The Vet Files
A story of costly proportions and some master fakery
Vet File #1
We knew at some point that our good fortune with a healthy pack of dogs would eventually run its course,
Princess Ayva, age 12 and our oldest of the bunch had started chattering her teeth. It had been going on for a few days; it was odd behaviour that I’d never seen before. We decided it was worrisome enough to take her to the vet.
The initial assessment of this chattering was a rotten tooth, one for sure, maybe more, and because of her age, they would have to determine if she was a healthy candidate for anesthesia. And of course, the more teeth that need removing the higher the bill.
Hold on folks this could get pricey
The quote made me throw up in my mouth a little bit. $1500 ‘ish
Barf.
Operation Day
I took Ayva in first thing. The mamma in me was anxious about her going under sedation taking into account her ripe old age, but she’s a tough Rez dog and she made it through with flying colours. One rotten molar gone, and her gaping gum hole all sutured up.
It will be mushy dog food for the next two weeks.
And it wasn’t more than a day and she was back to her old demanding royal highness behaviour.
Life would not be the same without her self-righteous, defiant attitude. In all honesty, she may have narcissistic tendencies riddled with a few other personality disorders. We’re looking into it.
Vet File #2
Abby, age 10. The very same week Ayva needed a rotten tooth removed, Abigail started losing control of her bladder, mostly in her sleep.
She is such a good girl, a little anxious, and is always so eager to please, the only one in the pack who actually follows an order. You could tell she was upset when accidents happened, cowering and trying to hide it. It broke my heart to see her so ashamed and confused.
Unsure if it was old age-induced incontinence, or something more serious, we knew we had to take her in. Here we go again. .
So as I’m picking up rotten gum hole Ayva post-surgery, I'm bringing in Abigail pissy pants.
The doc determined that she indeed has an issue common with senior female dogs that have been spayed. Apparently, they can lose control of their bladders with age. You don’t say?
Solution? A low-dose estrogen pill. Can you believe my dog has access to HRT before I do?
You just can’t make this shit up.
$1700 later .. Insert crying face emoji
Vet File #3
The very same day we get both Abby and Ayva home from the vet, Irish Wolfhound Finneus Oisin age 4 starts limping.
Is this really happening?
Now, we have rescued dogs for over 20 years, and at this present moment, we have three. This being said, when health issues arise, you make damn sure there is a good reason make a take a trip to the vet.
This limp presented as serious enough. Initially, I thoroughly patted down the entire leg and foot, and there was no pinpointed sensitivity, cuts, or open wounds. We were perplexed as to how he had achieved an injury so obvious. But his limp was persistent and exaggerated enough to seem pretty serious.
He was acting despondent, not being his normal demanding self, and seemed in legitimate pain.
Vet bill number 3.
So get this, at the end of it all there was no injury to be found by the vet nor myself or my husband. Some painkillers and anti-inflammatories were prescribed, and he was sent home with instructions to the effect that, if this injury didn’t seem to improve over the next couple of days, the next plan of attack would be to get him in for an X-ray and ultrasound.
Another $200 down, and the very next day he was fine. Really?
My hypothesis:
Everyone else had something wrong with them and was receiving a little too much attention for his liking, with that in mind, he faked an injury for the attention. There, I said it, and I shouldn’t be surprised, he is famous for being the king of mind fuckery.
Beware of the faker Wolfhound. I’m onto you, dude.
Broke and Canadian wine medicated
Till next time
xo Tam
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Hi there, I’m Tam Dayle, born and raised on the Canadian prairies.
I am a photographer writer and story teller. Mishaps and Milestones is 100% reader-supported. If you’ve gotten this far, thank you for joining me while I write about all the shitty and sweet, chaotic and quiet, happenstances this life throws my way.
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Warm coffee cheers
Td