Chapter 9
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【So pitiful, ahhh! That vendor deserves to die. He shouldn't even have gotten two hundred—he deserved a couple of slaps!】
【Streamer, connect with @Master Veterinarian Mr. Wang. I've seen him cure lots of paralyzed little animals. Maybe ask him for help.】
【Um... isn't the streamer a veterinarian herself? Why ask someone else for help?】
【Putting on a show is one thing, but those injuries have nothing to do with psychology. For the sake of this German Shepherd, the streamer should still get a professional involved.】
……
While soothing the German Shepherd, Wen Youning searched her phone for pet hospitals nearby.
Fortunately, there was a pet hospital inside the market, not far from the pet store she had originally intended to visit.
“Come on. First we'll get you treated, then we'll help you find your dad.” Wen Youning removed the collar from the dog's neck. The dog tag hanging from it was visibly damaged, as though half of it had been broken off. The remaining half was smooth, with no contact information on its surface, but there was a thin strip attached across the middle that looked like it had been used for tracking.
Perhaps the damage had caused the tracker to malfunction, which was why no one had been able to find the dog.
The farther in they went, the quieter it became. Apart from a worker occasionally moving a broom while cleaning, there was not a single person in sight.
Wen Youning pushed open the door to the pet hospital, and the wind chime hanging above it gave a crisp tinkle.
Turning her back to the entrance, she pushed through the curtain and dragged the dog crate inside backward.
“Hello?” Seeing this, the girl at the front desk rose and came over to lend a hand. “What happened?”
Wen Youning removed the meat from atop the crate, fully exposing the German Shepherd to the girl. “My preliminary assessment is that it suffered a severe impact. It may have been hit by a car, or it may have been thrown from a height. I'd like to have some X-rays taken.”
A trace of pity appeared in the girl's eyes as she looked at the German Shepherd's miserable condition. “Come with me. Do you know exactly what caused it?”
“I don't,” Wen Youning said. “I just bought him from a dog dealer.”
The girl understood at once. “I see. Come help me put him up there.”
“Whine...” The German Shepherd instinctively backed away when the girl reached toward him.
“I'll do it.” Wen Youning gathered the clothes around the dog's body and carefully lifted him from the crate.
The German Shepherd's hind legs lay limp and splayed apart. When Wen Youning picked him up, only his ears moved, and he did not continue struggling. He merely gazed at her with pleading eyes, looking unbearably pitiful.
Once in Wen Youning's arms, he buried his head directly against her chest, as though trying to hide himself.
Others might not have noticed, but with the dog in her arms, Wen Youning could clearly feel him trembling.
She gently patted his back again and again, comforting him in a soft voice. “Don't be afraid. We're only taking some X-rays. Good boy. You'll be able to stand again very soon. Don't worry. Everything will be fine.”
The veterinarian paused. Based on her experience, the chances of this German Shepherd ever standing again were vanishingly small. She could not help sighing.
“Whine...”
‘It's gone...’
“What’s gone?”
‘My tail.’
“Your tail is still there. You just can't feel it for now.”
The puppy did not know how to describe the sensation of paralysis. He only knew that he could no longer move.
Still soothing him, Wen Youning placed the dog on the examination table.
The veterinarian finished adjusting the machine. “The machine emits radiation. You may want to wait outside.”
Wen Youning lowered her head and met the German Shepherd's unwavering gaze. “We'll take them while I stay here.”
The radiation from a pet X-ray machine was even lower than that of a human CT scanner, and the body could eliminate it naturally. It was not a serious concern.
The German Shepherd had no idea how long he had been trapped in that wretched crate. Even after being brought out, he remained frightened and uneasy. Wen Youning rested one arm beneath his head, occasionally stroking his ears and rubbing his head.
“Let's begin.”
“All right.”
……
The German Shepherd remained quiet throughout the entire process, barely blinking. It was as though he feared that if he closed his eyes and opened them again, the person before him would have vanished.
Wen Youning covered his eyes with her right hand. “Doesn't it tire you out, staring like that the whole time?”
“Whine...”
Her palm felt the softness of his fur.
Taking advantage of the movement, Wen Youning brushed her index finger upward along his nose and rubbed the center of his brow.
“All done.” The veterinarian opened the door and came in. “Please wait a little while. The images will be ready in ten minutes.”
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“Mm.” Wen Youning took hold of one of the German Shepherd's front paws. “What a good boy. How can you be so well-behaved?”
“Woof!” The German Shepherd lifted his head slightly.
All little animals liked being praised.
“Come on. Let's go outside first.” Wen Youning picked up the German Shepherd, urine pad and all, and carried him into the consultation room.
The dog could not control his bodily functions at present, and it would not do to soil the veterinarian's table.
While waiting for the X-rays, Wen Youning finally had time to glance at the comments.
Only then did she notice that the livestream's popularity had somehow surpassed three thousand viewers.
Wen Youning blinked. “Welcome, everyone, to the livestream.”
【Ahhh, the streamer is finally reading the comments!】
【The streamer is so gentle and patient. Poor little dog. I hope he can stand again.】
Master Veterinarian Mr. Wang: 【The chances of him standing again aren't high. Let's wait until we've seen the images.】
【Nooo—I'll really burst into tears if such a good dog can't stand again.】
Comments posted by streamers on the platform appeared in a special color distinct from those of ordinary members.
Wen Youning spotted that comment immediately among the countless others.
Scrolling upward, she saw that many viewers were tagging this particular blogger. Apparently, he specialized in pet-related problems and was a professional physician at a top-tier pet hospital. He was quite an authority in the field.
“Hello.” The veterinarian came in carrying the developed X-rays and placed them on the light box.
The phone stand being used for the livestream was clipped to the crate, and its angle happened to capture the images as well.
Wen Youning glanced at them once and immediately relaxed. “There’s no bone damage. It’s a nerve problem. That’s wonderful!”
At the same time, a comment appeared in the livestream from Master Veterinarian Mr. Wang:
【There’s no bone damage. It’s a nerve problem. This is disastrous.】
The chat exploded.
【???】
【Wait. You two... whom am I supposed to believe?】
【Wonderful, wonderful. You gave two completely opposite answers. My tears are hovering in my eyes, unable to fall. Are you two messing with me?】
【Is he all right or not?】
Not only were the viewers confused; even Mr. Wang was at a loss. The streamer did not look as though she were putting on an act. She was genuinely worried about the dog's condition. Yet after learning that the injury involved the nerves, she had not only failed to look concerned—she had actually laughed with delight.
Mr. Wang found it utterly baffling.
He had entered the livestream after seeing viewers repeatedly post about the streamer rescuing a German Shepherd, hoping he might be able to help. How had things taken such a strange turn?
The veterinarian at the pet hospital had not even begun explaining the X-rays. She, too, was stunned by Wen Youning's words. “What?”
Wen Youning guided the veterinarian's hand to the German Shepherd's spine and pointed at it. “The bones aren't injured. That means a slight displacement is compressing the nerves.”
Her finger moved downward. “Once we find the exact spot and put the bone back into place, he’ll be fine.”
“How could you possibly find it?” the veterinarian instinctively objected. “Look at the images. There are problems here and here, but farther down, almost nothing can be seen. There are many possible causes for paralysis in a pet that wasn't born disabled. What you're saying isn't impossible—bone compression of the nerves can happen. But...”
The veterinarian sighed. “The machines we have can't capture anything that subtle. Not CT, not MRI, not even contrast-enhanced CT.”
Many pets that developed paralysis later in life had to be nursed slowly back to health, often with the help of acupuncture, before they had any chance of standing again.
“Then I'll rely on touch.” Wen Youning placed her hand on the German Shepherd's back and began feeling her way along it carefully.
The dog's exact condition could only be determined after the X-rays. Wen Youning had not dared to act before, fearing spinal damage. If she had forced the bone back into place, she might have made things worse.
Now that the images confirmed the problem was not spinal damage, she could finally work without restraint.
The veterinarian watched as Wen Youning's fingers tapped across the German Shepherd's body like a pianist's. Her brows gradually drew together.
“You don't understand how complicated canine nerves are...”
Click.
At the same moment that a faint, crisp sound rang out, the German Shepherd's splayed hind legs drew inward. His tail, which had been hanging limply over the edge of the table, lifted slightly as well.
The veterinarian's eyes flew wide. “This—”
How was that possible?!
【!!!】
【Holy crap, what?! Am I seeing things? The German Shepherd's hind legs moved!】
【The streamer is incredible!!】
【I seriously thought the streamer was just one of those comedy types. You actually know what you're doing!? Turns out I was the clown all along.】
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@Master Veterinarian Mr. Wang: 【You know traditional medicine?】
Wen Youning withdrew her hand. “I’ve dabbled in it.”
@Master Veterinarian Mr. Wang: 【You’re being modest. How long will it take the German Shepherd to recover in his current condition?】
To achieve something like this, how could she possibly have only dabbled? Traditional medicine was common enough, but practitioners specializing in traditional medicine for pets were genuinely rare.
This streamer clearly had real skill.
“I'll give him acupuncture when we get home. He should be able to walk normally again in two or three days.” The German Shepherd was evidently fascinated by his recovered tail—or perhaps he was expressing his happiness—as he kept wagging it. Wen Youning smoothed his fur. “Let's draw some blood and give you a full checkup, too.”
“All right.”
The veterinarian drew a tube of blood.
Wen Youning stopped the German Shepherd from licking his fur. “Doctor, I'll take him next door for a bath. I'll come back for the results later.”
“All right.” The veterinarian turned back. “Would you like me to help?”
“It’s fine. I can manage.” Wen Youning lifted the German Shepherd steadily into her arms.
He looked large, but there was hardly any flesh on him. He was surprisingly light.
Since they would be returning soon anyway, Wen Youning left behind the vegetables and meat she had bought.
Inside the pet-supply store, a groomer at the entrance was trimming a poodle's fur. When someone came in, she looked up with a smile.
“Welcome.”
“Hello,” Wen Youning said. “Can you bathe dogs here?”
“Of course.” The groomer turned and called out, “Little Lu, come over and help the customer.”
“Coming.” Little Lu tied the straps of her uniform as she walked over. “You're here to bathe this German Shepherd, right? Just hand him to me.”
“Whine!” The German Shepherd strongly resisted the approach of a stranger. In this unfamiliar place, Wen Youning was the only person he trusted.
The clever dog realized that the other woman was going to take him away and immediately buried his head even more deeply into Wen Youning's arms.
But no matter how hard he tried, his large frame made it impossible for him to hide the way a small dog could.
“I'll bathe him myself,” Wen Youning said. “I'll use your facilities and bathing supplies, and of course I'll pay the regular fee.”
“That works.” People occasionally came into the shop to borrow the space without wanting to dirty their own homes, so the owner was not surprised. Little Lu calmly led them upstairs.
Upstairs, Little Lu drew the curtain to keep the other dogs from seeing and barking.
Pointing to the bathtub in the middle, she said, “This is the tub for large dogs. The water was just changed, and it's at the ideal temperature for dogs. This bottle is for cleaning, and this one softens and smooths the fur. If you need anything else, just call me.”
“Thank you.”
“You're welcome.”
When Little Lu went downstairs, she closed the door behind her.
“All right, time for your bath.” Wen Youning removed the urine pad and the clothes. Any tangled clumps of fur that had become too dirty to wash clean were shaved away.
Shaving did not hurt, but small animals could still sense what was happening when their fur was clipped.
Although the German Shepherd had regained feeling in his hind legs, he still could not move them freely. He strained his neck, trying to see Wen Youning's face.
A large pile of dirty fur accumulated on the floor.
Wen Youning removed her medical gloves and rubbed the German Shepherd. “We're about to get in the water. Don't move around, all right?”
“Whine...”
‘Won't move.’
Wen Youning threw the gloves into the trash. When she turned around, she saw the German Shepherd holding his neck up in an extremely awkward position.
She burst out laughing. “No, I don't mean don't move right now. I mean don't move when I put you in the water.”
“Whine?”
Wen Youning said, “You can move now.”
“Woof!” Exhausted from holding himself up, the German Shepherd let his head flop onto the soft mat.
“Woof...”
So tired, woof...
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