Here it is October again. And if you are Milo and Zoey (our puppies) October is a big month. It is annual vaccination month! Whoot, whoot! I think I've written about it before but pet maintenance is a much bigger deal here than it ever was in Canada.
We are in a constant battle with fleas. My poor puppies have been subjected to everything from hillbilly home remedies that I find on the internet to nasty (expensive) chemical treatments that we buy in the local pet shops. We spray the yard around the house regularly with some other nasty chemical. All these things are moderate to fairly effective but nothing makes the fleas go away. It seems that we can just make it better for a while. So, I've just accepted that this is a part of life here. I've backed away from the harshest sounding chemicals and have resorted to regular baths with treated soap and sometimes a vinegar bath (hillbilly home remedy!).
And if the fleas weren't bad enough, we also have to watch out for the horrible parasites that we don't see. For that we have a monthly pill and then, of course, the annual vaccinations. The annuals are for rabies, parvo, distemper and a whole bunch more fun diseases.
We are in a constant battle with fleas. My poor puppies have been subjected to everything from hillbilly home remedies that I find on the internet to nasty (expensive) chemical treatments that we buy in the local pet shops. We spray the yard around the house regularly with some other nasty chemical. All these things are moderate to fairly effective but nothing makes the fleas go away. It seems that we can just make it better for a while. So, I've just accepted that this is a part of life here. I've backed away from the harshest sounding chemicals and have resorted to regular baths with treated soap and sometimes a vinegar bath (hillbilly home remedy!).
And if the fleas weren't bad enough, we also have to watch out for the horrible parasites that we don't see. For that we have a monthly pill and then, of course, the annual vaccinations. The annuals are for rabies, parvo, distemper and a whole bunch more fun diseases.
Well, I've made all of that sound pretty horrible but it isn't that big a deal. It's just something that we have to stay on top of and without a doubt, our puppies are worth it!
So, back to this being vaccination month. That means a trip to the vet's office in town. Milo is an old hand at this. For starters, he loves truck rides and trips to town. He is very social and is a big hit anywhere that I take him. Zoey is a different story. We decided right from the beginning that Zoey's world would be restricted to our yard. It's a pretty good world. Eleven acres to sniff and romp and sniff and play. She has every comfort imaginable. Shade, food, water, toys, her favourite 'blankie' and of course, us! She is safe, secure and the queen of her domain. Zoey has a job and that is to look after our yard and home. I doubt that she realizes that it's work. She's just doing what comes naturally to a german shepherd.
So, back to this being vaccination month. That means a trip to the vet's office in town. Milo is an old hand at this. For starters, he loves truck rides and trips to town. He is very social and is a big hit anywhere that I take him. Zoey is a different story. We decided right from the beginning that Zoey's world would be restricted to our yard. It's a pretty good world. Eleven acres to sniff and romp and sniff and play. She has every comfort imaginable. Shade, food, water, toys, her favourite 'blankie' and of course, us! She is safe, secure and the queen of her domain. Zoey has a job and that is to look after our yard and home. I doubt that she realizes that it's work. She's just doing what comes naturally to a german shepherd.
But this thinking kind of backfires when it's vet time. The first time that we took her to town, she was six months old and we had her spayed. She was very nervous but she was still fairly little and we were able to carry her and comfort her in the vet's office.
Last year, Zoey was 1-1/2 years old and due for her shots. We put her in the back seat of the truck and headed to the vets about five minutes away. She was terrified! So much traffic and people, noise, truck movement and dogs everywhere! Poor girl didn't have any idea that this world existed! She was jumping all over the backseat and slobbering like crazy. It wasn't a fun scene. And then we couldn't get her out of the truck at the vet. I have to say, it was kind of embarrassing! This big, 90lb german shepherd cowering in the truck and jumping at every car that passed. She was getting close to full grown so there was no picking her up and cuddling her. We ended up putting a muzzle on her and getting the vet to climb in the truck and give her the shots there. Not a huge success!
Last year, Zoey was 1-1/2 years old and due for her shots. We put her in the back seat of the truck and headed to the vets about five minutes away. She was terrified! So much traffic and people, noise, truck movement and dogs everywhere! Poor girl didn't have any idea that this world existed! She was jumping all over the backseat and slobbering like crazy. It wasn't a fun scene. And then we couldn't get her out of the truck at the vet. I have to say, it was kind of embarrassing! This big, 90lb german shepherd cowering in the truck and jumping at every car that passed. She was getting close to full grown so there was no picking her up and cuddling her. We ended up putting a muzzle on her and getting the vet to climb in the truck and give her the shots there. Not a huge success!
So, this year we decided to be proactive and get her ready for the big trip to town. Her training started a few weeks ago with jumping into the back of the truck. This is totally new territory for Zoey and she loved it. Zoey is a bit of a ham. If we tell her she is a good girl, she makes a really big deal about whatever she is doing and does it over and over to get our praise. Truck bed - no problem!
Next, we drove around the yard with her in the back and one of us with her. Happy, happy! Then we planned a big trip to town. Here is a great thing about Belize. It's totally fine and legal to ride in the back of a pickup. OK, maybe not the safest way to travel but it's what people do here and it fit our purposes. I hopped in the back of the truck with Zoey and we all drove to town to the river park. It was a week day so not too many people. Zoey loved it. She wasn't bothered by the people or traffic. Even off the leash, she stuck with Adam. She was curious, confident and happy. A success.
I think I will make the vet appointment tomorrow. Zoey is ready. Although, we'll probably still put the muzzle on her at the office. No point in being silly...she's a big girl!
Next, we drove around the yard with her in the back and one of us with her. Happy, happy! Then we planned a big trip to town. Here is a great thing about Belize. It's totally fine and legal to ride in the back of a pickup. OK, maybe not the safest way to travel but it's what people do here and it fit our purposes. I hopped in the back of the truck with Zoey and we all drove to town to the river park. It was a week day so not too many people. Zoey loved it. She wasn't bothered by the people or traffic. Even off the leash, she stuck with Adam. She was curious, confident and happy. A success.
I think I will make the vet appointment tomorrow. Zoey is ready. Although, we'll probably still put the muzzle on her at the office. No point in being silly...she's a big girl!