Surgery drop-off and waiting

I dropped Owondo off at the vet this morning. He was in really high spirits and happily greeted the vet techs. Maybe all of our talks helped (my friends suggested I talk to him about it), but probably he just remembered getting loads of treats there last time. I sat with the vet tech who explained to me all of the different costs and asked me if I wanted certain blood work done. I didn't know whether it was extraneous or potentially helpful, so I just accepted. I guess if nothing else, it can help for a comparison. The worst part of every vet visit like this is when they ask you whether you consent to resuscitate your pet in the event that they suddenly decline. I assume he'll be fine since he is so high energy and has been through two, now going on three surgeries on his leg. As I sat talking to the vet, I just reassured Owondo. He shook my hand one last time. It felt a little bittersweet to get the last paw shakes from him, but I'm feeling ready for him to be on the road to recovery, to not have to deal with the pain anymore.

I struggled to remember where I had put his e-collar when I moved back. I am really hoping that this is the last time he'll need to wear it. It's the same e-collar he's had since Cameroon. I think he finds comfort in the collar, and every time he bumbles around with it around his neck, I think of him post-accident in my apartment in Yaoundé. We'd go out for short walks down our dirt road. All of the smells of a dirt road in a city must have been so interesting for him. He would always follow his nose, but it was so funny with the e-collar since his face would turn into something akin to a vacuum cleaner getting stuck on a rug. With every smell, his face would almost suction to the ground and he'd struggle to raise his head and keep going. I think he grew to like the smell-o-vision like effect of the collar, and he gets excited every time I take it out.

His new orthopedic bed came last night and it's a tiny bit too small for him, but he slept in it all night. We pushed a pillow against it to make it bigger, and that seemed to help. I also bought a new leash- the kind you use on small dogs so that the heavy leash won't get in the way. I'm still waiting for his new harness, so I'll have to use his collar in the meantime. I'm expecting a phone call around noon with an update and I'll go with Mike to pick him up at 4:30. I'll be glued to my phone in the meantime.

Owondo in his chair, pre-op obviously.

Remi must know something is happening.

Owondo's last 4-legged walk. He's on painkillers, and that's why he's walking ok.