The Vet

So yesterday I took Dexter to the Vet. He was due for some shots and an exam, and we got a coupon in the mail for a Vet office nearby offering a free exam for first time clients. I thought this would be perfect. Not only did Dexter need some shots, but I wanted some extra info on how we could make him more comfortable with his allergies. His previous owners had given us all the medicine that they used for him, and we were continuing it faithfully, but he was still itching too much for my comfort level. A few times he would break the skin on his chest and I knew that it hurt him.
So yesterday we packed up and went to the Vet. On the drive there, I couldn't help but laugh at the fact that I was nervous. What was I nervous about? Dexter going to the vet? Me going with him all by myself? The possibility of a huge bill? Then I began to realize even more that, while I had pets in high school, this was the first time I had actually accepted full responsibility for an animal. I mean, lets face it. As much as I loved my little dog Jake, my parents fed him, took care of him, paid the vet bill. I didn't do much but play with him when it was convenient for me. I am embarrassed to say that the latter years of his life were spent outside without much notice from me on a day to day basis. As I sat next to this wonderful little dog I have come to adore so much in a few short weeks, I guess I was nervous for the both of us.
At the Vet Dexter was nervous too. He was on the table and kept backing up more and more till he almost fell off a few times. The vet was very knowledgeable. She told me all about allergies, how to control them, how they affect most dogs, etc. I have to say, it was pretty interesting. She recommended changing his diet to help control his food allergies. We had kept him on the same brand of dog food as his first Mom and Dad, Purina, but not necessarily the same type. I wondered if that was the reasoning for his increased scratching. The vet told me aaaaaaaalllllllll about dog food, how it is manufactured, produced, the recipe, etc. After a good 10 minutes of discussion, I decided to take her advice and put him on a dog food made specifically for dogs with allergies. It was FDA approved...Dave and I could eat it if we wanted...and the only ingredients in it were salmon and potato (Most dogs are allergic to beef, wheat, or corn, or all three!). So, after deciding to change his food, getting him some heartworm meds, fresh eye drops for his eyes when they flare up, a flea and tick treatment, and a 17 pound bag of human food made for dogs, we left the vet.
On the drive home, I am embarrassed to say, but I had so much pride in what I had done for my little friend. Even though the bill was pricey(but considering all we did, not too bad in my judgment) I had made all the decisions on how to best care for our puppy in his new environment. He was vaccinated, violated (if you get my drift), had new food, medicine, and even a free bag of allergy free dog treats. Then it hit me....this is actually what the phrase "Take care" means. You take something, whether a dog, a baby, or something else of value, and you make the decisions required to keep it safe, healthy, comfortable, and happy. It kind of puts everything in perspective. From this standpoint, it is easy to take those hard decisions and make them easy ones. Could I have continued on the cheap dog food that would cost us less? Yes, but would that really be "taking care" of Dexter? If he itched all day and gave himself scrapes from it, I wouldn't be taking care of him. A while ago I read my cousins blog about taking her new son to get shots and how she could tell from his tiny disposition that he wasn't too happy about it or with her. While she knew that decision would be uncomfortable for her son, momentarily, she knew it was the right decision in order to "take care" of little Henry.
So now I think I know why I was so nervous. Making decisions on "taking care" are an important deal, and I think I know now not to take anything lightly that has to do with the well being of anything I love, including our little dog :>).