I’m sitting at the emergency vet for the first time. I have become numb as I let the hands of fate whisk me to where it may.
My youngest child refused to go down easy last night.
My oldest child woke up in the middle of the night vomiting.
Meanwhile, my pup got into some Icelandic chocolate and puked her guts out. I found this out after she pawed at our door all night, ruining any chance I had at sleep.
The ol’ whittle-Daddy-down trifecta. I’ve cleaned diarrhea and/or vomit on every floor of my house today. I’m trying use my mindfulness exercises. Control what I can control. I am empty.
After stabilizing the vomiting child, I needed to figure out next steps with the pup. She has eaten chocolate before, many a time. But the amount and the foreign ingredients of whatever is in Icelandic chocolate were a concern.
I called our vet. The assistant answered the phone and asked the issue. I told her about the chocolate and the vomiting and the lethargy. No food or drink in her system. The assistant put me on hold to ask the vet their recommendation. She relayed the vet was not concerned since the worst may have already passed. She asked the amount and what kind of chocolate. I told her my 14-lb. dog ate 7 oz. of whatever Icelandic chocolate is. The label said 53% bitter. The assistant put me on hold to ask the vet their recommendation. The assistant relayed the vet was now concerned. I should visit the emergency vet.
In eight years of being a pet owner, I had never been to the emergency vet. I lost my footing. How much was that going to cost?
The Damage
The emergency vet was not busy at all. The front desk ladies asked about my “kiddo.” Icelandic chocolate. Vomiting. Lethargy. I brought what was left of the chocolate wrapper so they could take it from there.
I filled out a form while they evaluated my “kiddo.” It asked if I had pet insurance. I wrote “No.” I got light headed. It was fine because I was empty. Control what I can control. Be mindful. Oh dear. How much is this going to cost?
The vet brought me back to assess the damage. The worst was over, but we needed to address dehydration and GI issues. She gave me a quote for “gold standard care.” I said just get my pup hydrated and give me the GI pills. That knocked the bill down by $100.
We checked out. Five hundred dollars for a 20-minute visit. I paid by credit card so I could get cash back for the purchase.
Home
I need sleep now. I am so out of sorts that I thought this would be a good story to document. But also I have one more emergency to address.
I don’t have chocolate for my wife for Mother’s Day. The Icelandic chocolate was supposed to be for her.
It cost $8.