A recent family emergency meant Jess was left to wander my property during the day with time to herself . Of course provision had been made for regular visits, feeding and water etc. Jess tends to pine when we are not around as usual. She often lays on the decking watching and waiting to welcome us home when we go out.
Jess must have been waiting a lot, even when it had been raining. She was over-joyed to see us arrive home after our time away. Jess seem her usual bright and energetic self, but I noticed flies hanging around a damp patch of fur. She had her winter coat on, nice and thick and needing a bath. I carefully lifted her fur and too my surprise and shock, saw a large bald patch with an area that looked like a burn scab. I immediately rang the vet, horrified to think something bad may have happened to Jess in our absence. On examination by the Vet, it turned out that Jess had cellulitis, possibly from laying on a damp clump of fur too long. So it was home, into the shower, shampoo,and blow-dry to make sure her fur was dry. Then the wound was cleaned with antiseptics, creams applied and antibiotics given. Jess was used to being showered and blow dried when a pup, as it was winter then and too cold outside. That was 7 years ago!
Now Jess was mainly an outside dog. Preferring to be outside, she was usually washed with a gentle hosing during the summer and not washed to keep her oils for warmth during the winter. She seemed to remember her younger experiences, and definitely sensed I was tending to her wound to help. Jess was perfectly behaved, waiting patiently, laying or sitting obediently immediately when instructed, and loving the attention. Her wound has healed amazingly quick, within few days. She has been enjoying being a 'patient' along with other recouping family members. I kept her inside out of the wet weather and she has kept mother and my husband company. Of course the bathroom and shower were cleaned with disinfectant and 'spring-cleaned' after using it for our beloved pet.
