So today is a HUGE day for me…erm, for 2/3’s of my critters. It’s vet day. Shayne and Rio both need to have heartworm test done, I want to run a full blood panel for Shayne since she’s almost 7 I want a healthy blood sample we can compare to if needed years down the road, since Monty is new to the house I just want him getting a once over by the vet, and 16 year old Panther is going back for the second time this week for more tests. On Tuesday I had a bit of an emergency with her and had to rush to the vet. We left without a diagnosis but had ruled out kidney failure, liver disfunction, diabetes and a blockage which were the immediate threats but we don’t know the cause yet.

Going to the vet with any 4 animals is certainly a challenge but bringing Shayne is always extra difficult because she is extremely nervous at the vet’s office. It’s something that has certainly improved over the years but it’s still hard on her. She had a very traumatizing experience with two … insensitive (that’s the nicest word I can come up with)… vet techs who have really ruined it for Shayne (and in turn for me and every vet she’s ever been to) by making the vet a terrifying place.

After years of counter conditioning work, she is finally below threshold enough in the waiting room to sit/down/touch and respond to basic behaviors–even if she’s still stiff and uncomfortable. So it’s always a challenge with her at a vet office, let along at a vet office with Rio, Monty, and Panther. It’s even more of a challenge when I have to try to manage my 2 dogs and keep them away from other dogs because stressed out Shayne is ESPECIALLY uninterested in greeting other dogs.

When I prep for the vet, I pull together quite the bag of tricks (largely for the dogs since the cats will be safely contained in carriers). I will bring with me a mat for the dogs to lay on, stuffed kongs, and high level treats. The biggest challenge is always in the waiting area as not everyone else will take as much care to keep their dogs controlled. Fortunately my appointment is one of the first ones in the morning so hopefully we’ll be able to get in and out without too many other critters.

So we’ll see how everything goes but the best thing to do is go in super duper prepared and have lots of reinforcement at the ready. Hopefully all goes well with 16 year old Panther and we get a diagnosis of what her problem is and how to go about treating and resolving it.

Do you have any special things you bring to the vet to help your pup or cat?