Apparently I have gotten a wee bit chubby. Maybe it was the tiny piece of leftover bacon I scored at brunch this morning. Or the doggie treats under any of the three Christmas trees I’ve visited in recent days. Whoever thought having a routine checkup the day after a major holiday clearly wasn’t giving me the benefit of the doubt.
Nonetheless, Dr. Morrison’s exact words to mom during today’s annual pilgrimage to the vet clinic echoed through the room. “We don’t want him to put on any more weight,” she said as she grabbed around by my hind quarters. Excuse me madam, I wanted to say, but I’d guess the majority of folks I know to be up a pound or two after the caloric splurge known as the holiday season.
Little did I know there were more stingers headed my way in the form of shots for things I don’t understand. Three shots, to be exact, each one a bit more painful than the last. That followed other poking and prodding, none of which was very pleasant. Overall, the experience was not my favorite thing in the world.
But it wasn’t the worst either. In spite of the aforementioned weight gain, I got all kinds of yummy treats. And the best part was when Dr. Morrison first came in to see me and asked how her “favorite terrier” has been doing. Or maybe it was when the veterinary nurse kept petting me and telling me how cute I am. Or when the doctor said she thinks I’m going to be a very good dog with my soon-to-be little person.
Either way, I realized something as I snuggled a little closer than usual into mom on the car ride home. We don’t always know what’s good for us. Like me, with my almost obsessive urge to sink my teeth into a piece of the apparent delicacy known as chocolate. Or my aversion to the vet clinic.
In reality, we all need checkups every now and then. Not just for our physical health, but also for our mental and spiritual well-being. And it’s not always easy to take the criticism and advice that comes along with these checkups. But we need them. And they’re definitely a little bit easier to take with a little sugar. Or compliments in my case (since I’m going to be watching my waistline more closely). That Mary Poppins was on to something. A spoonful of compliments makes the medicine go down in the most delightful way.
Wiley's Wisdom 
Wiley, Mama says there’s nothing wrong with a little chubby! Woooooowooooooo!
Well, give your mama a big ole hug for me, would you dear Ku? 🙂
We love chubby. Spring is coming and you can work it off. 🙂
I hope you’re right! And you just reminded me – I can’t wait to work it off chasing my little person all over the place!
Too cute! Yes that will do it I think! come on Spring
Wisely said. My cat has to go as well, and go through this once a year. I shall let him know what you said. You are a great dog and you deserve many spoonful’s of compliments. Much love!
Please do share my thoughts with your beloved feline friend. It’s all a matter of perspective, or so “they” say. 🙂
Lots of love,
Wiles
Well, I told my cat and he was totally relaxed at the vet, he couldn’t believe it. Thanks Wiles! And my cat is totally healthy and well! 🙂 We are a happy family!
Yay on all counts! 🙂
I feel ya, Wiley! Early on, Mom worried about how I “fly around the apartment like a bird” and have such skinny little legs. She thought I’d hurt myself. The vet said the dreaded word, “Don’t let her gain any weight.” Now I get weighed every week and get treat restriction if I gain a pound. Yesterday Mom’s friend gave me the head of a gingerbread man. Mom said NO MORE. When she wasn’t looking, he gave me the leg, too!
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Dear Cupcake,
I love you for you – this includes an extra pound or two. 🙂 I too know who to sit by and focus on for things like that extra gingerbread leg…begging is a skill I’ve mastered and refuse to let go to waste over something so silly as a diet. It’s fuel for our hearts and minds, right?
Lots of love,
Wiles
Well of course the vet is going to say you’re her favourite terrier Wiles, you’re everyone’s favourite terrier! But Wiley, you must restrain yourself when it comes to chocolate. Chocolate to dogs can be like arsenic to people. Just make sure you only eat the special doggy chocolate your Mom gives you. Don’t worry about a couple of pounds, you’ll soon get rid of that chasing squirrels in the park 🙂
Oh goodness, dear Lyn, you kind of knocked my doggie socks off with your kind words today. Oh that’s right…I don’t wear socks…well, you get the idea. 😉 I will stay away from chocolate…I figure anything worth mom getting so protective of must be for good reason.
Lots of love,
Wiles
Dearest Wyles, nuts to diets! Holidays are made just for diets and rain-on-your-parade people – vets included. You look utterly beautiful to me and you’ll run that pound or two off in no time. Just the amount of thinking you’ll be doing will cause your weight to drop when the newbie arrives. By the way, I thought I heard you say something about your Mom having the hiccups… Mary Poppins’ cure of a spoonful of sugar (or two) works a treat on hiccups -it is such a shock to the system, like eating Baklova!, that the hiccups go away… Grin. Love HuntMode
I’m with you, dear Huntie. I strongly dislike rain-on-your-parade attitudes, almost as much as I dislike being referred to as chubby. So instead I shall persevere and chase those troubles away. 🙂 As to your mention of hiccups – she’s not the one with hiccups – that would be the little person. Every so often, especially in the late evening or early morning, baby will hiccup for about 10 minutes. The doctor says it’s like practice breathing. Mom does her best to cherish these moments even if they wake her at 3 a.m.
Lots of love,
Wyles
Gosh, I wonder what that feels like?! Ask her, Wyles – I think that would be a terrific post! Hiccups from a secondary source yet in primary position? 🙂
That’s a good idea!
I’m sorry about the slightly overweight part, but I think my favorite part is that the doctor said she thinks you will very good with the soon-to-be-coming ittle person. Yay! And running off any excess weight while following the little person around will be good when that litte person starts dropping cheerios on the ground for you : ) With all of your extended family and friends around for the holidays, it is hard not to eat everything that is offered (or dropped?)! Happy holidays Wiley!
Dear Sandy,
I’m not going to lie – that was probably my favorite thing she said too. I’ve heard of these things called Cheerios – they’re supposed to be good for the heart, right? 🙂 Happy holidays to you as well, dear friend!
Wiles
Reblogged this on Wiley's Wisdom and commented:
My thoughts on the extra junk in the trunk.