What to do when both pets are due for their vaccinations?
The Vaccination Report
Murph’s rabies wasn’t technically due until the beginning of September, but his DHP and Parvo were expired. Since we’re kenneling him when we go to Alaska, I had to get those last two in particular updated. He also needed a heartworm test since I can’t remember the last time I gave him a heartworm preventative chewie.
Mr. Meow has been overdue for his rabies, but I also wanted to get him checked out because (a) he’s getting up there in years, (b) he’s been limping here and there, and (c) he’s had more frequent hairball episodes than normal. He’s still very playful and loving, but I’m a worry-wart Momma and wanted the vet’s expert opinion if the hairballs and limping was an indication of anything more serious.
Double Trouble
Yet, do you know that I’ve been a multi-pet owner since 1999, but it wasn’t until last week that I took two pets to the vet at once?
I had read once that if you do that some vets will offer you a discount. I forgot to ask if mine would. (The bill sure didn’t reflect any discount so maybe it was I something I had to specifically ask for to get –if my vet even offers such a creature.) At any rate, without really thinking about it when I called to get an appointment I set Murph and Meow up together.
It was only after I got off the phone that I realized what I had done –something I had never done before.
“You think you can handle taking them both at once by yourself?” Wayne asked. “And how do you think they’ll do together?”
“It’ll be fine,” I assured him. After all, I thought, they’ve been brothers for 7 years now. They’re used to being together. Heck, not only do they share the chair (see pic below), but they’ve even gone on a road trip together. They should be fine.
Much to my delight, they were. After all was said and done.
Heading to the Vet
Murphy was all excited to be going for a ride, but when he saw Mr. Meow was coming with us? He went through the roof with joy. His tail was wagging so much I thought he was going to wag it right off!
Mr. Meow, on the other hand, did not share Murph’s exuberance for the big adventure. He’s not a big fan of car rides when he’s cooped up in his cage, and he was mad because I woke him up from a nice nap to shove him in the cage…before driving him to the vet, where he’s also not a big fan of being poked, pricked, or prodded. Oh, yeah, he was grouchy to the max, which made him creepier than ever.
At the Vet
Inside the vet’s office, Murph was a clown. He ate up all the loving the vet and the tech’s gave him, and was a very good boy during his exams and shots.
Mr. Meow turned into Mr. Hissy Grouchy Pants. The second the vet walked in the room, even though she started in on Murph first, Mr. Meow started growling.
“Wow, he’s mad today,” she said.
Oh, yeah, he put on quite the show. There was much hissing and spitting and some very menacing growls, but no one was harmed in the examining or vaccinating of Mr. Meow.
Back at the Ranch
No grudges were held. Meow hung out with me like he does, Murph was content to stare out his windows, and Miss Tabby was just glad to have us all back.
She had never been all by herself before like that. Judging from the way she greeted us when we came through the door, she hopes never to be left out again…even if that means partaking in a trek to the vet.
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