Photoessay #834 - Quiet rest

This morning, Teddy (age 9 mnths)'s eyes seem puffy, his face looks swollen. Ilana notices that his cheeks look swollen. Later, I see that the side of his face right about the mouth is protruding, feels like sacs of liquid sticking out, almost hard to the touch. Call the vet, they say to watch it. An hour later, it's looking worse. Vet suggests I drop him off so they can observe him.

They decide ($96 later) that it's likely an allergic reaction to a spider or insect bite. They gave him a benadryl shot and I retrieve him. Swelling is way down, that's a relief.

But they say he should have a week of quiet rest.

What? Quiet rest? This dog is nine months old!!

He goes to the dog park every day. I go to the dog park every day. We go TOGETHER! (Naomi used to describe his greeting to her in the morning. "You're AWAKE! I'm AWAKE! We're AWAKE TOGETHER!" amidst great rejoicing and greeting).

Though I know the game, they say "Quiet rest for a week". What they're hoping for is that maybe you won't go all out to the dog park for three days.

So here's some dog park pictures instead. Nick, one of my favorite people at the vet's office, brings his two flat haired retrievers, Forest and Shadow (not sure about those names) to the dog park. Teddy starts to mix it up, let's WRESTLE.

And Margo, the one-eyed whippet, that's got some real strong cadence going for it. Of course, she runs like the wind. She also acts as the policeman (some dogs feel that's their responsibility). When other dogs get too rambunctious in their playing and wrestling, Margo steps in and barks and nips at the playmates until they cut it out.

Not go to the dog park? He's going to drive us NUTS!