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Surgery With A Sobering


Side Of Recovery. by Thomas B. Lloyd


Did you think the worst was over when you picked your dog up after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery? Silly pet parent.The toughest part of any pet surgery – and an ACL procedure in par- ticular – is the recovery. My Rottweiler, Gentle Ben, recently


went through his third ACL operation in five years. I thought I’d share what I learned. First, be aware that your dog is per-


fectly willing to lie to you. Second, you will need to buy stock in a vacuum cleaner bag manufacturing company and finally, you must make sure your vet does- n’t have a post-surgical “don’t-ask-don’t- tell” policy. Let’s start with the four-legged beast.


Like it or not, your dog is going to lie to you. He will look you in the face, and do his level best to convince you that he no longer needs to be kept on a leash-walk- only routine. Mine certainly did and it cost me. The first time Ben had ACL surgery, he


was up and moving so well and being so calm and quiet that he lulled me into a false sense of security. When standing in front of floor-to-ceiling windows, he completely ignored his natural nemeses, the local squir- rels. Even while on his leash, he showed no interest in resuming his normal Tasmanian devil approach to those bushy-tailed tree- climbers. I, in turn, let my guard down. It was a dumb move on my part. While taking him to the vet for a


checkup, I neglected to wrap his leash firmly around my hand. The instant the garage door started to go up, I spotted a squirrel in the driveway. Unfortunately, so did Ben. In a blur of black and brown, he went from ideal patient to warp speed Rottweiler faster than anything ever seen on “Star Trek.” In the process, he ripped his knee up again. The checkup appoint- ment turned into his second surgery in three weeks. This time I knew better. I never even


cracked open a window, let alone a door, until his leash was secure in my hand. Then there’s the vacuum cleaner bag


thing. Like all rotties, Ben’s short, glisten- ing black and brown coat is a thing of beauty. It is also a never-ending source of


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expect a minimum of 3,279 metric tons of hair to be left on your carpets and floors. Do the math. Since most vacuum


bags fill up with less than a pound, you’re going to need a boatload of bags. Buy the stock. At least you’ll get a dividend. Finally, there’s the two-legged beast:


Your vet. You never want to have to play “Where’s Waldo” with your veterinary surgeon.The best advice I can offer here is to talk to your vet before the surgery about how best to contact him or her after the operation. I asked Ben’s surgeon how I should


contact him if there was a problem. His answer was music to my analog and digi- tal ears. He said he checks his email every morning and replies to each one at that time. He also pointed out that his home phone number is on his business card. That may not have made Ben feel any better but it certainly made me feel good. Anyway, it has now been six weeks


since Ben’s surgery and he is very nearly back to being his old self. The local squir- rels aren’t happy, but I certainly am.


U


extraneous fur. Even under normal cir- cumstances the boy leaves more hair on the floor in one day than you’d find in a month’s worth of Camp Lejeune barber- shop sweepings. Add the stress of surgery and the weeks of post-surgical in-home confinement and it’s safe to say you can


9th ANNUAL


9th ANNUAL April 11, 2015


10a-3p, Rain or Shine


A Kids and


Canine-Friendly Carnival in Dog House Village.


101 Central Park Drive Larg Largo Central Park


, Lar  


     





   


     


 


Contests and games f for children and pets. Obedience, agility * The Activity


* The Pla ay House


ili y kill and saf y,, skill and saf fety demonstr 


y Midwa


Student ar * The Art House  


 ay


hildren and pets. ay


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   


  rgo


Hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Largo/Mid-Pinellas.  


       





onstrations. 


t and hands-on kiddie and doggie crafts. * The Doggy Mall


     P* The Bark Café


lenty of f food and drinks.


Contact Michele Simmons at 727.776.7250 mmtarantino@yahoo .com


VENDOR SPA PACE GOES FAST Co-sponsored b by T.


Every dollar raised through P ATION,


Pawfest will go back into our local community


OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION STAT


ATE. REGISTRA NT,APP VAL, ROVAL, OR RECOMMENDA


KIWANIS CLUB OF LARGO/MID-PIN ELLAS FOUNDATION ISA ORGANIZATION, EIN #90-0599760. COMPLIANCE WITH RE REQUIR EMENTS OF CHAPTER 496, FLORIDA STATUT TA OF CONTRIBUTIONS ACT: ATION


ATUTES,TH E T: REGISTRA


SOLICITATIONTA GISTRATION


ATION A 503(C)(3)


ATION


ATION # CH33530.A CO PY OFTHE ATIONMAY BE OBTAIN


TA ATE.


FROMTH E DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVI CES BY C ALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE TA ENDORSEME T,


ATION DOES NOT IMPLY ATION BY THE STAT


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Winter ~ 2014/15 THE NEW BARKER 77


al community. y.


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