Last Monday, once again, Sylvia had to see her vet. This time, it was on account of a limp.

When the time to leave for his surgery came, Sylvia was asleep on my bed and was not at all pleased at being disturbed. She gave a growl and a hiss when I picked her up and wriggled in my arms as I carried her over to her travelling basket. During her five minute car journey to the surgery and while waiting at reception, Sylvia continued to complain..

When her turn to be seen came, her vet greeted her warmly.

"Hello Sylvia, what's wrong with you today ?"

Sylvia let me explain.

"She's had a limp for ten days. At times, it's hardly noticeable. At others, it's very evident. It doesn't seem to unduly bother her. It affects her left front leg."

"Umm, interesting".

The vet stroked his chin, then Sylvia's back. Sylvia, happy for now to be the centre of attention, smiled and began purring. Her vet continued to stroke her while pondering her symptoms and Sylvia continued purring. Her mood abruptly changed however when his hand began to move down her left front leg. She stopped purring, flattened her ears and narrowed her eyes. As her vet continued his examination, she became increasingly annoyed.. She opened her mouth and hissed at him. He laughed and told her not to be so silly. She then growled at him He responded by taking a light hold of her paw which she immediately tried to snatch away. He took a firmer hold of it and she threatened him with a bite. The vet tut-tutted.

"You're not being very co-operative today are you Sylvia ?"

Sylvia hissed.

Next, the vet tried to see if Sylvia could carry weight equally on her front legs. He stood behind her and lifted her hind legs off his table. Sylvia hissed, let both her front legs buckle and twisted over onto her side. When her vet tried to stand her up, she attempted to leap off his table.. He decided to help her down.

"OK Sylvia. Let's see you walk then ". He gave her a little push.

Sylvia sat down and began smiling.

"Come on Sylvia Be a good girl". He gave her another gentle push. Sylvia refused to budge..

We next tried to cajole her into walking.

When this failed, her vet again tried to push-start her..

When this failed, we tried bribery.

Eventually we gave up and Sylvia's vet turned his back on her in order to record on his computer his thoughts that she may have slightly sprained her leg. Sylvia immediately got up, crossed his consulting room floor with an almost imperceptible limp and jumped into her basket to await our journey home.

Copyright © Sheenah Large
January 21, 2003