The Cone...

Last week Gabriel suffered an injury which necessitated a vet visit.  This happens to be the third time she's seen our vet this year and it's only April.  The first time was because she wouldn't stop licking/biting at a sensitive area.  We weren't sure if she had allergies, worms or an impacted hiney, so she was treated for all of them. 

The second time she saw the vet was for a teeth cleaning.  Although she's only four, her teeth were looking really rough and she had the beginnings of gingivitis.  Unfortunately, she was not blessed with good teeth.

Last Friday while out playing, she bent one of her toenails back to the quick.  The vet had to sedate her and pull the entire nail.  She's been on pain medication and an antibiotic ever since.  The first couple of days, she was really pitiful.  The morphine was wearing off and you could tell she just didn't feel good.  But when she started to perk back up, she also started licking her injured toe.  Incessantly.  Especially between the hours of 3 and 5 AM.  Every night.  All this licking has left her toe raw and exposed and looking like it was getting infected.  So yesterday I had to go in the attic to find something I hoped never to use again...

Gabriel with the cone

Although she looks pitiful in this picture, you shouldn't feel sorry for her.  Instead, you should pity the rest of us.  Because Gabriel doesn't care that she's wearing a big plastic cone on her head.  In fact, I think she relishes the power it gives her over everyone else.  She terrorizes the cats with it, chasing after them and scaring them.  They were afraid to come to bed last night.  She also rams it into everything - the walls, doors, furniture and especially the backs of our legs.  I know from past experience that both Mr. Quilting Bug and I will both have bruises there before it comes off.  And she has to wear it for the next 5 to 7 days, until her toe has healed sufficiently.

So if you don't hear from me, please know that I'm hiding out from my dog.

Until later...

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! 

Psalm 139:17-18 (NLT)