is squeamish about any change (ANY change) is you cannot slip up on them. IF you must do something for them, or to them, or with them, you'll have to arrange circumstances so that you can trap them.
In the last two weeks, MacKenzie's gone to the vet twice, first for her annual check up and last week for her teeth cleaning. I pay for teeth cleaning because gum disease and the resulting illness(es) could be very expensive, not to mention painful for the dog.
Got her to the vet for the check up by cleverly sneaking up with leash rolled up in my hand. She nearly got away, but I was insistent and held on to her. Then last week, as noted here, she outsmarted me and slipped away. The next day Rosey came over and helped me get her on a leash--yes, it takes two adult women to get one dog on a leash.
When I got back to the vet that afternoon to pick her up, she was quite upset with me (and with the vet and the assistants). She gladly left their offices, got in the car and went home with me. As soon as we got home, she went into the back yard and avoided me for hours.
She was pretty clear about my being the source of her misery, I guess. She didn't have any idea what awaited her. The doc had found a slight blemish on minute area of her upper gums and advised me to treat MacKenzie with antibiotics for a week to see if the area cleared up. So much of treating animals is trial and error, since tests are expensive and may not reveal with certainty the nature of the problem, it seems easier to try things and rule them out.
So along with the meds, I purchased pill pockets to trick her into taking the meds. First time worked OK; second time out, she chewed up the pill pocket and spit out the pill.
Next plan was hide the pill inside an ordinary dog treat, one of those pseudo-meat chunks that are 'beef flavored'. Then I folded a pill inside pieces of a sliced cheese (she's quite fond of cheddar). Last night I used peanut butter. In between, I got to her on my bed and got a pill-containing pill pocket in her mouth and held her mouth closed so she couldn't spit out anything. These efforts are also trial and error since not all succeed.
Of course, the result of all this conniving is she watches me with disdain and with any motion that's not absolutely typical, she runs to the back yard. I predict I'll be closing the dog door at the bottom of the steps, closing the door to the bedroom and trying to corner her in the hallway. She's ordinarily a slow and deliberate creature, but when she intends to escape she moves with alacrity and grace. And I am left with leash, or meds and sometimes genuine unadulterated snacks in my paws.
She relented some last night and got on the bed with me when I went to bed and allowed me to scratch her back and rub her belly. It was a concession to our mutual fondness; but I am not fooled that she's not still watching me for clues of dastardly intentions.
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