I'm all into the "natural" way of things and organic this and that...it seemed so patently unnatural to go around chopping my pup's balls off. Am I depriving him of his full life as a dog? I know it's the responsible pet owner thing to do, that it will help him to calm down, that he's a "mutt" with no breeding opportunities. But if I think about it too much, I do start to feel awful. Plus, on a more selfish level, it means I'll never get to have any of his puppies and he is the end of his own line so to speak. (There is no way to repeat him anyway, since I don't know what he's made of, so I often shut down this thought process not long after it begins. I digress.)
On the way to the vet this morning I almost cried. What if something went wrong? What if that car ride to the vet was the last time I saw my little buddy? I'm welling up now just thinking about it. I seriously considered turning around and canceling the entire thing because it wasn't worth the risk. I know, I know - this is a routine procedure. That's what scares me. It's so routine often abnormalities go unnoticed because it seems so unlikely. I know someone whose puppy died from a fluke neuter surgery performed by an established vet.
I meant to say a heartfelt goodbye when I dropped him off, but it was so busy and I had to fill out forms...and before I knew it, they had whisked him away. The lady up front told me I could call in to check on him after 3pm.
At 3:30 I called and they hadn't even performed his surgery yet. This both worried me and pissed me off to no end. Poor little guy was probably hungry; they made me skip his breakfast in preparation for the operation. Plus, he was probably freaked out being in the kennel and such. PLUS, they said it might not be until freakin' 6pm when they did the damn thing! 6pm. That's when you're tired and you just want to go home and mistakes fucking happen. That's what 6pm is.
I went to the gym and after CardioSculpt was over at 6:30 I frantically checked my cell phone. Just a missed call from mom.
After my shower...still no news.
I went to a movie with a friend at 7:30 and no sooner had the movie started than my cell phone finally rang with a call from the vet.
My puppy's surgery was completed, and everything was going smoothly the nice nurse told me. Huge sigh of relief. I know it was supposed to be ok, but it sure feels better knowing that it actually did go ok.
The house seems really empty and weird without him. I catch myself thinking I need to be home to walk the dog and expecting to manuever past him when I walk in the door. I'm glad these feelings won't be forever and I get to bring the little guy home tomorrow.
Ok, so this is an old pic, but seriously. Cutest. Puppy. Ever. (I'm in no way biased, of course.)
Update: Just went to pick him up and he's doing fine. He isn't interested in food, and is slightly lethargic (although not much), but otherwise is the same ole' puppy. The vet tech told me to keep him from jumping and running too much over the next week. Um, have they met Masala? That will essentially be impossible.
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