I'm so proud of my boy today
Radar had to go to the clinic for routine maintenance and to see if his heart was up to a dental in his near future. We got him a year and a half ago - an elderly train wreck of a dog. 5/6 heat murmur, emaciated, weak in the hindquarters, giardia positive and, as far as we could tell, no medical care in the recent or distant past. We vaccinated him on a schedule that assumed he'd never had vaccinations before. Given his condition, it was a pretty safe bet, and it wouldn't have hurt him if he'd had prior care (a long, long time ago).
The Humane Society went to give him a much-needed dental (rotten mouth on admit) and screeched to a sudden halt on the idea as soon as the vet listened to his heart. They got him in a little better shape and risked yanking some teeth and cleaning some others in as short an anesthetic procedure as possible. But his mouth wasn't exactly in great shape still, and it's gotten worse.
He's at a good weight, managing small flights of stairs, taking his heart meds twice daily. His films today are encouraging - some left atrial enlargement, but even I've seen a lot worse, and I'm not even a vet. Bloodwork back tomorrow, but he's going to be fine.
It's his behavior that's got me kvelling. When we got him, he imprinted on me - I think his original owner must have been female. But he was incredibly neurotic and clingy. The first time we went to the clinic, I had to leave him with the front desk people while I went to get the car. They're really very nice and thought he was adorable. But as soon as I got back, he threw himself at my leg and demonstrated that, in his opinion, we had a relationship that I wasn't willing to go along with and that I was never, ever, to do that again. I guess he screamed the whole time I was gone, too. All 10 minutes.
I chewed him out (gently, but firmly), and he hasn't tried that again. But on two subsequent visits, he's been in a kennel while I worked; out of sight, but not 20 feet from him. He knew I was there and did his best impression of a timber wolf. He threw back his head when he howled and put his whole tiny body into it. All day long. At one point, he acquired 3 back-up singers - 2 assistants and one technician. The chorus was amazing.
He's been gaining confidence as he's lived with us. He's starting to deliberately annoy the cat. When I make him go out and he doesn't want to, he has several ways to make his opinion known. He's less of a nutjob and more of a character all the time.
So today, he had to be at work with me. Same kennel, 20 feet away and out of sight, but mom's within earshot. No howling. He just laid down with an attitude that expressed clearly 'Well, this sucks'. He was on hunger strike, even though his favorite food was inches away, but ate like a champ when I hand-fed him. Whenever he got to be out of the kennel, he was the life of the party, and when he was in it, he was patient and quiet. He's getting secure and confident. I think my little old man is growing up.
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For rescuing an older, medically fragile doggo.
