Ah Bao's Visit to the Vet

One stuffy Friday evening, Schmetterling returned home from practice very hot and tired. Stumbling into her room, she sensed that something wasn't right. So she trotted over to the cage, where Xiang immediately ran to her looking for a tidbit. Bao however remained quietly in a corner looking very miserable indeed, almost as if he were nursing an extremely bad toothache. Being an ultra-responsible pet owner, Schmetterling immediately panicked and spent the rest of the night Googling for the addresses of nearby veterinary clinics.

The next morning, Schmetterling hurriedly packed Ah Bao into a carrier cage, ignoring the squeals of laughter coming from her father who was highly amused at the thought of bringing a rat to see a doctor, and set off for the nearest vet. clinic in Sembawang.

Upon reaching, Schmetterling felt highly uneasy holding Bao in his little cage, as the clinic was packed full of huge hungry-looking carnivorous canines that were just paying too much attention to the carrier. Thus Schmetterling passed time in the waiting room hugging the cage close and eyeing all the dogs with great suspicion.

"Um how do you pronounce B-a-o?" "Um. Beaw?" Overhearing this conversation between the veterinary nurses, Schmetterling knew it was Ah Bao's turn for consultation. She entered the consultation room only to find a very skinny pale bespectacled vet in a white lab coat next to a rather large and tanned nurse.

Vet: So what's wrong with him?

S: He isn't eating or drinking and he's been twitching a lot.

Vet: Hmm. He still looks pretty alert. [Picks up sleepy Ah Bao]

Vet: Ah... Looks like his mouth is a bit swollen. [Pries Ah Bao's mouth open, to his extreme consternation. Excessively long incisors come into view]

Vet: Ah... look his teeth are too long. It's curving backwards and cutting into the flesh of the mouth, which is causing him some pain. That's why he doesn't feel like eating much. You see? [Pries Bao's mouth even bigger] Rodent's teeth never stop growing.

S: Ah yes. Oh dear. It's very odd, because he has a wood block to chew on.

Vet: His teeth curve backwards instead of growing straight down, so he can't wear it down as well. I'm gonna have to clip his teeth. [Picks up a formidable-looking of wire-cutter]

[Nurse pins the valiantly struggling Ah Bao down while Vet approaches menacingly with the wire-cutter thing]

[Vet desperately tries to reach tooth. Vet fails]

[Vet abandons cool wire-cutter in frustration and instead takes out a pair of boring nail clippers. He manages to edge them in and cut off the offending length of tooth. Bao is still struggling wildly]

Vet: I'm gonna give you some antibiotics to suppress any infection. Bring him back in a month's time for a follow-up.

S: Okie.

Thus ended Bao's first visit to the vet's. Schmetterling would like to add that it was equally traumatic for both animal and owner, as Schmetterling had to fork out a massive $60 for Bao's consultation, tooth-clipping and medication. :(