Archive for August 9th, 2008
Stuff Dogs Like – Visits to the Vet!
I know that a lot of dogs are scared spitless by a visit to the veterinarian, but my two dogs actually like visiting the vets. Go figure.
The two latests visits to the vets, one for Clover and one for Cosmo, = way more than my car payment, five times the amount MY doctor charges for an office visit, and one-third the amount of my mortgage payment. Here’s a piece of advice to all of you out there raising children and hoping that that little cutie will grow up to be a brain surgeon or cardiologist: think dogs and cats and hamsters! Think Veterinarian!
I like the vet practice that I use: its very nearby, the techs and assistants are very nice and helpful, the doctors are all wonderful and competent, and my dogs like visiting them A LOT. If I went back to Day One and added up the money that I’ve spent on vet bills since 2001 when Clover came to live with me, and then more recently when Cosmo moved in, I would faint.
Having a sick dog is a lot like having a sick baby – neither can tell you where it hurts, how bad it hurts, or what the hell they ate to make them that sick. You would think that with the money you’re paying at the vets, that they would be able to figure that out pretty darn quick. Wave some veterinarian magic wand and pronounce, “Don’t worry. Its just a pair of socks. Some castor oil should fix the problem.”
Clover’s latest issues (consistent panting, fast heart beat, watery nose, and some twitching) turned out to be constipation that seems to have been sorted out with an increase of fiber in her diet. Vets: $365, Clover – More Fiber. Vets: Seizures? Tests? MRI? Epilepsy?, Clover: Mucilex and a food change. (I actually figured this one out myself after noticing that the symptoms stopped after a walk and a poop. I just hope that I’m right and we can move on to the next issue whatever/whenever.)
Cosmo’s trip to the vet this week – ear infection. $165. Can’t fix that with Mucilex, but I gave him some anyway. Cosmo is such a good patient. When I take out the ear wash and medicine. He will follow me to the chair and put his head in my lap. He never complains.
Whenever we go to the vets, Cosmo is always trying to escape through the door that leads to the “back rooms.” I’ve never figured that one out, except that he must know where they stash the dog treats, because if it were me I would have bad memories of visiting there one winter day intact, and coming out missing a couple of things.
Clover loves the vets because they love her. She can’t get enough attention, and every tech in the place will be slipping her a biscuit/treat from the minute she walks in the door. I’ve had to ask them to not feed her while we’re there .. she’s on a diet!
Speaking of which, both Clover and Cosmo, upon entering the vets offices, head straight for the large scale so they can get weighed-in. They promptly sit down and wait for the announcement which is written into their record by the desk clerk. Cosmo is down 4 pounds to 74, Clover is steady at 75.
One thing that I’m very proud of. My dogs have never started a fight at the vets, they’ve never pissed on the floor or anything else (Clover did throw up a couple of times during one visit), and they’ve never snapped at or bit anyone at the Veterinarians office, no matter what they were trying to stick in their ears or up their butts.
