Pepper the new puppy had his first vet visit on Monday. Farmer H tossed him in a big box on the seat of SilverRedO. I was skeptical about the travel arrangements. Pretty sure Pepper would jump on the side of the box and tip it, and might get under Farmer H's feet while driving.
My recommendation of using the pet carrier was scoffed at. I don't know how they made it, but Farmer H said Pepper vomited in the box, and chewed on his hand the whole way there. Thank the Gummi Mary, it's only five miles and 10 minutes. Just past Mick the Mechanic's shop, by the bowling alley.
This vet bill was not as expensive as I expected. "Only" $80.
Farmer H asked about getting Pepper chipped. It's not that he's valuable, or that we expect him to be anywhere that has capability to scan a chip. But we've had several dogs disappear. It's disconcerting. Heartbreaking. If somebody would abscond with Pepper, and he got loose, he COULD end up at the city pound. They scan.
Anyhoo... the vet people said that Pepper can't be chipped until his very special operation later in the summer, when he's six months old. That's because the needle to insert the chip is too big right now for little Pepper. He goes back in three weeks for more shots.
And now I must have a fit of outrage. PEPPER WAS MIS-BREEDED! The thing these days is to get your nose out of joint when something like this happens, right? I don't get it, but that's what these younger generations do.
Here's the issue:
It's at the top of the bill. I agree that Pepper is a canine. I can believe that Pepper weighed 9.8 pounds. I CANNOT fathom why they called our dear sweet Pepper a GERMAN SHEPHERD MIX!
Our little guy is quite obviously a HEELER MIX! Or Australian Cattle Dog mix, if they want to sound all scientific-y (even though it's an American breed, nothing to do with Australia).
I hope Farmer H will ask them to change it when Pepper goes back to the vet. Just for accuracy. As accurate as you can be, guessing a mixed breed's heritage. I don't expect Pepper to grow as large as a German Shepherd, nor have the same temperament. It's quite possible that Farmer H gave the wrong information when he called to make the appointment, or that he was misunderstood with bad phone reception.
Anyhoo... Pepper is fine after his first shots and pills.
4 comments:
My daughter had her new dog's DNA checked. It was mostly yorkshire terrier, Maltese, and a few other small dog types. The report said the dog could be piebald coloring. When she was a puppy, she was tan, russet, black, a little white. Now the dog is a year old, she's white , silver, and gray. So strange.
angie,
That IS very strange! I know how their ears might change from the little floppy kind to stand-up heeler or shepherd ears, but I didn't know color could be so drastic. Little Pepper's spots seem to be getting darker as he "ages." Heh, heh! We've only had him about three weeks.
Think back to when you showed us the mother and I said she looks to have a little German Shepherd in her. I do agree Pepper looks less Shepherd than anything else, so perhaps ask why they put that.
The vet bill here in Australia would easily be closer to $200.
River,
I want Farmer H to ask at the next appointment. Maybe it's the shape of the head, and the ears. Or maybe they just made a mistake. We're expecting the next bill to be bigger. Pepper had a sample on one of the medicines this time, so no charge for it.
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