Something wasn’t right. Hazel could tell the minute they got up this morning. He wasn’t acting like his usual self. He was normally so upbeat, so happy. Instead, he was grumpy and unwilling to play. And that just wasn’t at all like Freddie.
He wouldn’t eat this morning, and he was usually the first one to the food bowl. He didn’t seem to want any water, either. After she fed the other dogs, she brought him upstairs and climbed into bed with her cup of coffee and Freddie. He lay in her lap, looking tired and listless. Normally, he’d want to be with the pack, right in the middle of anything going on with the other dogs.
She ran her hand over his soft fur. “What’s wrong, baby boy? Not feeling well today?”
He looked up at her with his sad, soulful brown eyes, breaking her heart because she knew he didn’t feel good.
Linc appeared in the doorway. “I didn’t see you downstairs with the pups. What’s wrong with Freddie?”
“I don’t know. He’s... off. I think he might be sick.”
To prove her point, Freddie popped up and promptly barfed on the bedspread.
Linc grimaced. “I’d say he’s definitely sick. Poor guy.”
She put Freddie on the floor and stripped the bed. While she was cleaning up, the poor pup threw up two more times. Linc cleaned up the floor while she got the bedding started in the washing machine. She put the other pups outside to keep them away from Freddie. She took Freddie’s temp. It was higher than normal. She decided to call the veterinarian’s office, and they told her to bring him in right away. She went upstairs to get dressed, wound her hair on top of her head, slipped into her shoes, and went downstairs, finding Linc cradling Freddie in his arms.
“He really doesn’t feel well, does he?” he asked, slowly stroking Freddie’s back.
She shook her head. “I’m hoping it’s nothing serious, but the vet’s office told me to bring him in.”
“Want me to go with you?”
“What? Oh, no, it’s not necessary. You have work to do. But thanks for offering.”
“Okay. If you need me, though, let me know.”
He had no idea how much she appreciated his offer to be there for her. She was so used to doing things on her own, especially with the dogs. She wouldn’t know how to ask for help.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
He grasped her hand. “Take all the time you need. I’ve got the other pups.”
She squeezed his hand, then lifted up to press a quick kiss to his lips. “Thank you.”
She got Freddie into his crate in the car and headed to the vet’s office, trying to think positive thoughts. At a stoplight, shetook a peek into the back seat. Freddie had settled in on the blanket in the crate, asleep.
At least he seemed relaxed, so that was good.
The vet’s office was crowded, and the receptionist told Hazel she’d squeezed her in, so there would likely be a bit of a wait. Hazel didn’t mind, grateful that she could get in at all today. She took a seat, and Freddie, who normally would be anxious and excited at the vet’s office because of all the strange animals there, curled up on her lap and went back to sleep.
Yes, there was definitely something wrong with her dog. Now she was the anxious one. But she kept her anxiety at bay by observing all the animals in the waiting room. There was a white fluffy cat in a carrier sitting in the chair across from her. The cat was giving sweet little mews, and the woman and little girl there with the cat whispered comforting words to it.
In another chair there was a big, burly guy holding a tiny brown puppy. Hazel stared, trying to figure out the breed of the pup, and honestly had no idea, but the guy cuddled the pup like it was pure gold, and that made her heart squeeze.
Every few minutes a tech would come out and call a name. The cat and its family went into a room, and the guy with his small puppy disappeared as well, their seats taken by new people and new animals.
Busy place.
She waited, and Freddie continued to sleep, fortunately.
“Freddie?”
She looked up to see Malina the vet tech smiling down at her. “Hi, Malina.”
“Hi. Come on in.” Hazel got up and carried a now-awake Freddie. “What’s up with Freddie today?”
She had always brought the dogs to this clinic, so everyone knew the animals, something she appreciated. She told Malina what was going on.