Hondo, the best patient ever!

[Lilie]

On New Year's Eve, at 11:30 p.m., my daughter, Hondo and I were outside watching the fireworks. A small pack of dogs ran through our pasture. I suspect they were frightened by the fireworks. I had just stepped in the house to use the bathroom when Hondo saw the dogs and gave chase. My daughter screaming at Hondo to come back, was my cue to rush back through the house and give Hondo the one command that I save for such occasions. "Nein! Nein! Come!" Hondo, being wonderful, did an about face and came back to me.

I made him sit for a short time out, as rushing out from us is a no-no. But I did scratch him a bit on the face to let him know that I thought he was wonderful for coming back to be the moment I told him to.

Remembering that I still had to go to the bathroom I released Hondo before I ventured back into the house. When Hondo got up, there was a large pool of blood where he had been laying.

We rushed him in the house and laid him down on the floor in the kitchen. Hondo is very stoic, it is difficult to tell when he is in pain. I couldn't even tell where the blood was coming from. I knew he didn't catch the dogs, so it wasn't from a fight. I grabbed a towel, got it wet and wrapped it around both is back legs as the blood was heaviest there.

Still REALLY having to use the bathroom, I put him in a stay and told my daughter (who was sitting on the floor next to him) to give me a moment.

After taking care of my business, I brought back my dog-first aid kit into the kitchen. I have always have a completely stocked first aid kit for the dogs. It certainly came in handy.

I gave my daughter a package of ham sandwich meat that we had. She said she didn't think he'd bite her. I explained that you never assume an injured dog won't bite.

Cleaning off his legs, I found that he had cut his pad on his back paw. The cut wasn't as bad as it bled, as the pads can really bleed. I used nu-skin to help seal the cut, applied anti-biotic, put on an anti-stick pad and then carefully wrapped his paw with vet wrap.

Hondo was the perfect gentleman. Never moved. Laid his head on my daughter's lap and ate small peices of ham as if he were a king being fed grapes.

Hondo is now on total kennel rest. He goes out on a leash to potty. Sadly, he won't poop on a leash, so I put him in the back yard and then watch from the window.

I was thinking how lucky I am that first, Hondo is a great dog. And second that I trained him on long stays (at the time I questioned my trainer about what good a 30 minute stay could be), and that he is comfortable in his kennel. It would make treating his paw very difficult if Hondo wasn't solid with this.

[GSDBESTK9]

Good boy!

[Lilie]

Ok, I take it back. It seems that being in prison (kennel) is bringing out the worst in my good boy.

Or perhaps, Maggie (the mini doxie) is slipping him some nose candy while I'm at work. That would be less of a suprise to me.

I went home at lunch to take him out for a break and he attempted to eat both of my legs...the leash...Maggie...a pillow on the couch (as we were walking by). Wish I had access to a heated pool. That might help spend some of this energy he is storing up.

Will need to think about this one. Maybe if I stick a boot on him, I can take him out for a longer potty break/walk. The wound is healing nicely...oh hurry, please...hurry...

[Stevenzachsmom]

Hondo has such a wonderful nurse. Hope he heals quickly.