Day One

I’m establishing this blog in December 2025 in order to track the medical progress of our Shiba Inu, Hector. He has allergies we haven’t yet been able to diagnose, and our goal is to alleviate the chronic hotspot on his belly. Our veterinarian is Dr. Lamb at City Vet on 72nd Street.

Birthdate: 2013-02-23
Current Weight: 37.0lbs

Details of Appointment on 2025-12-09: Hector needs vaccination updates, had been shaking his head and scratching his ear irregularly, and had escalated his hotspot licking. I raised my concerns that it might be tooth and skin issues, but the vet assured me it was ear and allergy issues as previously diagnosed. Hector receives treatment for signs of an ear infection, and we start on a new treatment plan for his chronic issues.

Record of charges:
- Annual checkup
- IDEXX Chem 25, CBC, T4, UA, reflex UP
- IDEXX 4Dx PLUS ADD-ON
- Ear Cytology
- Mometamax 15gm
- Rabies vaccine
- Distemper Parvo Vaccine (DA2PPv)
- Leptospirosis Vaccine
- Nail Clip
- Miconahex Triz Mousse
- Clavamox Chewable 250mg
- Trazadone 100mg

Notes from the day:
Hector reacted poorly to the vet visit. Because he required muzzling, they were not able to examine his teeth. His screaming during routine treatments was unsettling for everybody, and way more than his normal resistance. I try to minimize vet visits because he hates them, but I think we need to normalize him so we can fix his chronic issues.

I gave Hector 1 pill of Trazadone in order to take a video of his teeth:

I don’t see anything worth sedation, hopefully the vet agrees, especially since the ear infections were confirmed.

Hector has always cried when he feels the effects of Trazadone, which is why I prefer to not give it to him if I don’t have to. But today he was in obvious distress, and has reacted relatively well to the pill I gave him after the appointment.