Ah, the joys of pet ownership – the unconditional love, the endless entertainment, the…well, let’s just say the occasional unexpected mess. As a proud dog mom, I’ve lived through more than my fair share of canine-related chaos, but somehow, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
You see, my household is a veritable zoo – three pups, each with their own unique brand of mischief. One refuses to eat his kibble unless it’s drenched in olive oil, another has to be crated anytime I leave the room lest he devour every non-edible item in sight, and the third acts like he’s going to murder the mailman when really, he’s just a big scaredy-cat, terrified of everything from the fish in the tank to the women with strollers who pass by.
They’re big, they’re dirty, and oh, the breath. I’m talking the kind that can bring tears to your eyes, thanks to their penchant for sneaking cat food and thorough self-cleaning habits. But despite all their quirks, I adore every single one of them.
The moment I walk through the door, I’m greeted with a queen’s welcome – think jumping, whining, and an endless stream of enthusiastic licks. They follow me from room to room, guarding me from any and all perceived dangers. And even after a sweaty workout, they still can’t get enough of my affection, not fazed in the slightest by my mismatched outfit and less-than-fresh scent.
At Adam’s Cleaning Services, we know a thing or two about tackling those inevitable messes that come with pet ownership. But what our canine companions lack in tidiness, they make up for in unconditional love – they want nothing more than belly rubs, biscuits, and the occasional (accidental) loss of a few inches off their tails.
You see, I’ve shared my home with dogs for years, and in that time, I’ve seen my fair share of injuries – from the ever-popular broken nail to the occasional nipped ear from overzealous playtime. And for the most part, a little home remedy has been able to soothe the savage beast and get us back to our regularly scheduled snuggles.
But one day, my oldest pup suffered an injury that turned my house into a scene straight out of a horror movie – a tale of blood, baking soda, and a whole lot of hysteria. And let me tell you, it was a learning experience I won’t soon forget.
It was a windy day, the kind that can catch you off guard with the occasional strong gust. And it was just such a gust that led to my daughter struggling to get the dog back inside, only for our metal storm door to break free and slam shut right onto the end of his cute brown tail.
Now, the injury itself wasn’t immediately apparent. My pup let out a yelp, but quickly carried on as if nothing had happened. It wasn’t until about an hour later, when I noticed him licking his tail, that I saw the bloody stump where a lovely tuft of fur once was.
Being the dog mom that I am, I sprang into action, grabbing an old sock and some medical tape to cover up the injury. And to my surprise, my furry friend seemed completely unfazed – aside from perhaps a disapproving look at the pink and white ankle sock I had chosen.
So when I had to run out for a bit, I wasn’t too worried. And boy, was that a mistake. You see, when I returned home, my beloved pup was wagging his injured tail with gusto, slapping it right into the cabinet door. The sock flew off, and the bleeding began anew, spurting like a freshly opened ketchup bottle.
As I rushed to his side, trying to use my calmest, most soothing voice, his excitement only increased. He started wagging with even more vigor, rolling onto his back and thwapping the maimed stump onto the floor, leaving a pool of blood with each happy slap.
I remembered that baking soda can be used to help stop bleeding, having used it just a few weeks prior when our puppy lost half a nail. So I quickly had my daughter help me pour a generous amount onto the injury. Unfortunately, this addition of baking soda, now wet with blood, only added to the pasty puddles on my kitchen floor.
Through a series of mishaps that involved yelling, near-hysteria, and finally getting the old man resting comfortably in his bed, I turned to face the aftermath. And let me tell you, it was a scene straight out of a slasher film.
Pools of blood on the floor, where my daughter had tracked it around. Splatters on the cabinets, the tile backsplash, the stove, the fridge, the dishwasher, my purse, my coat – even my own face. It was like someone had taken a bag of blood and poured it into the back of an industrial-strength fan.
It took nearly an hour to clean up the mess, and for hours after, we kept finding blood splatters in the most unexpected places, including on the other dogs. And during all of this, I was so focused on just getting my pup’s tail covered that I never really got a good look at the injury.
When my husband finally got home, long after the vet had closed for the evening, we removed the makeshift bandage and saw the bare doggy tail bone staring back at us. Eww, I know. But what was truly disturbing was my pup’s calm demeanor throughout the whole ordeal.
I mean, I’ve never had any of my own bones exposed to the air, unless it was under some pretty hardcore anesthesia. But I imagine it must have hurt like crazy. And yet, this guy had clearly spent a good amount of time wagging that maimed stump into every corner of my kitchen, without so much as a whimper.
Even after the surgery that lopped off the exposed bone, he remained unfazed, never once looking at his less-than-full-length appendage. Meanwhile, my husband could learn a thing or two from this dog’s stoicism, the next time he’s got a stuffy nose and feels the need to whine painfully and blame the heavens for his plight.
What I learned through this bloody mess is how quickly blood can dry, and how much harder it is to clean up than the wet stuff. I lost a good portion of my morning to scrubbing, wiping, and disinfecting, and I’ve got to say, I recommend keeping these types of catastrophes to the evening hours. That way, it’s more socially acceptable when you start drinking immediately after – or even during, who am I to judge?
PetMD has some great tips for home remedies that can help make your pet more comfortable in a pinch. And maybe, just maybe, keep you sane for at least one more day. But if your furry friend is truly injured, you should always take them to the vet – professional medical care is the way to go.
As for me and my household of canine companions, we’ve learned that a spotless home and a wagging tail don’t always go hand-in-hand. But you know what they say – “a dog is a man’s best friend.” And in my case, that friendship comes with a whole lot of love, laughter, and the occasional blood-soaked kitchen floor. Wouldn’t trade it for the world.
