Well not always … but after a few years it became apparent that Sassy was accident prone!
It started off with cut paws (but that was kinda my fault remember) then there was the road accident (which I can’t speak about just yet, one day I’ll share)
Over a period of time we used to joke that Sassy always looked worried when we left the house, then we started adding up the accidents that resulted in stitches, antibiotics, bandages, anesthetic and the humiliation of all humiliations … the ELIZABETHEAN COLLAR!
The first injury I can recall was a painful one both Sassy and Evie shared up in Daylesford ..running with some of their oldest pals, Thisby, who left us last year, Jock and of course Evie they ran around all day and most of the night, hunting and exploring their way around 20 acres, at the end of two days they limped gingerly into the car the pads on their paws split and bleeding (it hadn’t stopped them from running and running and running) … and the HEAT coming off them, scorching … anyway, straight to Lort Smith after hours, doctors orders .. keep off their feet and rest up for a few days … which both Evie and her did on their dog beds with some wet cooling cloths.
Believe it or not the next accident occurred, or should I say reoccurred in Daylesford, however this time it was a solo injury, whilst participating in the cross country run she must have not jumped high enough over a rock and cut her ‘nunnie’ … so another trip to the Lort Smith … this time we left with the dreaded collar! How embarrassing … hit at both ends!
The one after that was a beach accident I think … dew claw … Lort Smith … blue bandage … antibiotics … great shot!
The next was a nasty one, a fight with Evie over a bone … it was an even fight but Sassy came out worse off with a bite on the lip, 24 hours later I swear she looked like she had been a round with Mike Tyson her lip was MASSIVE, this time to the local vet, antibiotics and some humble pie were in order.
There was another dew claw in there somewhere and I am sure it came with a hood but that didn’t last long ..
The next was a classic … out having a run with Jedi, Evie and a tennis ball and it’s all good fun … next thing you know … the ball is in the air … the sun must have been in their eyes as they both jumped … then CRACK! Jedi and Sassy both leapt up .. there was a head-high tackle a bit like watching Big Bad Barry Hall and Akermanis going for the same ball .. then smack and next thing you know .. Sassy is missing the top of an incisor! Off to the canine dentist .. we had a few options, of which the most bizzare ( not to mention the most expensive) was a crown that we could PIMP UP with either a faux stone OR we could have the colors of our favorite footy club, to this day I don’t know what’s worse, that there is a market for dogs with pimped teeth or that the dentist thought we might be ‘that’ kind of customer.
It was pretty quite there for a while … the odd niggle but nothing to warrant a visit to the vet or me shoving a pill down her throat.
The last big one was when Sassy went from Sassy Dog to Sassy ”SUPER” Dog … we had taken them all for a run … nothing over the top but Sassy was limping much more than she ever had, so off to the vets and an X-ray later we identify some arthritis, a lot really … so we started one some shots and saw some improvement, but I was sure we could do more … so next visit I say to the vet … “is there anything else we can do, acupuncture, physio, chiro, herbal medications anything” … he shakes his head and in a less than enthusiastic tone says “you could amputate, dogs recover well, they can easily adapt to 3 legs” it took every ounce of self control to not launch myself over the table and nut this bloke! Good intent but bad bedside manner …
Next visit we spoke to the attending vet, who told us about Super Vet Dr Chris Preston who was doing some early work in joint replacements in dogs, human surgeons and nurses as well as the veterinarian team, that was it … went for our interview, he checked us all out … Sassy for compatibility with the study and me for my dedication to rehab … we both got a BIG TICK and next thing you know my Sassy was booked in for a new hip and knee. First dog in Australia and with the quickest recovery … they operated on the Friday and called me later that day to let me know I would have to leave her in the weekend … I was devastated, but she needed observation and rest … so I relented … I got a phone call early on the Sunday morning to let me know that they thought that Sassy could go home early … apparently she had been kicking up a bit of a ruckus and they couldn’t keep her down … so I go and pick her up and she WALKS OUT of the vets … Chris was very impressed and I was elated and the pride I had that day when we left was immeasurable.
What did Sassy teach me? Never give up and always give everything you have got .. she never gave up, not matter how hard or how much pain, she always gave it 100% and she gave it for me … she would see me though a door or a window and that was it … nothing would hold her back .. the love we had for each other was boundless and we would have done anything to make the other happy … but really all she had to do was look at me … and all I had to do was look back … and we were happy …
Next visit we spoke to the attending vet, who told us about Super Vet Dr Chris Preston who was doing some early work in joint replacements in dogs, human surgeons and nurses as well as the veterinarian team, that was it … went for our interview, he checked us all out … Sassy for compatibility with the study and me for my dedication to rehab … we both got a BIG TICK and next thing you know my Sassy was booked in for a new hip and knee. First dog in Australia and with the quickest recovery … they operated on the Friday and called me later that day to let me know I would have to leave her in the weekend … I was devastated, but she needed observation and rest … so I relented … I got a phone call early on the Sunday morning to let me know that they thought that Sassy could go home early … apparently she had been kicking up a bit of a ruckus and they couldn’t keep her down … so I go and pick her up and she WALKS OUT of the vets … Chris was very impressed and I was elated and the pride I had that day when we left was immeasurable.
What did Sassy teach me? Never give up and always give everything you have got .. she never gave up, not matter how hard or how much pain, she always gave it 100% and she gave it for me … she would see me though a door or a window and that was it … nothing would hold her back .. the love we had for each other was boundless and we would have done anything to make the other happy … but really all she had to do was look at me … and all I had to do was look back … and we were happy …
