They say laughter is the best medicine. They also say finding humor in a situation is a good way to cope. Well I can attest that both are true based on my own experiences in recent months. So please join me as I share some of the lighter moments at the animal hospital.
Awkward Introduction: While waiting for my post-surgery recheck, a woman came over to me gushing, “Aren’t you the sweetest dog!” and started to pet my sore, swollen head ignoring the many stitches and the drain sticking out of it. However, before Mom or Dad could politely tell her to stop petting me, I gave her my biggest smile, and fired the ol’ nose cannon, splattering her in the face and clothes with my fungal cream ooze. She was not so excited to meet me after that, proclaimed me gross, and headed off to the rest room to clean up. Dad put on the biggest smile and told me, “good boy!” while another family who watched this all unfold burst into laughter. That comedic timing sure broke the tension in the room!
All in Perspective: On the day I was to get the drain removed from my head, word got out quickly that I was in the building. As I waited for my appointment, various members of the staff, who helped me during my ordeal one week prior, came out to marvel at how much better I looked, and to give me cuddles. Now mind you, I still looked frightful. Finally I was led away to have the drain removed and stitches out. This was when a gentleman sitting nearby said to Mom and Dad, “I don’t know what your dog’s been through, but if that’s an improvement, I feel a lot better about my dog’s stomach ache!” He then went on to ask what the drain was for, to which Dad responded, “Oh he ate too much gravy on Thanksgiving. It’s to pump it out.”
High Maintenance: They are currently expanding the animal hospital, so there were construction workers in the building. Shortly after leading me off to have the drain removed, a crew wearing hardhats with one carrying a large ventilation hose (like the kind used on a dryer) and another with a ladder came down the hall, and exited through the same door I had just gone through with the vet tech. This time it was the aforementioned gentleman’s turn to make Mom and Dad laugh. He gestured towards the crew and said, “Your dog must need a bigger drain!”
My Good Side: This incident happened after my surgery in September, when I was waiting for a routine eye exam. A woman who was looking at her phone when we entered the waiting room, didn’t notice me until I was seated with my good side towards her. She gasped, “He is gorgeous! Is he a show dog?” To which point, I turned revealing my shaved head, partially shaved chest, missing eye, and runny nose. She looked at me in what can best be described as shock and embarrassment, to which Dad, without missing a beat, said, “Yes, he is!”
Timing Is Everything: While sitting in the waiting room, we saw a lot of pups coming in at their worst, with their nervous pet parents. One little dog after sizing up the room, made a decision right then and there that he wanted nothing to do with this place and had to immediately get better. While his Mom was explaining her dog hadn’t pooped in a while, he decided to do the biggest one we ever saw from someone so small, right there in front of the reception desk. Realizing what her dog just did, the Mom happily said, “Well I guess he’s all better now. Never mind!”
Screen Time: I’m not sure who picks the tv shows being played in the waiting room. But the documentary on chipmunks playing in the dogs’ waiting area made our day. This was especially true for a French Bulldog who was sitting on his Mom’s lap, head tilted, happily watching the show. He seemed disappointed when he was called to an exam room, and kept pulling to go back to the waiting room.
Poor Ken: On another monitor, they had a children’s show playing. Unlike the chipmunk documentary which had subtitles, this one did not. So my Dad was greatly amused, watching a rather upset looking Barbie, hands gesturing repeatedly going from her hips to the air, in what could be in anger, while looking directly at the camera. In Dad’s mind it looked like she was lecturing Ken, and he started giving his commentary on what she was saying. Mom and Dad were alone in the waiting room then, otherwise they wouldn’t have been giggling like that. The receptionist, trying to remain professional, was doing her best not to smile, but finally she turned to see the screen and burst out laughing at Dad’s commentary, agreeing that Ken really was in trouble!
So that’s a hard “no”: And finally after the emergency surgery there was a lot of information Mom and Dad needed to understand in order to take me home, regrading my many medications, how to empty the drain, and concerns about keeping me safe because at the time I couldn’t see. Mom and Dad took it all serious, asking a bazillion questions and taking notes. Just before leaving the vet tech asked, “Do you have any questions?” Without missing a beat, Mom said, “So what you’re saying is we probably shouldn’t do pet pictures with Santa tomorrow?” The poor tech was completely taken off guard, then realized the joke and burst out laughing. Sometimes you just need to break the tension!
