Time For Shots!

(This post actually should have been before the kitty shots drama!)

What? We get to go for a ride??

A few weeks back it was time to haul the dogs in to get their shots. For quite a few years I've been only having them vaccinated for everything every three years (when their rabies is due).

Coincidentally both dogs were due within the same month. Since I've only had Ashley a little over a year, it was nice to have this work out. On one hand this is great because it means one trip to the vet. On the other hand, it's not so great because it falls right around the holidays and means more money to spend when there isn't a lot of extra to spend.

Since I (finally) figured out that Boone would happily load in the truck as long as he got to ride in the back 'jumpseat' area of the truck, it's been much easier to haul him to the vet. He can easily step up into the truck. If he gets wedged, I just open the other door for him to step out! He can turn around, but it is quite an ordeal--even with the one seat pushed all the way up. Putting two rather large dogs into the cab of a small pickup truck makes for a full load.

Ashley takes up the front seat...

Boone sits in the middle behind the seats. Ashley gets boosted up into the passenger front seat. Boone is afraid he will miss something, so he pretty much sits the whole time looking very sad or panting loudly. The day I took them in was pretty cold, but I had to turn off the heat, because both dogs got 'too hot'. Jeez.

At the vet's we lucked out and were the only ones there. The dogs went in happily enough and were pretty cheerful through the entire thing. While one tech petted them, the other stuck them. They never even flinched. One thing I definitely wanted to do was weigh them while we were there. One of the tech's tried to pull Boone up on on the scale. I knew that wasn't going to work, so I asked her to let me in front and then told Boone to get up on the scale. He was very cooperative once he understood what I needed. I never try to pull or push him anywhere. Because you just can't, and that is that.

Boone sticks his head between the seats, so he won't miss anything.

Boone weighed in at a whopping 130 pounds, although only up 3 pounds from his last visit three years ago. I was happy to see that he is maintaining a moderate weight gain. (Anymore than that would just cause even more stress on his already stressed joints). Then it was Ashley's turn on the scale. Oh my. The little porker came in at 60 lbs which is not good for her size and frame. That is about the same as Jody my first sable collie weighed and she was taller and bigger boned. Dieting was in her future for sure. (note I said was...I'll let you know more about that later!)

The dogs were excellent little patients and a stop at Mickey-D's for some french fries was in order (diet could start the next day!). Happily no one had any reactions to the shots and it's over now for a good while.

Can we go home now?