was a puppy.  We try to keep it blocked with furniture.

 

Back to the accident, Libby sliced open her paw and caught an artery.  Needless to say she was bleeding uncontrollably.  I had to have Fuzzy help me get her down and hold her still to apply pressure. 

 

We sent Pumpkin out the door to go to school with my neighbor across the street, she looked in shock and upset at all the blood.  We called my dad who raced home. 

 

It had now been almost 30 minutes of direct pressure, and it would not stop bleeding, or even slow down!

 

We got her into the car and raced to the town vet (even though they are not my current vet).  Waste of time, as usual, they were open, but no doctor until 10am. 

 

We raced to my usual vet about 15 minutes away, they are a complete 24/7 animal ER too.  It was almost an hour since the accident and I was still applying direct pressure!  Needless to say, my hands was very cramped and still hurts today!

 

As we got to the animal hospital, the wound was still dripping, but slower, as we got inside.  The doctor examined Libby, while she licked his face, and concluded that yes, she needed stitches, inside and out.  And, she needed to be sedated to do that. 

We picked her up at 3 pm.  She was still groggy.   The doctor said it was even worse than he had realized since the bleeding had been slow when we got there.  After he irrigated it, the wound opened again, and then he saw it was really bad.  He said she was a lucky dog!

 

She will be on leash only for potty trips outside, and otherwise she will be in the house, with a wrap and plastic booty thing. And the doggy head cone, which she hates, but she needs it, or she will chew off the bandage.

 

She even has doggy pain killers!  Poor Libby! 

 

Well, if it isn't the kids, it's the dog!  Yikes! 

 

I had to scrub the floor in the dining room from the blood, when we came home while the dog was in surgery.  It was not fun and the blood was dry and thick.  My knees were killing me! 

 

CSI would have a field day here... everything would be glowing.

 

Hubby put plywood there in the hole for now.  We have always wanted to put a sliding glass door there and a deck, so, maybe it is time to re-do the window situation.  That will depend on budget!

 

be well,
Dawn

 

ps... read John Grogan's 'Marley and Me' for more labrador retriever adventures!!!  His book helped me to understand my crazy pup much better!!!