Oh, the similarities between having a toddler and a puppy. My most recent visit to the Vet today confirmed what I've been observing since we've had Scout--that the caretaker of a puppy and/or a toddler have a lot in common. First, my children all fell into what seems to be a
minority of children who wailed when put in their carseats. Putting a fussy baby into a car to lull her to sleep was never a part of our reality. Instead, each and every baby we had
hated to ride in the car. So why should I be surprised when after safely putting Scout in her kennel (the puppy car seat if you will) the whining and even barking commenced. Having four children who cried at the sound of the seat buckle clicking into place prepared me for Scout's whining today. I shushed her and cooed at her like any good caretaker, all to no avail.
Not wanting to make the Vet unhappy, I responsibly put Scout on her leash to take her inside. I tugged and pulled and then stopped and watched as Scout lay contentedly on the asphalt looking at me as if we were chilling in the backyard. Immediately, images of Emily's first trip to Disneyland penetrated my thoughts. Many years ago, when Emily was just a toddler, Dan and I took her to Disneyland for the first time. Not wanting to loose my precious child amidst throngs of people, I had prepared in advance. I had bought a leash to keep track of my stroller-hating child. Yes, I am totally embarrassed that I even attempted leashing my daughter to me! Emily let me know in the middle of Main Street USA what she thought about my idea. She melted down very vocally, much to our dismay. I quickly stashed the leash in my purse and dumped it in our Goodwill pile when we got home. To this day, I think I have a hard time leashing anything that doesn't want to be leashed!
Inside the Vet Clinic my sweet little Scout literally started shaking. She quietly sat by my feet and I watched as her ears twitched nervously. She knew what was coming--just like every toddler knows what is coming when they're sitting in the doctor's office and they are
not sick. Scout got over her nervousness but the worst was yet to come. We got stuck in the examination room, alone, for nearly 30 minutes! The entire time I kept worrying what if she does her "stuff" right there on the floor before they see her--kind of like when you take the baby's diaper off to weigh them at their doctor's visits and hope they don't catch a wave of cold air that makes them release bodily fluids all over you and the floor. Scout did me proud and didn't have any accidents and entertained herself by walking in circles around the room. This momentary pause allowed me to glance at the posters hanging on the wall. I've decided I have seen it all--the first poster read, "How to Protect Your Cat from Feline AIDS!" My immediate thought was, "What the
heck?" I guess I'm glad we have a dog and not a cat. What happened to hanging posters up showing the schedule for vaccines?
The rest of the appointment was quite routine. However, I must say that with all the technological advances in the world, can't Vets find a nicer, less invasive way, to take a puppy's temperature? Please!!! Watching the Vet insert a rectal thermometer is brutal (sorry for the visual). Scout toughed it all out including the 2 shots and deworming treatment she got. At the end of our appointment, with the leash reluctantly attached, we made our way home. I look forward to a repeat appointment in three more weeks.
