Ordinarily I don’t wish for days to go by quickly, but yesterday was one of them. It was surgery-day for Victor, who was scheduled to have two masses removed, one on his paw and another enormous one on his tail. I was so reluctant to take him; at 18 years old, surgery is a tenuous option. But when there’s no other alternative, all one can do is pray and hope for the best.
Just three hours after dropping Victor off, the vet clinic called and asked us to come get him. Surgery had gone well and he was awake, but not happy. We could hear him howling loudly in the background. He was hurting and undoubtedly hungry, and when Victor’s hungry, He Doesn’t Stop Crying. We mused that he was probably driving the staff insane.
We got there as soon as we could, which still took 45-minutes. I love our location here, but nothing is convenient. We could hear Victor yelping the moment we set foot inside the clinic. He sounded pathetic…and pissed. He wailed all the way home, and then for the next several hours. Loudly and without ceasing. I never said Victor wasn’t tenacious. He is a chihuahua, after all.
We’d gotten 5 days’ worth of pain meds that were to start the following day, and I jokingly asked Dave if we could start him on them early, he was in that much pain. Of course, we didn’t, but I could still wish. He was ravenous and downed several chicken nuggets throughout the afternoon. Yes, we’re guilty of feeding Victor people food, but at his age, it’s a reward. He deserves it, and it makes him happy.
It was a long day, and around 8 o’clock Victor finally fell asleep in my arms for a couple of hours. I got some shuteye, too, which I needed and very much appreciated. He’d been crying and occasionally shrieking ever since noon, non-stop. Around 11 p.m. he stirred and I took him outside—he finally pee’d, always a positive sign after surgery. Shortly after that we both fell asleep, him on the couch and me on the recliner.
It’s now 24+ hours post surgery, and Victor’s quiet and sleeping, thanks to the pain pill. We doctored him a little, taking the bandage off his paw and changing the one on his tail. Life is getting back to normal. Days such as yesterday make me grateful that most days are relatively peaceful and calm. I’m grateful each day lasts just 24 hours, and I’m grateful for the difference 24 hours makes. Each day has its own blessings.
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. ~Psalm 30:5
