Lucy Revisited

by | Sep 11, 2019 | Miscellaneous | 1 comment

My wee buddy, Lucy the dog, turned 14 years old in early July, 2019.  She had her cataract removal operation in April, and although the operation was not a total success and she endured a lengthy recuperation period, Dr. Brian Skorobohach and his group at VCA Canada did a terrific job.  I am really happy to announce that Lucy is doing extremely well. While her eyesight is not what it once was, she can see well enough to go for reasonably long walks and can easily navigate her way around our home and do so without difficulty.

Lucy’s convalescence period was an extended one requiring numerous eye drops several times a day, along with tear-generation medicine applied to her food which, based on Lucy’s reaction, did not taste very good.  However, Lucy just could not ignore the special treats Brenda prepared for her to mask the taste of the medicine.

In effect, I became Lucy’s around-the-clock caregiver. Immediately following her surgery, I spent many nights sleeping on the couch so I would be near her in the event anything went wrong. I also made sure she did not try to rub her eyes with her paws.  It turned out that Lucy was a terrific patient, and although the cataract removal surgery was not a pleasant experience for her, she endured the experience and cooperated with me when I had to apply the eye drops and the funny tasting drops on her food.  I have gone out of my way to spoil Lucy as much as I possibly can.  Sore back and limited sleep notwithstanding, I did not begrudge one minute of the time it took to nurse her back to health.

Dr. Brian, as Dr. Skorobohach is referred to at the VCA clinic, was absolutely terrific in the care he and his assistants provided to Lucy.  I guess that I have been back to see Dr. Brian for follow-up appointments at least a dozen times, maybe more.  I can tell that he and his assistants really cared about how Lucy was progressing. When there were a few glitches along the way, it was obvious to me that Dr. Brian and his people were as concerned as I was.

As a result of her eye operation, Lucy’s quality of life has improved dramatically.  Regardless of the cost, which turned out to be reasonable by the way, I was not about to have this wonderful little dog spend the rest of her life in darkness.  She deserved to be the beneficiary of Dr. Brian’s expertise and his empathy.  For all the pleasure she has given me and our family over the past fourteen years, retaining Dr. Brian was the absolute least I could do.

Every day Lucy and I go for at least two long walks, and I can tell you that there appear to be some pretty wonderful smells along our route.  Lucy directs where we go, when we cross the street, and how long we linger at the many light poles on our street where some of her kin have left a calling card.

This winter Brenda and I, and therefore Lucy, are staying in Calgary and I expect the oncoming cold weather will limit the excursions Lucy and I will take. Hopefully, there will be a sufficient number of Chinooks to allow us the odd walk provided we both bundle up and Lucy’s boots stay on.

1 Comment

  1. Ron

    Hi Rod, Jason told me Lucy left you recently. My heart felt sympathy. I have three little pups and two are seniors .Sheila and I are giving them the best we can in their short life.

    Reply

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