I'll Have What He's Having

Last week I had to do one of those tasks that you dread and put off for days....taking Manu to the vet.  He is petrified at the vet's, with muzzling a must and minimal contact from animal health professionals the result.  The poor guy, he really is scared, but it makes everything extra difficult and stressful on everyone.

Prior to this vet visit, I had had Chamois in to get some more pills for her arthritis.  Yes, we are into the geriatric years, I'm afraid.  It appears that vet visits and medication are becoming the norm around here.  Anyway, the vet had dealt with Manu a few months ago and they basically had to knock him out to check a skin condition and a lump in his mouth.  She remembered him well.  Very well. She might, in a somewhat sarcastic tone, have said that Manu 'loves' her.

Expectations....

The vet suggested that Manu may benefit from a dose of a serotonin-uptake drug before his next visit, just to take the edge off and make it less stressful for everyone.  Yes, I agreed, drugs are the answer!

With a conservative dose popped down his throat an hour before the dreaded visit (having not had this medication before, we didn't want to give him a big dose and then have me scratching my head as to how I was going to get 60 kg of mush into the car), Manu and I headed off to our appointment, me with trepidation, he with great delight at being in the car.

We didn't achieve that outcome either.

His happiness was soon squashed like a pesky ant as we parked at the clinic.  He shook like a leaf, just about vibrating out of his skin when he realised where he was.  So, the conservative dose clearly was too conservative.

As I waited in the waiting room, trying to wrestle 60 kg of yellow dog from trying to jump in my arms (I now have bruises shaped like claw marks all down my thighs as a result), I prayed that a little bit more time would soothe his nerves and allow the drugs to penetrate his anxiety.  The minute the vet came out, a low rumble emanated from his throat.  Crap.

He was not smiling.

We decided that more happy drugs were in order, so 3 times what he had already been given where unceremoniously shoved down his throat (by me of course, Manu never would have let the vet get close enough) and Manu and I were left alone in the consultation room to marinate for half an hour or so while (fingers crossed), his serotonin levels hopefully rose to delightfully carefree levels.

I think the drugs are kicking in.

As time passed, his wind loudly passed - constantly - so to me that was a sign that he was getting more relaxed.  Always find the positive in a negative, I say.  It turned out to be a poor sign, and poor logic, as farting comes as easily to Manu as does ferretting around the yard for cat poop to eat.

The drugs did appear to be having an affect though - his eyes went softer, and he would smile and wag his tail at me.  That is, until the vet or a vet nurse popped in to see how we were doing.  Then it was back to a growl, with pulled back ears, curled toes and the give-away whale eyes bugging out of his skull.  Oh dear.  Smile, wag, wag, wag, growl, growl, growl, smile, wag, wag, wag.  We gave up.

With muzzle in hand, I shoved it on his face and cradled his head tightly while they attempted to get blood from a back leg.  That was a no go as he kept trying to crouch down and cut off the vein.  So back to the front leg we went, which we were avoiding as they would be close to his head, and more stressful. Bloody dog.



Fortunately good, big veins meant easy and quick blood removal.  With that done, the muzzle was removed and he relaxed slightly (while still growling of course).  Stupid dog, we could have been in and out of the vets in 15 minutes had he not behaved like such a goose. One and a half hours later we were on our way home, medication in hand, bank account lighter and back to having a slightly drugged dog smiling at me. Covered in dog fur with the stench of Manu's farts still lingering in my nostrils, we went on our merry way.

If only the muzzles looked like this.

Or this.  That would clear the waiting room.

So here we are, Chamois on pain medication for the rest of her life for her horrifically arthritic legs (hearing bone grinding on bone as she sits or moves is something that I'll never get used to) and Manu is now on the same medication for his arthritis.  Plus he's on antibiotics yet again for that stubborn lip fold dermatitis.  Yikes.  There is a medication line up on my counter morning and night read to pop down waiting throats.  Plus we are dog sitting Mabel again, and she is on daily tablets as well.  Look at all of these oldies and their pills, it's the canine old folks home.

Maybe Clawde and Purrkins can help out?

My one blessing is that Chamois and Manu are dream dogs to pill. They come and sit when called (we are almost at the stage where I just shake the pill bottles and they come) and pilling them is easy and simple with little fuss.  I supposed the fact that they get a doggie treat after each time they are medicated helps too. 

Let's just not talk about pilling Mabel.....that dog has skill and definitely puts mine to the test.

Artistic recreation of pilling Mabel.

Friday Follies - It's in the Bag

Takeaway

As of 1st July, stores are no longer able to provide single-use, thin plastic bags.  Well, hasn't this created a mighty uproar amongst the privileged Aussies?  Especially for those that shop at the two major grocery stores.

I have to say that I am all for helping the environment because we truly are killing it with our disposable lifestyle, and the whole 'if you can't see it and can ignore it, it's not a problem' attitude.  I'm the first one to put my hand up and say that I am a person of convenience, and could do so much more to help the environment.

Another victim

For the record, I make sure that my cosmetic and cleaning products are cruelty free where possible.  No animal should be tortured because I want thicker eyelashes or a shiny floor.  And to be honest, it's easy as there are a lot of products available at the big chain stores, and they are often the same price or cheaper than the big brand items.  They are also good quality, so I don't feel like I'm being deprived.

However I admit to giving little thought about what I'm putting in the landfill.  I conveniently put my rubbish into the bins, don't recycle as well as I could, and then once a week it all gets removed from my sight.

The change of rules for plastic bags has made me have a closer look at my habits and lifestyle and that's never a bad thing.  I am a firm believer that even small changes can make a difference.  I dutifully bought my canvas bags, placed them in the boot of my car, and have been using them successfully at my weekly grocery shop.  I was even really good and put in the special bag from the bottle shop that has nice little compartments for wine bottles.  Thumbs up, Christine.  I actually like these bags much better - I can fit a lot more in them and the handles don't dig into my hands.  The masses cry out - But you have to remember them!  Yes, you do.  But you remember to put your undies on in the morning (sometimes inside out, but they are on!) and you manage change in your life constantly, surely you can do this one little thing??

Thumbs Up!

However, I can't help but feel a bit cynical over this whole plastic bag ban.  I still see so much plastic packaging at the shops, and the stores just sell their plastic bags now....and they are thicker plastic than the previous ones.  I'm puzzled as to how this is actually helping.  There are still a lot of plastic carry bags leaving the shops.  If there was more effort by big conglomerates to reduce packaging (why do 6 tomatoes need to be in a plastic small crate covered in plastic?  And yes, I do buy the loose fruit and vegetables, not the pre-packaged ones.), I would be more convinced that they were doing this for the right reasons.   This change could also create employment opportunities.  It is harder for the check out person to pack the canvas bags and it is a slower process.  Do you remember the days of two people at the checkout?  One to process the item, the other to pack the grocery bags?  They'll never go for it though.  It's all about reducing staff - the largest cost to any business.  They fail to see that staff are their biggest asset.

I get confused.  We can make hybrid cars, we constantly create new and different brands of mascara and other potions and companies are continually spending billions on research and development.  Why, oh why, has someone not invented a 'plastic' that is compostable or not harmful to the environment.  Wait, they have (a quick Google search will bring up pages of hits), but it's not in the economy of big business.  It's so disappointing. 

No plastic for you.

I digress - back to the whinging Aussies.  My Facebook feeds, the local news, etc has been chock-a-block full of articles about the bag ban.  How dare they? is the overwhelming theme.  Other states in Australia imposed this ban years ago.  Surprisingly, they still exist, haven't gone into economic meltdown or fallen down into a big blob of what was once flesh and bone, never to function again.  Get over yourselves.  I have seem more outcry over this than I have about the woeful and inadequate jail sentences given to murders, drug dealers, child molesters and animal abusers.  If people put the same amount of effort into the real injustices that exist in our world, the world would indeed be a better place.  And if people put the same effort into demanding a real recycling effort from business, they could really accomplish something wonderful.

We have the technology...



I think my Grandma and her generation had it right.  She always could produce a little fold up fabric bag from her handbag (something that folded and zipped down to the size of a wallet) or a string bag that I remember her using at the green grocers. 

There is hope - I see so many more companies springing up that really do care about the environment and provide cost-friendly items such as produce bags, bamboo or stainless steel straws that can be ordered online and mailed to your house. (Flora and Fauna https://www.floraandfauna.com.au/ and Biome https://www.biome.com.au/ ...just two examples.)

For those whinging about convenience - does it get more convenient than that?