A day in the life of a pug in Portland's Pearl District. "Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made." - Roger Caras

Monday, January 16, 2006

Pug with Pricey Vet Bills


Pug with Problems Posted by Picasa

Sigmund may only be 8 months old - but wow! He's expensive. Here's a quick recap of his lengthy health history! (not all of it is his fault!)
1. Allergic to Penicillin - We found this out the hard way. The first week we had Sigmund, he got a sinus infection. So the vet gave him a shot of antibiotics. I raced him home and raced back to work. A short time later, Patrick called and said Sigmund was red and his face was a swollen as a cantelope! (picture doggy botox - he had no wrinkles!) So Patrick threw him on his bike and raced him back to the vet. On the way there, the poor guy fell out of his bike bag on to a main street... then barfed around a tight curve. Fortunately Patrick saved the day - and Sigmund - by getting him back to the vet before he died!
2. Swallowed a Tac - NOT REALLY! - The night before I'm headed to Las Vegas with friends, Sigmund gives me another scare. (Mind you - this is just 2 weeks after the first ordeal) He's playing in my closet and chewing on something. I go to grab it, and he swallows! I look in the closet and this giant tac is missing from my peg board! So I freak out - thinking - how's that going to come out. So we race to the vet - again! And wait hours to get an x-ray. They have to put the poor guy on Vallium because he won't settle down. They do x-rays... only to find out... he didn't swallow anything but a rock! $200 piece of mind.
3. Broken jaw - This one is not his fault. Patrick and I went to Maine for 8 days this fall. Sigmund got to stay with our trainer! Everything was great - until his last day. We had just landed in Portland and get this message, saying Sigmund's at the vet. (freak out) He got bit by a GERMAN SHEPARD on the face and it snapped his jaw. Poor guy was so scared he wouldn't come out of his kennel. Wouldn't you know it - no oral surgeons were in town that week!!!!! Fortunately our trainer knows people, and gets some strings pulled to get him in with the best guy in town. Long story, sightly shorter.... he gets his jaw wired shut. No hard food, no toys, and no chewing for a month! 3 weeks later we learn the wire is messing up his teeth and his jaw is not healing. So he gets that off - and they put on a cast across his bottom teeth. Working great - until he breaks it! So we have to go back again and get it fixed. Great - until he BREAKS IT AGAIN! 2 months later - it's all finally healed and he can chew again!!!!! (don't ask how much this one all cost! YIKES - I went in to the wrong business.

4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

poor sigmund!!!!!

and poor YOU! this must have stretched your good nature to the breaking point!!! i'm sorry to hear it but hopefully the bad stuff is all behind!! hugs, steph s.

6:24 PM

 
Blogger Tamara said...

Poor Pug and Poor Pug Parents!
It just makes me want to say, "A bad dress rehearsal always means a good performance." Maybe this just means he'll be a really healthy pug later?

7:03 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anita -
How are you? It seems like your life has become one doggy adventure after another! Sigmund is totally adorable, but a handful with all those vet bills. I don't know how you survive all those traumas. If my kitty Bear got sick, I would be devastated. I hope Oregon and the holidays treated you well.
Take care and say hi to Patrick,
Beth

9:07 AM

 
Blogger Patrick said...

By the way, did the insurance ever kick down for the costs of those "Pricey Vet Bills"? I owe the bike shop a bunch of money. hee hee

11:56 AM

 

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