Large and lazy and stuperous

Odin the Large and Lazy had ear canal ablation surgery (look it up if your stomach is strong) a few days ago and he is now home recuperating. With his outsized cone, half his head shaved and swollen and his eyes never quite focusing, he is the picture of confused discomfort.  

As I type this, I’ve been on duty with him for about five hours, in standby to keep him quiet and clean up after his occasional upchucks. We think the painkiller is upsetting his tummy but in case something more serious is going on, we’re not leaving him alone today, his first full day back at home.

Being half Dane and going on ten years old, we had to carefully consider whether to go ahead with the surgery in spite of his age and the difficult recovery and the cost. But not for long did we mull; bottom line, we just couldn’t see him continue with constant ear infections caused by his tumor and we were not ready to make that other decision.

His gaze when he focuses on one of us is a blend of wonder and worry and just a hint of “what the (insert doggy expletive) have you done to me?” Of course, he doesn’t know the whys and wherefores or the love that went into our decision-making process. But we do. His day will come but it’s not today.

Today is about watching and waiting and caring. This is the dog who made our daughters feel safe when parents were out, who delighted and frustrated and loved us and made our home whole.
I wish he felt better.