this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2025
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Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The most popular seem to be lighthearted clever little truths, hidden in daily life.

Here are some examples to inspire your own showerthoughts:

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Dogs especially have an insane superpower of a nose, they surely smell the fear and even just regular body odour of all the previous animals who've come through there in the last week. I don't know if the cleaning protocol of even the most fastidiously-hygienic clinics could get rid of that 'doggy Holocaust train' smell. It puts me in mind of my own struggles with autistic sensory overload. It must be the equivalent of someone like me being walked through a door and out onto the stage at Wembley Stadium without anyone telling me what was about to happen. At least in my case, I'd see the crowd, whereas the dog only smells the ghosts of animals past and has to imagine what might have caused their pheromone bukakke.

The same goes for the vet/groomer themselves; they surely emit the screaming echos of slaughterhouse stank like a pealing church bell every second of the day. They are absorbing pure animal terror into their clothes and onto their skin like an adrenochrome-fiending Clinton.

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[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 1 points 4 hours ago

The first time my chihuahua ever seriously tried to bite anyone and got super aggressive with was the vet when I brought him in to deal with the fleas that OTC stuff wasn't getting rid of. Embarrassing as fuck cuz they asked if he bites and he had always been super friendly as long as you didn't try to touch me, so I said "no."

[–] Drusas@fedia.io 1 points 4 hours ago

This is a good thought, but definitely not right. My dogs in the 80s and '90s were all terrified of the vet. Early aughts as well.

Since then, none of my pets have been afraid of the vet. The culture seems to have changed. All of my dogs have loved going to the vet since then. They go there and everybody loves on them. The cats are scared, because cats are always scared when you bring them somewhere weird like that, but the dogs mostly aren't. Even my rabbit would get over the car ride and like the attention.

[–] Ebby@lemmy.ssba.com 22 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

We have a vet open up recently that uses calming pheromones throughout and plenty of distractions for pets to make them feel comfortable. A lot of effort was put into pet psychology in the design of the offices.

[–] Pronell@lemmy.world 7 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

That may be a Fear Free clinic. If it isn't, that certification may be worth them looking into.

[–] Ebby@lemmy.ssba.com 2 points 15 hours ago

Bingo. It absolutely is.

[–] bassomitron@lemmy.world 36 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (1 children)

Unless you're my dog, who fucking loves going to the vet and groomer. He has zero survival instincts, though.

[–] arakhis_@feddit.org 8 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Depression resistance +1000

[–] bassomitron@lemmy.world 5 points 15 hours ago

Oh 100%. He's 13 years old and still acts like a big, dumb puppy. Yellow labs/labs in general tend to be like that, though. Just happy with life, haha.

[–] Kyle_The_G@lemmy.world 18 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

My cats don't mind the vet either. My one ragdoll they have trouble taking his heartbeat because he keeps purring and trying to be social

[–] CheeryLBottom@lemmy.world 3 points 12 hours ago (1 children)
[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 4 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Tell me you never owned a golden retriever without telling me you never owned a golden retriever.

[–] Drusas@fedia.io 1 points 4 hours ago

Or Newfoundland or a poodle or a lab or a spaniel or a....

[–] cabinet_sanchez@midwest.social 5 points 14 hours ago

When my dog hears dogs barking on TV I always wonder what they're saying. The scene may involve the dog being aggressive or scared, but maybe they're actually yelling about the treats their trainer is bribing them with off camera

[–] Pronell@lemmy.world 6 points 15 hours ago (2 children)

My wife works at a certified Fear Free clinic. Customers are only allowed in the building when their animals are being put down. (A greeter goes out to retrieve animals from the cars and return them after the appointment.)

Animals are happy to be there, because it doesn't smell like fear any longer. There's no waiting room with other animals. Just the staff who are happy to see them.

It is a real game changer.

[–] Drusas@fedia.io 2 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

My dogs absolutely love the waiting room and meeting the people in it.

Also, for those who can manage it, it's far better to have your dog put down in their own home.

[–] Pronell@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago

I'm glad you've had good experiences in waiting rooms! Mine were mixed and now I honestly never have to deal with any of it because she does.

And I completely agree on the latter. We have that done and it's so much ... better? To have that closure, with all the other pets able to be present and see/smell them and say goodbye.

[–] kobra@lemm.ee 2 points 15 hours ago (3 children)

This puts a lot of trust in the vets and vet staff, I don’t think I’d be comfortable with it. I definitely see the benefits but it seems like owners should accompany the pet to the visit, at least for the exam portion. It’s too much of an opportunity for good communication between the vet and the owner, especially since the pet can’t speak for themselves.

[–] Drusas@fedia.io 1 points 4 hours ago

Do you mean specifically in regards to euthanasia?

[–] Pronell@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago

Just replying again since my wife got home.

She said what actually happens is that when the pet is in the exam room, the customer is brought to the room. I just didn't know the whole process post-covid. You were right!

[–] Pronell@lemmy.world 1 points 14 hours ago

Typically the owner is in their car outside so they can still inquire and be brought inside as needed.

[–] ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org 8 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

I hate the hospital for the same reason. Nothing like the mixed smells of chlorhexidine and death in a cancer ward.

But as a human, I can at least rationalize being there on an intellectual level

[–] LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyz 3 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

So pets are scared of something because pets are scared of something?

[–] Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 13 hours ago

The olfactory equivalent of screams of pain echoing through the halls of a hospital.