Just got word that nutsy, er notsonutsy, came through with flying colors. They didn’t use very much general anesthesia which is a great, the anal glands are gone now, but the left one did put up a fight on the way out. Testes are gone too. They had to shave a few patches into him for IV’s and the epidural, so he may look a little funny.

Apparently since he was an adult, he is quite swollen, and looks like he is still intact. We retrieve Yoshi tonight after work. I will be glad when this week is over, and our little furball is all healed up.

I’m sure this is all more info than you really need, but, I am not forcing you to read this am I?

Just a few moments ago we left Yoshi at the vet’s office. He was rather unimpressed with the lack of breakfast this morning, but it was necessary for him to fast this morning. No water after 7am also. Sheesh, the things we do to/for our pets.

Something that has been brewing in the background for a while. The past couple years Yoshi has been having some troubles with his anal glands. The glands have been getting infected, and unfortunately for us, Yoshi never displays any of the warning signs that they are bothering him. Each time this occurs we have to take him to the vet to get them expressed. This is a gross procedure that looks very uncomfortable for him. Now, each time we enter the vet’s office, he immediately gets tense and strains to leave. Once we get into the exam room, he moves to the corner and sits.

Poor guy.

Just before our most recent vacation we took Yoshi in to get examined and expressed, only to find out that once again one of the glands was infected. He was put on antibiotics which were administered by the kennel where he stayed while we were away. A follow up exam once we were home revealed that the side that was infected was now fine, but the other gland was now infected. We had a decision to make.

Either we started taking Yoshi to the vet every 3 weeks to get expressed or we could have his glands removed. After deliberating, we have signed Yoshi up for surgery. It wasn’t something we decided to do lightly though. We looked into the complications from the surgery, the after effects of the surgery, and the possible side effects of the surgery.

Thankfully most of the possible side effects are minor or temporary. Also, Yoshi won’t be going under a general anesthetic, which in case you didn’t know, can be dangerous for animals. He will be getting an epidural. I’m not fully sure how that works, but I imagine he will be sedated as well.

While he is going to be there, and undergoing surgery we have also decided to neuter Yoshi. Yes he is intact, but that is mainly so that his previous owner could breed him. He has been bred once but we have no further wishes to have him bred. I love Yoshi, and I am a little concerned about the neutering too. I don’t want him to change. I love him just the way he is, but this really is the best thing for his health.

I know our vets are quite competent, but I am still worried about Yoshi. I know that once he is fully healed he will be a changed dog. I just hope the changes are gradual, and not too drastic. I love the little pooper, but I know we are doing the best thing for his long term health.

Saturday I took Yoshi for a walk at the park. Warm sunny day. I was sweating before I even got two blocks from home. Gorgeous blue sky.

As always Yoshi enjoyed running around sniffing, peeing, romping, with ears flying out behind him.

Then we saw the fog, and felt the cool breeze coming in off the water.

Heading out of the park the fog seemed to follow us.

We could see it get closer.

And closer.

Soon it was on us.

It was still a very bright out, but the temp had dropped a few degrees. Very unique day for mid october.

Ahh, the dog days of summer. Yoshi was quite insistent that he needed some exercise this morning, so this afternoon we took a trip out to Island View Beach (with a side trip to check out the kennels at Puppy Love).

Sox and I took Yoshi for a walk and swim at Elk Lake today. Yoshi always has a great time when we do the field walk. We called him at one point, and when he stopped beside us his head was covered in grass seeds, and his tongue was coated in them. Eww.

He swam lots at the beach too. Great day to be a dog.

Poor Yoshi. Poor us. We are looking after Sheba for a couple weeks, and normally this is great fun for Yoshi.

Unfortunately for Yoshi, this past Tuesday night, his nuts looked a little funny. Upon closer inspection he had scabby nuts. We had to take him into the vet on Thursday and they think he has some kind of infection on his scrotum. The treatment is a steroid cream that needs to be applied twice daily, and that Yoshi cannot ingest it. This means he needs a cone, and since he has never worn one, and is always a little neurotic anyway, this next week will be a little tough.

This weekend we are going to Cowichan lake with Sheba, Digger, and Chutney. It should be a fun play weekend, but Yoshi will be wearing a cone. Poor guy.

So far he is taking it well, but he certainly doesn’t seem comfortable.