annual vet exam | Hey… It's Jet Here

Hey It’s Jet Here.

Before I begin, if you read some of my comments from yesterday, you know I had an unexpected visit with Dr. Schaffer. Little Miss Annual Exam had a scheduled meeting; however, after a late night version of “Ants in the Pants,” Mom put me in the car, too. The “AITP” game looks like me zipping across the couch, in and out of my day bed, plopping on the tile, doing the tushy slide on the cool tiles, never finding a comfy position over and over. When Mom saw me go for the underside of my fluffy tail, she cringed and knew “it” was back.

I’ll give you the quick and yucky version:

Pyoderma – can spread really fast, mine was about three inches and superficial. Dr. Schaffer said Mom did a good thing bringing me in fast.
Got a shave which made me squeal so loud, Mom’s heart broke. (I accidentally scratched Mr. Vet Tech really bad… I apologized.)
Got a shot, got a spray which burned, got ointment; Cone of Shame went from car to office to my neck.
Whimpered for 45 minutes while Little Miss Annual Exam got her stuff done; Mom sat on floor trying to console me.
Sent home with two ice packs for under my tail… no can do!
Passed out on my our couch and in my daybed for the remainder of day.
Dr. Schaffer said the hardest part is the first 18 hours, so, should start improving today with medicine.

Our friend, Miss Jodi, Heart Like a Dog, initiated this great idea to update readers on previous posts. She created a lovely badge to go with her idea and has successfully turned her wonderful idea into a robust blog hop!

Saturday – Little Miss Gotcha Day

You joined us in celebrating JJ’s first year with us, learning how she came to join our family.

Sunday – Grammy Unexpectedly Hops By

Everyone loved our unexpected visiting Bunny rabbit. His coloring and method of movement fit right in with the Black and White Blog Hop.

Monday – Chopped Liver Mischief

Thanks for understanding why JJ and I felt left out of the fun when Ruby brought Grammy over to visit Mom and Rachel. We got a little sniff at the end and Little Miss Curiosity even had a brief close encounter with the little hopper. Yes, I know he’s adorable… I would have been a perfect gentleman.

Tuesday – JJ’s Favorite Fruit

In honor of her “Gotcha Day Stretch Celebration”, we featured apples two ways: in Wassail a pre-colonial holiday beverage and in an Artisan Bread Stuffing perfect for the holidays as well. Lots of pals and their humans never heard of Wassail before and thought they might like to try it. Send us some photos if you do!

Of course, we prefer our apples straight up as Mom’s Kitchen K9s. Many of you like the same apple varieties as Casa Jet!

Wednesday – Little Miss…

JJ enjoyed thanking you for the many compliments and loving nicknames you sent in regarding her photos. She told me I have great friends, to which I heartily agreed! Here’s JJ with Miss Wendy again!

Thursday – The Next Big Thing

Kirby warmed the cockles of our hearts (hey Mom, what kind of term is that? Jetty, it’s an old expression) with his description of our blog when he bestowed The Next Big Thing Award on us. We passed on the award to five bloggers who more recently joined the blogosphere and have made a strong impact on us.

Thank you all for checking up on Mom. She still stuffy, figured out the problem involves her sinuses and should get to an MD sooner than later.

Another great Gotcha Day Stretch week, day.

Hey It’s Jet Here.

Yesterday, we left you with a question, boy did we pique (VBP – vocab builder project) your curiosity.

Every time I celebrate my Gotcha Day, I have to visit Dr. Schaffer. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the attention Miss Judy gives me in the waiting area, along with the vet techs. Sometimes, other families inquire about my heritage and want to give me lovies, too. The downside, I know those pokes and prods are going to happen. You know what I’m talking about, right? Atypically (VBP – vocab builder project), JJ joined Mom and I this go round because Little Miss Itchy Ears needed yet another double ear check.

After our initial greeting, form signing and such, Dr. Schaffer came out to say hello. Of course, Little Miss Professional Paw Shaker gave her usual enthusiastic shake infinitum! I offered my manly man to manly man hello. And then Miss Judy requested the weight checks for our charts. Mom rounded me onto the scale first and after two attempts, that nasty piece of machinery finalized at 82 lbs of Jettiness. JJ, clocked in at her usual svelte 56. whatever lbs.

Miss Judy pointed out that last year, I weighed 75! Mom concurred, stating that my harness had become a bit snug. Ladies! Really? In front of Dr. Schaffer and the vet tech? Have a heart, weight is a sensitive issue for K9s, too. Mom looked at Dr. Schaffer and told him that I eat less than Little Miss Scale Show Off unless someone is doing something she is unaware of. Dr. Schaffer said he would see how my exam went and discuss the issue more.

Here’s JJ pretending to be invisible so as not to have her ears checked! Dr. Schaffer, nimble and kind, met her in her hiding spot and declared her ears “on the right track!” Now she’s on maintenance, whoo hoo!

Mom peeked through the window and snapped some photos of Dr. Schaffer doing the unmentionables and paying close attention to my cool racing stripes on my front paws. When we returned to Mom and JJ, Mom mentioned that my stripes appeared over the last year.

Well, turns out that the stripes contain my PUPPY FUR! We learned that puppy fur (when you’re older) can be a sign of hypothyroidism. Dr. Schaffer asked Mom if it seemed like I gained weight on air. Mom replied yes. Tick off another symptom box. Dr. Schaffer said he would run a blood test (already extracted, thank heaven) and let Mom know. He said hypothyroidism is fairly common in middle age K9s with retriever heritage.