It has been a crazy couple of days with my dogs. And I’m talking wild and crazy, and super tiring here! So much so that Mom needs a vacation! Read on to find out what we have been dealing with in our house the past few days!
Benson Gets Neutered (Sorry Big Guy)
Benson went to the vet to get neutered on Wednesday. It was amazing how quiet it was in the house without him. Grace took the opportunity to sleep all day. I actually got work done without having to open the door about a million times for my big boy! I would love knowing when exactly that doggy door I ordered is going to be installed…more on that later.
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My phone rang about mid-afternoon. It was over. Done. My boy was coming home a little less of a man.
The vet who did the procedure gave me the update. Benson did well and would be ready to come home sooner rather than later! She described him as up and about and walking around, eating treats already. The other words she used in that next breath were “high-strung” and “energetic”. Hooboy.
Benson And Sedatives – Not A Good Combination
Being that Benson is a pretty wild big guy, I asked for some sedatives to be sent home with him so that I could try to keep him calm. I know my boy, and it is crazy to see him jump in the air with all fours off the ground.
When I got to the vet, I called in for him to be escorted out of the building (we are not allowed in right now with Covid rules). I stood and waited for him. As I was waiting I saw a couple bundle a little baby Berner out of their car. Well of course I had to go say hi! She was so sweet little/big Elanor.
Picking Up Benson
Just as I was telling them about my rambunctious boy about to come out, the technician opened the door and called his name. She looked exasperated! I went over, and he pulled her right out the door and jumped right up to give me a big kiss right on the cheek! He was so happy to see me! Just having surgery for a neuter and umbilical hernia repair had not slowed him down one bit!
Elanor’s pet parents had a good laugh at that. The technician happily handed him over to me. He was NUTS! Running amok all over the sidewalk, not caring that he was dragging me around behind him like a ragdoll. After a couple minutes of this he FINALLY slowed down somewhat!
We were on our way home! Benson does NOT do well in a car. It can take me up to fifteen minutes just to get him in there and then he is miserable the whole time, panting, whining, pacing. I decided it was better to walk slowly the few blocks back home.
He was terribly confused, kept turning to look behind him and all around himself and had absolutely no idea what was going on. The drugs were definitely still in his system!
Back Home!
Finally we made it back home. Benson got all excited to see Grace and be back home but was completely disoriented and went to lie down. But Grace was all smiles that her family was back home as it really isn’t very often that she gets left at home all on her own.
That first night all was calm. And Benson slept most of the evening and through to the next morning, except when we was confused and had a bit of an “oops” on the kitchen floor…
Grace has recently undergone hernia repair surgery herself after apparently popping her inside stitches after her spay. I had a good idea what to expect with Benson and had plans to keep everyone inside and quiet for a few days.
Big Groggy Clumsy Boy
Sedatives were sent home as I asked for, and even with them Benson was starting to get a little crazy the day after his surgery! He was up and down and trying to jump on Grace and play even in his groggy and disoriented state.
Painting my one wall that goes up the stairs has been on my to do list for a very long time and I thought with the sedatives I would have some time to do it without crazy dogs all over the place. WRONG!
Caution – Wet Paint!
Benson stumbled up the stairs for some apparent reason as the paint was still very wet. And the sedatives led him to walk reaaaallly slowly up all the while rubbing the side of his face and body against the wall for support. His left side is more white than black! I can’t even give him a bath for almost two more weeks!
Once he got to the top of the stairs, which he was not supposed to be going up and down anyways, lying down he just barked at me! I have no idea what goes on in that big head of his.
Lifting slowly off the floor after apparently tiring of barking away at me for no good reason at all, he stumbled back down the stairs. That was it, I was taking him off the sedatives. With back legs giving out and sliding around and with the stairs in both the front and back that he needs to use to go to the bathroom I was scared of falling. And I did NOT want to end up back at the vet, as it is I’ve paid for their kid’s college tuition already the past couple of months…
My Wild Child Reappears
As soon as the sedatives started wearing off I knew it immediately! He was absolutely WILD. Jumping and hopping and wrestling with Grace, and I was terrified again that stitches were going to get popped! Then he started going in and out more times than I cared to count at that point, and was extremely active.
So today I decided that he was well enough to test a short walk through the neighbourhood to try to burn off some energy. And it was the WORST walk I have had ever with these two knuckleheads.
Then forgetting all of his training he was pulling me all over the place. So I resorted back to early puppy training days and would spin randomly and stop walking completely to stop the antics. This resulted in a very long short walk!
Wrestle Time!
Getting back home, I was exhausted from fighting with them. Benson wrestled Grace constantly as well on the walk as it seems to be that as soon as someone pays a little attention to them it is his cue to wrestle. And it’s always on the busy street! Lots of smiles and laughter while I held the leashes, giving up until they decided they were done.
Now Grace acted up! Since she is an attention hound and will stop at nothing to get someone to stop and pet her when she is so inclined. And she will spin her bottom around so fast and sit on your feet you almost don’t have a chance to realize it has even happened. Another favorite trick is slowing down to the point people behind us catch up and she forces them to stop or trip over her!
Finally getting them on the move again we hit the dreaded part where we have to walk past their favorite pet store. They fight to get in there every time we go by and today was no different. Managing finally to lure them away with the promise of a couple treats after several minutes scratching on the door and begging to go in.
We Made It…Finally!
Happiness and relief were the first two things I felt when we got to the front door. We were home! We made it! However, as soon as they got through that door though the wrestling began again. Then Benson was hopping at Whiskers, my giant Ragdoll cat. Since then, he has had a short nap but is currently sitting beside me while I am writing, whining if I am not petting him. It has taken me a very long time to write this post!
I am tired. I tried to nap earlier after our disastrous walk but the big bear demanded I let him in and out repeatedly making it impossible to actually fall asleep. That doggy door can’t come soon enough…I can only imagine what the next few days will end up bringing.
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