Guinness the Monster

What a day!  What a day! 

Guinness was scheduled for his water therapy at 11am.  Since it was a light traffic Saturday, I took the non-toll road.  Even though we came from a different way, he knew where we were going.  He was SOOOO excited to be there.  Barking and barking, dancing around the back of the SUV, from a mile away.  He continued barking as I arranged the ramp, released him from being tethered to the passenger seat, and tried to control him as he burst down the ramp, folded the ramp back into the car, then clung to his leash as he dragged me into the building, still barking at top voice.  With such an entrance, I always feel obliged to explain.  This time I said, "He just LOVES coming here even though they cut him up.  It is his favorite place."  Some of the clients went out of their way to say "hello" to this crazy creature, while others curled into their chairs and hugged their dog.  Of course, Guinness put on his loveable show of falling against the person petting him and rolling over for tummy rubs.

Finally, it was our turn.  He was eager to strut on the treadmill submerged in water, followed by the obstacle course.  After about five walks through it, he was catching on to what was expected of him.  His final treatment today was to have electrodes placed on his muscle to assist with redeveloping atrophied nerves and muscle tone.  His surgeon walked past a couple of times, and both times he was VERY excited to see her, and she gave him some attention and pets. 

Once finished, Mommy had more errands to run before going home.  After the first stop, I went to lunch at Cora's.  Next stop was to look for a new refrigerator as my realtor thinks we need a counter-depth one for showing rather than four inches deeper than the counter.  Discovered they are expensive with very little interior space.  Tried going to another store, but Guinness had had enough of sitting in the car.  He pushed me out the driver's door and ran around the parking lot!  ugh!  He is NOT supposed to be running!!!  And there he was running in a big circle.  I told him to sit, and he did!  As I was attempting to position the ramp for him to walk into the back of my vehicle, he went crazy and knocked it over into my knee.  OUCH!  Then made a leap for the car, and fell to the pavement.  Jumping is a huge no-no and falling is probably worse!  I got the ramp set up and he ran in.  I decided he probably needed water, so attached him to the passenger seat to keep him from jumping out.  But he jumped out anyway, hanging by his neck as that leash is not long enough to let him get out.  I could not undo the latch as it was extended too much.  It took me a while to be able to remove his collar to which it was attached.  Again, I had to set up the ramp to get him back inside.  Once he was settled, I did shop at that store and found a possibility -- not too expensive.  After a couple more stops, we finally were home and went on a potty walk.  While chatting with our cardiologist neighbor, I noted Guinness had a grapefruit-sized lump on his right hip next to this tail!  She looked at it too.  We noted he was walking just fine, but what was the lump? 

I called his surgeon, and she was willing to see him as soon as we could return.  He did not seem to anticipate where we were going until we turned on the street for the clinic.  He went bonkers!  He couldn't believe his good fortune of returning to the vet office twice in the same day!  Again, we had an identical entrance to this morning's with more crazy people who love goofy labs, and others who slink away from us.  It was now 30 minutes since the phone call, and there was barely a lump at all!  ??  She didn't know what it could have been other than a bruise, but suggested I keep him quiet (yeah... right...) and ice it.  He didn't get the ice.  Mommy needed a nap worse than he needed the ice!