Vet vexation

I'm completely irritated with Zoie's vet.

Mr. Tonks took the little furball in this morning for a grooming appointment. He returned home with her about 20-minutes later. She was still stinky and overly furry.

Our vet insisted that she be given a bordetella shot, a fecal test and something else (can't remember what). That'd be fine- had all of it not be done eight or so months ago. Mr. Tonks and I refused to go-ahead with any of it so they refused to groom her.

Had they given us a definitive reason as to why (other than a very pithy, "It's for the health and well-being of your dog."), I might have considered it. All of my research on the subject tells me that it's not necessary more than once a year so why should a $35 groom turn into a $200 visit? I kind of started to feel like I was being taken.

She's still funky which means that this weekend I'll have to bathe her, cut her nails and cut her hair. The last time I did that the poor dog skulked around the house for days afterward because I did such a terrible job, unintentionally of course, but terrible nonetheless. Truly, it was awful. My neighbor, upon seeing the dog, said, "Did JP do that?"

Maybe if I let JP do the trimming she'd look better.

Pica

Does anybody out there know anything about Pica in dogs? I am in need of some advice, firsthand if possible.

Zoie has always been one to eat things she shouldn't but in the last few months she'd gotten better about it (attempt at eating the ant bait excluded). It seems, though, that the Pica is back with a vengeance. Other than eating through a plastic bag, she's resumed her habit of eating sticks, squirrel/ rabbit poo, dirty tissues (which she gets off the bed stand in the middle of the night) and God only knows what else. Less than an hour ago I caught her up to her eyeballs eating dirt out of one of my potted plants. She was gorging herself like it was prime rib.

I love Zoie, I do, but this has got to stop. Apart from being completely vile, it's also dangerous (what if a stick gets lodged in her throat?) and more of a headache than I can manage.

Help, bloggers!

Damn dog

This evening Mr. Tonks went to the grocery store, picked-up a few staples, ran to the gas station, went inside briefly and then came home. The dog went with him because she loves to ride in the car.

While Mr. Tonks was in the gas station (for all of two or three minutes) our little (10 lbs., max) freak of nature dog consumed half a loaf 0f bread*.

She's now lying on the floor, bloated and looking totally miserable.

Damn dog.

*I presume she also consumed some of the plastic bag that the bread was in. We can only cross our fingers and hope she doesn't die or need surgery.