Monday 30 November 2009

Mother or Mistress?

Frodo is spending the morning with the vets. He's having bile tests and a scan to see how his liver is functioning. One of the medications he takes to control his epilepsy, Phenobarbital, is known with prolonged use to have a deleterious effect on liver function. His latest blood results last week showed a greatly increased rise in one of the liver enzymes, ALP (Alkaline phosphatase) hence his in-patient status today.
So the morning routine was disrupted because Frodo was not allowed to eat before the first bloods were taken. All the animals variously yowled at me, patted me, followed me, threatened to trip me up as they waited in vain for breakfast. Gus was particularly insistent - he is not just a hungry puppy but a hungry Labrador puppy with very strong instincts for sustenance.
I took Frodo to the vet just after half-past eight. He was somewhat surprised to be there again so soon but is a very adaptable dog and accepts his lot in life. The consent form duly filled in I prepared to leave at which point Brenda, the head receptionist, said, 'Come on, Frodo - you'll see your mummy again soon.'
This is not the first time I have been referred to as 'Mummy' to our animals. (I don't think they call Barry 'Daddy'!) Usually I make a passing reference to being an old bitch - or cat. I started to wonder which is preferable - to be a mother to an animal or a mistress. I suppose the maternal role is slightly more respectable as mistress implies a woman of somewhat easy virtue. What title should I have? Owner, handler, companion, partner-in-crime? I think 'servant' might be the correct term!

9 comments:

  1. Well, Frodo's mummy, speaking as a veterinary receptionist, I think more along the lines of "owner". However, a lot of owners do see themselves as parent with child as opposed to owner and pet, although I think they are in the minority.

    We get all sorts coming through the door and take them as we find them!

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  2. I'm sure you do and I bet you have to bite the inside of your mouth sometimes!

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  3. We are the grandparents of Adi.
    That is just fine!
    Then we are the adopted parents of Katrin.
    Fine again.
    At least fine with us, I think Mummy is great for you!
    ..
    BTW, you can give titles to some Adi in the grass pictures that I have on today. And vote for your favorite.
    ..
    I do hope for the both of you and Barry that Frodo gets better real quick or that changing his meds will act in time.
    ..

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  4. Jim - thank you so much - you are so sweet!

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  5. I hope all goes well with the pup.

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  6. Thank you magic eye and Sandy for your concern.Preliminary tests all seem well. The scan didn't show any abnormalities so it looks as though the boy is coping fine :-)

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  7. mummy is a good thing! I am my cat Molly's servant, that's for sure. :)

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  8. Well Cathy - cats are the supreme beings on this planet so we are all their servants . . . LOL!

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