Just as with my own recent experiences with western allopathic medicine (broken wrist and weird lesion on back), I was both curious and full of dread prior to going to the long-standing vet appointment. Almost cancelled it. Almost called in today, beforehand, asking if I should even bother coming in, since I’ve decided to treat the health of my animals the same way I treat my own health. No vaccines, unless required by law (so rabies only) and no heart worm medication, since all three of us ingest a teensy bit of  ivermectin (a dewormer, “horse paste”) every month or so.

It’s odd, but I’ve not been as courageous with my animals as I am with my own body. WHY? Not sure. But today brought us into union.

Not only that, but, like all the medical appointments I’ve had lately, I had fun, and met new friends. Nobody batted an eye when I told them what I wanted for my animals. Not even the ivermectin threw them for a loop. The vet himself ended up telling me about his own training, starting with how much he still owed: $58K, out of the original $80K. “$450/month,” he said with a sigh. “But I worked all the way through school; some of my classmates got out owing $300 K, $400 K! He went on to talk about how, as a first year undergraduate, he ended up with a D average, mainly because of hardly ever attending class.

Then his father (also a vet, as was his grandfather) sat him down. Said he was willing to fund his undergraduate education, but only if he took it seriously.

So . . . he took three years off, and then, when he was more mature, went back to school, and got an A average all the way through.

So, he ended, with pride, obviously loving his work, “I’m a third generation veterinarian. And my 7-year old daughter wants to become a vet as well. So that’s four generations in a row.”

YES!

I then stopped at Petco for a Seresto flea collar (supposed to last a year) for Shadow and Advantage II (six monthly doses, large cat) for Tiger. That came to $140. Sigh.