Annual Vet Visit
Last month we took Freighter in for his annual vet visit, but we still needed to get Thunder and Storm to the vet for their annual check-ups. Lucky for us our vet has Sunday walk-in hours. Hubby and I found ourselves with a couple of free hours this past Sunday so off we went.
In the Spring we always update any vaccines the dogs need. Lepto and Bordetella are two annual vaccines that we make sure to keep current because we are often in places where the dogs could pick those up.
Every Spring we buy a supply of Frontline flea and tick control to take us through a few months. Since we will be training on farm grounds where ticks are rampant in the Spring, the dogs will be getting their first application in early April.
We also do the dogs’ heart worm checks in the Spring. Since Thunder and Storm are seniors we had the vet draw extra blood for a blood chemistry panel. Storm needs her teeth cleaned so we needed the blood work done prior to anesthesia. Thunder just had a heart worm check done last year, so it was time to do the extra blood work to make sure everything is normal.
Thunder also has an upcoming breeding so he had his brucellosis test done too. Brucellosis is a bacterial infection that affects the reproductive organs of dogs and is spread through bodily fluids. Prior to any natural breeding both dogs should be tested.
We buy our Heartguard heart worm preventative for the year in the Spring and we usually bring a stool sample just to make sure the dogs have not picked up any pesky worms. Their heart worm preventative treats some types of worms, but one Spring Freighter had a positive test so we had to deworm him. It was a bit of a surprise so now we just pay for a check.
As you can imagine, we had quite a list for the vet! It took a bit to sort it all out.
But before Thunder and Storm saw the vet, they had the dreaded weigh in. We have been watching Storm’s weight carefully and she was right at her perfect weight and hasn’t gained any since her last visit in the Fall. Hooray!
Thunder was up a few pounds which is not a surprise because we had so much ice and snow the last couple of months that he was not able to get out and run. He should be able to take that weight off now that the ice and snow are gone and soon he will be swimming too.
The vet examined both dogs prior to giving them their vaccines. She was surprised at their ages, especially Thunder who she thought looked very healthy for a 9 year old.
The vet tech took Thunder’s blood sample from his neck since she needed extra blood for his tests. He was a good boy and held nice and still.
Then it was Storm’s turn. Oh boy. Storm is the only one of our three dogs to have a note on her permanent record. When she was a young pup (you can read about Young Storm here) she did not like having her nails clipped. We took her to the vet to have them done and she decided the vet wasn’t doing it and she scratched him pretty badly so that he was bleeding. After that hubby clipped her nails.
Lucky for us over the years Storm decided that there is one vet she really likes and this vet was working last Sunday. Seeing a familiar face helped Storm relax. She was a very good girl for her blood draw, (which was taken from her front leg). We did have a laugh with the vet and the tech about Storm still smelling like skunk.
Exams compete we finished up and left with our bank account much lighter.
We got the results of Thunder and Storm’s blood tests back on Tuesday. Negative heart worm, negative Brucellosis for Thunder and normal blood work for both Thunder and Storm. Storm’s dental is scheduled for next month. Oh boy.
Line Of Retrievers
The last thing that we did at training last Saturday was to line all of the dogs up the way they do at British Field Trials.
Single marks were thrown and the dogs alternated retrieving them. It was a lot of sitting and watching while other dogs did the retrieving. Perfect for a breaking dog to practice impulse control.
Freighter was a bit uncertain.
When it was finally his turn to retrieve the bumper he turned around a few times to look at his handler like he was not sure that it was really his turn.
Freighter has never retrieved marks from a long line of dogs. I think it is good that he was at least thinking that maybe it was not his turn and made darn sure it was before he went. Maybe it is a baby step toward him being steady.
This is the Thursday Barks and Bytes Blog Hop hosted by Heart Like A Dog and 2 Brown Dawgs.
Yes it is vet time of year over here too with check ups and boosters etc. Freighter did well making sure it was tine to go and retrieve and not stealing some other dog’s turn. Have a tremendous Thursday.
Best wishes Molly
It takes one vet, a vet nurse and a mumma to hold Beary still for his nail clipping! No-one likes it … at least it gives the vet staff something to giggle about – they say he’s the biggest scaredy cat they clip. 34 kilos of chicken dog 🙂
Thunder and Storm are OK with clippings if there are treats. I think because hubby can do it at home, it has turned into a good experience for them. Freighter was very good for clipping as a puppy. When he got to the teenage stage he decided to wiggle. He is back to holding mostly still thank goodness!
We love Freighter as he has a bit of disobedience and free spirit in him. My sisters and I are all that way, so it is fun to see a breed that is typically “good” get into some mischief. Mom knows about the vet and the wallet getting lighter…we all go in the fall for checkups and then in the spring for heartworm and a second check to spread out the costs a little bit. Good to hear everyone is healthy.
Great that you got good news… I have to go tomorrow… hope the scale is out of order or it will be probably my doomsday….
Who is the black pup next to you Freighter? He had an eye on you, huh?
LOL Easy that is a young dog that is just learning. He had already taken his turn before Freighter. I suppose he wanted to go again. 🙂
I wish Daisy could relax at the vet’s like Storm did. Daisy sits on our laps and trembles visibly. Once we’re in the exam room waiting for the vet to come in, she stands up against the door hoping to make a quick escape when he comes in. I’m glad all the tests turned out good. I love the photo of the line of retrievers! Freighter did so well, it sounds like he’s really getting the hang of it. The black lab next to him also seemed to be looking to his handler for permission…or was he looking at Freighter’s handler? Then in the next shot he looked at Freighter like, “Okay buddy, it’s your turn!” Great series. 🙂
That black lab is a youngster and just learning. I am not sure what he was looking at right then. He was probably hoping he could go again. 🙂
Glad all the news from the vet was good. We like those kind of vet trips. And kudos to Freighter for being so good.
Sounds like everybody had great checkups! It’s so nice when that happens! I was just thinking last night that I wished our vet had something like a loyalty program where you earn money towards each vet visit for every dollar you spend there!
Vets…..BAH!! Nuff said!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Storm is still smelling like skunk?! Good heavens!
It’s good to hear that all is well after the visit to the vet. The dogs look exhausted – more tiring than a day out exercising!
So glad your vet visits went well. It’s always nice to get those out of the way and know all is well. We just finished up Luke’s and Cricket’s, and Sheba will be due in a couple of months. We try to spread them out a bit so the pocketbook doesn’t take the hit all at once (especially since it took such a big hit with Sheba’s surgery, and Luke’s knee issues before that).
It sounds like Freighter did very well with that new experience lining up!
Our vet’s prices are decent but it is extras like the Frontline and Heartguard that adds up for three dogs…lol.
I’m glad to read that everything is all clear at the vet!
Freighter is such a good boy. 🙂
So glad thunder and storms bloodwork was normal and glory is happy to hear the brucellosis was negative. Good boy freighter!
Hi Y’all!
Heck, in my house, gettin’ daily pills and weekly allergy shots, the vet seems a minor inconvenience…plus I get extra pats and treats and hugs from the vet tech.
Y’all come on by,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Good news from the checkups! I had to laugh about Storm still smelling like a skunk, lol! Haley got sprayed last fall and it took forever for the odor to go away completely. Sometimes her fur smelled like coffee though, which was great!
Good check-ups guys, we had to go 2 times this week. Mica’s blood panel was off last check so she had to be on meds 2 weeks then recheck. She has had so much blood drawn from when we were trying to breed she hardly notices. Her panel was perfect which was a big relief. Aspen got his first ever heart worm test and he came home and slept all day. Must have been traumatic for him. Both are clear.
Glad everything turned out well at the vet. Sampson and Delilah are on different schedules but we usually bring them both (moral support we say.)
So if I understood that right, then Thunder and Glory will be having a natural breeding? If that is the case, I just can’t imagine JoAnn’s post about THAT. LOL