[nagdu] Benny's vet visit

[Tracy Carcione]

Yesterday, I took Ben for his annual checkup.  He's well, but he has a lump 
on his right eyelid.  It's about the size of a grain of wheat, so not too 
big, but not tiny, either.  The vet thinks it would be best to take it off 
now and biopsy it, because, if we wait and the lump gets bigger, it will be 
more of a problem to remove, being in a rather delicate place.  So Benny 
will have to spend a day at the vet's in a couple weeks, and miss his 
breakfast as well.  Poor Bubba!  And, last time he had to stay all day at 
the vet, I'm not sure they gave him any chance to pee, because he was 
desperate to go when I got him back.  I shall speak to them about it, for 
all the good that may do.
I hate leaving him at the vet.  I always imagine the worst.  But it should 
be fine.

The vet said his teeth looked good, so I guess regular teeth-brushing is 
doing some good.

The bill came to $576, which was rather shocking.  It's lucky I have a good 
job.  There were a couple tests that aren't strictly necessary, a year's 
worth of heartworm, a couple vaccines, and expressing his anal 
glands--nothing really extraordinary, so I was quite surprised.  Maybe they 
charge extra for the suffering of the tech who has to do the anal glands. 
:.) Or maybe it's the blood work-up for an older dog, which I don't think is 
really necessary, but I've seen it recommended, and it won't hurt (except my 
pocketbook).
Tracy