One of my sweet fosters, Chester P squared, or Gertie Powdersville had to have surgery on Friday.
Those of you who have been reading my blog will remember that she is one of two seniors I pulled for Middle Mutts. Those of you who haven’t will be all caught up after reading this post:
Gertie had an FHO today: a Femoral Head Ostectomy. This will hopefully alleviate the pain in her left hip, caused by some sort of unknown trauma. We suspect she was hit by a car at some point between losing her owner and arriving at the shelter from which Middle Mutts pulled her.
She’s an old girl at 10-11 years, but she’s been doing great since surgery. Me: not so much. Here’s why.
From the front, Gertie looks exactly like she did before surgery! See her in the backyard, only a few hours ago, smiling as though she had been at the dog park or the puppy bakery rather than the animal hospital.
Here’s Gertie from her good side.
And . . . here’s Gertie from her not-so-good side:
A little background info about me:
Senior year. I was editor of the school yearbook, and was consumed with it, as I am with anything I set my mind to, whether it’s a yearbook, or a young Scott who is totally-uninterested-in-Nicole, or foster dogs. I attack it/him/them with reckless abandon.
As high school seniors, we were required to participate in Career Day. I was the last person to sign up to visit a local business/organization.
“What are you still doing here?” one of my teachers asked.
“My career is going to be in yearbooks,” I said, pulling out my cropping ruler to set up a page. “I’m observing myself working on our yearbook. Great idea, huh?” — although Mrs. Dorn, the yearbook director, was all for it, the rest of the teachers weren’t. So, I half-hardheartedly scanned the list of businesses willing to open their doors, and set off for the local veterinary clinic.
I had no interest whatsoever in being a vet but thought if I had to go somewhere, at least I could see and spend time with cute animals.
I walked in and met the vet. “So, you’re interested in being a veterinarian!” she said, beaming. “Uh huh,” I lied, not wanting to hurt her feelings, since she seemed excited.
She walked me straight back to surgery, where she was working on a dog that had been hit by a car. I politely excused myself, went outside, and lost my breakfast.
Seeing Gertie made me very nearly lose my lunch. The bright red wounds. The medicated smell. The stitches. — old fashioned and huge, the kind that don’t dissolve but must be removed in 2 weeks.
She’s FrankenGert.
Yes, I had to lie down after this photo shoot. And I had to lie down again after reading in her post-op instructions that I will be applying salve to her wounds twice a day. — starting tomorrow.
It’s you and me, FrankenGert. Let’s do this. /shudder
Fostering Chester 
October 8, 2011 at 10:49 pm |
I hope Gertie keeps smiling, she is so lovely, and don’t worry the fur will start to grow back pretty quickly.
My beagle Christopher had that same surgery after dislocating his hip badly 4 years ago (or should I say Eddie beagle and He, playing/rolling in the autumn leaves, managed to wrap her leash around his leg and then decided to dash off at full speed .The rest i shall leave to your imagination, it was not good,) Recovery was great and they are so relieved afterward at being able to stand. You wouldn’t know anything had ever happened now. 🙂 Jacq
October 8, 2011 at 10:55 pm |
Thanks for the encouragement, Jacq! And poor Christopher! So glad that the recovery went well. So far, I’m amazed by Gertie’s peppiness! — admirable for such an old girl, period, and definitely after surgery!