Operation SD......

My admittedly chaotic work schedule was badly affected yesterday, due to Small Dog's surgery.

We dropped her off at the vet early in the morning and stayed with her while she had her pre-med injection.

Then we came home and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

I did try to do some creative work to keep myself occupied but it wasn't entirely successful.  Neither was my laughable attempt to catch up with paperwork, which is never my favourite task at the best of times.

Around 1pm we had a phone call from the surgery to say that Small Dog was in recovery and we could collect her at 3.15pm.  Needless to say she was really, REALLY pleased to see us after what must have been a bewildering episode for her.

The vet reported that her tiny bladder had been almost completely full of stones, one of which was almost 2cm long (?!) plus lots of much smaller ones.  The op took 55 minutes, which feels like a very long time for her to be anaesthetised, poor wee scrap.

She has a very neat scar, running along the midline of her lower abdomen, below her bikini line, and as the vet used soluble stitches she won't have to have them removed, thank goodness, although she has a couple of follow-up appointments to check on how she's healing.

Before we left to bring her home we were presented with the bill, the total of which was so large that the receptionist had to whisper it.

Think of a number.  Best make it quite a big number.  Now double it and add 67% of the original figure.

Yes.

THAT much!

Fortunately, unlike us, Small Dog has health insurance.  

Unfortunately, we're lumbered with a large excess PLUS we have to pay 25% of each claim so we'll be on beans and toast for the next few months to make up for it.

I will never, EVER moan about the NHS again.....

She slept for most of the evening, although she did rally for long enough to take her painkilling meds, cunningly concealed in a small amount of ice cream.  We'd been warned that she might not be able to wee for a while, but she asked to go out in the garden and did manage a small wee, which I presume must have felt like passing razor blades, judging by the expression on her face.

She had a reasonably good night and is much perkier this morning.  She's even looking forward to a small amount of lightly scrambled egg for brunch.

Thanks to everyone who's sent her Get Well Soon wishes..... they have all been passed onto her and she's managed a wag of her tail in response.

We're all looking forward to a return to normality over the next few days.  I'm also fervently hoping that the 2013 Bad Luck Goblins have had enough amusement with us already this year and will leave us alone for the next 11 months.

*fingers resolutely crossed*