The Country Vet

 Both Walt and I are from the country.  We know the lay of the land, and sometimes manure smells mighty pretty when you're in the country.  We also know that the vets in the country are in serious business. Think about a real estate loan officer in a big-city bank; you have the caliber and importance of a country vet. 

We're here in Arizona, and when you're in the country in Arizona, you're really in the country.  The closest city is an hour away, and those services (like Sam's) are also an hour away, so you make a serious list when you trek into Sam's from where we're staying.  But the weather is terrific.  A little chilly in the mornings, but it's about 70° almost every day, so leaving the door open and having fresh air is really great, until...

Little Bruno has pancreatitis, which can act up for no rhyme or reason, and that's what happened yesterday.  Our excellent vet back home was as helpful as he could be, being far away, so we called all the vets here close by.  The "local" city vet was booked up, and so sorry, but I recommended a "mobile vet."  At this point, I'm desperate cause the trick with this condition is stability.  So I get the vet's number, call him, and yes they can take us.  So out we go into the wild, wild west of the country to find a vet.  We pull up, and Walt and I immediately realize we are in the right place.

Look at that grin.  It's like he's home in the panhandle.  It's hard to see, but there's a horse in the area (I wouldn't call this a regulation coral as there wasn't a fence around it; we were just all out in the open together.  

He didn't look very well.  This lady was keeping the animal for a customer.  He was only 6 months old but seemed to have some joint or hip problems.  So we stood back, trying to be grateful for the help and not wanting to piss off the vet.  

Then, the piglets arrived.  From out in the country -- literally half a mile away, I see these little things scurrying around in the grass and can't wait to see the new curiosity that has entered the central area.  The horse is apparently old news to the piglets.  

Then I see this...

And I'm on alert.  I figure that Bruno tackling and killing a group of piglets is not going to put him in good stead with the vet after killing and mauling some of the vet's hopeful income.  

The next thing I think is this....

Awwww - great - I can't get Bruno off the piglets while they are prancing around the drive in front, and Bruno is NOT going to be denied the opportunity to chase at least a little and possibly even a little treat.  Just because Bruno has pancreatitis, he does not associate that with his appetite, and we've had him off food for about 24 hours already, trying to get his system to settle down.  Claire immediately goes to the thought that this is going to cost more than the medicine and the doc's time.  

Walt is like this.....

He's all proud of Bruno's killer instinct, while I'm working to keep a pork baby ribs barbeque from breaking out.  

So I'm circling the piglets trying to keep the dog who is barely in control, with Walt enjoying the show.  

Fortunately, they get the horse in the trailer, and we're next.  I say pancreatitis, and then Cerenia, and they agree and offer a shot (which is a great way cause that bypasses the GI tract and lets Bruno's system settle way down), and then we can start the pills tomorrow.  They are a lovely couple with their son playing in the yard probably 5 y/o, and we both think about the times when we were kids out in the country and what an idyllic life that was.  Anytime I wanted, I could hike and discover new things.  I had a "living room" set up in the woods and would always have make-believe friends over to chat.  Walt was probably shooting mischievously at a horse his father was trying to teach his brother how to break.  Somehow, the horse kept jumping at just the wrong time!

In the end, everyone walked away unscathed, while the vet complained that he needed to get out and neuter those piglets before something prolific happened.  As a matter of due diligence, the vet in OKC had sent a script for Bruno to Chewy, as they are the cheapest game in town, but that would run only $70 for the pills.  The vet in the country charged us less for the pills and shot than Chewy, and I was so enthralled with the whole setup that I just tipped him and made them keep the change.  They sent me a statement to my email.  The vet's wife had a tablet on which she was taking all the notes and messages, and the truck had the most organized mass of drawers and compartments.  

It's always a treat to meet the vet in the country.  They do know what they are doing, and they are glad to get something that's fixable and will not be a huge deal.  This vet was awesome, and I'll write a great Google review for him.  The best way I know to reward great service.