Stitches Removed! The Cone Stays...

Azuki had her stitches removed today. There is still a little scabbing, but the vet who took her stitches off said it healed well. She still needs to wear her cone to prevent her from licking or scratching when we can't watch her, however.

A little drama unfolded yesterday which involved an emergency trip to her regular vet. Azuki had been vomiting early in the mornings with weird stomach gargling sounds, and no appetite, for the past two days, and then yesterday, she added acute diarrhea to her list of ailements. Possibly due to all the antibiotics that she was taking, which might have caused an baterial imbalance in her tummy (antibiotics kill off good bacterias too!), she started to not only having diarrhea all morning but at the end was letting out just little squirts of liquid, and then finally, blood. When I saw the blood I became really worried, and promptly took her to her regular vet close to our house, in which she got an IV injection. Yes, dogs get IV too. Azuki was a champ when they stuck a VERY BIG needle IN HER BACK, and didn't flinch or make a sound at all. She stayed there for 10 minutes, totally calm and licking the nurse's face. It provided her some much needed liquids and a little vitamin C, since she hasn't eaten or drank anything all day, and the little that she at the night before all came out during her puking and pooping spells. They also gave her some special special-to-digest food which is suppose to be easier on the tummy. Last night around 10pm, she ate heartily and also this morning. Today, she didn't puke once (although I heard some gaggin in the morning), and although she had extremely soft and discolored poop (sorry for the unsavory details), at least it wasn't diarrhea. When we went to get out stitches removed today, she was extremely genki, a sign that she is feeling better already.

You would think that she would detest her surgery hospital, since in her mind, they probably did something really bad to her and then locked her up with a cone over her head in a small cage for 5 days. However, Azuki is not one pup to hold a grudge. She was actually very EXCITED to get there, rushing into the lobby on her three good legs and saying hi to both the doctors and the other pet owners there. It really does seem like her love of people trumps pain or any negative experience that she might have had.

When we came home, she is tired from all the excitement. Seeking a little piece of sun on the floor, she does what dogs do best---nap!




Despite being born a little handicapped, Azuki is still the luckiest dog in the world!