Hopper at the New Vet

Brian and i took Hopper to the new vet today for her annual exam and because she’s scratched behind her ear so much that she has a bald spot.  at least she has been for the past 3 or 4 weeks, and though it hasn’t gotten worse, it hasn’t improved, either.

she and Basil had gone to the previous vet since 1995 except for the 2 years that i lived in Ohio.  i used to work at that animal hospital actually, and even after i quit, they still gave me an employee discount.  seemed like a good enough reason to keep going there even though it’s a 20- to 30-minute drive depending on traffic.

recently, however, they stopped giving us the discount, and who could blame them?  i quit in 1996!  now the drive just doesn’t seem worth it–especially with 4 cats.  well, we don’t take all 4 of them at once, but we have to make multiple trips because Angelo’s on that prescription diet.  also, they’re located right near DePaul so parking is really hard to find if the "standing zone" out front is fully occupied.

a mere half mile–and 3-minute drive–away is the Cat Hospital of Chicago, with its very own parking lot.  i’ve always heard good things about the place but also heard that there was a waiting list and that the fees were expensive.  worth it, but expensive.

well, i was able to get an appointment within 3 or 4 days of making the initial call, and they really aren’t more expensive than the old place.  what with the time we save getting there, it’s definitely, definitely worth it.  we’re very happy.

more important, it seems that Hopper is happy, too.  she loathes going to the scarybadman/lady (usually it’s been a female vet).  i’m glad to report that although she was nervous at first, crying the whole way there and while we waited in the reception area, she behaved magnificently!  she likes her new vet, who she rubbed up against several times, even after she was touched in all her places–and she didn’t poop in the carrier, the exam room, or anywhere outside the litter box here at home.

we were sent home with Derma Caps, which will hopefully improve her skin condition, and she was given a Vetalog injection for it as well.  it should start clearing up by the beginning of the week.