Louie's Itchy Twitchy Feeling

This week we had a first. I am the one who got to take Louie (our new cocker spaniel) to see his new veterinarian for the first time. It was very much like taking a new baby to the doctor for the first visit after they are born.

We introduced ourselves to the receptionist. She handed me a clipboard so that I could tell them everything I knew about Louie. He was busy darting about undeterred by the fact that his collar and leash "clotheslined" him every time he did it.

Despite my reassurances and cooing that he "is a good dog, yes he is" while giving his coat a good rub, he did not feel the need to sit for longer than 2.5 seconds. How am I supposed to be able to fill this paperwork out? I kept thinking I should have brought help. The same thoughts I had taking a newborn to the doctor for the first time.

When the excitement of this new adventure wore off just a tad, he was still enough that I could consider the form.

Name:______________________

Whose name? My name or his name?

I moved on to the next blank.

Spouse:____________________

Well, as far as I know, Louie isn't married. So I just put mine and Eric's names in those blanks.

How will you pay for this visit?________________________

That is the same question I am asking myself, sister.

Is your pet ____part of the family___a child's pet____backyard pet?

Ok. I have issue with this question.

We adopted him. So I guess part of the family? He's our children's pet too, though. Does the fact that a pet is a backyard pet mean that he isn't part of the family or can't be your child's pet? Why don't they just go ahead and ask what they really want to ask?

Do you see your pet as a species of animal or a human with fur?

Do you love our pet more than your family members?

When Sarah McLachlan sings on the SPCA commercial, does it make you want to cry or does it make you a little bit nauseous?

I completed the form as honestly as I could without writing anything I have noted here in the margins.

After we had waited for a bit and listened to a long conversation between the vet and a farmer (who could win a literary prize for his description of his calf's diarrhea), the receptionist asked, "Why are we seeing Louie today?"

Ummmm......."Well-dog visit? We need a heartworm pill also."

She stopped flipping through the file that was in her hand, looked up at me and her face (not her words) kind of said, "That isn't a very good reason." Her voice said, "So, you want him tested for heart worms?"

"No. I don't think he has them. He was treated by a vet before. I just need to get a monthly medicine for him. It has been a month since he had his last dose." She continues to study the file. I followed up quickly with, "He's been itching. He scratches all the time. Even cries while he's scratching."

That did the trick. She was all ears now. Her face became animated and she gushed over Louie. "Poor Louie, bless your heart, yes, bless your heart. We will help you today, Louie."



Louie was weighed. He is a little bit heavier than he should be but I know how that is so we commiserated together in the exam room after the trip to the scale. I explained again why he only got half a scoop of food instead of a whole one like Charlotte. I think I could almost see that he was wondering why he hadn't seen me half-ing the scoops on my plate. Point taken, Louie. He inspected the room and after a bit settled in to wait for whatever came next.

The vet came in and asked a few questions. I called home to ask Teresa what the main ingredient is in his dog food. It was chicken. So that is good. Apparently.  (Our outdoor "backyard pet" Charlotte eats whatever we give her without a problem. It's really neat to see how she leaves nothing but perfectly shining, black olives out of the pile of mexican leftovers we give her. Licked clean except for olives. Amazing. But as evidenced by the fact that she is a "backyard pet" and according to the form, not a part of our family, you can see why we wouldn't know that she might be allergic to beef or dairy.

Louie was a star in the examination room. He didn't bark, bite or run away. He's following the good example set forth by all of the other members of the family. (It is interesting that he got a more comprehensive examination from his doctor that most adults have received from their doctor in years. And it didn't cost nearly as much. Just something to think about.)

He is a bit older than we were told by the people we adopted him from. We had noticed that his hair was turning grey and that his teeth were very worn to have been a 2 year old (as the the previous vet records noted). It's okay though. We may have adopted a grandpa dog but we love him for all his grandpa qualities. He never has accidents. He likes to lay around and just hang with you instead of bouncing from floor to chair, chair to floor. He's still spry but he's mature. We like that.

Back to the itching. Evidently, it could be any number of things so we are going to treat them all at the same time so we won't really know which one it is when it gets better. Then if it happens next time, we'll have to do all of it over again because we still won't have singled it out. I'm just a human nurse though. What do I know?

The doctor and the assistants were very kind and took a lot of time with Louie. That helped calm my nerves about handing him over to them and leaving him for a couple of hours while he got a Lime-Sulfur dip. Because he was not with us and around all manner of pets from unknown environments, it seems that the itching could be caused by a. mange, b. scabies, c. parasites. (If it isn't just an allergy.) It makes me, oh, so glad that we let him rub all over us and the furniture and bedding for the last couple of weeks.

The doctor and staff assured me that I didn't want to stay around for the dip because of the smell and they began questioning where he sleeps. In all likelihood the odor will linger for quite some time and he will need to be sequestered away from our loving, very hands-on children.

I gave Louie some love and explained to him that it was all for his own good. I let him know that sometimes we have to go through difficult things to get better. He wagged his tail in confirmation and was a brave dog as he went off with the assistant.

I wandered around town for 2 hours and then went back to pick up our newly stinky, middle-aged Louie. The doctor explained the medicine for Louie's ears (cockers have trouble with ear infections), the yeast medicine (cockers have trouble with yeast) and he noted that we would need to come back in one week for another Lime-Sulfur dip (cockers have trouble with their skin). (I would like to note that none of these tidbits of information were brought to my attention when I specifically asked the folks at the rescue if Louie had any health problems.)

I was pleasantly surprised that the fee for the day was less than I had speculated and that Louie did not stink as bad as I had prepared myself for. (We are used to the paper mill smell so I'm fairly tolerant.) He rode home with me sitting in the front seat (that was covered with a tarp), and did not seem traumatized in the least. I gave him a treat for being so brave and explained to him that the next few days at home would be different that his previous ones. He would have to stay in the kennel a lot and could not wallow on the beds.

He has been brave and patient so far. He whines a little bit and it upsets me to make him stay put. I called the vet yesterday to see when we could let him out and he said not until after the next dip. Everyone is really sad about that but we all want to do what is best to get Louie better as quickly as possible. He does seem to be scratching less. That is some comfort when the poor boy whines about his present situation.

If he was just a "child's pet" before he's officially "part of the family" now. The medicine bag from the vet made it so.