A Trip to the Vet

Pierre Westie: “Y’all are not going to believe what we were forced to endure on Monday. Mom and Dad took us to the V-E-T. It all started a few days ago when I began scratching and rubbing my right ear. Mom examined it but didn’t notice anything unusual and there was no foul odor. Still, after watching it over the weekend, they decided I needed to see the doctor. I feel better sitting in Mom’s lap in the office.”

Tummy Troubles

   One of the things I meant to do as soon as we were settled was to find a new veterinarian office for the boys. Well, time has a funny way of slipping by and suddenly you find yourself in need of a vet. What to do, what to do…

My defense: I have talked to some neighbors and family members about which vet they use for their pets. I also read reviews and checked out Facebook pages of the clinics closest to our home. Still, I had not taken the time to visit any of them.

My predicament: Pierre’s tummy was giving him trouble. He has always had a sensitive stomach. It makes insanely loud noises if it gets empty and he will occasionally throw up some bile. This rarely happens but when it does, it’s usually in the wee hours of the morning. I feed him, and he is fine. We have even been giving him a little midnight snack to help.

The Fur-Raising Cost of Veterinary Care

Figo for Fido #PetInsurance

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   Do you have an insurance policy for your pets? It is something that I have hem-hawed over for years. I know there are so many reasons to insure my dogs, but I have still hesitated. I remind myself that I don’t like bills, it has always been easier to bite the bullet and pay my veterinarian for services rendered at the time and there are so many choices of pet insurance that it is intimidating for me. A policy for both the boys is expensive but not when I put it in perspective. It seems the more advanced veterinary science gets, the higher those vet visits cost. It only takes one diagnosis to wipe out your savings.

Senior Wellness Check-Ups for Dogs

   As much as I hate to admit it, Bentley is considered a senior pet. He turned eight-years-old on his birthday in December. According to AAHA, the best way to make sure he continues to be healthy and happy is to visit our veterinarian at least twice each year. We had an appointment last week and I could not be prouder of the results.

In my opinion, Bentley is in better health than at any other time of this life. There are several reasons for this and I want to share them along with our results.

A Senior Exam

   When you take your senior dog or cat for their semi-annual examination, there are many things your vet should check. If you have noticed any problems or changes, be sure to mention them. Nobody knows or loves your pet as much as you. Since they can’t speak, it is our responsibility to be their voice. A proper exam should go from the tip of their nose to the tip of their tail. Don’t be afraid to speak up if you feel there is an area that needs to be checked. Many vets will recommend annual vaccines. If you do not feel that your pet requires them, don’t be afraid to say something. I don’t like giving Bentley more inoculations than necessary. There are some that I don’t think he needs. My vet was respectful of my feelings. That is very important.

Finding a Great Veterinarian is an AAHA Moment

Look for the AAHA logo.

How did you find your veterinarian? There is a variety of ways to find your pet’s doctor including word-of-mouth, proximity to your home, or letting your fingers do the walking through the yellow pages Google. I can honestly say that I have used each of these methods. I usually ended up changing after the first visit or two. The old saying, “When you know better, you do better” is certainly true. I learned better in Las Vegas at the BlogPaws 2014 conference. That is when I was introduced to the American Animal Hospital Association. It was definitely my “AAHA Moment.” I was thrilled when I was invited to a breakfast they hosted at this year’s conference in Nashville. Besides a terrific buffet, we were treated to some very interesting AAHA facts.

Microchipping Your Pet

   We finally did it.  Last Friday we took Bentley to see our AAHA accredited vet to be microchipped.  It is something that I have given a lot of thought to over the past few years.  I had what I considered legitimate excuses.  The thing is; that’s exactly what they were…excuses.  To be honest, they weren’t even great excuses.  Now, Bentley walks around with a chip between his shoulders!

 

Bentley is in chip-shape and I have the card to prove it.

 A microchip is a tiny computer chip housed in a special glass that is compatible with living tissue.  Once your pet has been microchipped, there is no need to change or replace it.

   Our vet, Dr. Mirts cleaned the skin where he would be inserting the chip.  He showed us the needle and explained everything as he proceeded.  The special syringe is large, about a 14 to 16 gauge.  The actual microchip is the diameter of a pencil lead and as long as a piece of rice.  It is inserted under the skin between the shoulders. 

Our Visit to an AAHA Veterinarian

Isn't this a great quote to be on a vet's walls?

   We recently published a post on  Partners For Healthy Pets and AAHA.  I met their representatives at the BlogPaws conference and was intrigued with their information.  When I began searching for AAHA accredited veterinarians in our city, I was dismayed to find only three existed.  After some research on each of these, I selected the one that was a good fit for Bentley and Pierre.

   Bentley was the first to get to meet the new veterinarian.  I called the University Veterinary Hospital to make an appointment.  It was surprising that they were able to schedule us for the same day.