Straydog UPDATE posted WEDNESDAY 4/23/03 at ~8:47 p.m. CT

Pat's Daily Dog Log

WEDNESDAY APRIL 23 2003

A bunch of pups and dogs go to vet clinic

      This morning I took a dog vanful of puppies and dogs to the vet clinic for their various medical needs.

      I took four-month-old Kimberly in first because she needed another dip for demodec mange, and I handed her to the vet tech, who took her for her bath.

      Misty was the next one to go in. She was there for her allergy injection, which didn't take long at all.

      Then I took Misty back to her crate in the van and brought in Heather for x-rays (which Dr. Morton refers to as radiographs) of her hips .

Heather's hips pass with flying colors!

      Heather is a beautiful, two-year-old Sable German Shepherd. The couple who came to look at her last Sunday questioned whether we had ever x-rayed her hips to know what condition they were in. We had never suspected a problem, so we had never had the radiographs taken.

      After the doctor took the first x-rays of Heather's hips, he called me into the viewing room to look at the pictures with him, and he pointed out that Heather's hips are just fine, and they certainly looked beautiful to me. I should have taken the camera with me so I could have captured this pretty set of hips on film (which I know we can do later if we ever have a few minutes to do it).

      The doctor also pointed out that Heather did have what appeared to be an old wound on her left knee, which could possibly cause minor arthritis problems later on in her life--kind of like what happens to athletes who have received an injury to a knee (or elsewhere) and begin to experience arthritis in that area as they get older.

      Heather was a very good patient, and I took her back to her crate in the van and began taking the six puppies into the clinic for their turns to see the doctor.

Puppies, puppies, puppies--Rosie's six in all--get their examinations and second puppy vaccinations

      Because there were so many pups (all of whom have gotten so big), I took into the clinic just two of the wiggly fellas at a time to make it easier on the doctor (and me) during their examinations. Also all of these remaining six pups of Rosie's litter are mostly black in color, so it was much easier to keep track of them dealing with just two at a time. It's confusing enough just taking the six pups all at one time!

      All six pups got their mini examinations and were given their vaccinations. They weigh between 14 and 17 pounds now, and the doctor said they are all beautiful and healthy little guys. The vet tech brought me Kimberly, who was dry from her dipping bath, and home we came.

      Jack and Jill didn't go to the vet this trip because so many other furry fellas were going, so the two nearly blind and totally deaf Aussie pups will have their vet visit in a few days.