Guna’s first vet visit
Guna got an ear infection, and she made it very clear it was bothering her. At 5:30 am, she smacked me across the face with her puppy paw, followed by howling yells of pain. She rubbed her ears and shook her head. As I gazed into her left ear, a chilling sight greeted me - a sinister black tar substance, reminiscent of a scene from a horror film. The nearest vet, in Mariposa, is nearly an hour and a half away on a road that twists and turns. I didn’t look forward to it, and I knew she didn’t either. No part of me wanted to start my van and drive to a vet, knowing it would take the whole day. But when I saw her visible pain, I hoped one day Guna would take me to the hospital if I were in pain, even when all she wanted to do was chew on her rope toy.
The drive seemed to stretch on forever, accompanied by the sound of her sobs in the passenger seat. My heart ached as I watched my furry daughter howling in pain. Her eyes filled with a pleading gaze, searching for answers I couldn’t provide. As soon as we got there, a friendly older lady working wasted no time in letting me know they were at full capacity and suggested I try a vet clinic in Bootjack. In just a short 10-minute drive, I arrived at Bootjack, a tucked-away community that is part of Mariposa. It took 20 minutes before they took Guna away, and eventually, I gave in and agreed to have her spayed as well. I decided it was a good idea to get it over with rather than wait. I sure didn’t want to hear the relentless howling of a puppy in heat living in a van. The entire operation took almost 6 hours. I waited in Mariposa, writing at coffee shops, scavenging thrift stores, and even helped myself to a joint in my van.
When she was ready, I drove over to the vet with a knot of nervousness in my stomach, praying that my dog would understand and forgive me for leaving her to undergo surgery. Behind the reception wall, I could hear her uncontrollable yells echoing through the room. They went over the instructions for her ear and spay operation in great detail, handed me a prescription for her medication, and I took out my credit card to pay. Let me tell you, children can really put a dent in your wallet. The effects of the painkillers and anesthesia were apparent as she appeared disoriented and had a distant look in her eyes. The drowsiness from the drugs made the car ride back and the rest of the day feel peaceful and effortless. Despite knowing it’s likely torturous and demeaning to her, I couldn’t help but find the cone on her little head amusing. She’s tough as nails and capable of handling anything I throw her way. I couldn’t have been luckier to have such a good pup in my care.