Our baby of 11 years is lab-shepherd mix with arthritic hips and a torn ACL (well, the equivalent of a human ACL, as dogs have a ligament of a different name that I can never remember). We have been looking into Adequan injections to treat her arthritis for a while now, and then a month ago she tore her ACL. We feel bad for waiting so long. Now her hips just aren't strong enough to support her limp. If we can do anything to help (other than getting our elderly dog addicted to pain meds), we should really get started on the Adequan injections ASAP. The first two injections were done at the vet's office. We have the choice of doing them ourselves or taking her in, and since it is not a good idea right now for me to lift our 60 pound dog into the car for a bi-weekly trip to the vet when F is at work, we decided to do them ourselves at home.
I mean we're pros at giving injections right? I know I am. I've done all my sub-q shots and quite a few of my IM injections. I realized quickly however, that there is a huge difference between giving yourself a shot and giving someone else a shot. In this case, a dog. Simply put, I just can't do it. No way. Tonight after we prepared the needle for our first home injection, I couldn't even watch F give our dog the shot. I couldn't even watch! How does it happen that after months of giving injections I can't even watch my husband give our dog a sub-q injection? So I guess the deal is: I do my shots, F does the dog's.
It was kind of a strange moment when we looked up a doggie shoot-em up video online to make sure we remembered everything correctly. We made her a bowl of food to eat as F pinched her scruff and pushed the needle in. She didn't seem to notice the prick or care at all.
3 comments:
I think I would have a hard time giving my pup a shot too!!! I think it's a great compromise that you do your shots and F does the pup's. Hope these make your doggie feel better!
Continuing to think of you and your embryo.
I think it is because you love your dog so much that the thought of even infliction the small pain of an injection just hurts you too much.
Your poor pup-pup. I had to take my dog to the vet for his annual exam last Friday and he had to get his rabies booster and kennel cough nasal vaccine. They also had to draw blood for the heartworm test. He did fine with the shots, but when they drew the blood they couldn't find a good vein and my poor dog was welping every time they stuck in the needle. It is the saddest sound. I think when they get shots in the scruff of their neck they barely feel it. I hear you though. I don't think I could give my dog the shot. Definitely would have to be my husband. Hope your dog feels better soon!
Post a Comment