Puppy Diaries

[Ellen]

I don't know if many of you follow Jill Abramson's charming column ("Puppy Diaries") in the New York Times, following the joys and tribulations of having a new golden retriever puppy.

This week's article is about how helpless we know that something is wrong, but our pooch can't communicate that information to us.  I've been in that situation several times, and it's the worst feeling in the world as you drive to the emergency vet clinic.  I've always enjoyed Jill's articles in the NYT, but now I feel some sort of kinship with her because of the Puppy Diaries. 

 

Just thought I would share the article with everybody -- http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/garden/15puppy.html?ref=garden

 

 

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Wow I have had that conversation so many times. When Taquito was sick for 2 months in July/August 2007, I didn't know what was going on with him. Doctors didn't know..finally switched vets and it was the darn recalls going on. But all that while, I was losing weight due to stress, crying on a daily basis, and asking my mother and DH (then boyfriend) hysterically "what will I do when I have kids? I don't think I can have babies because I cannot worry like this". I really remember saying that and my mom saying that a child is no worse than a dog sometimes because at some point the child can grow up and communicate. She says that ordeal has prepared me for human motherhood. Still not there yet....time for another dood????
Thanks for sharing and letting me vent. I understand and am sure many of us here on DK (probably most of us actually) know about this helpless feeling! I want to follow Jill's column too!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

We've all been there and know exactly how you feel. I think the column was a great representation of what we go through whenever our Doods are sick and we don't have any concrete answers. I really never thought about it before, but raising a puppy is a great preparation for human motherhood.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

While I certainly sympathize with Jill and those of you (us) that have been through situations such as these, there are two parts to this article that really bother me. The first is the first vet who didn't seem to do enough to try to figure out the problem with the dog in the first place. Tick diseases in that area of the country should be first and foremost on a vets mind. The second is the emergency clinic. I, like I know all of you am willing to do whatever it takes to keep my dog healthy and return them to healthy when they are sick. However, leaving an emergency clinic with a "we don't know what was wrong,but here are some antibiotics, and your $2000 bill ...... would not sit very well with me". Vets like that are the reason it took me 5 years to get another dog. It makes me crazy to feel like I am or have been taken advantage of! We went through a series of bad vets with our last dog, including right up to the very end with the last vet and I just had a really tough time getting over it. It wasn't until we moved back to Ohio and I knew that I could once again have a vet that I knew cared about animals that I seriously started considering getting another dog. Ok, I'm done now!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

What a great point! Does anyone remember if we've had a prior discussion on how "How To Select A Vet"? I don't recall ever seeing one, and I did a search and can't find one, but I could easily be missing it. We have such great info on how to choose the right breeder that I know has been very helpful to many...I'd love to see something similar regarding selecting a vet. I don't want to reinvent the wheel if it's already been covered.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Jane --- I don't recall ever seeing a discussion on it! It would be an interesting one though.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Okay, I'll get one started tomorrow.

[BetteB]

I agree -- how to select a vet would be a great discussion... I know this is something I've discussed with my local doggie owner friends, but I'd love to hear from our doodle experts here at DK!

[Joyce & Wilson]

A GREAT vet is priceless!!! I consider myself blessed to have found one!!