Snip Snip

Now that our pup is six months old, we decided that it was time to get him neutered. So yesterday morning we dropped Jim off at the H.O.P.E Animal Foundation. We felt a little bad when we left for the clinic in the morning. H.O.P.E. told us that we needed to have Jim either on a leash or in a dog carrier. When we grabbed the leash to head out to the car Jim got so excited. He's gotten used to morning walks. He seemed less excited when we got in the car instead of starting our walk around the neighborhood.

Usually the clinic keeps newly spayed or neutered animals overnight. Since we brought Jim in on Thursday and the clinic isn't open Friday-Sunday, we were able to pick Jim up at 4:00pm the same day. Jim was quite groggy when he got home. I put him on our bed upstairs and he went right to sleep. Every once in a while he would let out a little whimper.

The clinic said that Jim would not be able to eat until 7:00pm. Not having eaten since before 9:00pm the night before we figured that Jim would be pretty hungry, but instead our little guy had no appetite at all. He only whimpered, buried himself beneath pillows, and went back to sleep.

It was sad to see our little guy hurting but we knew that he would start feeling like his old self soon enough. At 5:00 this morning the drugs had worn off and Jim was back to running around and playing again. He still whimpers now and then but for the most part he's back to normal. We went for a walk this morning and Jim was excited to be out and about. Unfortunately, Jim can't go outside to play for a whole week. For a pup who spends 95% of his time outside, this week is going to be a very long and difficult one. (He's already sitting at the back door whining.)

So for the next week Zac and I will be taking Jim out on a leash, making sure that he doesn't lick or tear his liquid stitches, and trying to make his time indoors fun. At least for now Jim has already started to feel better.