Doom Dogs

[Greg]

Welcome to foxtail season. The queen spends an inordinate time pulling foxtails out of the girls fur during this time of the year. There would probably be less of this if a certain dog walk wouldn't let the dogs off the leash and allow them to run through the grass.

It was amusing to see on Facebook how few of the Queen's fans knew what foxtails were. Basically, they are organic darts that worm their way into the dogs fur and skin as a form of procreation.

What they are is nasty. I remember Preston gettin one lodged between his toes and it required surgery. I've pulled many bloody ones out that have punctured skin on the dogs.

One foxtail decided to do even more than. On Sunday, I noticed a walnut size lump on Maeve's side. In my usual manner, I hoped it would subside. It didn't. By Thursday, with prodding by the Queen, I resolved to take Maeve to the vet.

I told the vet I thought it was an infected foxtail causing the damage. Before you know it the vet had whisked Maeve away to the nether regions of the Highland Park animal Hospital. And seconds later the Vet returned to tell me that Maeve would be spending the day at the Vets while they dug out the puss and installed two drains.

Maeve had the cone of shame on when I returned to pick her up. She also looked at me as if I had betrayed her. When I went to pick her up to put her in the car, I accidentally put my hand on the drains in her side. They seemed huge. I also got a fist full of puss.

The Queen's first thought was to get Maeve a more comfortable neck collar than the current hard plastic that surrounded her head. I spent time trying to get T-shirts around her middle to absorb the fluids leaking from her body. My great t-shirt ideas proved terrible as Maeve constantly tripped over the fabric as it sloughed off her.

Basically, it was misery in the house. Maeve did a lot of whining and glaring.

The Queen did return with the inflatable neck ring. It proved much more comfortable to Maeve. It also proved no impediment to her licking her drains.



Fearing she would pull out the drains during the night, I had to put the hard plastic cone of shame back on her. Maeve was pissed. And let us all know it.

To make matters even better, it is also fireworks season now in Los Angeles. Explosions go off on a regular basis nightly. Maeve is terrified of fireworks. 

It was a great night. The Queen didn't sleep a wink. I slept. Because, well Maeve pesters The Queen.

Originally The Queen was going to walk Maeve at 4am while I took Dani for a real walk. Knowing what the Queen had been through, I opted to take both dogs and let the Queen get a modicum of rest.

I pulled of Maeve's cone, put on her leash, and headed out the side gate. First thing we heard was yet another explosion from somewhere down in the valley. Maeve froze. She was seriously considering going back inside the house and waking her mother. After much coaxing and cajoling I got her to to go on her walk.

The cone stays on until Monday when I go to get the drains removed. The Queen leaves for Florida on Sunday. Fireworks go off more frequently as we get closer to the weekend.