Last night, I took the dogs back to the house so I could cook dinner for Greg and I (it was more than my turn) and make catfish stew for the dogs. Since Parker is on ‘Strictions (no walking until the foot is healed), I had taken them to work with me in the van. When we got back to the house, Jade exited the van quickly and went out to scan the yard. Parker remained behind. He didn’t want to get out of the van, and he gave me The Look, an expression that is partly worried (and very worrisome) and partly puzzled that I don’t understand. I don’t understand except that I am clearly not obliging whatever it is that he needs. Sometimes it may be better if they could talk, except that I know they would argue. With my worry-stress reaching its limit, I first asked him if he wanted to go to the vet. He didn’t give much of a reaction, and believe it or don’t, he will give me a solid reaction to this when I get it right – usually. He just laid there and looked gloomy.
I’ve seen the Newfs lie in the van in protest when they want to go somewhere other than back to the house (led by Parker), so I decided to wait a little while to see if he would get out. This hasn’t happened more than a few times over the years. I wondered whether it caused so much pain in his foot to bear weight that he didn’t feel like getting out. I tried to not worry and went about starting dinners. But, I’m not good at not worrying, so I went back to check on him a couple of times. I finally convinced him to leave the van. He wasn’t enthusiastic about it, and he still seemed gloomy. I tried to “talk him up” about dinner, about how good it would be. He smiled politely but clearly wasn’t enthusiastic.
After eating dinner and feeding the dogs, I changed his bandage, and was surprised at how good the wound looked, considering the recent increase in damage. As I was getting ready for bed, I realized something. He did this, although with less gloom, last week. I asked Greg, “Wasn’t it Monday last week that Parker did this?” “Yes.” Then the light came on. Mondays are “acupuncture days”. It was Fridays at first, then we switched to Mondays at some point last year. Before the foot injury, he was down to one visit every 6 weeks. Now he is back to a four-week schedule. If you could see his expression, and see how happy he is about going there, you may understand why Mondays are now added to his calendar under the “Important Days of the Week” header. Fortunately, his next visit is next Monday. Since he’s still on the ear treatment with a steroidal anti-inflammatory, he can’t take Rimadyl, and I don’t think Tramadol does as much for him. Can’t wait for the foot to heal and the ear treatment to be finished!
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