Look out–it’s a long one. Grab a beer, tune out the boss, pretend you’re going to the bathroom–whatever you need to do to hang in there and stick with me.
Posted on February 20, 2007 - Filed Under Uncategorized
I gotta tell ya, having pets is not easy. Obviously, there’s the expense of food and regular trips to the vet. There’s toys and the time one must invest in playing with and training them, especially if the pets in question are dogs. The pitfalls the vast majority of people never see coming are the unexpected medical costs. Depending on how far your wallet and conscience will allow you to go, you could very easy be looking at thousands of dollars if you find yourself with a pet who has serious problems.
Today, we reached a milestone in our journey to discover the solution to the ‘Wilson has allergies’ problem. A little backstory is appropriate. In the Summer/Fall of ‘05, he started presenting symptoms consistent with allergies. We and the vet did not know what kind–environmental, food, fleas, or contact, i.e. something he touched. We were able to eliminate the possibility of it being any of the latter three; unfortunately for us, environmental allergies are the most difficult to ascertain. They are also very expensive to treat, at least effectively. Anyway, upon arriving here, he basically exploded with allergic symptoms. We took him to the vet who happened to be of basically no help. By this point, we were feeling quite helpless. The doctor suggested we go see a specialist. This person only comes to Boise once a month and charges $100 just to walk in the door. We went to that appointment today.
The first thing you might be asking is whether this was really necessary. I mean really, $100? Perhaps another way of thinking about this is to question whether we were doing it to make him feel better or to take away something that was disturbing to us. Well, the answer to that question, I think, lies in the answer given today to a question I posed to this specialist. I asked her, on a scale of 1 to 10, how bad a case Wilson is. She said he is probably about a 6. That surprised me.
All in all, it was a good appointment. We have some hope, based on having a treatment plan, both short and long term. In the former, we have to treat a couple of infections he has as a result of having this allergy (we don’t and probably won’t know what it is to…in the long run, that piece of knowledge doesn’t really help, believe it or not). Once we get those cleared up and determine how he’s doing, we will embark on the long term treatment. It is a weekly medicine that will probably cost between $40 and $60 a month. $500 a year for dog pills!!! And that’s on the low end; it could conceivably cost a great deal more.
What’s my point in saying all this? Well, I think I’ve mentioned it here before more than once: be extremely careful to think through the commitments you make before you make them. Contemplate the possible outcomes, the pros and cons, the inherent benefits and sacrifices. Take several steps back and really ask yourself whether you are able and prepared to pay the costs, both those associated with making the commitment and not doing so. Choose the path you can ‘afford’ to go down. And obviously, I am not talking mainly about money, although for some, that ought to stop the train cold on the tracks in the middle of town during rush hour. I am mostly talking about what it takes to stick by, to hang in there. And don’t be all noble, thinking you have what it takes because, since no one truly knows the future, no one truly knows what’s going to happen and how they’re going to deal with it. You may cave, though you think yourself strong. You may shuffle through, drunk on your own mediocrity. Or you may triumph over the circumstance, showing yourself as having character. Whatever the outcome, in my humble opinion, it is part of being an adult to ask yourself if you are willing to deal with the consequences, success or failure, before you ever make the pledge. You’re helping no one, and quite possibly causing harm, when you make a promise you are either unwilling or unable to fulfill.
Whoa Jason, you getting way too deep off of your dog having allergies. No, actually, I am not. Though I will see Wilson through this, it has been and will continue to be a source of great stress for me. My character has been revealed to me in this and I have seen things about myself I don’t much like. I just hope that somewhere, amongst the mud, there’s the ’stuff’ which will enable me to do right by the dog I claim to love so much; he’s an awesome dog and deserves no less.
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Oh well we know the cost! I think the problem is being a Keeper. If I could do links it explains what a Keeper is. Would we do it again, I suppose only because we made a commitment, right or wrong. I guess it is a moral question. Do you let the animal suffer or take the other way.
Jason,
It’s funny that I happened to read this today. Amy and I are currently “dog shopping” and are doing a lot of research right now. I’m hoping by next fall we’ll have our mind made up as far as what kind of dog and whatnot. I do realize the commitment involved (and that’s why we don’t have one yet). My sister just got a dog a week ago and gave it back two days later because she didn’t realize how much goes into being a dog owner. I’m a little reluctant to get one now b/c being so close to family, we are always on the go.
Anyways, I hope you and the family are doing well. I had shoulder surgery two weeks ago (tore my rotator cuff playing football) and haven’t been to work in awhile. Other than that, nothing too new my way. Take care for now.
I hope you guys get this. I’ve checked your site before and it looks like you’ve changed it a bunch (i.e. adding video clips.) Looks like you’ve got a musician on your hands with those beaters and collander. Things are great here, though Angie might say otherwise… she took 18 semester hours last semester and 19 this semester. She’s doing really well despite being really burnt out. The kids are cute as can be… Maya’s got tonsulitis and an ear infection. Mikey’s a handful and LOVES to climb on things. Will just repeatedly climb off of things only to climb right back on them. Anyway, got to go… keep in touch