While on my walk yesterday, an image that captured my heart was a man sitting on a wall looking at his cell phone as his three little dogs sat beside him. I smiled as I passed them. Then I turned around because I just had to take a photo. The man happily obliged.
The companionship of four-legged friends is a gift from heaven. They give hugs when you need them, they help reduce stress, and they get you out to exercise. And when they are in need, we will drop everything to help get them back on their feet.
Two days ago, our Lola had an emergency procedure done on her left eye. She had an indolent ulcer on her cornea, that is, a painful open sore not caused by trauma that will not heal without intervention. It could be genetic. Jacqueline had first noticed Lola blinking and tearing a lot – signs that a dog is in pain. Lola continued being sweet, pleasing and sassy as ever, so neither Louie nor I noticed it right away. But Jacqueline insisted we take her in. Almost two weeks later, the eye drop therapy wasn’t helping and the vet suspected the indolent ulcer. That same day, the animal ophthalmologist at Eye Care for Animals in Pasadena rearranged her schedule to treat Lola.
Lola is also being treated for cancer – T-cell lymphoma, the “good” cancer because it is slow moving. She’s been on low-dose chemo since August 2019, which is working wonders. For this reason, the ophthalmologist didn’t want to use general anesthesia on Lola in order not to conflict with her chemo. So…because of Lola’s reputation as a very cooperative and calm patient, the doctor used only a local sedative for the procedure -- Lola was awake the whole time the doctor worked on her eye. It didn’t take long, and to the doctor’s and staff’s surprise, Lola trotted out of the facility – with a contact lens that will be removed in two weeks. Her eye now opens wide.
Meantime, I am administering five different meds – antibiotics, blood serum and cream three times a day (and pain killer if needed). Lola sits very still for the eye drops and lets me place an ointment inside her lower lid. What I thought would be a frustrating two weeks of nursing her eye back to health, it has so far been a calm routine.
Lola, we’re so lucky for your chilled personality – and the calm you bring to our lives.