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Kitchen Table Kibitzing ~ 8.29.22 [1]

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Date: 2022-08-29

Before the surgery I agonized over whether to have their dew claws removed or not. My vet doesn’t like to do it, but because of my cancer and resulting lymphedema, he said he would. After my own research I decided against having the claws removed. Not because of anything poetic like, the notion that it’s called a dew claw because it brushes the dew off the grass. I used the AVMA's position that this is a MUS; a Medically Unnecessary Surgery.

Medically unnecessary for the boys, but perhaps necessary for me. Monday the day before the surgery Cooper scratched me pretty deep on my arm. Most of my scratches come from their dew claws. I put peroxide on it and bandaged it.

My boys, the evening after their surgery

On Thursday after I got that deep scratch I went to Physical Therapy. Midway through my session my therapist noticed my arm was red and swollen. She was a bit alarmed and said she’d like me to see a doctor. I told her I had an appointment next week. She said, no, today.

I went to an urgent care by my house and explained my problem. A doctor came out to the waiting room to check to see if she could deal with the problem or if she’d have to send me to the ER. She said I had Cellulitis and she could treat me!

I spent the hour waiting googling Cellulitis at Mayo, John Hopkins, and the Cleveland Clinic. I was scared by the time the doctor was ready to see me but all I got was antibiotics, a booster shot in the rear, some kind of cream, and ice packs.

I kept still with my arm raised with and ice pack on for a few days to keep it from spreading. My lymphedema makes me at risk for this, so for me the prevention is no more dog scratches. For a second there I almost regretted not having my dogs dew claws removed. Only for a second though.

When I got home from urgent care I made a decision and shared it with my boys “No more scratching me with your claws, I could die. No jumping on me at all”. And you know, they stopped. I doubt that statement did anything, but I’m carrying myself with more authority now. I’m not falling for that cute look; those big eyes, that make me want to let them get away with anything.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/8/29/2118856/-Kitchen-Table-Kibitzing-8-29-22

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