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Thursday, September 15, 2011

Oh No, Not a Urinary Tract Infection - AGAIN

Flash backs: Since I will be leaving shortly to take Echo in for urine sample analysis and a determination whether he has an infection or not I had a flash back to earlier times. The story goes something like this:

When my boys were young they said this young black lab was hanging around our house. I took photo's, made posters and posted them all over the area, put notices in veterinary offices and in all the local newspapers. The dog stayed around and I thought maybe it was going home to eat and then coming back to our place to play with the boys. Little did I know that my boys were feeding it, actually knew the owner who no longer wanted the dog and gave it to them.

The dog was not claimed obviously and since the had bonded with it already I told them they could keep her but should the real owner ever show up they would have to give the dog up - no exceptions. Here starts the saga that probably ruined a marriage. I don't believe in having a dog that stays outdoors. If it can't come in the house with the rest of the family - no dog. Since my ex wife grew up with dogs 'in the house' I assumed she felt the same. Nope, dogs belong outside. So I'd bring the dog in, she would let it out back where I had the back yard fenced in to keep the dog safe.

She had worked long and hard to be able to afford a Persian signature carpet that was room size and white with hues of beige and brown. I admit it was a beautiful carpet. I had let the dog in and it ended up taking a whiz on that special carpet we were not allowed to eat near and walk on. That was when I found out the dog had a urinary tract infection. It left a bloody spot on the carpet. I guess you can see where this went fast.

I tried to get an appointment with a vet but couldn't get the dog in for several days. My hunting/fishing partner and co-conspirator in crime neighbor told me not to worry his brother was a vet and he set up an appointment the next morning. When I took Aspen (the new dog had now been named) in he said I would need to obtain a urine specimen and gave me a large super size paper cup probably 10' high to collect it in. He then told me the next morning when I took the dog out to whiz not to get the first urine but let her go a little and get the sample in the middle. I later found out that cup was used to get urine samples in horses. Looked like maybe it would hold a quart of fluid.

So next morning out we go on leash and quickly Aspen squatted to pee and I let her start and then tried to get that bucket sized cup between that one inch space where she squatted. Aspen turned to look at me like I was a pervert of some kind, stood up moved over a few feet and went to try again. I was crawling around trying to get that huge cup under her for a sample each time. The process was repeated about three times with me on my hands and knees holding a big cup that was empty. That was when I looked up to see my neighbors mini blinds slitted open and them outlined in the window. That would be my good friend and fishing partner neighbor. I knew I had been had but good immediately and this had been set up with his brother. So when I took Aspen inside she promptly peed on the garage floor so I scooped it up and dumped it in the cup.

When I dropped off the sample to Ivan he said with a smirk it had debris in it so he would give her a general antibiotic to clear her up which it did. In the meantime the special carpet still had a pink stain on it. Aspen had managed to pee on the white part of the carpet where it was quite obvious. I had my very good friend Dave who owned a cleaning company and was also a chemist see if he could get the stain out. Nothing worked on that stain after weeks of trying. We finally put it back down and situated a table over the stain. It was shortly after that episode in which I found myself a single person once again. I never did find out if the carpet was a trigger point or if I had finally stepped far enough over the edge to where there was no recovery.

What ever the case, in the divorce I did not get the carpet...or Aspen. Actually I did not get much at all except my personal items....... It did all work out for the best though and I sure hope when I take Echo to the vet today he doesn't hand me a large cup for a sample of his pee.....Our vet doesn't know this previous story and I would hate to see him get hurt. I guess I should mention that I am far happier being married to Carol now and don't want to toy with urine samples again. Once is enough.....

11 comments:

Pat said...

Ha ha ha – I’m forwarding this to Dave, who will no doubt remember the incident. Unfortunately, I don’t remember it, nor do I remember Aspen… but I do remember the end of your marriage to Liz… Seemed bitter enough I doubt poor Aspen had even a place in it, but the story is still hilarious. I sure hope Echo is okay… (The continuation of “our” story is to look at who kept the friend, not who got the dog…)

Bruce said...

I have no doubt that Dave will remember the incident. He worked very hard to get that spot out of the carpet in order to get the heat off me. Wait, that wasn't heat, it was full fledged flames... Who would have thought that I would have come out of that mess on top. By the way I'm still facebook friends with my neighbor too. He really got me good on that experience. She got the carpet and I got the friends. Sounds pretty fair to me..

Pat M said...

I found your blog through Pandora. The dog story is hilarious and familiar, too. I was a bit luckier with my sampling bt it was pretty embarrassing thinking the neighbor might be peeking! I have a blog, too, if you have a minute to check it out. Thank you! Growing Old With Grace http://growing-old-with-grace.blogspot.com/

Bruce said...

Thanks for the blog site Grace. I went there and became a follower. Your writing captures the art of getting older. I would encourage our other readers to check out your site as well.

Raylene said...

Laugh our loud and long! Any woman who can't adjust to life happening to her rug has no sense of humor or sense of what is really important in life---LIFE.

Bruce said...

Update: Echo has no infection and just has strong smelling urine. The vet said he needs to drink more water and his plumbing is all in working order and functioning well.. Gypsy checked out well for a gal her age. The vet said most dogs her size don't last as long as she has and other that normal aging she is doing excellent. To continue to do what we have been doing as it has provided her years past the normal dog her breed and size. Good news..

Gail said...

Hi Bruce!
Enjoyed the column--been there many times. It's much worse with a cat, believe me!

Something that really helps: cranberry softgels (one per day)--put one in the dog's food (canned) and he won't know it. Helps keep the bladder free of infection and debris.

Good luck!

Bruce said...

Thanks Gail: That sounds like a remedy that is holistic and sensible. I hope all the pet owner readers will benefit from your suggestion. I know when we humans have a urinary tract infection we drink cranberry juice and it seems to work, so it also makes sense in our pets. Thanks again.

Barbara J. Galasso said...

Oh Bruce I'm getting to read this story late, but what a pleasure it was to finally get to read it. I told you I saved it. I laughed out loud, it was so darn amusing. My question to you though is how come you didn't get to keep the dog? I would think your ex would not be in favor of keeping a dog that ruined her precious rug!!!???

Bruce said...

Good question Barbara. The only reason I can imagine is that she didn't want me to have the dog but didn't want it herself.

Deirdre said...

And to think if it had not been for Aspen and that white carpet, Junior would not have had a best friend and your wonderful hayride babies would not have a Mama and Daddy. Carol has your new carpeted forest floor -- well in hand and growing green and healthy! Bravo for a good tale told well -- made me laugh out loud! :)