Last Tuesday was our annual family pilgrimage to the vet. Once each year, all of us furs are loaded into the car and transported to the clinic for physicals and necessary immunizations. None of us are especially thrilled about this day, but it is necessary to make sure we all stay as healthy as we can!
We arrived at the Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital after a half hour drive. The clinic isn’t especially close, but they are such good veterinarians, Mom doesn’t mind driving.
This day was also another one of the “firsts” we needed to overcome. For all of us, it was our first family pilgrimage without Katie. She was with us every year of our lives, but no more. We were sad, but we were happy for her as she was always scared to be at the vet. I still am, but that is a whole different story! The photo is from three years ago and both kitties were in the same carrier that year.
I kicked off the line up of physicals by getting myself weighed in. The scale said 37 lbs which is perfect for me! Every year I vary between 36 and 38 pounds. My vet said I am in perfect shape, yay!
The kitties and I waited patiently in the exam room for our vet to come in. I’m always a nervous mess – trembling, panting, and pacing around. For some reason, going to the vet is scary for me.
Because Bailie had been completely tested the week before at the emergency vet and specialist vet, it was decided she would wait a month for her physical. They did haul her off into the back room to get a blood sample to test her platelets, and then she went back out to the car to rest. If you compare this photo to the ones from my post about the emergency vet, you can see she is feeling like the old Bailie again.
For fun, I like to be difficult when it is time for my exam. I make the doctor and technician sit with me on the floor, and then I try to constantly squeeze away from them! My teeth were the first thing the vet looked at, and guess what! She was amazed! My mouth has the teeth of a four year old dog, and I am ten! Talk about great news!
Next up were my ears. I don’t like people playing around with my ears, but she was quick and they are looking good.
Sophie was the next victim patient. She likes going to the vet the least of all of us. You can see how unhappy she is. Everything is fine with her except her teeth. Last year, she won the best teeth award, and this year she gets the worst teeth award. Next year, she may need to have one or two pulled. Bummer!
As always, cat bro Bert has an absolute blast at the vet. He is into everything and totally enjoys himself. His exam found him to be healthy, so that is good.
He had his chip checked and wanted to help out with the computer entry, but was told his help was not needed. All in all, we left with a healthy carload of pets. Thank goodness the annual family pilgrimage for this year is finished. Have you had your physical yet this year? Do you go with all your fur siblings, or just one at a time.?
I am hoping that I can sneak this post by Mom without her noticing. We just received our notice that it is time for some booster shots. NO! NO! NO! Puh-leeze don’t mention this to her. ♥ Love, Bentley
P.S. I’m so proud of you girls great checkup.
I had to get a shot this year because Lepto is cropping up more and more around here. It really wasn’t bad at all. My kitties got shots but they didn’t feel real good for like two days after. Hopefully they will give you a good treat and you won’t even notice.
Katie goes to the vet so often because of her allergies that she is used to it. We are lucky that her vet is just around the corner. Glad to hear you are all doing well. And that Bailieis feeling better!
Bailie loves going to the vet, me, I’ve always been scared. Mom doesn’t know why, because my first year, our vet was also our friend who we hung out with all the time, but in the vet office I was scared.
Yep! I had my annual physical about 3 months ago. Like you all, I got a clean bill of heath too. I am so happy that is done. XOXO Sparkle
They are such nice people, but I don’t like being poked and prodded. I’m thrilled to have that visit behind me.
Willy and Tiki go for their checkup Saturday. Tiki just hates riding in the car.
What! How can a dog not like the car? I lie down and just sleep. Bailie is always restless, twirling around in her seat belt, looking out the window, but she likes going places in the car.
Great news! I’m glad you’re able to get it all over with at once, but you sure have your hands full! Mudpie will be going for her check-up this fall. Her last one was in early September last year, but then she was back at the vet in December for her asthma diagnosis so I decided to wait a bit.
We go every year no matter what, but we dogs go twice a year and then any stuff that happens we have to go to. I would say we end up there 3-5 times a year.
How nice y’all got the big old A-O-K from the Vet!
We are all doing well.
Oh my! We thought mom had her hands full! Glad those touchy feely Docster visits us over
Snorts,
Lily & Edward
My mom likes to get it all done with in one trip, and we feel better being all together.
Glad you all had good vet visits – other than Sophie’s teeth – and helped each other through this “first” as you have all the others so far.
Ducky and Shadow get their physicals 3 months apart. (Callie and Shadow were 6 months apart.) it’s easier on my wallet that way, not to mention my nerves. Ducky can be difficult to handle in the waiting area at times, even though she’s much better in the exam room. Shadow is calm most of the time but will hide in a corner of the exam room until she sees the vet take a treat out of the container.
I’m not fooled by the treat trick. I’m just plain scared, but I get through it, and I behave. Mom likes to get it all over with and even though it is a lot of cash at one time, we plan for it that way.
I am going to need to plan one of these family vet visits very soon. Possibly this week!
Good luck. It’s always nice when it is done!
We used to take at least two at a time, but somehow everyone got on different schedules and now we just do one at a time. Since our vet is so close that works OK for us. I just can’t imagine taking all four at once…your Mom is so great about that, Emma! We’re glad everyone is mostly healthy. That Bert cracks me up! Sam can’t wait to get back into her carrier, and Conrad used to be the same too!
Both of our girls are like you, Emma, they pace and pant and keep heading for the door! They definitely know the way out. 🙂
It is a lot of work taking all of us, but it is done, and we only have to remember one date a year for that.
Yeah..All good news. I pack Roxy and Torrey off together usually. Our regular vet is in Utah, so usually they get a trip to the vet when we go there.
I never thought about how that would work with you guys traveling all over. Glad you have one regular vet.
Cat Bro Bert totally cracks me up!!! Look at the fun he is having!! lmao!! Cody went last week for his annual shot and he got his claws trimmed. Dakota is going in this Wednesday for a teeth cleaning (shhhh, don’t tell him!!), Cody was supposed to join him to have some Senior bloodwork done, but I am not in the mood to leave the house as early as Dakota has to go in, so I am thinking of postponing Cody for a bit……….haven’t decided yet, but that is the direction I am leaning! Glad that all in all everything seemed to have gone well! Give Bert extra kisses from us!
Bert looks forward to the trip every year. He is sad when he has to go back into the carrier. What a strange guy! Mom trims the cat’s claws every two weeks.They are real good about it and Mom is pretty fast. That getting up early even for her own dr. is never something Mom looks forward to.
Oh boy, vet visits! I’m sorry you have such a hard time! Zoe and Phoenix are not a fan of the vets either. Zoe was seen back in June and Phoenix will be going next month.
I manage to survive every time, luckily, but I just cannot overcome my fear.
You guys must be minority owners of the joint by this point! Your vet visits are always such a riot. It’s a veritable traveling zoo. And a good vet is well worth the travel time!
It is like a traveling circus with all of us together. They block off a big chunk of time for our appt. and Mom needs a nap when we are back home!
Your mom is beyond brave to bring all of you at once, Emma. Mommy says she would probably lose her mind (and possibly need some sort of doggy sedative) if she tried that. Tallulah and I had our annual appointments a couple of months ago. We both love the vet, and we get to walk there. So happy that everyone’s checkups went well . . . and that you’re off the hook until next time.
One or two pets is simple, but a whole collection is something that takes lots of energy and patience, but Mom has been doing it this way since around 2000 back in Germany and finds it works best for us.
We normally take everybody at the same time too.
We are surprised the majority of people don’t, but it is not easy in one way, but then it does make it easier as it is all done at once.
My Mama is glad to actually live close to our vet in California…so we all go for separate visits…It looks like much more fun to go as a family!!
Smileys!
Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo
One reason to go all at once is no one comes home smelling funny…we all smell funny, and we are all there together so we see we are in the same boat. It isn’t right for everyone but works for us.
I am an only pet, so each vet visit is all focused on me. I have never seen so many pets go in at once. I think it’s awesome to have brothers and sisters to share the fear with.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
For me and my fear, it doesn’t matter if we are all there, or just me. I am just as scared.
So cool you got it all done in one felled swoop. Bonus for the good results!
Bert. DOOD. We need to talk to you about proper V-E-T behaviour. Seriouslies. We may even hafta revoke your Cat-in-good-standing card! (MOL)
Seriouslies – we’re SO sorry to hear about Sophie – and can completely feel your pain WRT extractions. NO fun at ALL.
It’s weird, but Bert really wants to be a dog…we are pretty sure about that.
Lol, cat bro Bert DID look like he had a good time hanging out on the counter 😉 Good to hear that everyone is in good health. We went for our annual wellness exam in February of this year, so we’re all set for 2016. We only have two pups, so we always go together. Both pups love going to the vet though, so it’s always easy peasy.
We are a divided family…Bert and Bailie love the vet, Sophie and I want to get out of there as fast as possible.
So glad the visit went well and happy to hear Bailie is doing so much better, what a scare.
It was so very scary! She is going back next Friday for a check up.
Oh poor Sophie. That face. 🙂 Hubby went back to work today. That means I should have my mornings back to catch up on blog reading. 🙂
We all get behind now and then. Sometimes it’s just too hard to catch up. We will be entering the not much time situations starting tomorrow for a week or so. Hope hubby is recovering nicely.