Happy Wednesday!
I hope everyone is doing well! Although the day isn't over, it has been quite an eventful morning for Potato and me. He had to get his vaccinations this morning. He acts like a tough guy when we're in our own neighborhood, growling, barking, and just all-around threatening should the wind decide to blow. This morning? Meek like a little lamb. He's one smart little cookie as he knew something was up. He was acting very reticent and wanting his Momma to carry him or sit in her lap all morning. Very unusual as Potato is one to always express...shall we say his independent thinking...
With Potato being a small dog breed, chances of sensitivities to certain vaccinations (e.g. lyme, leptospira) are much higher. I understood this and he did have an allergic reaction, angioedema, two years ago, only the instructions on administering his diphenhydramine were unclear. In fact my recollection was that it was not mentioned at all. Last year however, I made sure to understand the administration directions and no form of angioedema was evident. Thank goodness!
When I called to make the appointment, the pleasant yet firm front-office assistant told me Potato would have to stay at the pet hospital all day for observation due to his allergic reaction in the past. It's policy. Since when? Since always. Really? Because last year the policy wasn't implemented and I have been going to the same vet location for 5 years. Is my math off? Oh, and by the way, there is a fee for that...
I started to get the feeling that I might be getting hustled. Or maybe they were just being overly cautious. In my frustration, I found it hard to rationally decipher between the two. Needless to say, I erred on my former thought. My response to Potato staying at the pet hospital all day was an absolute NO. With no reaction occurring on the most recent visit for vaccinations, I expressed adamantly that this was not necessary, no dice, no game, not an option... not my words verbatim, far better this way, trust me;) After much back and forth, after my stubbornness was made too evident on the phone, she told me to hold and that she would get the office manager. Ut oh. Does this mean I'm in trouble?
Of course the same thing was reiterated - that I needed to understand that if he was not put on observation all day, he could go into anaphylactic shock, his throat could close up, and essentially he could die. That's a lot of definite maybes for an additional $100 dollars to the vet bill. I could win the lottery as well. Likelihood? Slimmer than my jeans will ever be. She wanted to know if I understood the severity. I guess she didn't understand how much I understood. "This is a type I sensitivity where the onset is acute or immediate. The antigen will bind to the immunoglobulin E on basophils or tissue mast cells. This would cause degranulation and release of histamines among other chemicals. This can lead to systemic anaphylaxis resulting in urticara, broncospasm, laryngeal edema and shock." Okay, okay, okay... that's what I really wanted to say. I refrained. "Actually, I'm in medical school. I understand you perfectly." I stated. I hated having to resort to this, I didn't want to make her feel like I was trying to throw my weight around. After all, I still have a lot to learn and I only know what I've read, and I have yet to earn those letters behind my name. I guess when I feel like I've been pushed into a corner, well, I sometimes push back...that's all. This was then followed by silence. "Oh, sorry... let me discuss this with the Dr. and I will call you back." I thanked her.
Waiting for about 15 minutes for her to call me back, I started to feel like I was a being a bit too harsh, maybe acting like one of those know-it-alls, jerky. Maybe what I knew in theory didn't necessarily apply to reality. However, after Potato's reaction from his vaccinations two years ago, I made sure to understand and do everything the doctor needed me to do the subsequent year at home. NO REACTION OCCURRED. So I still found it an unnecessary precautionary measure to have him under observation for the entire day. Thinking about it, if she called back and said that Potato would have to stay, I would have done so. After all, I didn't know everything. Medicine and veterinarian medicine may overlap, but they require different training and what can apply to a human, doesn't necessarily apply to a girl's best friend. Potato is not only my best friend, he is also my son.
So I get the phone call. She tells me although it was highly recommended that Potato stay in the hospital, the doctor has approved the request so that I may monitor my son at home. Perhaps his decision had to do with the fact that I'm in a similar profession, just treating bipeds instead of quadrupeds. Perhaps it was to get an annoying patient off his back. Perhaps it was to keep me from going to another vet. Whatever the reason, I still agree that being cautious can't hurt (except my pocketbook... okay, my fiance's wallet!) I also need to be comfortable with what my future role will become as well and learn to be more confident in what I believe is the best answer. As I have advanced in my education, I feel even more unsure and anxious of things that can go wrong. Maybe this is my first lesson in standing my ground and having some conviction in what I know. I'm open to learning, listening, and admitting when I'm wrong; but if I feel that something is clearly unnecessary, well, I better start getting comfortable speaking up. Afterall, if I can't rely and trust my own voice, then who will?
In the most awkward segue ever, and as you can see I really really digressed... just remember to bring your reusable bags the next time you go shopping! They come in a variety of sizes, prints, and materials. I just picked another one up today at my local market because I love the strawberry design! They usually sell these for around a buck or two:) A totally cute bag? Good for the environment? Durable? Reusable? 100 different uses? Check, check, check, check, & check!
XoX,
Markym
