Lucy *updated* **again

Today we are worried about Lucy. Lucy is T.J. and Jodi's dog, that they adopted after they tried for a long time to find her owner when they found her running loose on the highway. She had caused at least one accident and was on her way to causing more. She was cold, wet and scared when T.J. called her into the car. She jumped right in and has lived with him ever since. T.J. called her "Lucy" because she was loose. See? Jodi was accepted into the household (just kidding, Jodi) after she married T.J. and they have been living happily since. Until last night.

Jodi called me today to tell me about it, and this is what I got from that conversation: When Lucy went outside for her pre-bedtime constitutional, she took off like a shot (I imagine) toward the dark area of the yard. T.J. heard a noise that was loud enough that he went out to investigate. As he neared Lucy, a large bird flew away and T.J. found Lucy with a 'possum in her mouth. He called her off and pulled her away from the 'possum and into the house where they discovered her mouth was bloodied and I think they noticed a tooth was dangling. They took her to the emergency vet who removed the loosened tooth and also noticed the matching tooth on the other side was gone, too! The vet gave her some pain medicine and recommended she see a vet specializing in dentistry the next day.

Luckily, their regular vet, whom they really like, does doggie dentistry. They dropped her off today for whatever needs to be done and hopefully she will come home tonight--without two canine teeth! I was worried about how that would affect her ability to eat properly, but T.J. told me when I called him that domesticated dogs don't really need those ripping, tearing teeth, so she will be fine once the pain of the removal and healing is over. Poor girl. It must hurt. Jodi said she whimpered a lot last night. T.J. laid down next to her bed (at the bottom of their bed) to comfort her--and fell asleep there!

So, our sweet grand-dogger will have an altered smile after today. But we will love her anyway.

***UPDATE

Lucy will be spending the night at the vet's. The procedure was more complicated than expected, therefore took longer than expected. She came out of the anesthesia well enough, but the vet wants to keep an eye on her overnight. She should be home on Tuesday. We'll keep a good thought.

***UPDATED AGAIN

Jodi tells me that Lucy is home now. She is whimpering a bit, but Jodi is unsure if that is because she is in pain or because she likes the attention she gets when she whimpers. They have painmedication for her, and have ben administering it as prescribed. She has a follow-up appointment on Friday.