On Tuesday I noticed that Riley (one of our boxers) was acting… not right. I decided to see how he was on Wednesday and the answer was “worse” so I called the vet and the got him that afternoon.
He has a slipped disc and is on prednisone. (Fortunately he’s really good about taking pills.)
He’s also now seeing a chiropractor.
He’s doing better. He’ll go down the steps to the yard now and he wouldn’t on Wednesday. He’s also starting to eat.
But meanwhile, I’ve been spending my time downstairs with him so he didn’t have to climb the steps to be in my room with me. (The dog is my shadow. Seriously. At the chiropractor’s this evening I got up to go to the restroom, leaving him with my roommate. As soon as I was out of sight he started barking, so I went back to get him and take him with me.
(Owning a boxer means you never pee alone.)
Anyhow, tomorrow I’ll be getting up early so we can get on the road to bring home two more wiggle butts (see Monday’s post). Helping them settle in will take up most of the rest of my time tomorrow and I’ll be home alone with the foursome on Monday, then Riley goes back to the chiropractor that evening, and the sisters (the new additions) have an appointment with the groomer on Thursday.
In short, the month is half over and I may never see my monitor again.
Okay, so that is kind of an exaggeration. I’m sure that it won’t be long before all four dogs follow me up to my room to hang out with me. (Riley and Jazzy already do.)
Now, with all this focus on the dogs (and considering how much I love animals) I have to ask myself one question:
Why have I never given my characters pets?
(Well, in Hedge House there is sort of a pet, although I’m sure she’d take exception to that term.)
Something to think about…
Novel Notes 
*Blinks* Why have you never given any of them pets???
And I hope Riley is alright.
I hope your dog heals well. It’s always a strain when they get hurt. I loved the description “you never pee alone.” If the nonsurgical actions don’t work, there are well-developed operations that can help. (Back when I was a youth I worked at a vet’s and they did them on brontosauruses.) However, I do hope it doesn’t get there.