Vet Shopping, Again

It's been the month for animal trauma around here. I wish I had gotten the memo; it's so much easier to be prepared when you know it's going to be National Animal Trauma Month.

We went away this past weekend to a family wedding and boarded the dogs. We boarded them all the time in University Town and they didn't really mind. They liked getting picked back up of course--they jumped and wagged and generally made us feel loved--but they didn't mind being dropped off.

The first time we boarded them here, we picked a place we had noticed near us. They were nice enough, but the whole place was wallpapered with Christian prayers, sayings, tchotchkes, you name it. Ms. P was about to be a nun for heaven's sake, so we have a high tolerance for religion, but this place was over the top. So we never went back.

There was another place even nearer to us that I had noticed. They seemed nice enough also; their patient software had a drop tab for "Ms and Ms" and they sent us a lovely welcome letter, form though it was. In the last month we've been gone three weekends, and every time we've boarded them there.

I had noticed when I picked them up that they were less jumpy-happy and more let's-go-home, but I wasn't sure whether it was a problem or them being overwhelmed by a very small front office and often lots of people. When we dropped them off they didn't exhibit any signs of anxiousness, so I let it go.

When we picked them up this time, Gracie needed to poop. Okay, fair enough. And she had diarrhea. (I can never spell that word.) Also fair enough--she's got a delicate constitution and just about anything makes her vomit or get the runs. But then she kept straining and drops of blood came out. I turned around and went right back in. The doctor came outside with us, looked at the poop and the blood, then said, "Well, we feed them good food, but the stress of boarding and not eating their usual food can give them colitis. Call me if it's happening tomorrow." While this is entirely possible, especially for Gracie, I would like to point out that she's used to being boarded and he never actually looked at my dog.

Then, when we get home, we discover that Phoebe has a line on her muzzle of no fur, like a long cut or scar although the skin seems whole. It's since gotten a little bit scabby.

I realize that things happen at the vet, what with all of the animals and all, but I would like my animals to be returned to me in something like the condition I left them in if not better. And when things happen, as they inevitably will, I would like someone to perhaps notice them and let me know ahead of time and perhaps provide an explanation or at least an apology.

Poor puppies. They're both happy enough now, although that's probably because they got tuna for dinner because we ran out of dog food.

Comments

[Kat...over the sea]

I hate that kind of thing - my darling dogs are most precious to me as well, and I am a tyrant when they get hurt. At least we have now found a boarding place that loves them and even though they only go once a year, they get absolutely smothered in love and they are remembered by name!

Now thats a boarding place. :)