Yesterday I took Buddy and Kali for a Vet check and some routine tests and thought I'd let you 'tag along'. 
First off, Buddy isn't the happiest in the car. lol Check out that face!
Because we live a distance from most anything, I rarely take him with me when I go to town. Once in town, I usually find I have so many stops to make the best of my trip, that leaving him in the car is not an option. I don't feel comfortable about leaving him in the car anyway and sometimes the weather doesn't permit it. It's a downfall, for sure, because I brought my first Doberman everywhere and we both loved it.
Kali, on the other hand, has always loved going for a drive, right from the get go. I didn't train her for it, she just loves to travel!
Getting Buddy to get IN the car was also an issue for a while.
He was used to jumping into the back seat of my pickup truck and did quite well. But when I got my Equinox, I had a helluva time trying to get him to jump into the back! The first time I tried I had no idea what was ahead of me! LOL I just figured he'd jump right in! Nope. I commanded, I tempted, I treated, I even jumped in myself!!! Nothing. And he's much too big for me to lift in! I don't know what it was that made him balk. Too high? My pickup was fairly high too. I finally had to put one seat up in the back so he could come in the side door and kind of step in and then jump to the back. 
But I got him in. I took him out the back hatch way though, and after that, he finally would jump in from the back! Success! 
LOL What an ordeal....I should have just taken the pickup! lol
My Vet had recently moved to a bigger place right down the street from the old place and the best thing about it, was the dang door! His old place had a door with two steps and an opening that was small. The windows on either side jutted out, making the actual opening to the door small because there was no room on either side. Kinda like this.. _/ \_ That opening is where you had to get through AND the door, of course, opened towards you and into the steps!Trying to get in with a dog, or worst, two dogs, was an ordeal. So now it's just a straight front with no steps, thank you very much!
So we go in and get weighed. Buddy was 93 lbs. I was happy about that! Once, back in 2011, he had topped out at 100! (And coincidentally, it was right before we got Kali!
Two make for more exercise! lol ) My Vet, who is very weight conscience, was not concerned though. He said Buddy has a big frame and carries it quite well, but was more concerned about having to step up to the next Heart worm meds! lol The one goes to 100 lbs so I would have to be buying more if he got any higher. So I wanted to get him down and did. But he's been up and down. The lowest was 90 lbs. 93 is ok, but I don't want him higher.
Kali came in at 13 lbs. Again, I don't want her higher either. She's looking ok and I really don't want overweight dogs.
Both dogs had blood drawn for heart worm tests and came out negative. I had the Vet check Buddy front leg that has developed a couple of small skin tags. A bit unsightly, but small enough not to bother with. The Vet said, unless he is licking/chewing or getting them caught on something, we should leave them. To remove would probably only be a local type of procedure so I'll leave it for now.
I also had him check Kali's rear right leg. Every once in a while, I see a little Gimp in her Get Along. lol He said just what I suspected. That she has a luxating patella. Or floating kneecap. I know that is common in small dogs. I will see her trotting along and then do a little skip. He said that is her way of 'popping' it back in place and as long as she is not in pain and its only occasional (its pretty rare, but there) then he would not recommend doing surgery at this point. Most likely arthritis will be in issue in the future.
Then we come to vaccinations. None were 'due' at this time, except for rabies. It was actually due in September and the Vet said, if I wanted, I could do it now instead of coming back. ................... long pause............(for me! lol ) ugh........decisions, decisions. I don't like giving ANY vaccinations and was torn. I know rabies is required. But I also know Buddy had a reaction the first time he was given this. Plus I just hesitate on vaccines that I worry are not needed! Most of you know that there is a big dilemma about vaccines and how often they give them. Puppy shots, and then you should be done for life, right?
Well, I had him give both dogs the rabies.
I know it's required and being out in the country I do worry about the wildlife. So I opted for it. So far, no reaction. I did noticed he gave it in the hip this time. When Buddy had the reaction, it was given in his neck. Did that makes the difference? IDK.
ALSO, ugh.......ya know, I remember a long time ago, I read someplace here on DCF that the 3 year rabies shot is THE SAME as the 1 year!? Anyone remember or know that?? I find that so maddening! I mean, really??? How in the world can that be?? When I asked the Vet tech, she stumbles around saying, "I think the 3 year rabies shot is slow active or something? Like a time release?" Yea? Ya think so? I smiled at her and the hair on the back of my neck was rising, as was my blood pressure. Insane! I just hate when I feel I'm getting the round around and can't trust that I'm getting the truth. Any comments on this are appreciated!
I was also happy to see that he was promoting Nexgard, which I heard about right here on DCF! Thank you very much! I thought I'd give it a try! I forgot to ask the Vet if its alright to give the Nexgard the same day as the Heartguard?? Anyone know? I didn't know if it was a bit 'much' giving two oral things like this at once.
Teeth, ears and everything else checked out fine. Buddy is so funny! He is so stoic! My Vet knows him now and we both kinda chuckle at his 'stiff' composure when he's examined! His eyes look big but he allows them to do everything and anything to him without a fuss. And when its over, he's nosing their hands, "Pet me!"
When the Vet checked his heart, he said, 'slow and steady, just like always'. lol I said, "Even though he looks like a ghost?? lol You'd think it would be beating like a jackhammer!"
Earlier, I had asked the Vet Tech about Titer costs. She told me the 'simple' one was $120 each dog and it only gave a yes or no type of answer to each item, like distemper and such. A more involved one that gave much more information was $220! That one gave how much antibodies were there. Insane that it has to be so expensive. I passed.
So then we go out to sit in the reception area and wait for the bill and meds. A young black lab comes in and Kali goes ballistic!
Little 
! I'm doing my Cesar best, "Hey!!" And finger pointing at her~ She settles a bit, but is still riled!! The lab simply moves and she's at it again!~ "He moved!! Mommy, he moved!!! I must get him!!!" Omg, Kali. Do ya have to be the typical small yapper when you never are usually?? Buddy never does a thing, but after a while of listening to Kali, he starts to moan a little. "Don't you start now!! 
I should have let Kali free. She would have been hiding between mommy's skirt! 
Then a GORGEOUS harlequin Great Dane comes out! OH MY I love them in that color! I got talking to the girl (after she put him in the car and came back in) and show her a picture of my Appaloosa that could have his twin! Haha! She said it would make for an awesome photo!
And finally, I get my bill. Holy I don't know how you guys do it with several Dobermans! LOL!!! I about fainted. I was gonna start barking like Kali, but thought, Oh well, I love my dogs!!!
Thanks for coming along for the ride!
First off, Buddy isn't the happiest in the car. lol Check out that face!
Because we live a distance from most anything, I rarely take him with me when I go to town. Once in town, I usually find I have so many stops to make the best of my trip, that leaving him in the car is not an option. I don't feel comfortable about leaving him in the car anyway and sometimes the weather doesn't permit it. It's a downfall, for sure, because I brought my first Doberman everywhere and we both loved it.
Kali, on the other hand, has always loved going for a drive, right from the get go. I didn't train her for it, she just loves to travel!
Getting Buddy to get IN the car was also an issue for a while.
He was used to jumping into the back seat of my pickup truck and did quite well. But when I got my Equinox, I had a helluva time trying to get him to jump into the back! The first time I tried I had no idea what was ahead of me! LOL I just figured he'd jump right in! Nope. I commanded, I tempted, I treated, I even jumped in myself!!! Nothing. And he's much too big for me to lift in! I don't know what it was that made him balk. Too high? My pickup was fairly high too. I finally had to put one seat up in the back so he could come in the side door and kind of step in and then jump to the back. But I got him in. I took him out the back hatch way though, and after that, he finally would jump in from the back! Success! LOL What an ordeal....I should have just taken the pickup! lolMy Vet had recently moved to a bigger place right down the street from the old place and the best thing about it, was the dang door! His old place had a door with two steps and an opening that was small. The windows on either side jutted out, making the actual opening to the door small because there was no room on either side. Kinda like this.. _/ \_ That opening is where you had to get through AND the door, of course, opened towards you and into the steps!
Trying to get in with a dog, or worst, two dogs, was an ordeal. So now it's just a straight front with no steps, thank you very much! So we go in and get weighed. Buddy was 93 lbs. I was happy about that! Once, back in 2011, he had topped out at 100! (And coincidentally, it was right before we got Kali!
Two make for more exercise! lol ) My Vet, who is very weight conscience, was not concerned though. He said Buddy has a big frame and carries it quite well, but was more concerned about having to step up to the next Heart worm meds! lol The one goes to 100 lbs so I would have to be buying more if he got any higher. So I wanted to get him down and did. But he's been up and down. The lowest was 90 lbs. 93 is ok, but I don't want him higher.Kali came in at 13 lbs. Again, I don't want her higher either. She's looking ok and I really don't want overweight dogs.
Both dogs had blood drawn for heart worm tests and came out negative.
I had the Vet check Buddy front leg that has developed a couple of small skin tags. A bit unsightly, but small enough not to bother with. The Vet said, unless he is licking/chewing or getting them caught on something, we should leave them. To remove would probably only be a local type of procedure so I'll leave it for now.I also had him check Kali's rear right leg. Every once in a while, I see a little Gimp in her Get Along. lol He said just what I suspected. That she has a luxating patella. Or floating kneecap. I know that is common in small dogs. I will see her trotting along and then do a little skip. He said that is her way of 'popping' it back in place and as long as she is not in pain and its only occasional (its pretty rare, but there) then he would not recommend doing surgery at this point. Most likely arthritis will be in issue in the future.
Then we come to vaccinations. None were 'due' at this time, except for rabies. It was actually due in September and the Vet said, if I wanted, I could do it now instead of coming back. ................... long pause............(for me! lol ) ugh........decisions, decisions. I don't like giving ANY vaccinations and was torn. I know rabies is required. But I also know Buddy had a reaction the first time he was given this. Plus I just hesitate on vaccines that I worry are not needed! Most of you know that there is a big dilemma about vaccines and how often they give them. Puppy shots, and then you should be done for life, right?
Well, I had him give both dogs the rabies.
I know it's required and being out in the country I do worry about the wildlife. So I opted for it. So far, no reaction. I did noticed he gave it in the hip this time. When Buddy had the reaction, it was given in his neck. Did that makes the difference? IDK.ALSO, ugh.......ya know, I remember a long time ago, I read someplace here on DCF that the 3 year rabies shot is THE SAME as the 1 year!? Anyone remember or know that?? I find that so maddening! I mean, really??? How in the world can that be?? When I asked the Vet tech, she stumbles around saying, "I think the 3 year rabies shot is slow active or something? Like a time release?" Yea? Ya think so? I smiled at her and the hair on the back of my neck was rising, as was my blood pressure. Insane! I just hate when I feel I'm getting the round around and can't trust that I'm getting the truth. Any comments on this are appreciated!
I was also happy to see that he was promoting Nexgard, which I heard about right here on DCF! Thank you very much!
I thought I'd give it a try! I forgot to ask the Vet if its alright to give the Nexgard the same day as the Heartguard?? Anyone know? I didn't know if it was a bit 'much' giving two oral things like this at once.Teeth, ears and everything else checked out fine. Buddy is so funny! He is so stoic! My Vet knows him now and we both kinda chuckle at his 'stiff' composure when he's examined! His eyes look big but he allows them to do everything and anything to him without a fuss. And when its over, he's nosing their hands, "Pet me!"
When the Vet checked his heart, he said, 'slow and steady, just like always'. lol I said, "Even though he looks like a ghost?? lol You'd think it would be beating like a jackhammer!" Earlier, I had asked the Vet Tech about Titer costs. She told me the 'simple' one was $120 each dog and it only gave a yes or no type of answer to each item, like distemper and such. A more involved one that gave much more information was $220! That one gave how much antibodies were there. Insane that it has to be so expensive. I passed.
So then we go out to sit in the reception area and wait for the bill and meds. A young black lab comes in and Kali goes ballistic!
Little ! I'm doing my Cesar best, "Hey!!" And finger pointing at her~ She settles a bit, but is still riled!! The lab simply moves and she's at it again!~ "He moved!! Mommy, he moved!!! I must get him!!!" Omg, Kali. Do ya have to be the typical small yapper when you never are usually?? Buddy never does a thing, but after a while of listening to Kali, he starts to moan a little. "Don't you start now!! I should have let Kali free. She would have been hiding between mommy's skirt! Then a GORGEOUS harlequin Great Dane comes out! OH MY I love them in that color! I got talking to the girl (after she put him in the car and came back in) and show her a picture of my Appaloosa that could have his twin! Haha! She said it would make for an awesome photo!
And finally, I get my bill.
Holy I don't know how you guys do it with several Dobermans! LOL!!! I about fainted. I was gonna start barking like Kali, but thought, Oh well, I love my dogs!!!Thanks for coming along for the ride!
And she's happy as a lark having the girls fawn all over her. 
and once on the highway, she settles down and sleeps. 
