Sit and Stay

This is the story about Milton, a lab who deserves every lavish ounce of love and admiration; who tests the bounds of the human-animal bond, but gives back more in sloppy doggy kisses than anything he can dish out.

Milton is a large lab. Most labs are large, but everything about him is more than just 94-pounds large. It’s exaggerated – his lapping tongue, his boundless energy level, his puppy playfulness that will never be outgrown. Whatever Milton does, it is with much gusto. Even his survival of being hit by a car a couple months ago was met with the mind set that life is fun no matter what happens!

Milton’s encounter with a motor vehicle was nothing short of a miracle. Escaping from his owner while on a potty break, he completely missed the fact that a car was heading directly into his intended path of frolick and fun. What most likely would have turned out to be an extended nightmare of broken bones and head trauma, ended up being only minor injuries. Milton escaped with little more than a slight laceration, some abrasions, and a chipped tooth. Presenting for his re-examination after being discharged from the emergency clinic the night before, we saw Milton jumping, smiling, tongue hanging out, and insisting on his usual full-body rub that he gets with every vet visit.

Shortly after the incident, Milton developed a small seroma on his chest – a pocket of fluid over one area that was bruised from being hit by a car. After draining it once, the seroma filled back to only half the original size and gradually reabsorbed leaving behind no trace of its existence. Again, Milton was lucky for seromas usually require penrose drains (for fast and proper drainage of secretions) and bandaging of areas that fight vetrap (self-adherent bandaging tape).

So far, so good – Milton escaped from lethal injuries and lengthy drawn-out treatments. However, it was an encounter with a benign trash can that caused the most trauma in Milton’s life. As with any lab, Milton was investigating the scraps and discarded items in the kitchen can when BAM! – the metal lid fell on his huge tongue. Unable to see the extent of the damage due to the gushing of blood from his huge mouth, Milton’s family rushed him to Banfield. Milton arrived at our front desk in need of immediate attention. We wasted no time. Milton went to the back and a treatment plan was developed on the spot. Later that evening, Milton went home with stitches under his tongue.

Our love and bond with Milton started with a phone call to Banfield’s Central Team Services to sign up on a wellness plan. He was welcomed into our family of Pets and owners, and soon became one of our most very memorable clients. Milton’s wellness plan will continue to provide the care he needs to stay healthy, and the peace of mind to ensure that no matter what happens to him, his owners can bring him without a second thought or second’s delay.