Sadie had a stressful day today.
Doesn’t she look stressed?
Early this morning, I called our vet to see if he could see Sadie at some point today. Fortunately we were able to snag a 3 p.m. appointment so the vet was able to closely examine the tiny black specs that appeared on Sadie’s neck yesterday.
When I was talking on the phone to my friend Michaela last night, Sadie came over and leaned against me. As I was petting her neck, I noticed tiny bumps. Upon further examination, I saw the tiniest little black dots in the middle of the bumps. They were smaller than a pinhead and weren’t moving at all. The black specs were really hard to pick off of her neck and while she wasn’t itching at her neck, Ryan and I figured the specs warranted a trip to the vet since there were so many.
We assumed Sadie picked up something on our Saturday afternoon hike and the vet agreed. He pulled a few of the specs off her neck and examined them under a microscope since they just looked like a tiny black dot to the human eye.
After checking them out, the vet said the specs are a tiny bug of some sort, possibly a mite, nymph tic or something else. Sending the bugs off to the lab to examine would cost nearly $200, so we are going to call them mystery specs for now and hope that the expensive medicine we were prescribed to put on Sadie’s back will quickly kill them. Who knew our simple Saturday hike would turn into a $150 adventure?
Sadie seemed to know when she was out of the hot seat at the vet and her smiley face quickly returned.
Happy girl!
Dinner
Now let’s not so gracefully transition from talking about freaky bugs to discussing dinner!
Tonight’s dinner included a sweet potato and chicken stir fry made with broccoli slaw and onions that I sautéed in a pan with olive oil, soy sauce and honey.
This meal reminded me a lot of the meals I used to make for myself when I first graduated from college and was trying not to rely on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Lean Cuisines and oatmeal for dinner. Quesadillas, pasta with marinara sauce and vegetables or simple stir frys became my go-to meals as I transitioned into regularly cooking dinner for myself. Simple but tasty!
Off to watch the Olympics! I love synchronized diving. Beautiful!
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Oh poor Sadie!! I hope the meds work for her too!
I too love stir frys for an easy dinner–so delicious, and can make up so many flavors.
YAY for the Olympics! I love diving–you’re right, so pretty!
We eat stirfries at least twice a week because they’re so easy and accomodate any veggie. It’s a nice, stress-free dinner 🙂
Wow, that’s a purple sweet potato! My favorite!
Poor dog! Could you tell me what type of harness she is wearing?? I am desperately trying to find something gentle and safe for my little border collie mix! And thanks for the great healthy eating tips!!!
I would also like to know what harness you use. My golden does not like a traditional collar and isn’t the biggest fan of the harness I have for him now.
It’s an easy walk harness. I went through several harnesses before getting my easy walk for my Aussie and I love that it allows them not to pull u and does not put strain on them.
We use the Gentle Leader Easy Walk harness for Sadie and I cannot recommend it enough!
Thanks very much!
it’s the gentle leader easy walk harness. we LOVE it!
Thank you! It is so much more helpful to take advice from another pet owner!!
How do u feel about the late time the olympics are on? Drives me nuts I’m up so late!
Aw, poor Sadie, at least they weren’t really bothering her! I love synchronized diving too 🙂
oh no! poor Sadie, hope the little bug things go away, love her smile
I highly recommend pet insurance. VPI Pet Insurance is a great company. Their website is below.
petinsurance.com
Is it expensive taking a pet to the vet? I am not an animal owner but I might consider it in the future!
I seriously should have been a vet. You get to play with animals all day & collect a big, fat paycheck!
As a Veterinary Technician for the past 8 years, and future Vet student, I can speak from experience…we do *not* collect “big, fat paychecks”! After over 100,000 in student loans, the average recent Vet graduate starts out earning about $40,000/year. With the free/$4 generic prescriptions at most grocery stores/walmarts/targets, etc. plus all the online pharmacies, vet clinics hardly make any money off prescriptions. What you are paying for is their knowledge, and helping keep the business doors open.
As for playing with animals all day, I wish that is all we did. A small portion of our visits are that healthy, due to the economy, people cannot afford preventive care or emergencies like they used to.
All that said, it is a *VERY* rewarding field, and I cannot imagine doing anything else in life. My passion is Vet Med.
As a vet student myself I find it quite upsetting when people describe the vet profession as being all pleasurable and profitable. What people fail to realize is the amount of studying it takes (just as much as becoming a human doctor-four years post college), the competitiveness involved in even being accepted into vet school, the amount of money it takes to pay for it (way over 150,000 for me), and the amount of comparative medicine you have to know as you have to treat all species except the human one. Post-graduation, as a doctor, you are responsible for saving lives. Despite the fact that we spend as much money for school and have to learn as much as students of human medicine, our earnings are far lower. But it is by far the most rewarding life path that one can embark upon even when the patients strive to bite, scratch, or otherwise hurt you, which I presume, does not often occur in human medicine.
This reminds me of me friend who is a dentist. People think she has it easy and makes tons of money when in reality she has a hefty student loan from dental school and people are very distrusting of most expensive dental work, thinking the dentist is just trying to make money!
Amen, ladies! My husband just graduated in May with his DVM. And yes, it’s not all fun and games – he now works 60+ hours a week and I see him about as frequently as when he was in school 🙁 With over $160,000 in student loans, we aren’t living the life of luxury so many people seem to think when they find out he’s a veterinarian. In fact, we just put an offer on a small, modest house, with people in our new little town asking why we didn’t look at nicer homes by the “country club”…uh, because we cannot afford it!
I would like to know where most people my age find the money to buy the big expensive homes near the “country club!” haha. But kudos to the vets, vet techs, and wives of vets!!! I know it involves a lot of schooling, paying for that schooling, keeping current with new information, and don’t forget those after-hours calls! I think it really is a calling, and I am glad for the people who care for our furry family members.
Poor Sadie!! Haha she does look very stressed out! I hope that medicine gets rid of the bugs, good thing you took her in!
Poor pup! I hope the meds work. It’s amazing how sad they can look at the vet.
And, nothing wrong with a good stir fry!
Poor baby. My little puppy has been having bug problems too. I guess its that season. The dinner looked awesome! I’m definitely tring that one!
Poor puppy! I hope they turn out to be nothing and she clears up soon. I love the complete 180* change from beginning to end of appointment. Typical. 😉
awww poor Sadie!!
Poor little girl! I hope they’re gone soon! I love the idea of using broccoli slaw in a stir fry!
Aww poor little Sadie!!! Glad she’s her happy, cheery self still!
Hey!
just wanted to say again i love your blog. One of the first things I did today on my birthday was check your blog!
have a great day!
Happy birthday!!
happy, happy birthday janelle!!!
Poor Sadie! She’s just been bombarded by vet appointments! My little guy is feeling traumatized… the neighbor’s daughter drenched him with pool water. He’s sitting here giving me the evil eye for allowing such torture. LOL Hope Sadie’s meds work out for her!! Although these vet visits are giving us the cutest sad dog photos. 🙂
Oh no! I’m hoping Sadie gets those icky bugs off fast!
Aw, poor Sadie- she DOES look stressed!
That brocc slaw looks delish!
Poor doggie 🙁
I am in love with the idea of broccoli slaw in stir fry!! Such a smart idea!! Thanks!
I agree synchronized diving was VERRRRY sexy. I mean beautiful 😉
Have you Google what type of little black bugs might be in the area where you were hiking? I live by Google. I always put lavender scented oil/skin so soft spray mix on my doodle before taking him to the barn with me and it really seems to help keep misc bugs away (in addition to his confortis). Hope the little lady is feeling better soon!
Aww, Sadie! I hope the medicine clears up the bugs!
Stirfrys are always a good fallback meal. Whenever I don’t know what to make for dinner – stirfry. Done.
Awwaaaaa poor girl!! I’m glad you got her in. Hope she’s enjoying the Olympics too.
By the way, I’m working on adopting a Vizsla from the local rescue. I had my home visit the other day, and the couple brought their Vizsla along to play. I am SO excited!!!!
Hope those meds do the trick :)!
Oh no! I hope Sadie feels better super soon!
awww! I really hope those “mites” are gone with whatever medicine was prescribed! Poor Sadie!…Also dinner looked yummy!!
Ehhh. We had a bug scare but they were fleas!!! I didn’t think my mini princess was capable of attracting those nasty little things but she did!
Totally feel ya on the ultra expensive bill… I pay a monthly payment to cover most expenses and just forked over $503 for them to pull her 4 bottom teeth!!! I just thought she was going in for a teeth cleaning and came out with no teeth and a bank breaker bill! The things we do for our babies.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/weddings/blogs/ready-or-knot/7372703/Photos-before-the-ceremony
You are famous in New Zealand!
That is SO awesome! Congrats Julie 🙂 Your picture is making it’s way around the WORLD!!
Just a quick comment to let you know that I’ve nominated you for an award – please check out my blog http://www.willmoveforcake.blogspot.co.uk for details.
I read your blog all the time and you inspire me and I wanted to let you know!
Don’t feel like you have to do it but you can if you want.
Poor Sadie! I hope she feels better! 🙂
Is that sweet potato purple?? If so, that is awesome! I must find one of those!
I just started reading your blog and I am obsessed already! Poor Sadie! I hope the meds clear it up. I chuckled to myself about your comment. I too had quesadillas and chicken and stir fry veggies as my go to meals after college.
Oh my! I had an expensive trip to the vet with my Vizsla too yesterday!!! It was the works – vaccinations, tests, nails clipped, anal glands cleaned (gross, but sooo necessary!!!)Glad the vet was able to remove those nasty little buggers and give Sadie medicine!
I am so happy she’s okay! I’m fairly new to your blog and have been loving it!! Especially the Sadie posts 🙂 We have two dogs ourselves and we turned into “crazy” dog people too!!
Hope the medicine helps solve the problem!!
Also – where did you purchase Sadie’s harness?? We have been on the lookout for a new one for our big dog as the buckle on his rubs him raw so we haven’t been able to use it! 🙁
I always forget about stir fry!! Need to make one soon. This looks yummy! I love the idea of using broccoli slaw… Sometimes wilty broccoli in stir frys grosses me out. Best of luck getting rid of the mystery bugs on Sadie’s neck! Poor thing!
Julie, I’m seriously obsessed with your dog. What breed is she? Be careful, I, gonna come steal Sadie!
she’s a vizsla. 🙂
Sadie is too cute! As a dog owner who just spent $950 to diagnose our dog which is resulting in a $2000 surgery, I can totally understand the importance and urgency of getting care for your four legged baby! Hope Sadie is all cleared up soon.
~Jen
I swear dogs are more expensive than humans! My dogs the past couple of years have cost us almost 10grand in hospital bills! Our one dog has a knack for swallowing sticks and ripping holes in his throat 🙁 Let’s just say we don’t throw the stick anymore. And our other little dog had a tick- they are nasty things.
My dog Sammie also had a little medical scare this weekend too. It led to $1200.00 ER vet bill. Thank goodness he is okay now! I understand how scary (and expensive) unexpected trips to the vet can be. I’m glad to hear she is doing well. Such a beautiful little girl you have.
Sadie is so cute! She’s a Vizsla right? I have one named Lucy and she is equally beautiful. Best dogs on earthhh