The day after I got home from the hospital, Reku decided to get in on the act with an emergency of his own. He somehow managed to torque one of his rear nails off the quick. Well, not completely off, that would have been easier. The nail was still hanging on, just unwrapped from the quick. Ow.

He came upstairs, leaving a huge trail of blood in his wake. We manged to get the bleeding stopped with some styptic powder. We examined the nail and had no idea what to do. Obviously, it needed to come off, but we didn't know how best to accomplish that without further hurting Reku. We needed the vet.

Chuck bundled Reku into the truck and set off to see our vet, Dr. Marco Cardenas at Veterinario Del Pacifico. Dr. Cardenas is a great vet who is really wonderful with Reku, which is good, because Reku can be a little freaky around strangers, especially if they are scared of him. Unfortunately, the vet was closed.

Chuck called me, and I directed him to another vet that had been recommended to me. While he drove to the next vet, I called still another one that is supposed to make house calls. No answer. I left a desperate message. Chuck arrived at the second vet's office and they were closed as well. The third vet never returned my call.

Mexicans don't put the same value on dogs that we do. Animals in general are not revered like they are in the US. Their only value is what they can do for you. If a Mexican owns a dog, it is most likely for security only. I have seen too many dogs that live on roofs in the sweltering sun, given only enough food and water to keep them alive. Those that don't live on roofs are turned out into the street during the day to fend for themselves. With this attitude toward dogs, we were a little afraid to keep trying random vets until we found one that was open. Chuck brought Reku back home.

Poor Reku made it through the rest of Saturday and Sunday by laying very still most of the time. Chuck got up bright and early Monday morning and took Reku back to the vet, only to discover the doctor would not be there until 10:30. Not wanting to continue to bounce Reku all over town with an injured foot, he sat in the truck and waited.

Finally, Reku saw the doctor, who agreed the nail needed to come off. The procedure would require sedation. The doctor sent Chuck and Reku home with instructions too pick up all food and water and come back at 5:00. We were both really disappointed by this development, but Reku took it in stride.

At home, Reku spent the day laying still with no food or water. Poor guy. At 4:30, Chuck started to get Reku back in the truck for yet another trip to the vet. Reku looked at Chuck like, “Again? Come on, man. Give me a break.” But after a little coaxing he jumped in.

The vet used a short acting sedative and worked quickly. He pulled the nail and bandaged Reku's foot. The whole thing was done and Reku was awake in less than 10 minutes. The vet visit, toenail surgery, and sedation cost $600MXN.

Dr. Cardenas wrote out a prescription for Amoxil 500mg and Bactroban ointment that Chuck had filled at the people pharmacy. Reku and I have been taking our pills together for the past week. A real bonding experience.

Reku is fine now. Looking at him running and playing, you would never know anything happened. I am glad he's okay, but this experience has made me worry about what we would do if we had a really serious emergency after business hours. I think I am going to work on getting Dr. Cardenas' cell phone number.

The rest of the story:
Getting Sick in Paradise
Getting Sick in Paradise - Part 2: The Hospital
Getting Sick in Paradise - Again