Auggie’s Big Misadventure
It is actually one week since Auggie’s Big Misadventure, but I couldn’t write about it until I knew all was ok, which it is.
But, a week ago, about 9:15 a.m., Auggie came in covered with what I thought was mud, but was in fact some thick, oily substance. It was from a spot around his middle back to all of his tail – like he’d fallen in backwards in whatever.
When I smelled the oil-gas and it was obvious that it wasn’t going to rinse off … by the way, Auggie has always allowed me to rinse off his bottom when necessary … under the sink tap. Anyway, this called for more drastic measures and I took him in the shower with me. I have a separate shower head on a long hose so it was fairly easy to work on the shower floor. I cannot say that Auggie was as happy with this method as a bottom rinse in the sink, though. There was yowling.
We both needed a break so I toweled him off, wrapped him in a warm, dry towel and sat down to think about how to proceed. I called the vet. I know you are all yelling at your computer about now … DAWN DISH DETERGENT!!! Yep, what they use to clean wildlife after an oil spill. We all know this, but I didn’t think of it and it was a bit of a moot point as having gone all “natural”, good for the environment, etc. in my cleaning products, I didn’t HAVE any Dawn.
You can bet, I will always have Dawn now and forever more!
Fortunately, I was able to reach a friend in town who was able to drop everything, pick up some Dawn and deliver it. Meanwhile, Auggie and I sat in the kitchen chair and commiserated. To his great credit, he just snuggled up to me as we waited.
The Dawn arrived, we jumped back in the shower and to my relief, a good bit more of whatever came off. After another break, we moved to partial baths in a dishpan in the kitchen sink. So, finally, most was out and I thought we both had had enough of the procedure – particularly Auggie.
This is three days after. He still looks a bit greasy in parts and after some recovery, he was a bit out of sorts. My concern was also that he probably licked some of the stuff as well as absorption through the skin so I was making a pest of myself watching him and keeping him inside to make sure input and output was normal.
Finally, some outside time!
After a record breaking 4.86 inches of rain (official at the airport – 1914 record being 3.4 inches), things have started drying out. I think a dirt bath or three is what is really needed to fully clean Auggie’s fur.
Bear stayed clear of all of the clean-up…
Tuesday, things started getting back to normal.
Auggie has been sticking close to Bear and me when outside. Yesterday, he did spend some time on his own, but was hunting in the slash pile or on Beardog Hill. Whatever happened, it was traumatic enough to make an impression and so far he is sticking very close to home.
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We’ve had no rain in November and hopefully this weekend things will be good for a proper dirt bath and no more misadventures!
3 Responses to “Auggie’s Big Misadventure”
Wow! I’m glad this has all resolved–it must have been awful at the time. Do you think there is any connection to the grease Auggie had on his face a little while back?
Well, I think the grease mark was him rubbing up against something. I know he wanders around under the motorhome.
I do not start or move any part of any vehicle without him inside the house! And I think he is skittish enough of other people that he wouldn’t stay in/under a vehicle if other people came around.
It IS almost like someone was draining some sort of oil or hydraulic fluid and Auggie fell in it but I don’t know where except that I do not it was not neighbor’s Mike and Nancy (backhoe) – I phoned them as they had been gone. They asked me to look around but they keep everything like that with a cover. Nothing spilled, no oily cat prints … so yet another mystery.
Poor Auggie and poor you! Maybe you have oil bubbling up on your property (remember the Beverly Hillbillies?)
Thank goodness all is Ok and let’s hope Auggie will be more cautious in future.
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