Hello! I’m Jasper, the German Shepherd! Did you know that even dogs can get sick? Recently, I had to visit the vet because of an issue with my tail. And let me tell you, I take great pride in my tail—it’s rather handsome, if I do say so myself. Occasionally, I find myself chasing it, and I’ve even managed to catch it a few times, which is more than I can say for the squirrels that elude me. Although, I did catch a possum once, but that’s a story for another time.
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Jasper’s Distinguished Tail
Now, about my distinguished tail. Sometimes, it just starts itching. Maybe a bug decided to bite it, or perhaps it’s just boredom setting in. So there I was, contentedly chewing on my tail, when my mom asked, “Jasper, what are you doing to your tail?” I looked at her with my best innocent expression, the one that says, “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” because that always seems to be the best course of action when you’re not quite sure.
Oops Wrong Move
But you know Mom, that just made her want to look at my tail more. However, it was only then that I realized my tail was actually hurting, and the last thing I wanted was anyone examining it. So, I curled it up as tightly as I could, trying to appear as pitiful as possible. Unfortunately, that seemed to have been the wrong move, as it prompted Mom to enlist my Dad’s help.
She said that my tail had a sore on it, or at least that’s what I think she said. I was too busy crying like a little girl—or so my Mom described it. We don’t actually have any little girls here, though. Plenty of little boys come and go, and they are incredibly fun to play with, but no girls. What exactly is a sore? Whatever it is, it’s painful, and the remedy Mom applied didn’t help. In hindsight, I wish I had pretended it did, because, guess what followed?
The Vet!
That’s right, a trip to the vet. And who in their right mind looks forward to a visit to the vet? Certainly not me. At the vet’s office, things didn’t start off too great. Normally, I’d be all about sniffing things out and maybe making sure that dog that keeps sitting on the vet’s counter stays there. It was still there. That’s one lazy dog! Mom says it’s stuffed. Why do they keep feeding it? I did get right on the scale when Mom said place. I now weigh almost 80 pounds! Mom said I was really a big boy.
But with my tail feeling all sorts of funny, I wasn’t in the mood to The vet, she’s nice and all, always gives me treats, but I could tell she meant business this time. She looked at my tail, poked around a bit, and then said something about needing to take “extra care” of it. Extra care sounded okay until I realized it meant more of that stingy stuff on my tail and – get this – a cone around my head. A cone! Can you believe it? Jasper the German Shepherd, protector of the backyard, chaser of squirrels and possums, now wearing a cone.
Mom and Dad seemed relieved, though. They kept saying how it was going to be okay and that I was a ‘brave boy.’ I tried to be brave, really, I did. But have you tried navigating through a door with a cone on your head? Or laying down and not being able to scratch your ear because the cone is in the way? It’s tough work, I tell you.
Dogs are Resilient
But here’s the thing about being a dog – we’re resilient. And we have this incredible ability to find joy in the simplest things. Yes, even with a cone on. I discovered I could use it as a megaphone to make my barks even louder, much to the annoyance of the squirrels. And I figured out just the right way to tilt my head so Mom could scratch where it itched. Plus, the extra attention wasn’t so bad. Mom and Dad were always checking on me, giving me treats, and yes, laughing at my cone predicaments, but in a way that made us all feel a bit better.
All’s Well, That Ends Well
Eventually, my tail healed, and the cone came off. I was back to my old self, running around, playing with the little boys (still no little girls, though), and yes, chasing my tail and the squirrels with renewed vigor. But maybe, just maybe, I’ll be a bit more careful next time. After all, being Jasper the German Shepherd is a full-time job, and I’ve got to be in top shape to perform my duties. Adventures are out there waiting, and I’ve got far too many squirrels to chase to be sidelined again.
