April 23. Homecoming Day
6:30 pm
Bubba went to bed in the bedroom right after dinner, and has not come back out. Buddy and I went out on the deck and just relaxed, and watched YouTube videos for a bit, but it got cold and breezy and we came in, and brought the deck bed inside.
I tried to get him out for a sunset walk, but he wasn’t interested.
4:05 pm
Pre-dinner walk. Out the gate to PCH and back on the path. We didn’t head into town today.
We walked 45 minutes. Buddy pooped, Bubba did not.
2:15 pm
We almost got out for a walk, and Bubba seems better.
I had gone home to have a coffee and a snack, and left the front door open so the guys could bark at passers-by and enjoy the fresh air. When I got back, both guys were at the front door. Bubba looked alert and energetic. I thought it was walk time.
I got the leash, and Bubba ducked me, and returned to the piano bed. Buddy still wanted to go…almost. We made it out onto the landing, and he realized that Bubba wasn’t coming, and he changed his mind. We went back in so he could flop and chew on a bunny.
11 am
I am worried that Bubba might be uncomfortable. I’m still concerned about the yelp from the bedroom the night before. I really thought he’d gotten hurt, tho he looked fine when he came out from the bedroom. I went into the bedroom to check after the noise, and Buddy followed along. I was actually glad for Buddy’s help. I half-expected to find a NY City sewer rat that had followed Bubba in from the deck into the bedroom, and knew Buddy would get him for me. Of course, it would mean a late night trip to San Juan Capistrano for a rabies shot, but I know I can count on him for enemies that are low to the ground.
Bubba was lying in the piano bed, awake but curled up, and he whimpered a little, then lifted his head. After a few seconds, he put his head back down, and repeated this. His ears weren’t touching anything, so it was something else. He then sat up in the bed, and remained like that. I went over and sat on the floor with him, petting him. I tenatively rubbed the ears, and he was fine with that. He looked tired, but apart from that, he didn’t show any other signs of being in pain anywhere – at least not to the touch. I went back to the couch, and he got up and went outside to bask in the sun.
10:30 am
When we got back, we handed out some liver treats. Buddy gets excited about them, too, but it wasn’t as noticeable as when Bubba did. Buddy gets excited about everything. He gobbled down every treat that Dr. Cory offered him. But it’s unique for Bubba.
I had to refill both water dishes, and change the pee pad in the bathroom. The guys are definitely staying hydrated.
9:30 am
We went out for our first walk. I’m a little worried about Bubba. He seemed to be favoring his left “shoulder” going down the stairs. He seemed to be walking perfectly fine, but he was “short legging” each step down, which was scary, because a misstep and he would face plant down at least one step. Apart from heading down the stairs, he seemed fine. He was walking fine, and he was being extra-demanding about the directions we walked.
It took us a while to get across the street, but that’s where we ultimately ended up, despite a lot of backwards-n-forwards motion to get there, as Bubba kept changing his mind.
We walked for an hour. Both guys pooped.
8 am
Too early. Buddy woke up to me coming in. He was sleeping in the piano bed. He yawned and stared, but he didn’t move. Bubba was tucked under a blanket in the front door bed. Even having a fresh cup of coffee – my FIRST cup – with me didn’t get them up this time.
I put out the breakfast to marinade, and went home to give them some more time to sleep.