Those routine annual exams, none of us are particularly fond of them, but they are important!

Harvard Health Publications

I just had a bit of a scare being called back in for a recheck after a routine annual exam. Because of this, I asked others for prayer, prayed myself, and kept myself busy until the appointment. Our pets are not to fond of these annual exams either, but at least they do not know they are going until you take them. They don’t have to spend that “waiting” time. Waiting for the appointment day, waiting to be called in, and waiting for the results.

Cino hates going to the vet. It is quite a struggle getting her into her carrier and she meows the whole way there. Not a quiet, cute meow, but a loud “I don’t know what you’re doing with me, but I don’t like it!” meow.

I have the sweetest nicest veterinarian though who is always very patient and kind to Cino and her worry-wart mom.

15 Cats Who Think They Are Hiding From The Vet
(Check out some humorous pictures by clicking the link above)

It is very important to be comfortable with and knowledgeable of your veterinarian. I’ll never forget a time when I was watching Montel Williams (does anyone remember that Talk Show?) and he had a segment on this. They showed a videotape of a veterinarian and two assistants in the back room with a beautiful dog. They were yelling at him and hitting him. This dog was literally just sitting there. He did absolutely nothing to provoke it. Just imagine how nervous an animal is going to the vet and then to have to endure that.

Years ago, I worked at a veterinarian clinic as a weekend employee looking after the animals boarded there due to their caregivers being out of town or the animals were recovering from surgeries. One job I had was cleaning the kennels. They would keep newspaper in the kennels in case an animal would have a potty accident. I would see the veterinarian hit the dogs on the head because they chewed the paper in their kennel.

Another job I had at the clinic was giving the animals medicine. This was no easy task. I was nervous around some of the animals, worried they would bite or scratch me. The dogs would growl and show their teeth and the cats would hiss. Who could blame them? But the veterinarian would yell and swear and say “just grab them.” Easy for him to say. He would wind up doing it, but let’s just say he wasn’t kind or gentle.

There are a lot of great veterinarians out there, but you need to do your research to be sure you completely trust yours. Do not just blindly trust them with your pet! I’ve even heard you can request to go in the back room with your pet where they draw blood, etc.

It is important for us to trust and have kind doctors for our own health needs as well. I had a wonderful nurse today who put her arm on my shoulder and asked me if I was OK. I must have looked nervous. I don’t think she realizes how much that meant to me.

So to wrap up…it’s important to get routine exams for you and your pet! As for me, I am fine, the results showed everything was normal. Hallelujah!