Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Joey's Playtime and Pet Signals
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A week later, the special segment on *Animal World Forever*, [Woof Meow, We Can Talk Too], opened with Joey the Cocker Spaniel beaming from last week's finale.
With his fluffy, rust-colored long ears flapping and his black eyes sparkling, Joey looked just like a stuffed toy, utterly adorable.
Then his owner swept him up in a tight hug.
“Joey, were you super lonely?”
The owner sniffled while holding Joey, a stark contrast to Joey's wide grin.
The scene froze there.
“Aw, that pup seems to have some serious separation anxiety.”
“The owner comes home, and he's over the moon.”
“He's just relieved. Gong Jeong-ah, what do you think? Being the same breed as Aji, you probably felt it more...”
Yeom Mi-jeong's question made Gong Jeong-ah nod.
“Yeah, exactly. My Aji greets me with the same big smile when I get back from being out. But thinking he was lonely all alone makes me feel guilty. I totally get the owner's feelings.”
“Aji probably isn't lonely at all.”
Lee Jun smiled as he chimed in.
“Really?”
“Yeah, and neither is Joey.”
“Huh? Then why does he trash the whole house like that?”
“Must be those three-generation yap dogs.”
Everyone laughed at Shin Dong-woo's remark.
“It's partly from not getting enough exercise, but Joey just loves playing around happily.”
“Loves playing? All dogs love playing.”
“True. Joey just gets a bit more excited than most. Joey loves dashing around wildly, while Aji prefers quietly resting alone. That's the difference—they both handle being home alone just fine.”
Lee Jun turned his head and continued.
“We filmed Joey alone at home. Take a look.”
As soon as the owner left, Joey bolted around the house like a colt with the reins cut loose. After zooming around excitedly for a while, he ducked into a room.
He headed straight to the basket of his toys, grabbed a ball in his mouth, and trotted back to the living room.
Joey gleefully chewed the ball, tossed it, rolled it with his paws, and played.
Then he fetched another toy and played with that. He repeated this, then ran to gulp some water.
After that, he hopped onto the sofa, snatched a cushion, came down, and played with it. Joey kept pulling out different things to chew and bat around, playing nonstop.
He never howled or barked once—just totally absorbed in play.
“He's really playing.”
“You can see he's having a blast. Man, to think they called that separation anxiety...”
“We got fooled.”
Shin Dong-woo laughed in disbelief.
“Joey just loves playing. It's like when we were kids and our parents left the house—we'd call friends over to game and watch TV.”
“That guy would round up every friend in the neighborhood if he could.”
“Such a sweet-looking cutie, but total rascal.”
“He'd probably hate it if the owner came home too early.”
The host and panelists tossed in quips with bemused expressions.
“Could be.”
Laughter exploded in the studio at Lee Jun's words.
“Joey's case is no problem at all.”
“So we just let him turn the house into a disaster zone?”
“Teach him how to play properly.”
Lee Jun had already talked it over with Joey—they'd agreed he'd play only with his own toys in his room.
The big monitor showed Joey blissfully playing with toys in the room.
“Thanks to that, Joey's now a toy tycoon. A dog's emotions are like those of a 2.5-year-old toddler.”
Lee Jun launched into his lecture.
“There are smart dogs whose emotional age hits around 5, but on average, think 2.5. At that age, full conversations are tough, but emotions? Totally connectable, right?”
“My nephew's 3 right now. He says stuff like 'I'm hungry,' 'Ice cream please,' 'More,' 'Don't like this,' 'It hurts.'”
As Yeom Mi-jeong finished, Lee Jun picked up.
“Treat your pets like kids, and you'll notice so much more. They can't talk, so they signal discomfort through body language or habit changes.”
“Like refusing food when sick?”
Shin Dong-woo nailed the example.
“Exactly. Spotting illness early is key, so here are some tips—just observe. Super easy.”
“Easy, huh?”
“Yeah. Early detection's everything, but people miss it a lot. Seeing those cases breaks my heart.”
Lee Jun's mouth turned bitter as he spoke. He recalled animals who'd begged for help, unnoticed by owners.
‘At least those guys made it to the clinic and got treated.’
But the ones who withered away untreated? Heart-wrenching.
It hurt before, but understanding their words now made it worse.
If only they'd come sooner, even just for food or nail trims...
He felt sorry, regretful for those pets.
When they crossed the rainbow bridge, he'd cry at home that night.
But Lee Jun didn't just cry.
Wanting animals healthy and long-lived, he honed himself.
More cases known meant faster diagnoses. He studied latest papers, cases, new tech.
He listened to patients' behaviors and words.
Efforts to pinpoint pain quicker.
“In vet school, the radiology prof assigned this: draw X-rays exactly. Brutal. So much to study, plus drawing—and I'm no artist.”
Laughter from the audience; Lee Jun grinned too.
“Prof said: know normal bones cold to spot abnormal. Spot on. Know healthy baselines, catch weird fast. Start simple: know your pet's daily water intake? Hands up if yes.”
Lee Jun raised a hand, scanning the crowd.
“Ooh, about 30%. More than I thought. Normal's 20-70mL per kg daily. For a 5kg dog, 100-350mL.”
“Doc, what's ideal?”
“Depends on food. Wet food pups drink less; kibble-only need more. Usually recommend 50mL.”
“Per kg. But too much is bad, right?”
“Of course. Over 100mL/kg? Check for diabetes or hormones.”
“Pets get diabetes?”
Folks always gasp at that.
Yeom Mi-jeong voiced it.
“Yeah. Most human diseases: hypertension, heart, cancer, meningitis, disc issues, osteoporosis, arthritis... Listing 'em, seems they get it all.”
“Wow. Makes me wanna watch closer. Any super simple signs?”
“Hmm, body language basics. 'Praying position'—rear up, head down—means tummy ache. Dragging butt on floor? Scooting...”
“I know that! My cat's done it; scared me silly.”
“Cats too? Thought just dogs.”
“Both. Scooting means anal sacs full or inflamed.”
Lee Jun explained ear issue signs, leg pain postures next.
“Post-walk, sudden limp? Limping. If lifting leg hurts joints, check pads. Summer burns, seeds, glass shards.”
“Oh, paw burns—never thought of that.”
“Didn't either. Gotta reflect. Sorry, Charles.”
Shin Dong-woo apologized to his dog.
“Don't ignore coughs. Dawn or late night 'ku-ek ku-ek' wet sounds? Moist cough—heart disease flag.”
“Whoa, heart disease sounds scary.”
“It is. Untreated, hits kidneys too. But early? Meds make life comfy, extend years.”
Thinking of Kongdori, Lee Jun elaborated on heart disease.
“Bottom line: watch for off-behavior.”
“Yes. Over 1-2 years old, hiding under bed, sudden aggression, accidents outside litter/box—anything off, check it.”
“Cats groom. Overdoing it pain sign? Mine lately.”
Yeom Mi-jeong asked Lee Jun.
“Could be. Grooming for hygiene, scent removal, predator camouflage. Excessive on spot? Skin issue first.”
“Thought so, but skin's fine.”
“Where?”
“Belly. Licked bald.”
“Stones maybe...”
Lee Jun tilted his head at Yeom Mi-jeong's words.
“Go to clinic today. Bladder stones possible.”
“Stones?”
She jumped.
“Hope not, but belly pain leading to over-grooming distraction, I'd bet.”
“Wh-what do I do... Can you check?”
Lee Jun agreed; she bowed 90 degrees in thanks.
“Pancreatitis, arthritis too. Excessive? Test. Oh, watch this too.”
“What?”
“Personality shifts. Told you snarly means 'pain.' Sudden clingy? Worry too.”
“Huh? More affection's good, no?”
“Owners say: 'Aging wiser.'”
Audience nodded.
“Could be. But anxiety or pain amps affection—nuzzling, whining, cuddles.”
“Off-behavior always flags.”
“Yup. More sleep? Check. Chronic stress or pain extends it.”
“Pets send way more signals than we think.”
“Yeah. One big eye? Glaucoma maybe. Know normals, spot issues faster. Multi-pet homes need extra vigilance.”
Lee Jun ended with Colorado State University's 5 feline pain stages.
“Print that, fridge it—daily check.”
Yeom Mi-jeong sighed; Lee Jun smiled.
“I'll post it on the board later.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Park Ju-hwan PD lit up more than her.
“Heh, yes! Our site's turning scholarly.”
He plotted asking Lee Jun for academic advisor later.
***
Lee Jun's *Animal World Forever* eps: 4 total.
Last two built on his second appearance—practical edition.
Submitters and pets visited Meongmeong Animal Hospital; Lee Jun explained signals to owners hands-on.
Viewers raved.
Explanations helped; demos? “Pinpoint tutoring!” Chaos.
Repeats soared; paid views exploded.
“Rewatch essential,” pet owners said.
Gray, Shadow, Sapsari cameos boosted pays too.
Go Gi-jin among viewers.
He paid, rewatched special.
Post-dinner, flipped TV to it.
“Again?”
“Yeah. Gotta. Dad watches daily too.”
“You were even on it.”
“So? Rewatch Big Bro's wisdom—study gold.”
Lee Jun shook head, read papers on tablet.
“Heh, Big Bro's genius. How explain so easy?”
“Theory's all out there. Duh.”
“Wow...”
Go Gi-jin eyed him weirdly—even Lee Jun felt it.
“Your face got cheeky?”
“I look smug? Like perfect-score kid saying 'just textbook'?”
“Hahaha.”
Perfect for animal-talking Lee Jun.
Lost for words, he laughed.
‘Use this gift fully for animals.’
Gangneung sea critters popped to mind.
“Gi-jin, Gangneung. Before cold hits?”
Lee Jun asked, tablet-gazing. No reply.
“No go?”
Odd; looked up—Go Gi-jin stared out window.
“Ignoring your TV for what?”
“But Big Bro, why's he acting up?”
Lee Jun checked: Sapsari at window, muttering faintly.
“Chatting with them, I guess.”
Cats beside: both asleep.
“They sleeping?”
“Huh.”
Who with then?
Lee Jun puzzled; Go Gi-jin spoke.
“But. Off-normal means sick, right? Headache maybe?”
“Head?”
“Or hydrocephalus. Or brain ache. Been weird days now.”