Worrying about Critters

[oakenguy]

Whew....last night I did my first unassisted insulin injection on Toby. Scary stuff, but it went pretty well. I prepared the needle, took a deep breath, walked out (not snuck, sneaking would have triggered his Terrier-Sense) to where he was laying 2/3 asleep and got it all done before he really had time to get alarmed.

So, better than expected. Even if it did make me feel like Vincent Price. I'm not sure "sneak up behind them" is covered in nursing manuals.


Yesterday afternoon I noticed a Canadian Goose had made a little nest on the side of the stream close to where I work and was obviously sitting on eggs. I'm dubious. It's a very unprotected spot. It even has a little path made by students taking a short cut to the high school, for pete's sake. Lots of dogs go offleash in the park right down the sidewalk, rats everywhere, it's visible to any Red Sox fan heading on foot to the game--it'll be a miracle if the eggs ever hatch. Looking at her I got that same little clenching in the pit of my stomach that I get listening to fans lined up for Episode Three, or gay Catholics, or Log Cabin Republicans...it's that moment in the cartoon where the Coyote's had the shadow blot out the sun above him, just before he notices the whistling sound and looks up to see the big rock.

She was still there this morning, though. One little victory at a time.

Comments

[eos-girl.livejournal.com]

out here in bc they shake the eggs of geese becouse there are so many. its sad that they can do that, but there is such an over population of them....

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

There's actually a program to addle most of the goose eggs along the Charles River in Boston, too.

[stanharding.livejournal.com]

Poor puppydog.

Mr. Leo had a vet visit yesterday. We will find out soon whether his thyroid condition has come back, or whether he has a kidney condition, or diabetes. Or maybe he's perfectly health - he's just finicky because he's a cat, and thin because he's getting old.

[qlewkr.livejournal.com]

oooh, I really hope it's just that he's a finicky cat.

[rantarn.livejournal.com]

How often do you have to give Toby his shots?

[sistahraven.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure "sneak up behind them" is covered in nursing manuals

::laughs:: Um... believe it or not, the more advanced lessons for Veterinary Technicians include such things... including, but not limited to the ever-popular: "Think about anything except what you are about to do to the animal. Think about dinner, think about wildlife, but don't think about whatever treatment you're about to give. Your posture and facial expression will tell the animal you're about to do something that might cause them pain, and the animal will be more likely to bite or react out of fear".

Yeah. Some of us have perfected this practice... usually thinking about Burger King onion rings is potent enough for me to ignore the thought of giving a shot :)

And after giving the injection, lots of random love is always a good thing. "Whoa, dad sneaks up on me, but he gives me lots of smooches when he does, cool! I should let him do that more often!"

:)

Echo

[dreadnaught.livejournal.com]

"...it did make me feel like Vincent Price. I'm not sure "sneak up behind them" is covered in nursing manuals."

Yup, that's a keeper line! I hope that all goes better from here with your canine friend.