"Tixie"

We (mostly Tall Human) had a health scare on Saturday. After a trip to the very muddy soccer field near our house for a game of fetch, Tall insisted on giving me a bath. Apparently, I smelled like "poopy mud."

The bathing process was fairly normal and uneventful until Tall was drying me off. She noticed a white spot on the left side of my muzzle. Thinking it was residual shampoo, she wiped it with the towel but it didn't disappear. She gasped in horror when she realized what it was -- a big, fat, white tick. All hell broke loose as Tall yelled for Short to come into the bathroom. Short came in and confirmed it was a tick while Tall started opening and slamming drawers on my grooming cart; she was searching for the tick remover.

When she found it, she nervously read the instructions and removed the tick. Once she examined it to make sure the head was intact, she pushed the remover, complete with trapped tick, toward Short saying: "I don't want to touch it." Short, who is normally overly disgusted by such things, took the remover and disposed of the nasty tick. They both examined my face, cleaned it, and applied some kind of ointment.

Tall fretted for the rest of the weekend and called our new vet first thing Monday morning. Fortunately (for her), they had an available appointment at 4:50.

I LOVE my new vet. He is so nice, knowledgeable, and answered all of Tall's questions. He also has a white standard poodle, so he understands where I'm coming from. Oh, and by the way, the tick didn't do any major damage besides leaving a hard lump. The vet thinks my monthly dose of FrontlinePlus killed the nasty thing 24 hours after it attached itself to me. 

During my visit, I learned that I've gained 3 pounds since Dec. 1 (no snide comments, please; it's all muscle) and got to play with Will, my buddy Trevor's brother. I think Will has a little crush on me. And the people who work there loved me and I got lots of pets and treats. The feeling is very mutual.

We left the vet with a prescription cream for my lump, a "super" tick remover, and a cool soccer ball that makes noises.

Thankfully, this story had a happy ending, which means Tall can save her fretting for another day.

Comments

[Trevor]

Will is also your cousin.....just like me. Now you know what they say about "kissing cousins".......!

Trev

[BJ Blyss]

Sorry about the Tick scare. They are nasty things, huh? Glad you have Tall and Short to look after you Dixie, dear! Happy to hear you love your new Vet, too. You got presents, too? Lucky Dog!