In any event, we didn't want to waste the appointment by cancelling it AGAIN (this would be the fourth or fifth time), so we took Dante instead since he was due soon anyway. And, we were able to catch Dante totally unaware because he knew we hadn't been looking for HIM!
So, he yowled in the back window of the car, all the way to the vet's office which is fortunately only about 5 minutes from our house. Once there, he headed straight for the shelves of prescription pet food, to try to hide out! That didn't work because really there was no place to hide.
Daddy was asked to weigh him, and he came in at a mere 21 lbs. I say mere, because he has been a little more in the past. We were escorted into the exam room immediately after that, and the vet, named Thomas (that's his first name) very promptly arrived after that.
Dante was looking around, and didn't seem upset at all. In fact, he acted liked a real gentleman throughout the exam. You can see Thomas poking and prodding him, and Dante just went along with it all. When it came time for the "SHOTS", Thomas asked me to distract him, so I petted Dante's head and gave him some smoochies on his lips. He got two shots -- one in each butt cheek, and didn't flinch at all for the first time around. The second shot elicited a bit of a reaction, but it was very transitory.
Thomas examined Dante's mouth, as that has been an area of concern in the past. In fact we changed vets because the old one wanted Dante to have surgery to remove a couple of his teeth. I wanted a second opinion, and this vet's office didn't think anything needed to be done. Thomas concurred with that opinion this time around as well -- in fact he said that he was surprisingly pleased with the state of Dante's teeth and gums for a kitty of his age (which is really only 7-1/2)! I was ecstatic!
So Dante is completely healthy, and we were on our way before long at all. When we went out to pay the bill, Dante sat on the counter beside his Daddy. The resident office cat, Finnigan, was eyeing Dante from his position across the floor. I say "eyeing" literally, because unfortunately Finnigan has only one eye.
You may recall in a previous post, I introduced you all to Finnigan who was rescued from death row by our vets, and lives in the office with lots of pampering and social interaction all day long. Finnegan has a marvelous purrsonality and welcomes one and all.
Dante on the other hand, threw a bit of a hissy fit when introduced more closely to Finnigan.
The receptionist (I'm sorry, I forgot to ask her name) went a little bit crazy over Dante. You can see her in a couple of pictures holding him, and she is smiling real big and laughing! What a pretty lady!
Anyway, it was a very pawsitive experience all 'round! Even Dante thought it wasn't too bad, and was thankful at last to get back in the car, because this time he KNEW he was going HOME! He knows the word "home". He didn't even make one peep all the way back. He was enjoying the ride as the wind, through the slightly-opened windows, rippled through his fur.
And then we were indeed HOME! It was a Thankful Thursday, after all!
P.S. WE ARE FEATURING A NEW FUR FAMILY ON THE LOLSPOT TODAY CALLED "THE PAW RELATIONS". TO VISIT THEM, JUST CLICK ON THE LOL ICON AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THIS POST.