Yesterday, Fate underwent surgery at the Cambridge Valley Veterinary Service – they are almost too nice to believe there, they are like family to me (only nicer). She could barely walk, and she was sedated while Dr. Blanchette and Cassandra and Nicole explored her right paw.

She came home with a heavy tightly wrapped bandage, three kinds of pills, and a plastic cone (I hate the plastic cones, especially on working dogs). We followed all of our instructions, Fate was dopey after sedation and quiet for her, she seemed disoriented and was still limping badly.

We put her in the crate downstairs, she was barely conscious and put the hood on. This morning, we got up early and when Maria opened the crate, Fate exploded right out of it like a bullet from a gun. The hood, was, of course, off and so were half of the bandages.

Fate rocketed out of the crate and ran to the door. She was wild-eyed with energy and expectations, we had to force the pills down her throat, she was too eager to work to eat. For years, I’ve had these hilarious battles with vets and vet techs about cones. I’ve never had a border collie that would tolerate a cone, keep it on, or not figure out how to remove it in seconds.

They always insist on the cones, but I think deep down they know they won’t last on border collies. It’s a game for them. I think the vets are just buying time.

Same with bandages. This morning, Fate’s limp was completely gone, she was 100 per cent.

I let her come out to the pasture with us but wouldn’t let her run (see the video). I thought I could fool her into thinking she was working. We  had to put a plastic cover over the bandages to keep them dry, there was some potion in there to suck out whatever might be  buried in the wound. She’s on antibiotics and pain-killers.

The vets says she can work a bit at the Open House if she still isn’t limping, so that is neat also. You can tell when a dog is fine, there is a gleam in their eyes, even for stoic border collies.

I liked the approach the took with Fate, checking on several possibilities, trying a few things, not overdoing it. It did cost about $400 for the procedure, exam,  X-rays, pills, etc. That is a part of life with dogs. She’s worth it, and so are they.

You have to know when to go to the vet, and when not to go. When a dog is in that much pain, I go.

We were concerned about her, she could hardly stand up, but she’s fine now, we’re grateful to the crew at the Cambridge Valley vets, they are quite special and are lucky to have them. Today, the challenge is to keep Fate from exploding, she is ready to run and sitting by the door. Not yet, girl, for once I am trying to be restrained.