I wish all microscopic life was symbiotic.
Today I took our dogs to the vet. It was a pain, because I had to wash them this morning and then drive them over to the vet's office. They are outside, country dogs, and thus not used to baths and trips to civilization. They are also about 60 lbs each.
All this is ok, it's just routine when you're taking them for their shots and exams. The worst part of the visit was when the vet told me to wait in a side room, so she could tell me the results of the fecal exams and blood work. That is not a good sign. Usually, they just tell you that the results were good, and let you pay. XD;
Sierra has heartworms. We caught it pretty early, which is good; but the treatment is expensive, and takes 6 weeks...that's bad. It's going to cost at least $275. Which may be a good price, I don't know? Usually, that vet's office is pretty cheap.
The treatment also involves keeping Si-Si (yes, we have all kinds of silly pet names for our dogs XD) inside for 6 weeks. I don't think she's going to be any more thrilled about it than us. She's a big ol' black lab, and gets in the way a lot. And of course, she's an outside dog, not an inside dog. She'll spend most of her time staring at the door trying to get me to take her out.
But the alternative is keeping her chained up outside in the shade for 6 weeks...I think I can bear having a big dog in the house instead of *that*. I want her to suffer as little as possible. (I'm getting a mental image of her saying that a daily dose of a bowl of milk, a few doggie treats, and constant petting would definitely minimize her suffering. )
I've been giving the dogs the heartworm medicine, but I guess I must have messed up or missed a dose. I don't have anyone to blame to myself for that, as I was keeping track of it in my head. I'm trying to be an adult about it, too, and not feel like this isn't fair.*
I mean, it was my fault, and I have to take responsibility for it. And besides, Sierra is suffering more than me, anyway. (if she could write to Livejournal, she'd probably attest to that: right now she has to stay in the vet's office for two days as they give her shots.)
I feel kind of guilty about it, though. If I had been paying more attention, she wouldn't have to go through this. And hell, *I* wouldn't have to go through my side of it, either, and I'd be $275 richer. :/
However, part of me is glad that we can cuddle at night. ^_^
*It's not fair! Why do I have to pay $275! I was going to spend that on video games! The heartworms should have to pay! is what the childish part of me says.
All this is ok, it's just routine when you're taking them for their shots and exams. The worst part of the visit was when the vet told me to wait in a side room, so she could tell me the results of the fecal exams and blood work. That is not a good sign. Usually, they just tell you that the results were good, and let you pay. XD;
Sierra has heartworms. We caught it pretty early, which is good; but the treatment is expensive, and takes 6 weeks...that's bad. It's going to cost at least $275. Which may be a good price, I don't know? Usually, that vet's office is pretty cheap.
The treatment also involves keeping Si-Si (yes, we have all kinds of silly pet names for our dogs XD) inside for 6 weeks. I don't think she's going to be any more thrilled about it than us. She's a big ol' black lab, and gets in the way a lot. And of course, she's an outside dog, not an inside dog. She'll spend most of her time staring at the door trying to get me to take her out.
But the alternative is keeping her chained up outside in the shade for 6 weeks...I think I can bear having a big dog in the house instead of *that*. I want her to suffer as little as possible. (I'm getting a mental image of her saying that a daily dose of a bowl of milk, a few doggie treats, and constant petting would definitely minimize her suffering. )
I've been giving the dogs the heartworm medicine, but I guess I must have messed up or missed a dose. I don't have anyone to blame to myself for that, as I was keeping track of it in my head. I'm trying to be an adult about it, too, and not feel like this isn't fair.*
I mean, it was my fault, and I have to take responsibility for it. And besides, Sierra is suffering more than me, anyway. (if she could write to Livejournal, she'd probably attest to that: right now she has to stay in the vet's office for two days as they give her shots.)
I feel kind of guilty about it, though. If I had been paying more attention, she wouldn't have to go through this. And hell, *I* wouldn't have to go through my side of it, either, and I'd be $275 richer. :/
However, part of me is glad that we can cuddle at night. ^_^
*It's not fair! Why do I have to pay $275! I was going to spend that on video games! The heartworms should have to pay! is what the childish part of me says.