Meanwhile, Back at the Batcave...

---UPDATE BELOW---

Batman is home from the Evil Dog Abuser known simply as "Vet". Actually, Mason is the one who dreads visits to Vet. Batman does fine. They all love him there. They are convinced he is an "angel", one of the "sweetest dogs they've seen", and "unusually smart". He's not even afraid to be left there -- he just trots right on back, like he's going to get a treat or something.

Anyway, I picked him up a bit ago. Poor guy, he's woozy and a bit stumbly. He was all drugged up, but when he saw me, he tried to wag and prance just like he was sober, eliciting oohs and ahs from the receptionist and techs all the while. Sling, I don't think he gave away his superhero identity, but the tech did seem to be looking at him with a newfound respect. He's sleeping next to me now, snoring, which he doesn't usually do.



So Batman has these huge round eyes, I mean the dog is channeling Li'l Orphan Annie at the best of times. When he's drugged, he looks like that dog in the fairy tales with dinner plates for eyes. Even the folks at the vet offices, who see drugged dogs every day, can't get over how crazy big his eyes get. Once I took Batman back after his stomach surgery of '05. It was months later, and the tech was all, "Omigod! That's the dog who had the gigantic eyes!" It's like there's no iris whatsoever, just giant black pupils. It looks kind of freaky, actually. I was going to get a picture of it, but with his green "magic eye" effect even in normal photos, I was afraid I'd blind him with them dilated like that.

You all would not believe the size of the root on this tooth! It's bigger than the other 2 pieces combined. I mean, this thing is a tusk, people. It must've gone all the way up to his nose. Now I understand why the canine teeth in particular are such a big deal. From what the vets I called said, and the internet as well, the canine tooth is the worst tooth to remove because the root is enormous, relatively speaking. Apparently it's a real job to get those jokers out of there, and now I see why. And since I know you guys love seeing gory pics, here's one for morbidly curious.


I should've put a quarter in there for scale or something. Put it this way, the root piece on the right is the size of the entire bottom half of my first finger, no kidding. And I have long fingers. The piece on the far left is the part that was actually visible in his mouth before the break - what you would think of as his actual "tooth". Most of the middle piece was under the gum line - this is the other piece I pulled out the day after he broke it. The root is flipped over from how it would've fit if all 3 pieces were together. Anyway, it doesn't look as massive in the picture, but suffice it to say, I was shocked.

So that's that. She also removed a small wart that was growing on his lip, cleaned his teeth and did blood work, so he's good to go. He's got antibiotics and pain meds that should have his eyes working their magic for a while yet.

Poor pretty boy. I'm glad he's ok.

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UPDATE:

The patient had his first dose of pain meds and his antibiotic, and is sleeping, although restlessly. He managed to eat his dinner, and kept it down. Batman doesn't play when it comes to food -- he could probably lose every tooth in his mouth and still find a way to eat. He's been coughing every now and then, his throat sounds froggy when he sleeps, from the breathing tube. I can tell he hurts. Poor buddy.

Earlier today he woke up, saw his green ball, and gingerly picked it up with the good side of his mouth. He stood there for a while, then walked over and sat next to me. He just sat there for the longest time, holding the ball, like he wasn't sure what to do next. Finally I held my hand out, and he just dropped the ball in my hand and lay down. When a Lab can't figure out what to do with a ball, you know he's feeling crappy.