Vaccinations and Such

This morning I took Mindy to the vet for the first time. She's not ill; I just wanted to get her in for vaccines and heart worm meds so she stays healthy and happy. I wasn't sure what to expect, having never been to a Korean veterinarian's office before. Luckily, my Korean co-worker Ivy needed to bring in her dog for a check-up, and was happy to go with me. The Korean vet visit impressed me almost as much as my visit to a Korean doctor a few months ago.

For one thing, we didn't have to call to make an appointment - we just dropped in at a time that was convenient for us. The vet was very friendly (although he spoke minimal English), and took us back immediately. Mindy got a thorough check-up and was pronounced to be in flawless health. The vet also added that he thought Mindy was one of the cutest patients he's ever had! After her check-up, Mindy got two vaccines, which she was very brave for. She only cried after the second one, and frankly, I couldn't blame her. Those needles were huge, especially for such a tiny baby! She didn't bear a grudge, though. Even after the vet gave her a flea/insect-prevention treatment, she still wagged her little tail at him and tried to lick his nose.

I was very proud of Mindy's excellent behavior, especially around Ivy's two dogs. Mindy sniffed noses with both of them, and then promptly started licking one of them! She has a very affectionate nature, needless to say. As we were preparing to go, I stuck her on the scale to see how big my little girl is. She currently weighs in at a hearty 0.8 kilos, or for those who prefer the more archaic system of measurement, 1.8 pounds.

I was shocked when I found out the cost for the vet visit, vaccinations, and medication. It cost only 25,000 won, which is less than $25.00! With those costs, I'm thrilled that all of Mindy's early vet needs can be taken care of here in Korea!