Feeling relieved

Dexter and I just got back from a visit to the vet. I went to a different vet than the one I have been taking him to. This vet is the same one my parents take their dogs to. I am relieved that the lump on his neck isn't anything to worry about! The doc said it was a sebaceous cyst and since it isn't bothering Dex that we don't need to do anything about it. That was good news for me. I was worrying that he had cancer. The doc also gave us some ear drops for a recurrent ear infection he has been getting off and on. The doc said that the recurrent ear infections have caused his right ear to close up deep in the ear canal and so he gave me the ear drops that I will have to use on him for the rest of his life. I told the vet the name of the ear drops we had been using and he said he never has had good luck with that one. Obviously we weren't having good luck with it either.

Dex also has developed a hot spot on his back that he has scratched and scratched to the point that it was looking awful in just the last couple days. The doc said that the hot spot and ear infection were probably related causing an allergy. So we got some good ointment for that. I had been putting some neosporin on it after the vet's office told me on the phone on Saturday that I could do that until I brought him in today. That seemed to help a lot. I didn't know you could put "human" neosporin ointment on a dog so now I know that that is safe to do.

Dex got his toenails clipped too. That is always traumatic for Dex. He nipped at the girl who was holding him while the doc clipped the nails. Luckily he didn't hurt her! The doc had to wrap a rolled up towel around his neck after Dex bared his teeth and nipped at the girl. After he did that, Dex calmed down and behaved.

I will continue to take Dex to this different vet from now on. I haven't been happy with the former vet for a while now. I think he needs to retire. He is always gruff and not very gentle with Dex. I have heard rumors for a while now that he doesn't like small dogs. I don't know if that is true but the last time we went to him, when he was clipping at Dex's toenails and Dexter yelped out and growled, the vet hollered at him and called him a "stupid little shit". That was it for me. There was no reason for him to do that. I had specifically asked for the younger vet who works in the same office (for the older gruff vet) to deal with us but while we waited in the exam room, the older vet walked by and saw us and he just walked in and took over before the younger one could get to us. So since I knew that apparently even though I specifically asked for the younger vet, it wouldn't be a sure thing to get him. I decided I won't go back there anymore. I really liked the younger vet but I won't take a chance after what happened last time. This new vet is a farther trip for me (about 45 minutes away versus just five minutes away) but it is worth it.