Because we hadn’t been to the vet’s office in almost two weeks…
…clearly we were due for another visit.
Let me begin by saying that Diego now seems to be mostly fine and is asleep on a comfy chair in my office, tucked under his favorite smelly dog blanket.
I’m on a tight freelance deadline right now, and so spent most of the morning and afternoon hunkered down at my desk. Diego, who usually likes to hang out wherever I am, instead opted to nap downstairs on the couch. Around 3pm I went downstairs for some water and saw him sitting on the couch, covered in blood. I mean covered. His chest, his paws, his muzzle, all coated in thick red blood. He was calm and alert (well, as calm as Diego gets, anyway) but…there was all this blood and absolutely no explanation for it. (See why I started off by telling you he’s okay?)
I couldn’t tell where the blood was coming from, so I carried him upstairs to the bathroom and washed away as much of it as I could. No wounds on his chest, or his feet, or his muzzle. Thick blood still coming from his mouth. Crap. Now I was imagining all kinds of internal bleeding. Then I got a look at his gums and it looked like it might be coming from there, but it was hard to tell with all that blood and there were clots… It was a mess.
I called the vet to tell them I was bringing an emergency in, called a car service, and tried to get the dog as cleaned up as possible so the car service driver wouldn’t freak out when I tried to get into the car with a blood-covered hound. Luckily his winter jacket covered a lot of the gore I couldn’t get off fast enough, and the bleeding had stopped by the time the car arrived.
The good news: It’s definitely his gums, and there is no sign of internal bleeding. He has notoriously awful teeth, and perhaps a rotten tooth broke off. There was a hell of a lot of blood, though. The potential bad news: Poor clotting is a symptom or side effect of liver disease, which he had trouble with last year. So a small cut on his gums that normally wouldn’t be big deal could have bled that much.
Ugh. We’ll get bloodwork back tomorrow that will tell us (hopefully) what’s going on. Fingers crossed that his liver values come back normal.
We got back home a few hours later. Diego was okay. I was totally frazzled. And still on deadline. I ordered a pizza and got back to work. Which is where I am now, still at my desk. I’m still a bit frazzled, though, and worried about my hound. I thought the pizza would help, but look what I just went and did…
No new yarn in 2006, right? Well, I just ordered this mitten kit (the Solhav kit), which I’d been wanting for a while. I was taking a break from the work and doing some harmless window shopping, and next thing I know…well… At least it’s a relatively small purchase. I got it in red with purple. You know…just in time for spring.
Sigh.
I’m weak.
But NOW no more yarn in 2006. I really mean it. Unless there’s another vet emergency. I apparently can’t make any promises then.
I am so glad to hear that Diego is okay. That must have been traumatic for you. I know I would have freaked if I found my dog like that. Napoleon would like to wish Diego good luck and he hopes his test results will come back normal.
Posted by: Oiyi
That would have totally freaked me out! So glad he’s okay!
Posted by: Scout
Well, this is good practice for parenthood–learning to stay calm and in control when faced with lots of bodily fluids. So glad to hear Diego is okay though. What a rough day for you.
Posted by: Jessica
I am so glad to hear that Diego is okay. That must have been traumatic for you. I know I would have freaked if I found my dog like that. Napoleon would like to wish Diego good luck and he hopes his test results will come back normal.
Posted by: Oiyi
That would have totally freaked me out! So glad he’s okay!
Posted by: Scout
Well, this is good practice for parenthood–learning to stay calm and in control when faced with lots of bodily fluids. So glad to hear Diego is okay though. What a rough day for you.
Posted by: Jessica
Oh my gosh! Poor Diego! I will be sure to send positive thoughts your way. One little mitten kit, especially given the circumstances, is ok in my book. Of course I am no pillar of strength myself.
Posted by: emily
Yikes, that’s scary! I’m so glad he’s okay . . .
Posted by: –Deb
I am so sorry about Diego. Our pet babies are just as important are they not? I hope all the tests come back good and whatever the problem, is an easy fix! I wouldn’t worry so much about the mitten kit – it was definitely a stress reliever of a moment that was well deserved.
Posted by: Stephanie
Retail therapy does not count as buying yarn. It’s therapy.
I have my fingers crossed for Diego. Poor wee dog. My heart goes out to him. Sending big smoochies for the wee poochie!
(Can you tell that I’m a dog person through the computer?)
Posted by: Steph VW
How awful and frightening this must have been for you. Pandora, Jellicle, Harlequin (the cats), the wee dog Holly all wish good health and a speedy recovery for Diego. I hope the rest of your weekend is calm yet filled with productive energy.
Posted by: Paula on the East Coast
Yarn purchase a must after a day like that. So glad to hear Diego is okay.
Posted by: brooke
Oh my! Hoping for the best! That yarn doesn’t count.
Posted by: valentina
Oh poor bunny boy! We’ll keep fingers, toes, and paws crossed for good liver values.
Posted by: spaazlicious
How scary! I’m glad everything is mostly ok and I’ll be thinking oh you both.
Oh, and thanks for the link to the amazing mitten kits. Looks like they’d match my new hat just perfectly…
Posted by: Vicki
Oh my gosh! Poor Diego! I will be sure to send positive thoughts your way. One little mitten kit, especially given the circumstances, is ok in my book. Of course I am no pillar of strength myself.
Posted by: emily
Yikes, that’s scary! I’m so glad he’s okay . . .
Posted by: –Deb
I am so sorry about Diego. Our pet babies are just as important are they not? I hope all the tests come back good and whatever the problem, is an easy fix! I wouldn’t worry so much about the mitten kit – it was definitely a stress reliever of a moment that was well deserved.
Posted by: Stephanie
Retail therapy does not count as buying yarn. It’s therapy.
I have my fingers crossed for Diego. Poor wee dog. My heart goes out to him. Sending big smoochies for the wee poochie!
(Can you tell that I’m a dog person through the computer?)
Posted by: Steph VW
How awful and frightening this must have been for you. Pandora, Jellicle, Harlequin (the cats), the wee dog Holly all wish good health and a speedy recovery for Diego. I hope the rest of your weekend is calm yet filled with productive energy.
Posted by: Paula on the East Coast
Yarn purchase a must after a day like that. So glad to hear Diego is okay.
Posted by: brooke
Oh my! Hoping for the best! That yarn doesn’t count.
Posted by: valentina
Oh poor bunny boy! We’ll keep fingers, toes, and paws crossed for good liver values.
Posted by: spaazlicious
How scary! I’m glad everything is mostly ok and I’ll be thinking oh you both.
Oh, and thanks for the link to the amazing mitten kits. Looks like they’d match my new hat just perfectly…
Posted by: Vicki
I’m glad you and Diego are ok.
Of course you bought yourself some yarn. It is therapy, no doubt.
You needed it. It is far better than buying a quart of tequilla.
Maxly
Posted by: Maxly
I am so sorry Diego went through that… it must’ve been so scary for you! Thank goodness he’s okay.
Posted by: Karma
OBVIOUSLY a mitten kit is the natural response to a veterinary emergency. OBVIOUSLY. What are you even writing about?
P.S. I want one of those kits, and I aim to have one. But first I have to do the hat kit I ordered…it’ll be my first real colorwork. Then I’ll get the mittens.
Posted by: Norma
Poor Diego! Actually when you mentioned the blood the first thing I thought of was his teeth. Bad gums can bleed an amazingly huge amount. I’m crossing my fingers on the liver disease!! Hugs and kisses for the hounds from Luca and Henry!
Posted by: stephanie
Wow, i’m glad that you were calm enough to be able to care for the pup and do what needed to be done. I’ll be thinking good thoughts for this important member of your family!
And of, yarn heals all traumas and reduces all frazzled-ness
Posted by: Jenna
I’m sending good thoughts Diego’s way! And a little retail therapy never hurt anyone…
Posted by: Renee
Diego is in my thoughts.*Soft pat on his head*.
Posted by: Jaime
My thoughts are with you both, hope everything turns out OK.
Posted by: Georgiana
Oh, Diego!! And Cari! I’m so glad he’s okay, I think the mitten kit was more than deserved, and I hope that his blood tests turn out okay and you’re done with the worrying. Hang in there.
Posted by: Cassie
Be sure to let us know how the test comes out. Hopefully poor little guy won’t have any more surprises for you.
Great parenthood test, eh?! All that blood for something small and fairly non-traumatic. So kid-like. Think “hit on the head with something after running around getting hot and all worked up”. Those are the times when they bleed so much you think they must have a two inch gash somewhere. Ugh. Ask how I know.
Posted by: Laura
How simply terrifying for you, and poor sweet Diego! I’m hoping for good test results.
It’s not called yarn therapy for nothing.
Posted by: Em
Yikes! What a scary experience for you. I hope all turns out well with the blood tests and the deadline.
Posted by: Carole
Oh poor little hound!!! Give him lots of besos for me. Fingers crossed that the liver is ok.
Posted by: serena
I’m glad you and Diego are ok.
Of course you bought yourself some yarn. It is therapy, no doubt.
You needed it. It is far better than buying a quart of tequilla.
Maxly
Posted by: Maxly
I am so sorry Diego went through that… it must’ve been so scary for you! Thank goodness he’s okay.
Posted by: Karma
OBVIOUSLY a mitten kit is the natural response to a veterinary emergency. OBVIOUSLY. What are you even writing about?
P.S. I want one of those kits, and I aim to have one. But first I have to do the hat kit I ordered…it’ll be my first real colorwork. Then I’ll get the mittens.
Posted by: Norma
Poor Diego! Actually when you mentioned the blood the first thing I thought of was his teeth. Bad gums can bleed an amazingly huge amount. I’m crossing my fingers on the liver disease!! Hugs and kisses for the hounds from Luca and Henry!
Posted by: stephanie
Wow, i’m glad that you were calm enough to be able to care for the pup and do what needed to be done. I’ll be thinking good thoughts for this important member of your family!
And of, yarn heals all traumas and reduces all frazzled-ness
Posted by: Jenna
I’m sending good thoughts Diego’s way! And a little retail therapy never hurt anyone…
Posted by: Renee
Diego is in my thoughts.*Soft pat on his head*.
Posted by: Jaime
My thoughts are with you both, hope everything turns out OK.
Posted by: Georgiana
Oh, Diego!! And Cari! I’m so glad he’s okay, I think the mitten kit was more than deserved, and I hope that his blood tests turn out okay and you’re done with the worrying. Hang in there.
Posted by: Cassie
Be sure to let us know how the test comes out. Hopefully poor little guy won’t have any more surprises for you.
Great parenthood test, eh?! All that blood for something small and fairly non-traumatic. So kid-like. Think “hit on the head with something after running around getting hot and all worked up”. Those are the times when they bleed so much you think they must have a two inch gash somewhere. Ugh. Ask how I know.
Posted by: Laura
How simply terrifying for you, and poor sweet Diego! I’m hoping for good test results.
It’s not called yarn therapy for nothing.
Posted by: Em
Yikes! What a scary experience for you. I hope all turns out well with the blood tests and the deadline.
Posted by: Carole
Oh poor little hound!!! Give him lots of besos for me. Fingers crossed that the liver is ok.
Posted by: serena
Oh my. I’m glad to hear that Diego is mostly okay, but I can only imagine how scary and upsetting the whole thing must have been.
I’m sending virtual belly rubs to Diego for good news and normal liver values.
And good for you for getting pizza and a mitten kit. Sounds perfect.
Posted by: elisa
Yikes. I know how scary that can be. My dog Riley got a small but deep cut just under his nose last Saturday night from what I later found out was a broken glass jar in my Dad’s back yard. (not Dad’s fault btw. He’s very careful, but it was an unusally windy night) It took me about an hour to get the bleeding stopped, an exercise that involved me spending time half sitting on my 80 pound beast holding a paper towel wrapped ice cube over the spot. Afterwards the bathroom looked like I’d been performing ritual sacrifices in it. I’ll be holding good thoughts for a Diego.
And my friend, a mitten kit in a situation like this is NOT yarn buying. You were simply practicing a very important skill referred to in all the baby and child development books as Self Soothing. It was a healthy reaction to a very stressful situation. So good for you. :o)
Posted by: Rachel H
Oh no! Poor Diego! I think you handled it like a trouper though.
Posted by: LaurieM
Poor little chicken… I do, however, think yarn was in order.
Posted by: claudia
You made the right choice in self-medicating with yarn.
I hope all turns out well with Diego’s tests.
Posted by: amandamonkey
The mitten kit -so- doesn’t count, especially if you shove it somewhere clever so that it doesn’t look like the stash is any bigger. 😉 Glad to hear that you and Diego are both OK, and I hope everything goes well from here!
Posted by: Tonia
Awww, honey. That sucks. Mittens in spring are a completely natural reaction to such a scary thing.
Hang in there!
Posted by: Lee Ann
Eeep! I’m glad you started with ‘he’s okay’! Poor Diego! And poor you! Ella, Sarah and I send you both all our best wishes!
Posted by: Ande
Whew..my heart was pounding just reading..if ever he or Sadie or Oscar bleed from gums or cuts anywhere you can use flour as a clotting agent in an emergency. Safe and natural. Greyhounds are delicate. Okay..love and healing to Diego!
Posted by: Lyn
Oh, my! I’m so glad to hear that everyone is okay. Fingers crossed for good liver values.
Posted by: Faith
Holy crap — that sounds terrifying! Poor Diego (and you!). I’m *so* glad that he’s OK. That’ll teach him to be lazy about flossing!
Posted by: alison
Wow! These poor doggies can’t seem to catch a break. I hope all is well with them — and the kitty too.
Posted by: Gina
That is freakin’ scary, Cari! I am so glad that Diego is okay. Thanks for telling us that at the beginning of the entry. 🙂
Hugs to you and Diego! and Bella and Chili say woof.
Posted by: Carrie
Oh my. I’m glad to hear that Diego is mostly okay, but I can only imagine how scary and upsetting the whole thing must have been.
I’m sending virtual belly rubs to Diego for good news and normal liver values.
And good for you for getting pizza and a mitten kit. Sounds perfect.
Posted by: elisa
Yikes. I know how scary that can be. My dog Riley got a small but deep cut just under his nose last Saturday night from what I later found out was a broken glass jar in my Dad’s back yard. (not Dad’s fault btw. He’s very careful, but it was an unusally windy night) It took me about an hour to get the bleeding stopped, an exercise that involved me spending time half sitting on my 80 pound beast holding a paper towel wrapped ice cube over the spot. Afterwards the bathroom looked like I’d been performing ritual sacrifices in it. I’ll be holding good thoughts for a Diego.
And my friend, a mitten kit in a situation like this is NOT yarn buying. You were simply practicing a very important skill referred to in all the baby and child development books as Self Soothing. It was a healthy reaction to a very stressful situation. So good for you. :o)
Posted by: Rachel H
Oh no! Poor Diego! I think you handled it like a trouper though.
Posted by: LaurieM
Poor little chicken… I do, however, think yarn was in order.
Posted by: claudia
You made the right choice in self-medicating with yarn.
I hope all turns out well with Diego’s tests.
Posted by: amandamonkey
The mitten kit -so- doesn’t count, especially if you shove it somewhere clever so that it doesn’t look like the stash is any bigger. 😉 Glad to hear that you and Diego are both OK, and I hope everything goes well from here!
Posted by: Tonia
Awww, honey. That sucks. Mittens in spring are a completely natural reaction to such a scary thing.
Hang in there!
Posted by: Lee Ann
Eeep! I’m glad you started with ‘he’s okay’! Poor Diego! And poor you! Ella, Sarah and I send you both all our best wishes!
Posted by: Ande
Whew..my heart was pounding just reading..if ever he or Sadie or Oscar bleed from gums or cuts anywhere you can use flour as a clotting agent in an emergency. Safe and natural. Greyhounds are delicate. Okay..love and healing to Diego!
Posted by: Lyn
Oh, my! I’m so glad to hear that everyone is okay. Fingers crossed for good liver values.
Posted by: Faith
Holy crap — that sounds terrifying! Poor Diego (and you!). I’m *so* glad that he’s OK. That’ll teach him to be lazy about flossing!
Posted by: alison
Wow! These poor doggies can’t seem to catch a break. I hope all is well with them — and the kitty too.
Posted by: Gina
That is freakin’ scary, Cari! I am so glad that Diego is okay. Thanks for telling us that at the beginning of the entry. 🙂
Hugs to you and Diego! and Bella and Chili say woof.
Posted by: Carrie
Carrie, I think yarn purchasing in the wake of a medical crisis is perfectly acceptable self-care. Sending positive thoughts your way regarding the test results.
Posted by: Lisa-Marie
Oh god, that must have been awful! Poor Diego! And poor you. I’m glad it wasn’t some kind of internal bleeding or something. Crossing my fingers for the test results.
Now how the *%#@ am I supposed to knit with crossed fingers?
Posted by: David
How absolutely horriying. You must have been petrified! Poor Diego, and poor you. Keeping everything crossed until the test results come back. And of course you had to buy yarn. All in the name of comfort, y’know? Hugs to all.
Posted by: regina
*heart still racing*
So glad your pup is okay. Whew. Did you find out what cut his gums? A mystery, huh?
I’m glad the yarn calmed you down. SO okay to buy yarn, ahem, mittens after an episode like THAT.
Hope your boy is okay. Let us know about the tests!
Posted by: Stephie-P
Poor Diego! I think a yarn purchase is totally justified in the circumstances!
Posted by: Wendy
Awww, poor pup! I can’t imagine my reaction if that had happened to my hound… And what everyone else said: that yarn purchase Does Not Count. Hug the poor lad for me…
Posted by: Alison
I’m glad to hear that he’s okay!
Posted by: Jena (the yarnharpy)
Oh my gosh! How did you not panic?! I am glad that Diego is okay. Really glad. Yarn pruchase makes sense to me under this kind of stress.
Posted by: Dharma
Carrie, I think yarn purchasing in the wake of a medical crisis is perfectly acceptable self-care. Sending positive thoughts your way regarding the test results.
Posted by: Lisa-Marie
Oh god, that must have been awful! Poor Diego! And poor you. I’m glad it wasn’t some kind of internal bleeding or something. Crossing my fingers for the test results.
Now how the *%#@ am I supposed to knit with crossed fingers?
Posted by: David
How absolutely horriying. You must have been petrified! Poor Diego, and poor you. Keeping everything crossed until the test results come back. And of course you had to buy yarn. All in the name of comfort, y’know? Hugs to all.
Posted by: regina
*heart still racing*
So glad your pup is okay. Whew. Did you find out what cut his gums? A mystery, huh?
I’m glad the yarn calmed you down. SO okay to buy yarn, ahem, mittens after an episode like THAT.
Hope your boy is okay. Let us know about the tests!
Posted by: Stephie-P
Poor Diego! I think a yarn purchase is totally justified in the circumstances!
Posted by: Wendy
Awww, poor pup! I can’t imagine my reaction if that had happened to my hound… And what everyone else said: that yarn purchase Does Not Count. Hug the poor lad for me…
Posted by: Alison
I’m glad to hear that he’s okay!
Posted by: Jena (the yarnharpy)
Oh my gosh! How did you not panic?! I am glad that Diego is okay. Really glad. Yarn pruchase makes sense to me under this kind of stress.
Posted by: Dharma