So yesterday we whisked Dusty off to the vet for her shots, and also
because the night before we'd caught her scooting her bottom across the
carpet, much to our delight.
When I was a kid, catching your dog doing the boot scoot boogie across the floor usually meant one thing--worms.
It
turns out that these days there is a more likely culprit, at least in
smaller dogs. It's blocked anal glands, of all the charming notions.
So our vet said to bring in a fecal sample along with us in order to
rule out parasites. Under Dusty's disbelieving eye we collected our
treasure and went along to the vet, where Dusty ignored the little dogs
and growled at the big ones--in particular a very large, beautiful
Smooth Coat Collie who entered the office like a rock star, exuding an
'I'm HERE, everyone, yay me!' air.
Eventually we got taken back
to an exam room, where Dusty has to be held by us while the vet tech
takes her temperature, in the only region you CAN on a dog. We make the
requisite jokes about 'she didn't even buy you dinner' while all this
is going on, Dusty just looks confused and embarassed. Like most vets
they like to take the dogs in the back, leaving you in the room to wait,
while they do anything stressfull (mostly to the owners) out of sight.
So
now off Dusty goes to the nether regions of the office for shots while
we cool our heels. They brought her back a few minutes later and we
waited a bit...the sample turned up no parasites, so anal glands it was!
Back Dusty went to the inner office for anal gland squeezin's, casting us a decidedly pained look as she went.
...and
back she came a few minutes later, all cleaned out. After chatting
with the vet for a minute, we asked her to note on the paperwork that
Dusty had been spayed, since it's cheaper to license a spayed/neutered
pet.
Oops, they'd forgotten to check for surgery scars to prove
that, and it turns out that Dusty will have to be shaved a bit in order
for them to see the scars. You guessed it, time for a third trip to the
back room where all the magic happens.
So here comes the vet
tech for her again. By now Dusty is firmly hiding her head in my
daughter's lap, with an 'If I can't see them they can't see me'
attitude.
Nonetheless she is once again led to the door, at which
point she looks back over her shoulder at us as if to say, 'First you
allow someone I don't KNOW to stick things
up there, then they stick me with needles, THEN they...oh God, you
don't want to know--!
Now I'm getting SHAVED?! What is this, Hell Week? Am I pledging some
dumb fraternity? What's next, you gonna hang Christmas lights back
there?!'
Dog's faces can be
very expressive.
But
Dusty went along with the program and returned. She was much happier
after getting some treats from the vet and lots of pets and praise.
But on the way out she fairly bolted for the door.
