As mentioned in yesterday’s post, we have had Cerbie for a full week. At about 12:45 yesterday afternoon, we logged 1 week as the stewards of this wonderful dog.
How to celebrate that? Yep, you guessed it, it is time for a vet visit.
Fortunately the Kauai humane society provided extensive records of his care, and the vaccinations/tests etc. that he had before getting on the plane, so some of the preliminaries were streamlined.
While there wasn’t any pressing need, there was one item that we needed looked at. Baths by Peggy who picked him up at the airport, and ourselves were effective at clearing the dirt and mud, and the oils from his fur that tinged him with “dog odor”. But we still got faint, yet non continuous wafts of this stench that was truly gagging. Mid-week it dawned on me that his anal glands needed to be expressed. It is something you can do yourself, but, yuck. So off to the vet we go.
It is always a risk to go to the vet for the first time. How will Cerbie react? Will he be fearful (many dogs who are perfectly fine everywhere else tense up and react at the veterinary office)? Will he fight the staff? Will he be chill?
What will the reaction be?
Well, if you have been following this project at home, you might guess that Cerbie would be super chill, and you would be correct. He, of course, rocked it. No issues with the tech that did his initial vitals readings, no panic or unease, he took treats. And when they walked him back he went with his tail wagging. All good signs.
A few minutes later (after all, this was going to be an expensive visit, as we were laying in a supply of Bravecta (flea and tick preventative), and heartguard) he come back, and the vet said he was a very good boy, no issues at all, and that his alan gland sacs were full up, and even had a little bloody discharge (hinting that they had been full for a while) but no signs of infection or impaction. To be certain, they want him back in 3 weeks to re-express them. Perfect timing as the canine flu shot needs a second dose after 3 weeks. (note: the canine flu was at epidemic proportions in our area last year, so we are insisting on the shot)
Pay the bill (gulp) and off we go. A happy first visit!
Cerbie’s stats:
- Heart: Steady and regular, no murmurs
- Teeth: healthy
- Weight: 57#’s about perfect
- Temperament – ideal – a big goofy boy.
Later in the day, we packed Cerbie and Lizzie up to head for an outing to Unleashed by Petco. Cerbie acting as the confident brother to his nervous nelly sister. She roared right in, and walked around, letting the staff touch her (big improvement), and impressing their key trainer. Baby steps.
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