Celebrities

 We are celebrities at the vet. Every time we walk in, which is at least once a week, we are greeted by all the staff members and are immediately asked about Pappy and his fur-siblings.

Today, a new girl helped us and naively asked if it was our first time there. I heard another staff member giggle in the back room. I think she got the hint that we were frequent visitors. 

In her defense, we were there for Ernie - and it was his first time. Me -  being mother of year - forgot to bring in his vet records and asked if she could quickly call our old vet in Waunakee because I forgot my cell phone, too (clearly, I don't have my shit together).

Ernie was in for a chronic upper respiratory infection - which we haven't had to treat in at least six months, but since then has come back with a vengeance.

A month or so ago, I jokingly asked one of the techs if they had a loyalty program after paying one of our many vet bills. Today must have been the day that we were able to "cash in" as we got Ernie's meds compliments of the vet clinic.

It's truly hilarious how much they know and love our furbabies. Last week, Dr. Gerbig suggested that Pappy should get professionally groomed with a "medicated bath" (because he itches so much, his antihistamines aren't helping, and there's no sign of mange). So I called the receptionist and asked when we could get him scheduled. Turns out they're booked three weeks out.

When I was in with Ernie today - the groomer came up to me and said: "I heard Pappy needs to be groomed. I'm booked - but feel free to bring him in anytime. I mean, it's Pappy..."

Like I said, furbaby celebrities.

Or, most valued customers. Matt jokes that the staff cheers every time we leave screaming: BONUS TIME!

I mean, we might as well laugh about it, right?? As of now, Wally is the only furkid that is NOT on medicine.

Pappy is finishing up his round of amoxicillen that we gave him for a possible bladder infection. Urinary incontinence?  Marking? Infection? Who knows. We treated him with antibiotics hoping that it would clear up his peeing in the house/crate.... It hasn't.

Ernie is now on a five day cycle of azithromycin for his chronic URI (upper respiratory infection) and we will have to keep a close eye on him to see if we'll eventually have to give him a dose every other day for the REST OF HIS LIFE.

Lulu is on prozac to help with stress that will hopefully stop her from pissing in the basement, living room, on the blankets, etc., etc., etc. - pretty much anywhere BUT the cat litter. Dr Gerbig thinks she'll need to be on meds for at least three months, and hopefully by that time -- she will have calmed down and decreased her psycho cat levels.

And thanks to Bitch Lulu and Pissy Pappy, Matt and I have decided that we will NOT be putting in new carpet but instead, installing laminate floors throughout. I am SO done with vacuuming and shampooing the carpets every other day. SO SO DONE. It will help with my allergies - and our house will no longer smell like a hamster cage. Not that it does now, because I'm so obsessive compulsive that I spend all of my free time shampooing the carpets. Talk about FUN.

And if any of you are questioning why we spend so much money on Pappy, Wally, Ernie, and Lulu - and not "just get rid of them" then shame on you. Would you get rid of your kids if they were chronically sick?

Unfortunately, installing brand new floors throughout the entire house is A LOT more expensive than putting new carpet in a couple of rooms. Because of this, we will have to wait until the Spring time.

9 months and counting! Until then - NO ONE is allowed come over....until April, that is. Or when these meds kick in. More vet bills. Bigger celebrities.

OH YEAH! Fatboy Ernie (at a whopping 17 pounds) is officially on a diet. GO ERNIE!