Sick as a dog!

 Good evening Blogger friends. I've been away from my laptop (as has Ambrose) due to a very uncomfortable doggie. What do you say when a dog is sick? Sick as a human? 

On Friday evening I noticed that Skabby had what I thought was, dewlaps. Huge extended skin under his chin. Of course, he goes into a frenzy if I bend down to look at him and spins around in circles. When I managed to calm him, and ran my hand under his chin, I felt two huge lumps like cricket balls. He didn't seem to be too distressed but my mind spun into overdrive. I hardly slept a wink worrying about the dog.  (who slept soundly beside my bed) 

Skabby enjoying his bone last Tuesday evening 

On Saturday morning I loaded him in the car (I was able to do this myself, which bodes well for when I take him to the groomers in future) and drove the 50km to the vet in Estcourt. A young woman attended to him. She drew fluid from the lumps and checked it out. She was rather non-committal about what it could be. I asked her if it could be a snake bite but she said no. She suspected they were abscesses which would drain naturally, but if not, I'd bring him back in a week, and the main vet would lance and drain this under anesthetic. 

She gave him an antibiotic injection and prescribed five days of tablets for me to administer.

After the vet's visit 

He's been very quiet. He drinks copious amounts of water and I see it's a challenge for him to eat his food. I have to crush the meds in milk warned with water and he manages to get this down.  

He loved his walk, as always

I took him for a walk today. He was very excited at the prospect and did all the normal things he does on this walk. Even dived into the dam at the end of the first part of our sortie. Back home, he lapsed into quiet mode again and lay under the shrubs until dark when he came indoors to lie by my bed. Ever the loyal guard dog even when sick as a dog! 

Quietly lying on his blankie by my desk 

Chappie attempts to cheer the patient up with her antics 

Roll on Friday when my poor boy can get relief.