On Sunday, Aug. 4 I noticed Caesar had an open wound on his leg. It was a cyst that burst. It wasn’t too deep so I decided to clean it myself, apply antibiotic, and watch it. Of course, I’m an over worrier and though it looked like it was healing nicely, by the following weekend I had myself convinced that Caesar would need his leg amputated. So, Monday morning I called the vet.
Dr. Emily told me that his leg was healing fine. Turns out, I had nothing to worry about, and I just gave myself a terrible case of “Is my dog really okay?” anxiety. The whole experience made me think about how important my dogs are to me and how much care (and money) I put into them without thinking twice.
I joked to the vet tech that I’m one of those moms that brings their kid to the ER every time they get a scratch because Caesar has been to the vet so many times in the last year and I’ve spent A LOT of money taking him.
Last year a cyst developed on his eyelid. It was irritating his eye so he had that removed last October. Then around winter, Caesar was chewing on a hard bone and chipped a back tooth. When I was brushing his teeth, I noticed blood and figured out what had happened. This spring, he had it removed. There has also been several times where I’ve taken him concerned about weird bumps or something that I thought was out of place. Every time, luckily, it’s turned out to be nothing (luckily Jeter is a lot more hardy so far; he hardly ever has issues).
On Monday, after finding out I had spent money to find out there was nothing wrong with my dog, I actually felt happy. The cost of peace of mind far outweighs a $30 exam fee. Basically, I’d rather spend money going to the vet to find out nothing is wrong rather than regret it. I’d gladly spend a million dollars on either of my boys.
On Caesar and I’s daily walk that afternoon, I thought about how caring for an animal’s health is about more than providing food and water to it.
Each of my dogs get exercise every day, even when I don’t feel like it. They get their teeth brushed, every day (more on how important that is later). Caesar and Jeter are both now to the age where they take joint supplements every day. Caesar has had an issue with dry skin so he now also gets Omega 3 on his food every day. Their food gets measured out so they don’t over eat (but they are given as much water as they desire). Both dogs are also brushed and bathed regularly and given daily hugs and kisses.
It’s easy to have any animal if you just want to throw cheap food at it and never put any real care into it, but that’s not real love. Dogs are so good and pure; they all deserve to have the love and care that Jeter and Caesar has.