Over the weekend we started our Spring pilgrimage to the vet for heart worm checks and immunizations. With three dogs and a cat, we have to start early.
Freighter needed his Leptospirosis vaccine which we update annually. He also needs a Bordetella vaccine but we will go again in a couple of weeks for that one since we try to avoid stacking vaccines. He also needed his heart worm check. We give heart worm April 1 through December 1. We do heart worm checks in February or March each year. In addition to the heart worm preventative chews (we use Heart Guard Plus), we also picked up the first three months of Frontline Plus Flea and Tick protection. With so much snow and cold weather, it is hard to believe that it will be flea and tick season soon.
The first thing we did was to put Freighter on the scale. He now weighs in at 86.8 pounds, if you can believe that. No one can, but he is all muscle.
They keep the temperature turned up nice and warm at our vet. Between a bit of nerves and the warmth, there is always a lot of panting.
Our vet is a walk in clinic so usually you have to wait a few minutes before you see a vet. If you request a specific vet (which we do on occasion), you may have to wait longer. On Saturday, all three vets who were on the floor have had experience with brown dawgs and Freighter likes everyone, so we did not ask for a specific vet.
Normally when we take Storm, we time it for when one particular vet is working because she has a real nice way with Storm who can be nervous at the vet. Thunder is the best behaved at the vet. You can poke or do anything to him and he takes it in stride.
We did not have to wait long on Saturday because we made sure to get there right after they opened for the day. By luck we got the owner of the clinic and after examining Freighter he gave him the vaccine. Freighter was pretty good until it was time to draw the blood draw for the heart worm check. It was a bit of a battle but eventually the techs got the sample. Next year we are going to have to approach it differently because who needs a battle? Freighter doesn’t get mean or growlie, but he just doesn’t hold still and that can be a problem because you cannot hold him he is so strong.
While hubby was in the back with Freighter and the vet techs trying to get the blood draw, I was with Nestle who needed her annual FVRCP vaccine. The vet checked her over and pronounced her in good health. For 8 years old, her teeth looked good, her heart sounded fine, and her lungs were clear, so she got her injection and was back in her carrier after just a few minutes.
Nestle usually makes one trip to the vet a year and that is enough for her. She really is a home body.
We will have to get both Storm and Thunder into the vet in the next few weeks and Freighter will go back for his Bordetella vaccine so stay tuned for the next installment.
We go for our heartworm tests in March and take that stuff April through December too. Spring isn’t here quite yet as we have another frigid day…-15 right now, high of about 0 today, but they say almost 30 on Wednesday.
It really seems like Spring will never come, but I bet all at once it arrives. We usually have to worry about ticks in April and May, but I wonder if they will be late this year?
Yikes we hate the blood stealers but luckily over the pond we do all the front line and drontal at home and that is all that is needed over here. We are very lucky we don’t have too many things just the once a year booster shot. Good news about Nestle. Have a marvellous Monday.
Best wishes Molly
Those blood stealers are trouble. 🙂
So glad it went well. Nestlé is so darn cute glad her teeth are good for 8. Usually cats have to have a cleaning by then.
When we had a cyst removed from her side at 6, they checked her teeth and they were good then too. I guess she got good teeth genes. 🙂
Dakota just had his Bordetella last week with his annual grooming….he gets groomed at the vet too. I am so mean, a shot and a shampoo BOL
LOL but at least it is done!
Sounds like a good productive vet visit, and good for Freighter. Nestle is a cutie – we don’t see much of her on the blog, she must be shy.
She is shy and doesn’t usually hold still for photos.
I had Sampson tested in October for heart worm but our vet’s office only does about once every two years. Once I realized that, I make sure ask for it on the annual visits.
Glad things went well with Freighter. We are lucky so far both our dogs have not had a problem at the vet.
Every two years? Hopefully they don’t have a lot of failure rates. Finding out two years after the fact could be the difference between successful treatment or not. You are smart to have it done annually.
Freighter you’re as big as me and Nalle! Wooooowooooooo!
He is not tall, but he is muscular. I doubt he will gain much more weight, I think it might just redistribute as he matures. At least that is the way it was with Thunder.
Wow Freighter, you’re one big boy! LOL It would take at least 6 of me to equal one of you! 🙂 I agree with Nestle (who is gorgeous, by the way) – one trip to the vet per year is more than enough. Though I always seem to need more….yuck.
Daisy, you have had your fair share of vet visits lately! 🙂
Aw, poor thing. I need to do a better job getting my guys to like the vet but they visit so infrequently it’s just not something I’ve made a priority unfortunately. I can’t believe he weighs so much, that’s impressive!
Freighter likes going, but he is a typical Chessie and will only stand for so much prodding to his body. He will only stay still for so long. 🙂
Sounds like everyone checked out good! I couldn’t imagine having to hold Freighter for a blood draw! All that muscle would over power me!
Knowing that flea and tick season is right around the corner is a welcome thought this year!
It took four of them and they ended up taking it from a back leg. He just would not stand still…lol. I am hoping he grows out of caring about it.
At the shelter, when a dog won’t hold still for a blood draw, I hold an open can of cat food under his nose. He gets so busy licking the cat food that he forgets to struggle. Baby food will work, too.
What a great idea. Hubby and I were saying that we should have brought some treats. Maybe next year. 🙂
It is good Freighter checked out well and got his shot and that Nestlé is in such good health. Minx only goes once a year and the girls love the vet and love to go. The check-up and shots never bother them and they have had so much blood drawn for blood panels, hormones when trying to get pregnant and heart worm that it doesn’t bother them either. We glad because fighting to get blood from one of them would be almost impossible 😉
I am hoping that eventually Freighter decides it is no big deal, but he is such a Chessie and will only permit so many pokes with a needle…lol. He was really good taking the vaccine but that was over quickly.
What a big strong boy you are, Freighter! Glad all went well at the vet. Nestle is beautiful!
Thanks. I don’t get many pictures of Nestle. She is camera shy. 🙂
Freighter looks real handsome in the first picture. And that’s the first time I see a picture of Nestle, I think. It’s cure how you can’t see him because his hiding! LOL Glad all is well 🙂
Nestle is not fond of having pictures taken so I don’t share many of her…plus she sleeps a lot. 🙂
I wouldn’t mind if spring would hurry along a bit. 🙂 Sounds like everyone is getting exactly the care that they need. It is always wonderful to hear about pets being treated properly (too many bad cases in the news).
Thanks we are ready for Spring!
I can’t believe Freighter is over 80 pounds!!! It must be all muscle because he really doesn’t look that big. Sounds like a good visit overall. Pierson is due for a checkup but I have been procrastinating since he really hates the vet office.
Freighter is muscular and also slightly heavier boned than Thunder and Storm. I think that is what he weighs so much and doesn’t look it.
These annual tests always make me nervous, just because you never know what will happen at the vet. I’m glad it went well for everyone!
I’m envious of your short heart worm season. We have to use preventative all year round. Fortunately the beef Heargard is delicious and for whatever reason doesn’t set off Silas’s allergies.
Some people use heart worm all year round, but our vet recommends April-Decemeber. The exception is where the owner is someone likely to forget to start up in April, the they recommend year-round.
We have our three sort of spread apart throughout the year. Thankfully, our vet specializes in equine and comes to the farm to take care of the horses and cat. So glad Freighter and Nestle got along so well. Laughed about that weight. Not an ounce of fat on Rudy, but he weighs 104. (Our vet jokes that he’s part pony.)
Nice to have a vet who makes house calls. 🙂 I would hate to load up horses.
Hey Freighter
I don’t blame you buddy! I get all scared at the vets and I don’t like them to do anything at all, they actually have to sedate me to get a blood draw cos I’m so wriggly – I usually hide behind my mum!
Wags to all for being so brave,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
Seems logical to hide Snoopy! We are hoping not to have to sedate for blood draws. He had his hips x-rayed without sedation so hopefully we can work through it. 🙂
It sounds like you had your hands full. It’s getting that time of year when we need to start thinking about shots for our guys as well, especially if this warm spell continues.
We need to get Thunder and Storm in too. We make several trips to the vet in the Spring. 🙂