Tim Worstall

The Joys of Pets.

Having pets is just wonderful isn’t it? Simply one of the great joys of the world?

One of this blog’s canine security operatives is currently intensely interested in my right calf as is the kitten (who wishes to put his claws firmly into it). The reason is the combination of Betadine (a brand name for iodine) and blood that currently lurks underneath a small bandage.

Which is there because that same canine security operative, whilst out on a walk this morning, got terribly excited upon meeting the neighbour’s rottweiler and bit said right calf. Leading to my recent (45 minutes from walking in to leaving the pharmacy with my prescription…the Portuguese medical system has its faults but apparently not today.) trip round to the local hospital for a tetanus injection (good to have one of those every decade anyway), two stiches (never had any before, they don’t hurt, much to my surprise) and a course of antibiotics.

So I’d just like to say to Sam (the canine security operative) and Tobias (the kitten) yes, I do love you, truly and deeply, but could you, just for the next hour or two, give it a rest?

Oh, and on the subject of the Portuguese medical system, something that got overlooked. How long are these stitches supposed to be there before I cut them out?

In

4 responses

  1. auntymarianne Avatar
    auntymarianne

    Leg’s quite far from the heart so less well irrigated by blood system, takes longer to heal. i’d give them 12 days at the very least, 15 to be sure. Clean every night with surgical alcohol. You can get cicatrising powder to tap on too.
    Don’t cut them out yourself. Get friend/acquaintance who is medic of some sort to do it with nice sharp scalpel instead of doing typical male DIY job involving unwashed breadknife, 2 rolls of cotton wool and another, this time far more embarrassing trip to casualty, like my friend who sat on a Stanley knife and tried to stitch his own crown jewels, I think the local medics are still laughing about that one.

    Reply
  2. Peter Spence Avatar
    Peter Spence

    Don’t they put you through a course of rabies injections in Portugal?
    Tim adds: Fortunately, the dog has had his course of rabies injections.

    Reply
  3. Greg Avatar
    Greg

    Tim, I am sure your leg will be fine. What are you doing to treat the dog that bit you? Poor little creature.
    Tim adds: He’ll have to live with the hangover just like the rest of us do.

    Reply
  4. Remittance Man Avatar
    Remittance Man

    You have my sympathies for it seems like this was the weekend for canine mischief. Here on the rolling plains of Africa your correspondant has been rendered temporarily blind by doggy destructiveness.
    It all began on Friday when the Remittance Hounds were prevented from attacking a cobra in the interests of their own safety. Having been deprived of a bit of sport they spent the rest of the weekend sulking. Due to a surfeit of scotland’s finest I was unaware of this decline in canine morale and the associalted mutinous rumblings.
    It all came to a head on Sunday afternoon. While cleaning my only pair of indoor specs one of the lenses dropped to the floor. Naturally one of the burglar munchers was there to collect the eyepeice before I could grab it.
    Ignoring all commands to “drop”, “leave” or even “please give it back to Daddy” she then hightailed it to the garden, closely pursued by your correspondant who was handicapped by an inability to see obstacles in his path.
    Finally, tiring of this game the faithful companion sat down and waited my arrival before very deliberately shattering the lense with one bite.
    I’m now sitting in the office torn between squinting at the screen and hoping I’m not doing too much damage to the company or looking like a prat with my (prescription) sunglasses.
    Pets! Who’d have ’em!
    RM

    Reply

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