New Year, Same Ollie

~ beetleypete

I mentioned recently that Ollie’s fur is not growing back after his recent skin infection. If anything, the fur loss is getting worse.

Then over the weekend, he started to shake his head again, a sure sign of a developing ear infection.

So my first ‘normal’ day after the holiday season involved taking him to the Vet, yet again. I was lucky to get an afternoon appointment, even though the place was heaving with numerous dogs, and cats in baskets.

For some reason, the dogs in the waiting room yesterday were particularly distressed. One small French Buldog was in such a state, it was climbing over its owner’s head to try to get out of a window. A stocky Chow Chow was digging its front legs so hard into the flooring, the frustrated owner had to drag the poor thing into the consulting room by its body harness.

Next to us, a nervous Lurcher bitch spent her waiting time trembling and crying, and an unseen dog in the treatment room at the back howled through whatever process it was enduring. Ollie picked up on all the distress, constantly walking in circles around me.

Eventually, we got in to see the usual Vet. He diagnosed an ear infection in the right ear. I expected him to use the new ‘wonder-gel’ to cure it, but he told me that does not get into the bloodstream, so Ollie would have to have tablets. Back to Prednisilone and Antibiotics for two weeks. He has to go back then, to be checked over.

As if the Christmas season wasn’t expensive enough, that ten minutes and two bottles of tablets cost £126. ($171)

On the plus side, (looking for positives!) the squeaking noise from my car has stopped. Maybe it was just something caught in the wheel? I won’t be able to risk not getting it checked though, but that will have to wait for a while.

70 thoughts on “New Year, Same Ollie”

    1. Like you, I take pet ownership very seriously. I treat him like a member of the family, and I have never been able to understand how anyone could neglect a loyal and loving dog.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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    1. The bill was about average. Some Vets charge more, some less. But we like Ollie to see the same Vet every time for continuity.
      He is slowly responding to the medication, and has stopped shaking his head. Hopefully his fur will start growing back next month.
      As ever, Pete. XXX

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  7. Based on your earlier experiences with pet insurance, we insured Emmy at her first puppy visit. We went with a policy with no ending at a certain age since she was so young and healthy. Even though yours finally ran out, I can see it is a good idea for recurrent problems(and what dog well loved doesn’t have recurrent problems?)

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    1. Our 8 year limit was based on the breed, which is known to be relatively short-lived. To a large extent, we got our money’s worth over the years, as the company paid out close to £9,000 until 2020.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  12. (1) That squeaky noise in your car was an injured mouse that was pleading to be taken to the vet. But now it has stopped squeaking, so it’s too late. Sad!
    (2) If the dogs are heaving, they’re eating the wrong food.
    (3) At the vet, all cats are considered to be a basket case.
    (4) Ollie is used to visiting the vet. Before seeing all his distressed brethren in the waiting room, he thought to himself, “Another visit to the vet? That’s no skin off my back!’

    But, seriously, I feel bad for Ollie. I hope to hear very soon that his ear infection has gone away, and that his fur had made a comeback.

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  14. The Covid procedure at our vet has improved things for everyone. Nowadays you stay in your car until someone comes to get your pet and they go straight to the exam room. I thought when the weather got cold it would be difficult but it’s all well timed and there has never been a problem. It’s still just as expensive but certainly less stressful for the pets.n Blackie has a lump that needs checking..always a worry as lumps in cats can be bad news. Of course she is the one with bad nerves….

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    1. We had that system for almost two years, but they recently allowed owners back in, wearing a mask and socially-distanced. Too many pets didn’t like to go in with the Vet, apparently.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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    1. It all adds up. Antibiotics for 14 days, low-dose Prednisilone for 12 days, ear-cleaning fee, and the cost to see the Vet even if he does nothing. (About £30 just to walk in there)
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  17. Poor Ollie. He does have a time of it. Hope the tablets help him feel better soon. I hope the car problems have resolved without intervention although you are wise to still have it checked out.

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    1. Ollie is very good when receiving treatment, but he doesn’t like being in the waiting room so seeks constant reassaurance that he will not be left behind. After six operations when he was left, I understand his concern.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  21. I was at the vets myself yesterday with Jackie, she is suffering from some kind of skin condition and I wanted to have her ears cleaned. We skirted round an excited boxer, skipped over a cat box and ushered into a room with two dogs recovering from operations, one of them with the owner holding onto its paw. The vert read my note, although she does have some English, and set to Jackie’s ears, two minutes later she gave me a bag with 5 tablets, two for Jackie and three worming tablets for the cats. Total time of visit 5 minutes, cost of visit 60 zloty or about £12.
    I hope Ollie get well soon.

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  22. Sorry to hear about Ollie, Pete: I hope the tablets work quickly. Having a pet is very expensive, I’m afraid. Dogs do seem very empathetic to their surroundings & other dogs, and it can be distressing to know they’re not happy, but there isn’t a lot you can do about it. Cheers, Jon.

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    1. One day, I may post about the expense of having a pet dog, if you care for it properly. Ollie’s medical bills have exceeded £13,000 in nine years, and not all of that was covered by insurance. And that’s not accounting for al the toys, beds, leads, grooming, and general ‘stuff’ that you need for a dog.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  25. Oh Pete. That is awful about the insurance. How strange about how all those dogs were acting. Now I’m wondering why. I hope Ollie gets better soon. Ear infections are not nice. Hugs for Ollie from me and Hope xx

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    1. We had pet insurance from the start, but they refused to insure him once he was 8, as his bills had exceeeded £10,000. (The monthly payments had gone up to £95 a month by then anyway) So now I have to pay the Vet bills.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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        1. To be fair to them, they paid out well over £8,000 from 2012 until 2020. And they did have a clause that gave them the option of no longer covering him when he was 8. So I expected them to bail out at that stage.

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