A Veterinary Journal by Claire Poole
February
Chapter 2 - Page 8
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Monday 23rd February
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Monday 23rd February
I start today feeling somewhat battered after all the miserable occurances last week. Veterinary life has its ups and downs; it is depressing when all the downs come at once.
The weather lifts my spirits this morning - it is unseasonally mild and all at once there are signs that spring is not far away. The first primroses and crocuses are out at the side of the track as we go on our morning walk. The trees are budding and the daffodils grow inches every day. The farmers are busy drilling and ploughing their fields and the countryside has a patchwork appearance; the green of the winter barley contrasting with the chocolate brown of the plough.
It is like the calm after the storm today, only two cats to castrate - or dress as the locals say. This greatly amuses my English friend: when a client asks for their cat to be dressed,she is sorely tempted to ask ‘what as?’ I have also been asked to castigate tom cats or even canonise them! Females have come to be splayed (ouch!), sprayed (certainly - what colour?) and even to have a spade fitted! One tomcat today is called ‘Mackerel’. In the past, I have neutered a Kipper and a Smokie, but this is definitely my first Mackerel.
Once the cats are done, a less inviting task remains. Gillian needs my help with a dog grooming. Fred McAinsh is a hefty spaniel who never stands still. He is not one of our veterinary clients, but has evidently been barred from other grooming establishments for his unruliness. His owner is so impressed that ‘this is the only place that he likes to come.’ If only she knew why! For some obscure reason, Fred is totally and deeply in love with me. From the moment the door opens, his hot lust-filled eyes seek me out, and a dismal 2 hours are spent repelling his energetic advances while Gillian does her stuff. This obsession is totally directed at me; Gillian holds no attraction whatsoever. Unable to decide whether this is a compliment or an insult, I steel myself for the onslaught, but ... a different, calmer Fred walks placidly into the room. I feel almost rejected, no longer attractive even to Fred. Gillian has the explanation - since we last saw Fred, his prostate gland has been causing problems and his vet has carried out the treatment of choice – castration!
Chapter 3 for March Veterinary Journal
Copyright Claire Poole 2005
