Barkley is Good Medicine

This morning I lifted the blankets and my 5 ½ pounds Yorkipoo, Meeks, went undercover, curling into a little ball in the hollow of my stomach. Meeks and his brother Barkley come to my office most days, and while Meeks sits with me, Barkley sits with my patients.

That’s an understatement. Barkley enters the room and then assesses the patient’s interest in having a little doggie companion. If there is even the welcoming glance, and their lap is not already occupied by a purse or magazine, Barkley bounds across the exam room and leaps into the welcoming lap. He makes himself at home and insists on attention. Pretty soon my patients are petting Barkley they’ve known him all their lives.
Thursday a gal came in for a quick office call for acute sinusitis. The poor thing was miserable, stuffy and congested with terrible headache. She asked after Barkley, who was uncharacteristically absent from the office that day. Ice Daughter had a snow day from school, and the dogs were home keeping her company until I could wrestle myself away from work. When she found out Barkley was away, my patient started to cry. Her own dog died in November, and then her three-year-old kitten died unexpectedly just this week. A little bit of Barkley’s unconditional love wasn’t just a charming distraction in this case.

I offered antidepressants, which were refused. I did provide a little medicine for acute anxiety and depression, and antibiotics and decongestants for her sinuses. Then I asked her to watch my little guys for the weekend, while Ice Daughter and I were taking a planned trip to the big city for some museum visits.

I gave my guys a bath and brought their overnight bag and their kennel to the office on Friday, and my patient picked them up when I was in an examination room. We communicated for a few moments over that short weekend, her sharing her opportunity to snuggle and care, me enjoying some time with my little one. On Monday, the guys returned to office, perfectly clean and fed and happy to see me.

The next weekend, Ice Daughter and I found ourselves again on the road to a synchronized skating event. I called my acute sinusitis patient, who readily agreed to dog-sit again. Their kennel waits in the front room now. I worried my dogs might be a non-hygenic nuisance at my office. I never thought they would be a part of the medical team, and just the medicine my patient needed.

You can friend Meeks and Barkley and Miko Barkley on Facebook.