When we moved here with 4 dogs, we knew that one of the main considerations would be the continued are of the dogs, we had enjoyed with our long time Vet Clinic in Canada. We had Dr. Martin Rebele for over 10 years. He and his staff at Cedar rove Animal Hospital had seen us through many illnesses and accidents; from adoption to eternal rest. They did a fantastic job of getting all of the required exams and documentations and vaccinations.
When we arrived, we had gone about trying to find a vet that we hoped would be consistent and competent; compassionate and caring. The first thing we noticed were the large number of animal clinics around. And so our search began. We knew the dogs were all in excellent health, and so with no particular urgency, we checked out a few places. We had heard that the vet services that Soi Dog Foundation and P.A.W.S. were excellent, but both were located a fair distance from where we lived. One day Clive came back from the pet food store and told me he had met the owner, a young man who was just finishing his veterinary training and that he spoke good English. He would graduate in a few months and over time we got to know him and his staff at the store better, until graduation and one day he is behind the cash register and the next he has his degree up and the lab coat on..
Over about 2 months the food store underwent a major transformation. And out of the store emerged a veterinary clinic with the most up to date technology from X-ray to ultrasound. Examination rooms, a surgery, the food store and a grooming salon, now occupied the space formerly a store. During all of the renovations, they remained open. For a few weeks the left side of the floor space was the store, with tarps hanging to keep the dust out, and then 2 weeks later the right side was the store and then in the last 2 weeks, the sidewalk in the front became the store. You would nimbly walk through the construction site, avoiding hanging cables, chunks of concrete and tiling or the arc welder in his flip-flops and Ray ban sunglasses. But progress it did.
Eventually we had our first reason to see the vet. Byron had broken out in a rash and was scratching himself to the point of bleeding. So into Thunderbird 3 we loaded him and off to the vet. Byron thought this was great as he had the whole cart to himself and the girls had to stay home. He went galloping into the vet office without a problem. he loves people so any opportunity to meet someone is a big event for Byron. The vet office has two people on reception. It appears that this is all they do; reception. In this case the lovely young ladies, as it turns out are actually boys. Or as they are sometimes known, lady-boys or katoey. The guy who a few months ago was lugging my 25kilo bag of dog food, was now a vet assistant. And as I had noticed going ot the examination room, there were about 8 employees, including the groomer, who was busy. Then into the examination room. Stainless steel surfaces and examination table, xray screens on the wall. Plastic shrink wrapping on the chair backs and for the first time, I actually got to see the new doctor. He came into the room and for some reason I looked at his face and thought, oh my god he must be about 17! For some reason when he was behind the cash register a few months earlier, that did not seem to matter to me. My eyes gazed down the crisp white smock to the jeans and bright red flip-flops. The back to his face, and I do recall saying to myself, this guy has never, ever, shaved. But I am getting older, and he is Asian, so it is highly unlikely that he is 17.
Now it is true here, as it was in Canada. The examination tables are handy for us humans to stand belly to the table to examine the dog. But for Byron, all 25 Kilos of him, and standing still on a stainless steel table, is to say the least a challenge. To top it off, he had very long nails, as he had decided that nail trimming was a traumatic experience, best done while baying, fighting and screaming, to make the neighbours think he is being tortured. For the most part it worked and we would simply give up. Or take the cowards way out and drop him at a vet office and let them do it. As you sat out front listening to what sounded like a dog in life threatening pain, and knowing it was just Byron objecting to a nail trim. As he flailed on the table, you had to try and avoid getting caught with his talons of terror. He is also young and very strong, but eventually 4 of us managed to restrain him and get blood drawn and swabs made. We went out to pay, afraid we would have to make a bank run, as we did not have the type of money on us that we were used to paying in Canada. In the end, with 4 follow-up visits, 4 medications, blood-work and the office examination, the bill came to about $61CDN. Slightly more than an office visit fee back in Canada. And he got better.
By now, Byron, Annie, Dixie and Pancake have all had reason to go to the vets. And in every case the fees have been great. In checking around we probably have paid more for some services, but less for others. We have friends who have a traveling vet they use. You call on the cell and he comes to the house. The vet is open 7 days a week from 9AM to 9PM. Surgeries take place after 9PM, with the day spent in examination clinics, or on at least one occasion having a nap. As it seems he and some of the staff have apartments above the practice.
We have had to adjust to the fact that when you need to go to the vet, you just go. No appointments. If there are people already waiting...you just wait. Unless it is an emergency. You also pay cash for the visit, and follow-up visits are no charge. Byron had 4; Pancake 5. For the follow-up you negotiate a day with the vet directly, and time is always approximate. If you are late or they are late, no one gets upset.
In discussions with other dogs owners, as dog owners are prone to do, we found out that not all vets here will euthanize. Some of the vets adhere to their Buddhist principals and beliefs and will not. It has taken some time, but we have managed to eventually find out where it can be done. In all of our animals, when they become sick or in pain and beyond extending a meaningful life, we have had euthanized. Cancer mostly. There are strange things after you move that come to your mind at the most strange times, and that was one of them. I still have not worked out the disposal of the body part. I have seen the dead animals in the garbage bin by the road from time to time. I also hardly ever see roadkill, so I am assuming that is where the carcass came from. Somehow putting Byron into the Sunday trash just would not fly. Somehow as morbid as it may sound, we will go to the Soi Dog Foundation fundraiser, on Sunday and I am sure we will find an answer. the other key to living here is networking and when expats get together, we all share stories and solutions of our experiences in adapting to a new country. So it will probably not be out of place at the brunch table to ask if anyone knows how to get rid of a dead dog body.
The next issue to jolt out of sleep to, is if the next 5 days are a holiday is the vet closed and if so where do we go?" When we posed this question just prior to Songkran it received a blank stare. Eventually we figured out that the emergency animal hospital on holidays and weekends , are the ones that are open. You feel stupid for asking what is an obvious answer to the doctor. I imagine him saying to himself, If I am closed find somewhere that is open stupid farang!
I had a chat with Clive one time as they were doing their thing with Dixie, drawing blood, hooking up an IV, shaving her leg for the IV, taking her rectal temperature and trying to keep her still on my favorite stainless steel examination table! I wondered if we should just go and leave the staff to do their thing or not, as I am never sure if they want me in or out.. In some cases, I think it would prefer to be out, as no-one ever handles your dog the way you do, and I have the urge to now tak eover and shve her leg. The attempt to shave the leg by assistant #1 was not going well. Lots of clipper buzzing, but no hair on the table. He left the room to get the groomer, who joined the vet, 2 assistants, and us in this one very small room. I had experienced only once where the vet did all the procedures in front of you. That was an emergency trip with Beuford in Canada and the vet had to open up and I had to become a vet assistant. I had to hold him still while the vet inserted a long needle into his throat to draw heart blood. Mr. Beuford didn't move a muscle, as I decided that maybe being a vet assistant was not my calling. When I have stepped out here, they tend to come and get me back into the room. I expect that it is more for the comfort of the dog, as she knows you are there while all these people are doing all sorts of things to her. I also did not see a pair of latex gloves anywhere, as people came in and out of the examination room.
Unlike Canada we find that we buy our dog and cat food at the vet. In Canada that normally meant your Visa card had a melt down. Here is is the opposite. The best prices are at the vet and they also have specials. While I get 2 for 1 noodles at my supermarket, they get buy one, get four free dog treats, for free. It is somewhat of a struggle when you have Byron, all healed and full of energy, as he exits the examination room and there is the full store of food and treats for him to explore and sample. Tail snapping back and forth, and barking like a mad dog, to announce his bliss. Or Dixie making a snatch and grab of a chew stick!
We are learning all about poison plants, snakes and insect bites and other things the vet decides to share as he goes through the checklist of potential causes. The worst the dogs had to deal with before was the odd garter snake or wandering field mouse.
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