Under the Knife

Once your dog gets to a certain age and you're meet with a medical concern, you begin to wonder how they're going to tolerate surgery. So when Ellie, our 10.5 year old Coonhound/Lab mix presented with a huge lipoma growing out from under her shoulder and impeding her gait, it was time to ask "the question." Surgery or no surgery?

Once assured that the 10 year old dogs of today are a whole lot hardier than the dogs of our youth, Ellie had a date with "the knife" late last week. Once she flushed out the effects of anesthesia and started baying again (woo, woo, woo!), we knew her brain cells were intact and a full recovery was right around the corner!

In my Pet Portrait business, I'm well aware of the emotional ties my clients have with their older dogs. When I'm asked to make what will likely be their last portrait, I can barely hold it together. Those dogs have a special place on my website! Their names are with their image.

So Ellie's "dodged the bullet" this time and we hope to have a number of good years left with her. Besides, nobody sings quite as good as she does in this family. So she'd better stay around!