Do They Know?

I feel so very, very guilty when I have to pill my cat or clean the yeasty bugs out of my dog's ears. She screams in pain every time I do it, no matter how gently I try. Of course, my fellow dog trainers would tell me that she's got me trained well. When I come near her with the cotton balls, she yells out before I even touch her, and I back away. Oh yeah, I'm very well trained.

I'm sure it hurts, we've all had those nasty yeasty bugs and the hot itchy pain is almost unbearable. So I can relate. But I wish I could tell her it's for her own good. That old stand-by "This will hurt me more than it does you" applies here. When a dog is injured or sick and we take her to the vet's office, and the vet has to poke and prod and jam blue sticks up their...well, you know; does the dog know that we are only trying to help? Do they get that?

It's her own fault, you know. She's got food allergies and is allergic to certain kinds of protein. She's on a special food that she tolerates. But when I turn my back, she jumps up on the counter and steals the cat food. And I tell her.....That's why you have the ear problem ya dope! If you didn't eat the cat food, you wouldn't have the bloody ear problem! Geez.

But I suspect all that yelling is more for my benefit than it is hers, because as soon as the opportunity presents itself, she's back on the counter pilfering Meow Mix.

Then there's the cat with the anal gland problem. Try shoving white liquid that isn't milk down the gullet of a cat with a pain in the ass. It's not a pretty sight. And she looks at me with such horror, like I've betrayed her and she's lost her best friend. Oh the guilt! Oh the malfeasance! It's just like when you're driving the speed limit and you see the cop and you reflexively take your foot off the gas just a little and feel guilty as all get out. It's a little like that. "I'm so sorry..." I plead "forgive me I'm just so sorry," I slobber. But does she get it that I am only trying to help her? Eventually, all is well with the world again and she's giving me those pleasant little head bumps and arching her back and purring with pleasure.

And then we are all friends again; at least for the next eight hours.