Paw Update

September 7 /08

Well, I went to the vet last week to have my paw checked out and the good news is that there's no glass in my cut and no infection, and it's healing well.
.

The bad news is I have to have an antiseptic wash twice a day and two huge antibiotic pills shoved down my throat, once in the morning and once at night, for two weeks, just in case.
.

Mama has to actually put her hand all the way to the back of my mouth and flip the pills in. Then she clamps my mouth shut, and tilts my head so far back that it's practically upside down, and then she rubs my throat forcing me to swallow those rocks. Otherwise I'll spit them out. It doesn't help to wrap them in food or pillpockets because I separate them and spit the pills out anyway. Oh, the things we dogs have to endure, eh?

Anyway, I think I'd rather have pills shoved down my throat all day long than spend one more minute at the vet than I have to.

When I got there, there wasn't even anyone at the reception desk to give me a cookie. Usually, Beverly,the receptionist, greets me and says, "Hi Chef. Would you like a cookie?" And she gives me two or three yummies from the yellow bowl. But she was nowhere to be seen. What the heck was that about? The vet pays her to sit there and give out cookies. So, where was she?

.

I called and called but she didn't come. I could reach the yellow bowl so I could have just helped myself but Mama was at the other end of my leash and I just knew she wouldn't like that. It seemed like all my barking wasn't going to get me a cookie ...

.

... until a French lady stepped up to the desk. I barked at her, asking if she would give me a cookie. Mama told her she could and she gave me two. I love that lady. I licked her hand and got slobber all over her purse, but she didn't seem to mind.

.

"Merci infiniment, ma jolie dame ... croque, croque."

OK, I got what I came for. So I started looking for a way to get the heck out of that place before the vet came looking for me. It wasn't going to happen. She called my name before I could even put a plan in place.

.

It wasn't long before I was in the vet's torture chamber. I always jump on her table and she always laughs. I'm the only dog she knows that does that and it's made me famous. She said she tells everyone about the Boxer that hops on her table and they all think it's pretty hilarious. Actually, I'm in no hurry to be on her table, but it reminds me of the grooming table, which I love being on, so I get a little confused.
.....

But it becomes all too clear very quickly. Within seconds, I'm a quivering mess. Sometimes it takes two technicians and Mama to hold me still.

Then the vet started poking around my paw. It's very hard to balance on three legs when you're shaking and rattling around.

She said it was a very deep cut but that it was already healing very well. Yeah, ok. So the exam's over, right?

Well, I no sooner got over that indignity and she stuck that glass thing up my butt. She didn't even ask me if it's ok. She just zipped it right in there, no questions asked. Then she looked at me like I was some sort of sillypuppy. She thought if she talks doggietalk to me and makes funny faces I was going to forget it's there. I don't think soooo.

When it was over, I hit the ground running but not before I checked to make sure she didn't accidentally leave it there. No way was I going home til I knew for sure.

Yup. It was gone. Whew.

Then it was time to get weighed. The vet left me on the scale for a couple of minutes and I was sure it was to make up for what she put me through.

But instead, she came back with a bottle of pills, some anticeptic, and the bill. Bah!


Well, I was finally on my way home. Before we left, though, Beverly was at her desk and she reached into the cookie bowl and gave me two for the road. You can see by my slobber that I enjoyed it very much!


I was sure glad that was over. I like my vet but I don't want to see her again for a very long time.