Torture Your Dog Day - I mean - Annual Check Up Day

Yesterday was one of my least favourite days of the year. Time for Hailey's annual check up.

Step 1: Getting out of the house, while Man was at work, with one dog. I did this by tricking Phod with a special treat as I shoved Hailey into the garage. As she was happily getting in the car, he was barking and carrying on inside.

Step 2: Drive 1 hour to the vet. Yes there are vets closer, but none are my good friend Woody. As long as he is working and I can drive to him, he will be my vet. Hailey's anxiety grew as the drive went on and the last half hour she was upset.

Step 3: Pull into the parking lot. This is where the true anxiety started. This video would be her being "calm".

Step 4: Sniff around outside and pee. This was the easiest part until a little German Shepherd puppy came out and she had to bark. The puppy was so cute with the floppy ears . . . .

Step 5: Go in - she ran in and then tried to run right out!

Step 6: Get her weight. She was amazing at this and sat well (even though she was shaking) on the scale (getting her on at all use to be a huge problem). She put about 2 or 3 lbs on over the winter, but Woody said she looks great and every dog and owner who had been through the clinic in the past few months was in the same boat. The brutal winter made regular exercise impossible.

Step 7: Wait our turn in the waiting room. This includes, barking, screaming, jumping on the bench and ripping it a little (shhhh, it wasn't us), getting stuck on the bench and freaking out when you jump down and slide, trying to run away.

Step 8: Wait in the examination room. This was a little better because I could let her off leash. She did want to leave as this video shows.

Step 9: Enter the vet. After hugs and a catch up on his kids and wife (we have been friends for 21 years and we don't see each other often enough), time for the exam. Woody sat on the floor and Hailey was frozen during the exam. She took her shots like a champ. Once they were done she was ready to leave.

Because Woody and I were talking about what they were up to and what we were up to, he didn't actually say anything really about her health. I assume all is good, he would have told me if it wasn't! I did say I found Hailey's freaking out a little embarrassing and he assured me it was fine, he had seen way worse! (I was spoiled by angel Loki who had every reason to hate the vet, but loved him).

I said I was done! 

Step 10: Wait in the waiting room for our bill, Revolution and Phod's car sickness pills. While waiting a woman I use to work with came in with her dog. Had a nice catch up with her and assured her it was a great clinic (she was trying it out for the first time as she wasn't happy with her current vet).  Finally pay.

Step 11: In the car and drive home. Hailey was very, very, very quiet on the way home.

Step 12: Tell Phod and the Man (who got home from work only a few minutes before we came back) how terrible a person I am for taking her to the vet.

Step 13: Ignore the Lady for the rest of the night.

Thank goodness, we only do this once a year! Well, I guess twice as we take Zaphod in August!