Chip's Follow Up appt

[Chip's Mom]

Hello Everyone:

Chip went back for his 2 week checkup in Knoxville today. The vet said that he has healed better than she thought he would. The hole has completely healed around the stitches. She would have had to sedate him and open up that hole to remove the stitches so she opted to leave it alone. She said the stitches will dissolve in about 60 days but to watch for any signs of infection, etc. Poor Chip was scared to death when he got there. He would have nothing to do with the girl that he liked so much the first time around. He hid under my chair. When he went into see the Vet and I put him on the table, he tried to climb up me and was shaking all over I felt so sorry for him. She tried to open his mouth to look and he would have none of it. I tipped him on his back so she could look. When I set him on the floor, he hid under a chair and wouldn't come when he was called to leave. I had to start out the door and tell him I was going home and then he ran after me. Poor little thing - when the surgery was done the first time, I thought he was traumatized and today only confirmed it. The vet is real nice and felt bad because he was so scared. Anyway, she gave me a nice little toothbrushing kit and instructions on how to brush his teeth. She said to brush every other day and start out by letting him taste the toothpaste and only brush one tooth after he is used to that, then brush two teeth and keep going slowly until he gets used to it and it doesn't bother him. She also said I could use my finger. She recommended a special dog food that is quite like a treat and he can have up to five pieces of it a day. It is prescription Science Diet t/d and feed him his regular dog food too. He really likes it so that is good. He has to go back in six months for an x-ray and he will have to be sedated for about 2 minutes. Needless to say that I cuddled him and loved on him all the way home.

[Michael Romanos]

A Corgi never forgets an awfull experience. Chip will never like going to the vet ever again. But you can ease his stress for future visits by placing him on a firm table (ie not a wobbly one) often at home and pretend to inspect him or brush and comb him and give him some treats, so that the whole experience on the table is nice and rewarding. If he doesn't like having his teeth brushed - don't do that on the table. Yes. with brushing teeth it is one day ....... oops..... one tooth at a time until it becomes a tasty and praiseworthy experience.
Give Chip a special hug for me.

[Dillydoodle]

Bonnie,
I really feel for poor little chip. Please give him a special gentle little hug from me. Dillon loved his visits to the vet, but after his neuter ( which involved an additional incision in his abdomen for retrieval of the undescended testical he had) he had a definate "reaction" to the vet. He was fine going in the office but once the vet came in his ears told me he was very nervous ( when scared or sad his ears go to the sides like wings of a plane...poor thing). Maybe the next time Chip has to go to a vet he might remember that nothing bad happened at this last visit. Dillon has since been back to the vet for his annual ( which is the second time he has been back there since his surgery) and he was visably less upset than the first visit after.
Emilie

[Chip's Mom]

I will Michael and thank you. I have always put him on the table to clean his ears, etc and he is used to it. I am thinking about popping into my regular vet's for a visit once in awhile just so he can start having some positive experiences. They will fuss over him and give him treats. I don't understand why he wasn't traumatized when he was neutered but he was with this. It must have been more extensive I guess.

[corgimom]

Bonnie,

I have been thinking of you two and certainly glad to hear it is healed and all will be okay. Maybe the smells of that place just reminded him of something he did not enjoy. Maybe he will surprise you and be a little more at ease at your regular vet.

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by Chip's Mom

I am thinking about popping into my regular vet's for a visit once in awhile just so he can start having some positive experiences. They will fuss over him and give him treats.

Excellent plan Bonnie, exactly what I was going to suggest. Stopping in, just to say hi, and get a treat can help lower his stress level.

Originally Posted by Chip's Mom

I don't understand why he wasn't traumatized when he was neutered but he was with this. It must have been more extensive I guess.

This was a lot more extensive than his neutering and everything was strange there. He's more familiar with his regular vet and the staff there, not so much like "strangers," so a little more at "home" with the neutering.

Debbie

[glencorgi]

PS: Glad to hear the great report!

Debbie

[dcole]

Poor Chipster! It broke my heart reading how scared he was at the vets.
I am glad to hear that he is healing well, though. Trevor sends his best.

-Debi

[Jespah]

Glad to hear the Chipster is doing well in his recovery, we hope he continues along is fully healed soon.
It's a great idea to drop in at your vets for "visits". I've always done it with mine, since they were pups. Rupe had a couple of bad experiences and is not impressed by the vets. We drop in, he gets weighed - he runs right to the scale and plops down on it and he gets a cookie or two. They love them at our place as there are few Corgi around.

[Fluffypants]

Excellent news that Chip is healing so well Bonnie.
Sorry to hear he was scared at the vet's office though. Poor little punkin. I defnitely think that the vet "visits" will help though. Good plan!

[Chip's Mom]

Emilie:

When Chip is scared or sad, etc., his ears will go down too. Last night when we got home it was about 9:30 at night and pouring the rain. Poor lil Chip had to go potty and he sat by the door, ears down, head down such a pathetic little thing. He knew he had to go, but hates the rain. After he went out and went potty, he was happy.

[sweetlychee]

Bonnie: I hope Chip feels better now! He's Milo's brother! =)
I know he can sense and remember the bad experience. Milo doesn't like to see his vet now since he got neutered. He peed on the table when he had his stitches removed. I was very embarrassed. The best we can do is reassure our corgis that it's ok and will be alright.

God bless Chip and hope everything gets better!

[Chip's Mom]

Poor Milo. He has had so many bad experiences for such a young age. Tell Milo it is ok that he peed on the table, many a little baby boys have done that at their first pediatrician visit.

[tandemgal]

so glad to hear Chip got a clean bill of health! Bet he will be back to his old self in no time!

[darci]

Great news on his check up.