One discarded splint, another vet bill
This is Tess's splint. Without Tess.
I found it lying discarded in the backyard, having been shed completely intact like a snake's skin.
How she got it off I will never know. She's been encased in the cone non-stop since Monday. I suspect Cowboy may have assisted.
But as I was on the computer last night, she jumped up beside me when I kept thinking, "What's missing?"
The cone was on.
But the splint was nowhere to be found.
So I took the cone off, too, I figured there was no reason for her to suffer in that thing for the time being. She spent a blissful, happy night, back to her old naked self.
Really, I can't blame her. She looks so depressed trapped in that splint & cone. But it's important her broken toe heal or she may wind up with a limp the rest of her life. And that would be no fun.
So this morning it was back up to the vet where they are trying to see if they can reattach the old splint, which is less than a week old, to save me from having to pay yet another new-splint fee. If not, I may ask to keep the old one anyway. It actually is a good self-defense weapon.
Four more weeks.
Poor Tess. Poor me.
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About the Bloggers
Daily Breeze reporter Donna Littlejohn has shared her homes with a succession of wonderful, funny, and occasionally difficult canines -- Muffin, Fritz, Ellie, Mercy, Pilgrim and now Cowboy, an Australian shepherd-border collie, and Tess, a border collie. From strong-willed terriers to weirdly obsessed Australian shepherds, they've invaded her world with boundless energy, wet noses, muddy paws and soggy tennis balls. But they've really brought so much more than that -- like laughter and joy, some unexpected life lessons, and more than a few tears along the way.
E-mail Donna at donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com.
Josh Grossberg grew up with the usual array of animals: goldfish, dogs, hamsters, parakeets and turtles. He now owns the loudest dog in the South Bay(Video: Rocket the Dog) and is the least popular person on his block. He spends his free time in dog parks, pet shops and always has an extra plastic bag in his pocket just in case. He also has a cat.
E-mail Josh at josh.grossberg@dailybreeze.com.
You are no doubt right about the insurance. It would have come in very handy with Tess, considering this has been the second major medical expense I've had with her since adopting her, what, maybe 7 months ago?
Cowboy, on the other hand, has been with me almost a year with no major medical issues or expenses.
My shaggy dog Ellie, adopted from the LB pound when she was 2 years old, was with me for 12 years and never needed anything more than her annual checkups. Then there was Pilgrim, who had problem after problem.
So you never really know, I suppose, but it's like any insurance -- if you don't need it, it seems like you're paying each month for 'nothing.' If you do, it's worth its weight in gold.
My colleague Kristin is in the process of submitting claims to her pet insurer for the treatment of their dog Pembleton's recent eye infection and she is getting reimbursed at a pretty good rate. Lots of paperwork and hoops to jump through to submit the claims, but it appears to be paying off.
I'm afraid now that Tess already has so many "pre-existing conditions" that it might be tough, but probably worth an inquiry or two anyway. Before her next crisis hits. Sigh. She is such a sweetie, though, and I love her to pieces.
Well, that could go both ways, "re-check as needed" option 1) as in when she takes it off again in a few days or option 2) it is on so firmly that she will keep it on for the remainder of the time! :)
any developments on the pet insurance inquiry???? Somehow I have a feeling that for the price that you have paid for the splints this far you may have been able to insure both of them.
I honestly have no idea how she got out of that thing, it was wrapped so tight (up to her poor little 'arm' pit!) that it would seem impossible. But she's smart and determined, and with Cowboy's help....?
The latest splint (No. 4? 5?) remains firmly attached as of now (4 days already).
On the veterinarian's home instructions slip this time, instead of saying "re-check in 2 weeks" like he usually does, this time he wrote: "Re-check as needed."
See? He knows we'll be back sooner than 2 weeks.
Ohhh poor YOU Donna! These clever little rascals! How the heck did THEY take it off? Did Cowboy pull the splint while Tess backed away???? Maybe you should install cameras around your place and then you can see what these two do while you are not home!!! I bet it would be entertaining!!!