Vet Visit & Saving Lives

Hey yo! Today's adventure was going to the Vet. My hoomun said that it is important that everyone, including me, go to the doctor for check ups. They said they ruve me and want to take care of me so I can live my bestest life. Sometimes I wish they did not ruve me so much because I had to get a vaccine. It did not hurt and I got lots of ruve and treats. Treats make everything so much better and I got to see Dr. Laws-Barnes who tells me I am a good boy. I ruve her soooo much! She is the absolute bestest and I give her 4 paws up even when she doesn't rub my belly. I also got to see all my hoomun friends at Veterinary Healthcare Associates.

When we walk into the office everyone is happy to see us and this is where the ruve-fest starts. I get hellos and hugs from all my peeps. That is Bella and Cindy. They are good hoomuns. Bella's pupper is almost a mini me - but not as chill. He ruves my hoomun and as soon as he hears their voice he goes crazy barking until they go say hi so he can whisper sweet nothings in their ear. He gives lots and lots of kisses too. He wiggles so much that sometimes it is hard to hold on to him. That is a nice thing about being a big boy no one tries to pick me up. I will keep 4 paws on the floor thank you.

Next stop is with Melissa our technician. I am not sure what she is doing but it feels good. She ruves me too and I can tell she enjoys my company. I think I was getting ready to sing about how good I was feeling when she stopped because she had to write some numbers on the paper. I think more rubbing would have been better than writing but I understand that I am not the only pupper that they have to see, but we all know I am the bestest!

She is now taking my heart rate to make sure it is not beating to fast or slow. I try to stay chill but sometimes it is hard because I just want to give Melissa kisses since her face is so close to mine but that would ruin her counting.

If I stopped her counting I would have had to wait longer for kisses and her telling me I am a good dog. I know I am the only one that gets this special attention and whispers in my ear. I'm not going to tell you what she said because it is our secret.

Cindy is looking for the vein because they are going to take out some blood. I just focus on being hugged by Melissa and not Cindy's pushing on my neck. They tell me I need to stay very still because this vein goes to my heart and we don't want anything bad to happen. That is why I look so serious. I am not worried. I just stay still.

She found the vein and now she is putting alcohol there so that no bad buggies get into my system when they stick the needle in the vein... wait, needle? Nobody said anything about needles! I'm ok with being hugged and having my head lifted and kept still and even cold alcohol but needles? Oh boy. Be cool. Stay chill. We can do this.

Cindy had to try a couple times with the needle to get some blood. Sometimes I just want to keep my blood - that is why she had a hard time. Melissa is telling me to be very still because Cindy was able to get the vein and is now getting the blood. I was good and sat still but was not really happy with what was going on. I needed to move and Cindy's face was right there begging for kisses. I got treats after this so all is forgiven.

Finally! I get to see Dr. Laws-Barnes. I am very polite and greet her with a paw-shake. I really wanted to put my paws on her shoulders to give her kisses but I refrained. It is important to keep a professional attitude when visiting your doctor no matter how much you ruve her. I know she ruves me too.

Checking out my peepers to make sure that I don't need glasses. Can you see in my eyes how much I ruve you? It wouldn't take too much to jump on your lap and give you kisses. Should I? I could do it so quickly and no one would be able to stop me. Oh, but wait. I need to be polite and refined. Yup that's me polite and refined...until I'm not.

What was that? Can I hear you now? Gotta make sure that my ears are clear so I can hear everyone tell me I am the bestest boy ever! Dr. Laws-Barnes, are you whispering sweet things to me like if I am a good boy I will get treats? She knows the way to my heart for sure!

Now it is time to check my lungs and heart. How can I keep my heart rate from beating out of my chest with her being so close? Melissa is giving me a nice hug too but I think she really just holding my head so I don't turn. It is my story and I say she is giving me hugs!

Ummm, excuse me doctor, but where are you going with those fingers? I am doing just fine back there. I'd be ok if you wanted to scratch right above my tail - that would feel really good.

Oh!! You were just checking where to put another needle in me. If you just would have asked I could have assured you that I did not need a Rabies vaccine. I have not hung out with any raccoons, bunnies, or squirrels that might have been rabid.

Ok, it did not hurt at all. I didn't even flinch a little. I guess I am good with needles. At least when I am getting hugs and my sweet doctor is giving the injection.

I knew where the treat bag was the entire time and we agreed that after that vaccine I deserved at least one!

Yes! I got more than one - I got 5! You can see that Dr. Laws-Barnes was just as happy giving me treats as I am to get them. She told me I was the bestest boy ever and wished all her patients were as good as me!

So that was it. My hoomun was told what to look for if there was any reaction. Don't worry, I was fine. No reactions but I could have had more treats that is for sure.

So how am I saving lives you ask? I donate blood!

We waited for a few days and then went in to donate. It was a surprise when my hoomuns told me about saving lives by donating blood. This is about the 7th time I have donated so now it it no big deal for me. As it turned out there was a little pup in ICU that was not doing well on the day I donated and my magic blood was going to be used to help her. I learned that dogs have positive and negative blood. My blood is positive. My buddy Remi, who is a Mastiff and can give lots of blood is negative. Kind of makes me feel all warm inside when I can help save a life for my K9 Nation. Sometimes a K9er is too far gone and a transfusion is just not enough to help but we try as best as we can. I got lots of pictures for this visit but if you have a problem with blood you might not want to look too long at some of the pictures.

This is Amber and she is in charge of all the donations and the blood bank. She also knows the best place to scratch under my chin before we get my weight. I have to be a certain weight to give blood.

Gotta make sure the lungs sound clear and the heart is strong. I have a strong heart because I ruve everyone.

Hi Dr. Laws-Barnes! I was hoping to see you today. I missed you soooooo much and I forgive you for giving me that vaccine. I didn't have any issues when we went home except maybe I took a little nap. Would you happen to have any treats on you? I was not allowed to have breakfast and I am a little hungry. I know I am going to get a snack when the donation is all done but a treat is always good.

Now that we know my weight and the lungs and heart sound good we get to figure out how much blood I can donate. Ok Amber, I think we can do it! That is a good amount.

We moved to the surgery suite where it is quieter and I can relax without a lot of distractions. Amber is also going to give me a little sumpin' sumpin' to just take off the edge. It is not like I mind giving blood, but it does take a little time to get the blood and sometimes I get board and want to move or go say hi to all my Veterinary Healthcare Associate friends.

Time to get down to business. I am relaxed, they put a pillow under my head, shaved my neck, and are pulling my precious blood. All I have to do is just lay here and let the blood flow.

I did it! I gave all the blood I needed to. I know you are wondering why the blood is in a syringe and not in a bag. Amber realized after doing this for a while that sometimes we don't give all the blood we are supposed to for various reasons. The bags have an anti-coagulant in them and if we don't fill up the bag we have to throw out the entire bag, even if it is mostly full. So now she collects it in the syringe and nothing is wasted. She is pretty smart for a hoomun.

I wanna give a big bark-out to my friend Daniel who helped with the procedure today. He has a couple itty-bitty K9ers and a couple bigger ones like me so he was a good choice to help Amber. They put a pink bandage around my neck - not too tight - that was able to come off in 45 minutes. I really did not mind that the bandage was pink but Amber, the next time could we do blue. That is more in my color pallet.

If you think you would be interested in saving lives like I do, please ask your hoomuns to reach out to Veterinary Healthcare Associates in Winter Haven, Florida. They will be happy to tell you all about the qualifications that are needed (size and age) and the special benefits. Cats are also needed for blood donations.

Hope you have a good week and we will see you next time when I tell you all about my visit with dinosaurs and strawberry shortcake! Yummmmm!