We take our dogs, Jack and Joe, to the vet every year for their annual check ups which usually include shots. It is fun to go and the dogs don't seem to mind. Afterall, they are riding in the truck and they love the word GO. It is always a race to see who can get to the truck first!
But, this last time was an emergency visit. Joey was out in the field running and having fun when he started to rub his head on the ground. We thought he was rubbing on something dead and smelly (which he sometimes does, why do dogs have to roll in the foulest smelling thing they can find) and made him stop. By late afternoon I notice his right eye was all red and we thought he probably had something in his eye so we started washing his eye out with Visine. By the next morning we noticed his eye was tearing profusely so we immediately called our Veterinarians Office.
Thankfully they could see Joey in an hour. I loaded him up in the truck and we were off. The Vet tried to take a look but Joey (a very stubborn dog, German, you know) would not let him get very close. Doc could not see anything and decided he needed to get him sedated so he could take a good look. I wasn't prepared to leave him there, only because he had never been left alone before and I was afraid he would be scared. But, I knew I had to and reluctantly handed the leash over to the doctor's assistant. I could come back in 3 hours to pick Joey up.
While at home Jack kept looking for Joey as he has never been separated from him since we brought him home a year and a half ago. I don't know if Jack was thinking "finally, they got rid of that pest" or "hey, where did Joe go, I miss my buddy".
Well, I couldn't wait 3 hours; so, in 2 hours I was on my way back to the Vet's office. Joey was out of surgery and coming out of the anesthetic, although still dis-oriented and wobbley. Was I ever happy to see this dog even though he didn't come running into my arms, as I had hoped. He staggered like a drunken sailor not sure of which way to go. Poor baby!
The vet took a piece of ornamental grass from Joey's third eye lid. The dog third eyelid rarely is noticed in a healthy dog. When the eye is closed, this fleshy membrane extends through the eye surface below the external eyelids. Poor Joey was a sight for sore eyes!
It has been 7 days since his trip to the Vet and he is almost back to normal. The redness is gone and there is just a little swelling on the lower lid. Thanks Doc!
