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I almost bark, “What!” because I’m in the middle of treating a weak, dehydrated kitten. She’s a three-month-old Persian who was abandoned in a parking lot. Her hair is matted and dirty, but we can’t wash her until she’s been assessed. Maria already fed her a bit of wet food.
I don’t wish to be disturbed. And yet, here is Jenny.
But I think of Ensley, an irritatingly common intrusion since Saturday, and picture her seeing me act like a caveman. I adjust my tone. “Can it wait until I’m done with this kitten?”
“Mrs.Evers is on the phone. She thinks Bennie has parvo.”
I let out a long, slow breath. “Bennie got his parvo shot. Last week she thought he had distemper. She does this every time she adopts a new dog.” I stroke the kitten’s slender back. “Have Maria talk to her. She’s good at calming Mrs.Evers.”
“B-but she asked for you.” The poor thing is quaking in her shoes.
“So?” My voice is a boom.
Jenny yelps, and once again I picture Ensley during the storm. I have to get that woman out of my head.
I grit my teeth to make my voice come down. “Give it to me.”
Jenny brings me the cordless phone and races out of the room.
I pick up the call on hold. “This is Dr.Daniels.”
Mrs.Evers sounds breathless. “Oh, Doctor, poor Bennie has parvo. He’s only been here a few weeks, and I’m already losing him.”
I hold back a sigh. “What are his symptoms?”
“He’s lethargic and he won’t eat. Those are two of the signs! I looked on Google!”
“We gave him his parvo shot,” I tell her. “It’s very unlikely he has contracted it. Has he been going to the bathroom?”
“Well, sure, right on my rug. I’m still housebreaking him.”
“Anything unusual there?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Did you change his food recently?”
“Well, I ran out of the big bag the rescue sent with him and started feeding him what I had.”
“When was that?”
“Yesterday.”
“And when did he stop eating?”
“Yesterday.”
She says it without hesitation. She doesn’t even hear herself.
I stroke the kitten’s head. She blinks at me blearily. “Mrs.Evers, Bennie’s not used to the new food. Try to buy a small amount of the old one, mix it in with the new one, and gradually transition him. Youprobably wouldn’t like it if you ate pizza every day, and somebody suddenly made you switch to brussels sprouts.”
“I love brussels sprouts.”
I squeeze the phone so hard, I’m surprised the plastic doesn’t crack. This is why I don’t talk to people. “I will have Maria send you my instructions. Okay?”
“Okay, Dr.Daniels.”
I end the call.
