“What a day,
Oh what a day.
My baby brother ran away,
And now my tuba will not play.
I’m eight years old
And turning grey, Oh what a day, Oh what a day.”
-Shel Silverstein
What was that I was just saying about stress level being graded as a “D” for veterinarians? Well, today was an F+. The parvo puppy is still alive, and at least there is that. (Just thought I should put that out there first before you started to worry.)
Yesterday was a D-. Yesterday was very stressful, and on the way home I found myself taking deep breaths and praying for a little clarity, a little something to put all of this into perspective. It’s not all bad, right? Things could be much worse, right? And in God’s infinite wisdom sprinkled with a generous helping of incisive irony, He agreed. After all, yesterday could have been worse, as bad as, say, today. Today, which involved me calling my boss to ask her how long one should continue to administer CPR to an unresponsive pet when you can’t reach the owner on the phone:
Boss: Sorry that took a minute to pick up, what’s going on?
Me: Well- oh, wait, the tech is shaking her head….never mind.
It was an example of a dedicated team pouring their heart into lifesaving efforts, with nothing to show for it. In other words, the non Hollywood version. It was sad, and horrible, and we all cried a little and vowed to go home and drink.
To add insult to injury, while this was going down Brody got put in time-out at doggy daycare for getting in a tussle (I’m pretty sure it was the other dog’s fault. At least I hope so.) And I’m pretty sure I ripped my pants trying to pick up a 30 pound dog with metastatic lung cancer because I ate too many Christmas cookies and they were a bit snug. And my Diet Pepsi was flat.
On the way home, I got pulled over at a DUI checkpoint- two days before New Year’s Eve. What kind of people live around here anyway? Who gets started two days early? As I was pulling up to the checkpoint, I had a moment of panic because I was talking to my sister on a Bluetooth which, despite being perfectly legal still seemed like something a cop would frown upon.
“I have to GO! I’m getting PULLED OVER!” I yelled into my headset, as a stone faced cop shone a flashlight in my eye.
“Going to a wild party tonight?” he asked, and I just had to laugh, me in my fur covered Dockers, and mutter “I wish”. “No, ” I replied in a haggard voice, “I’m just heading home from work.”
Then he asked for my license, which was in the backseat by Brody. “Hang on just a minute,” I said, “it’s in the backseat under the dog.” He nodded, and as he shone his light in Brody’s face he did exactly what you want your dog to do when surrounded by armed law enforcement: growl menacingly.
“A ha ha, don’t mind him, sir, he’s had a long day at doggie daycare,” I said as we gradually became surrounded by 4 other cops. As one of them asked me why Brody wasn’t wearing a seat belt (I know, I know) I started emptying my backpack out onto the frontseat trying to find my wallet. Kindle, iphone, uh, prescription bottle of random dog antibiotics (flagyl)….uh oh, I think that’s an empty syringe in the bottom there….this really looks bad to the untrained eye, doesn’t it?….
By this point I was actually praying for Brody to continue growling, since that would deflect the attention from the 100% legally prescribed yet to the outside eye perhaps a bit suspicious items that would probably cause me to undergo secondary screening and further delay me from my much needed evening unwinding. I stuffed the syringe back into the backpack under a coffee mug and smiled widely at the cop, who had by now returned his attention to me.
I’m not a meth addict or a drunk driver, dammit. Just a tired veterinarian who just had to tell a very nice old lady that her dog unexpectedly died on my watch and I want to go home.
I guess something in my eyes convinced him. He looked at my license, opened his mouth to say something, then paused and said, “Drive safely. Have a nice day.” A little too late for that, but thanks for the sentiment.
On December 30, 2009 at 5:41am, Sophie said...
Awww! I really hope your other days go better than this. I am not a vet (only a vet student, lol) but I got pulled over the other day while I was taking my cat home from the vet. Then I had to answer questions while she was crying in the backseat because she wanted to go home, lol… And the officer was so rude too… The fact that talking to cops almost reduces me to tears due to nervousness did not help either, lol!
Oh, do the pet food samples have samples for cats?
On December 30, 2009 at 8:34am, Dr. V said...
Prowl is their cat food.
On December 30, 2009 at 6:30am, Kim said...
You guys really need to do probono work for local K9 units. That way you can say “Yeah, I’m a vet. I’ve seen Officers _________(human) and _________ (dog).” It would take seconds to be waved on.
Sorry for the rotten day.
On December 30, 2009 at 8:51am, Autumnhound said...
I got pulled over the day my cat had to be put to sleep. I was a mess driving home, so I guess I was weaving a little, and out of nowhere come those lovely blue and red lights. The officer pulled me over, did a double take when he walked up to the window and asked if there was a problem. I didn’t say anything, just opened the lid of the box where my cat lay curled up like she was sleeping, and the cop got this look on his face like it was HIS cat in the box, not mine. He didn’t even ask for my liscence, he just touched his hat and said “Sorry for your loss.” and walked back to his car.
He must have been an animal lover.
On a happier note, I keep on forgetting to post this, but I haz a Brody too and he’s a corgi! Here’s a link… http://www.flickr.com/photos/15591006@N05/1678769214/ You can browse the album if you want to, I have a lot of puppy pics and they might brighten your day. =)
On December 30, 2009 at 9:07am, Su said...
You poor sweet pet blogger. What a rotten day…but you tell it so well! Even in your misery you’re daring us not to giggle! I’m forever saying, “FooFoo! Put your seatbelt back on or Mommy’s going to jail!” Does Brody know that command yet? LOL
We had a day of phonecalls we wished we’d been able to charge for. Can vets get 1-900 numbers? You spend 30 minutes convincing someone that their animal (mostly a dystocia day) could possibly die, ask them what time they want to come in, they say, “I don’t get paid until next week so she’ll have to wait” and they hang up. What? Are you serious?
I hope your average of today and yesterday is at least a C-. Tweeters unite!
On December 30, 2009 at 9:09am, Melissa said...
Sorry that you had a horrible day but it sounded like you did your best for all the animals in your care. I am glad to know that I am not the only one that has weird stuff in their purse. I found dog food in the bottom of my purse this morning as I was digging around for my phone. I have given up on the thought of my purse being cute and stylish, it is now a doggie diaper bag. Hope you have a better day today!
On December 30, 2009 at 11:36am, Moira said...
Sorry about the rotten day. Some days we are the bug. Some days we are the windshield. Hang in there! Thanks for sticking your heart out there for your patients, clients, and readers each day. You are making a difference!
On December 30, 2009 at 1:01pm, Ashley said...
I’m sending you a rotten day pat on the back and a wonderful stiff drink (of your choosing) and Pru sends sweet kisses and her funny rolling back scratch move to make you giggle.
Pru gets growly with police officers too. I think it’s the uniform because she also growls at the post people, Fed Ex and UPS deliverers.
On December 30, 2009 at 2:18pm, Megan said...
Sounds like my Monday. Euthanized 2, had one die in my hands, and had 1 DOA. Did 3 post mortem exams, and didn’t leave work until almost 10pm (my shift ended at 7). Stressful is an understatement for us, no? Today I had to euthanize a guinea pig with bladder stones. The owners couldn’t afford cystotomy surgery. Sad. I feel like I’m getting a little jaded with the overwhelming amount of sad stuff coming through the doors since it’s the holidays and all. My thoughts are with you. Hope you had a glass of wine. I had 2 beers and 2 mixed drinks last night. That made things better for a little while
On December 30, 2009 at 3:21pm, Pikachu said...
I am so sorry for your day .
Here is hoping you & the Brodster have a better day tomorrow. Hugs to you .
Put up your feet & relax with a stiff drink and let Brody nom and drool on his gargantuan rawhide chew.:-)
And here is hoping that all of you , have a Safe and Happy New Year
On December 30, 2009 at 3:28pm, Tassia said...
What a truly awful day, I feel for you. My mom’s dog hates anyone in uniform, especially if said uniform is a dark navy or black. I never quite understood her problems with dark uniforms, since we had her as a puppy and she led a safe and happy life. Beats me.
Chewy, on the other hand, loves everyone. And everything. Dogs, cats, birds, postal workers, constructions workers, electricians, cops, cable guys, cars, Jehova’s Witnesses, food delivery drivers… I look at them from my window with pity, for I know they will soon be mobbed by a 90lb energetic ball of fur. She’ll bounce around them, roll onto their shoes, lick their hands, awoo-woo at them… Most of them love it, but I’ve come across quite a few who are absolutely terrified of her. I try to tell them she’s not vicious, just overly friendly, and they look as if they’re about to burst into tears. “She’s still a puppy,” I say, and they look unconvinced.
I’m raising a glass of brandy in your honour. Feel better, Dr. V.
On December 30, 2009 at 6:36pm, AboutVetMed said...
Big HUGS to you, Dr V. I am sorry you have had a trying week and a Really Bad Day. I have to agree with Su here – you do tell it so well, making us stifle a giggle now and then. It’s a gift! Thanks for putting it out there for us. Tomorrow HAS to be better, right?
On December 30, 2009 at 6:50pm, VetLovingPetsHB said...
If it’s any consolation I split my pants too
. Ugh. I’m sorry to hear that. When is it EVER easy to discontinue CPR and “give up”? Many thoughts and wishes for a Happy New Year free of any DUI checkpoints for you.