MURPH THE CONEHEAD

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Yesterday was quite a day. Now I know why I'm such an advocate of early spay/neuter (like before you even pick them up). It was Murphy's day to lose his manhood, and let me say he is NOT A HAPPY CAMPER! I brought him to the Vet yesterday morning at 8:00. It was awful. He was scared from the time we walked in the door. He just "hugged my legs", and then when the Vet Tech came to get him he got really upset. I felt so bad leaving him. I worried all day, but we got to go pick him up at 3:00. He was so "flipping out" when he saw us. We got him home, and then there was the problem of how to separate the "Irish Brothers". Guinness has been tethered to me since 3:00 yesterday, and he just doesn't understand it at all. Murphy's pain meds seem to have worn off and now he's feisty...very feisty. I just gave him his morning pill.... let's hope that helps. I am in the guest room and have him "baby gated" into the adjoining bathroom where he can see me. He just tried to "jump the gate". The Vet said to expect that he would put on a "show" for us. He is after all the "Drama King". He hasn't disappointed...lots of pathetic whining, which of course breaks my heart and he knows it.
The worst part is the "cone of shame". He hates it, and it really does border on animal cruelty in my mind. He's bumping into everything, and has managed to get out of it three times already. He wants to lap his incision so bad....
Last night he came running upstairs with a paper hanging out of his mouth. He was proud of himself that he was able to "steal" something even with a cone. I caught him and pulled it out of him mouth. It was the Vet bill for his surgery...he must have pulled it out of my purse. How ironic is that. He had a pretty good night, although he was restless in the crate. Right now the challenge is to keep them from playing...it will be a very long week. Here are a few pictures of my pathetic boy.

[Phoebe's Mom]

Hope Murphy feels better soon. Ah, the cone of shame! For me, the worst part was when Phoebe would bang into something with the cone and then look at me as if to say "I am dying to put this stupid thing around your neck and see how well you navigate without knocking into something!" Sending well wishes your way...awesome pictures!

[Frannie & Callie]

Those pictures are killing me! Poor Murphy! Be strong with the cone of shame! I wasn't with Wilbur - I let him out of it after 3 days (he wouldn't go to the bathroom with it on and I was weak!) and when I went to check his stitches he had somehow gotten them out (he had fortunately already healed up, so all it did was save me a trip to the vet). Watch your possessions too...a male friend of mine informed that Wilbur isn't eating my shoes because they smell like me - he's eating them because I had his testicles removed and he's mad!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Poor Murphy! Darwin didn't enjoy neuter day either. I hope he feels better. Oh, and he looks adorable, even in the cone. He also looks huge!

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Oooooohhh, those pictures are wonderful. They are perfect for the photography group framing assignment. Poor baby....The cone of shame only frames his wonderful face! I am so glad Webber had early neuter. I would be so hard to deal with those eyes. Murphy is beautiful.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Sounds like a great time for a few days of one on one time with Guinness. The safest place for Murphy (with him trying to jump over the gate) is probably his crate, so possibly just crate him and do some special things with Guinness and some extra training for that upcoming test. I know when we had the little Foster boy neutered, it was terrible trying to keep him quiet as he hated his crate, could jump any gate we put up and had separation anxiety if we tried to put him in a room alone. The cone slowed him down some, but with 3 of them in here, about all I could do to keep them half way quite was go for little walks. Good Luck! Time will go by quickly.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Hang in there Murph, the cone is only temporary and you will be feeling better in no time.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Poor buddy! He will be back to normal soon. Hugs from Lady Peri =)
And I agree - early spay/neuter is a great way to go if you can help it. My breeder didn't do it and I kind of wish she had. Takes the pressure off.

[Carole (*Koda*Monty*Bindi)]

LOL What memories! I remember Gaston bashed into everything when he was wearing his cone! LOL Poor Murph.....

[Sally]

and doodles have such expressive eyes. i can only imagine....that is actually quite a decent looking cone. much better than the plastic white ones. Best of luck keeping those irish brothers from romping until Murph's all healed. I do hear that boys recover pretty quickly. (well from the actual surgery..don't know that they ever recover from losing their manhood. haha)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Poor Murphy! Hope he feels better soon.