 |
| Graffiti seen on a walk with Bailey |
Well, we're trying again. At 9 a.m. I'm taking Bailey to the vet to be spayed. Let's hope they can do it this time. It's only been about two weeks since we made our last attempt, but she's more than four months past her last "season" at this point, and she's going to go into season again soon. So I kind of feel like it's now or never. We'll see what the vet says.
As much as I've been dreading this procedure, I looked back to see what it was like for Olga and it seemed to pass pretty effortlessly. I mentioned it on the blog the day it happened, but then said nothing in subsequent posts. I don't remember her suffering -- and in fact as I recall we took the "cone of shame" off pretty promptly because she just didn't need it.
Another unremarkable day yesterday. I spent the morning reading and editing video on my computer, and I took Bailey on two short walks. On the second walk, in the evening, I found a sad-looking Monstera sitting on the street, so of course I adopted it and brought it home. I need another Monstera like I need a hole in the head. But I couldn't just let a tropical plant sit outside in the chilly fall air, could I?
Here's Baileybird, as we often call her, sitting in our autumnal garden. After I took this picture I cut back several of those dahlias behind her and stuck them in the shed -- so they're pretty much put to bed for the winter. The ones with any green leaves at all I'm leaving a while longer, so they can keep photosynthesizing and feeding the tubers for next year. But they all look pretty terrible.
The zinnias, on the other hand, still look good. And they have buds for new flowers! It looks like they're going to keep cranking along until we get some frost.
If I were Dave, I would dread you returning from a walk carrying whatever hapless plant you came across. I hope the surgery goes well and the cone can quickly be removed.
ReplyDeleteI think he just shrugs it off as my craziness. I take care of them all so it's no skin off his back!
DeleteGlad Baileybird has a nickname, 'the dog' was somewhat dismissive. Fingers crossed for the vet operation. She might even quieten down.
ReplyDeleteShe's already getting a little calmer as the time passes.
DeleteHope all goes well for Bailey. Only ever had boy dogs so don't know a lot about spaying and the aftermath.
ReplyDeleteIt's a more invasive surgery than it is for boys (obviously) but also so routine now that I think the techniques have been perfected to minimize recovery time.
DeleteNow that you are well and truly retired and with your plant obsession seemingly increasing, I have found an outlet for your reservoir of energy and botanical passion:-
ReplyDeletehttps://careers.kew.org/volunteering.html
I don't know. Even maintaining my own garden is exhausting enough!
DeleteHere's wishing Bailey (and you!) all the best for today - hoping it will finally happen, and go smoothly.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the good wishes. It was not to be, but we're close. :)
DeleteI hope it goes well for Bailey, in my experience they have a bit of a rotten first day afterwards and then they seem to really bounce back and it's hard to try and keep them resting. We always have girl dogs and boy cats, so I've been through this a few times. :-)
ReplyDeleteI bet Bailey is getting very used to Dad picking up random greenery and carrying it home from walks.
Yeah, that's kind of my memory too -- that they feel yucky for the first day or two and then come right around.
DeleteI wonder if animals take birth control meds? That would keep her from ovulating? maybe? Anyway, good luck with the pooch and the vet.
ReplyDeleteGlad you saved the plant, yet again!
Patron saint of forlorn plants- St. Reed.
I've never heard of "the pill" for dogs! Not sure it's even possible, but then, why not?
DeleteHope it has been third time lucky for Bailey today.
ReplyDeleteThis was the fourth time, actually -- and ultimately we will need a fifth. :(
DeleteClassic Octopus Shot - All The Best With The Vet Visit - Excellent Score During The Walk
ReplyDeleteTravel On ,
Cheers
I love that octopus!
Delete"Cone of shame" - poor little doggies. Fortunately it's only temporary.
ReplyDeleteBailybird 😀 And you saved yet another plant. Great.
Err ... The octopus looks pretty, but shouldn't an OCTOpus have eight tentacles?
Although October is no longer the eighth month in our calendar 🤔
Yeah, it is under-tentacled, it's true!
DeleteGood luck a the vets.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Save it for next week. :)
DeleteLet's hope this time will do it. She does seem to be doing well in your care, though, less confrontive as she gets secure. Can you get one of those inflated collars instead of a cone? Some dogs do better with them.
ReplyDeleteWe do have one of those collars, actually. I call it the cone of shame but it's not a cone -- more of a blow-up doughnut.
DeleteZinnias and geraniums just seem to keep going as long as they can. Good luck with Bailey today!
ReplyDeleteAnd geraniums you can tide over until the next year, but I don't think that's true of zinnias.
DeleteFingers crossed Bailey's ready and then recuperates quickly!
ReplyDeleteKeep 'em crossed! She's not ready yet!
DeleteI've never had a dog that had that procedure but my mom had a cat. I don't recall it taking long to recover from the operation and that was likely 40 years ago so I imagine the surgery has gotten even better since then.
ReplyDeleteAnimals are so stoic they'll soldier through even if they're uncomfortable.
DeleteFingers crossed the surgery can go ahead without incident. We've already had frost and snow is forecast this coming weekend.
ReplyDeleteSnow?! Good grief! It seems so early! Aren't you glad about the Alberta referendum results?
DeleteI hope all went well for Bailey.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Colette -- we've got a bit more waiting to do but we're almost there.
DeleteI got my monstera at the dump along with the plant stand it was in. The attendant gave me his full permission.
ReplyDeleteMy zinnias are long gone although some of them have already reseeded and I've had a few very small blooms.
Here's hoping Bailey can finally have her surgery.
I remember your tale about rescuing your monstera!
DeleteThird time's the charm for getting that girl spayed ... she'll be groggy from the anesthesia but she'll be good as new once she sleeps 💤 that off! Just don't let her go bouncing off the walls ... you don't want the incision opening up! Been there, done that one!
ReplyDeleteI really don't think they suffer since they go home immediately after the surgery is done!
This was the fourth time -- and there will be a fifth! Yeah, keeping her quiet to protect the incision will be a trick.
DeleteWell good luck at the vets! I hope it turns out well. There is still some very pretty color going on in your garden.
ReplyDeleteIt does look pretty nice out there, even with all the rain and autumnal chill.
DeleteHope Bailey can have her procedure and that it goes smoothly with a speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ellen! Next week it will happen!
DeleteYou should start a new business, the Rescued Plant Nursery. That way you can rescue plants to your heart's content and then sell them. Baileybird, cute. What's the concern about doing the spaying while she's in this condition?
ReplyDeleteHa! I doubt anyone will want to buy them, given that people are basically throwing them out, but you never know. See my next post for more explanation about why we have to wait on the spaying.
DeleteHope it’s been a successful and easy day at the vet!
ReplyDeleteEasy enough, but not successful, alas!
DeleteNo. No you couldn't let a tropical plant sit in the cold. (Most people could, but not you.)
ReplyDeleteMy sister saved two or three ferns years ago. She splits them every year and pleads with people to take them, which is why I have 16 fern starts in my basement this very minute. I said, 'Why don't you just toss some of them if you don't want them then?'
The look I got is probably the same look you give Dave.
I am trying to steel myself to throwing more plants (especially cuttings) away -- not that you would ever know it from my posts. :)
DeleteI hope today was a success for Bailey! It seems like SHE will feel better once it's done too (although what do I know). I love that you adopt plants - it's one of my favorite things about you!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I hope she will feel better and less hormonally addled than she is now (and she IS addled).
DeleteI hope they were able to do Bailey's surgery today. Tell us again why it couldn't be done during a false pregnancy.
ReplyDeleteBasically the symptoms of a false pregnancy can then linger, even after the spaying, and we don't want that. I posted a link to an article in my subsequent post that explains it all.
DeleteI hope it is over and she recovers quickly.
ReplyDeleteNot over yet, but soon! Thanks, e.
DeleteOur dog Sadie was in considerable pain after we picked her up from being spayed. After listening to here whining with every other exhale for three hours I called the Vet (after hours of course) and begged for some painkillers, which I got. I remember being angry , thinking "no wonder she's in pain, they just removed her uterus! Why not send her home with some!" Being a nurse I knew how that hurt (then) for women. This was 25 years ago, things might be better now.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I hope the surgeries are less invasive now. Also, Staffies are notoriously stoic about pain. With Olga we were able to pull her through with paracetamol, if I remember correctly.
DeleteI hope Bailey gets the procedure this time.
ReplyDeleteShe did not, but we're close!
DeleteMaybe you could come and rescue two of my cyclamen because they're ready to go into the yard waste. Fingers crossed that you have the spaying done this time!
ReplyDeleteI would leave them for a year (assuming they're perennials) because they may come up looking more normal next year.
Delete🤞🤞fingers crossed Bailey gets her spay done this time. The zinnias are looking lovely. My monsteras live outside and get peed on by possums on a regular basis, I go out to water and spend the first few minutes watering off the smelly brown rivulets from the leaves. I like the octopus graffiti.
ReplyDeleteWell, possum pee is not a problem here! Fox pee is pretty pungent, though.
Delete