A trip to the vet....

My Monday morning is starting off with a trip to the vet. Thing 2 gets a skin condition every spring with dry itchy skin that she just scratches and scratches until she looks polka dotted and then of course will develop a hot spot or two. Since this is an annual occurance I generally know how to treat it and keep it under control. This year though, it seems a bit worse. Her hot spots are really getting out of control .

Added to that, she has also developed a golf ball sized lump on the back of her right front leg that I noticed over the weekend. Everything I've read online indicates that this lump is likely a hygroma (which develops when dogs repeatedly lay down on hard surfaces) Thing 2 generally chooses to lay down on the sofa, the loveseat, the pup beds or the carpet. However, her itching has been so intense that she's kind of flopping anywhere when the itch really gets ahold of her, so I'm thinking that might be why this has developed.

At least that's what I'm hoping! She seems to have no pain whatsoever from the lump and in all actuality, I don't think she even realizes it is there. My vet bill balance is something I keep monitored in my debt column as I always seem to have a balance on the account, however, since we have used the same practice since I was about 5 years old, they let me run the balance without interest and I just pay what I can every month. I usually try to pay at least $100, and often more. I don't want to take advantage of their generosity by paying too little, but I do appreciate how willing they are to work with me.

So heigh ho, heigh ho, its off to the vet we go!