Sammi At The Vets

If a dog of any breed is unhappy with his bottom, biting, licking, scooting etc we must be observant, but especially so with breeds prone to anal furunculosis. I'm lucky to have never had one suffer from it here, but 3 from the "H" litter had it and I know Nico (Sammi's sire) has produced it to 2 different females, though we know one of those females had it herself a couple of years after having her litter. There is no point hiding these things, the breed can not improve if we stick our heads in the sand. Baby and bathwater always comes to mind, but when we have all the information we can at least make informed decisions. 

Anyway, back to Sammi and her first visit to the vets since 2021. The vet gave her an MOT and said everything abdominally feels good but without moving a single joint he said, of course there is the usual stiffness and loss of muscle that we would expect in a GSD of her age! I'm afraid I jumped straight in to her defence. No, there is no stiffness and no mobility issues at all with Sammi she could out move any 7-year-old. He replied, "Oh Ok well I did see she was very mobile as she came in. " Why do people always jump to the conclusion that an older GSD would have mobility issues? Look I'm no idiot, both her parent were seemingly fit and well at 11 yrs old and had died before they were 12, but currently Sammi is in fine form! 

The reason for Sammi's visit was because she had a sore bottom, In my mind I had diagnosed an infected anal gland, and I was right. Anal glands emptied, antibiotics and steroids. He apologised for the price of the antibiotics but felt they were the best in this case ... well absolutely, the best for my angel, and what is the point in using something else that may not clear it up anyway? 

Dermoid cyst (Nova - Orin x Luna daughter)

A dermoid cyst on a dog's head is a benign, congenital growth that develops from misplaced skin tissue during embryonic development. These cysts can contain hair, sebum, and keratin. They are more common in certain breeds like Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Kerry Blue Terriers. While generally harmless, they can cause problems if they become large or infected.

Once clipped they were far more pigmented than expected.

Histology report MICROSCOPIC DESCRIPTION  The sections comprise epidermis overlying dermis which contains parts of a large intradermal multilobulated epidermal-lined cyst / cysts which contains finely laminated keratin and hair shafts, and are lined by epithelium retaining its granular layer. Adjacent hair follicles appear largely normal. A lesion free margin is present in the sections examined i.e. assuming that the sections are representative of the margins then this extirpation appears to be complete. DIAGNOSIS Dermoid cyst

 COMMENT The changes are consistent with a dermoid cyst or cysts. These are embryonic remnants and the lesion usually occur along the dorsal midline particularly on the head. Complete surgical excision should be curative.

Outside The Box

It was just too nice to leave anyone confined in the house today, but I had great concern about Orin seeing Steve again. Orin is a typical adult male GSD, a lovable hooligan who doesn't know his own strength. So yeah, put the husband in the puppy pen, well it worked!!!

Four Of Four

So there have been some tears today, all my GSD friends have had a successful day at their various events and I'm at home feeling sorry for myself. I'm trying not to wallow in the self-pity, but maybe this time I'm allowed too? Well just a little eh! I'm chuffed for them all, but what I would have given to be at Malvern today. I'm trying to convince myself that Meerah would have been last and Beti in her current attire would never beat Yoko, but we would have liked to try! It brings me back to the same thought, you can feel pleased for others but feel sorry for yourself, and trust me I do. Will it ever go to plan for us, or will we always either be the bridesmaid or just left sitting on the sidelines? 

Photo of Beti at WELKS 2024

Jay

Just some memories! 

Progress And Nails

Steve has made it to the kitchen twice today, I'm over the moon for him, and he asked to have Ross and Sammi in with him once he was sat on his chair. This evening Sammi has gone to keep him company in the bedroom, I'm not sure if she was up for it as she's my girl, but no doubt she's settled now. 

Actually, I've changed everyone round tonight, Siska and Orin are in the middle room, but after several attempts I've had to crate Orin. It's such a shame he won't settle in there, he jumps the baby gate and I'm just scared he'll get hurt. I'm surprised he wants to get back to me tonight as he was not amused at having his nails cut, mind you he was a lot easier to deal with than his bessie mate!! I'm hoping against hope that I can get some walks in next week, even if it's one group a day whilst the others get to play in the fields. I really need to see some wild British bluebells and I know exactly where to go! 

Cuckoo Calling

I was over the moon to hear and see the Cuckoo with coins in my pocket for the first time this year on Thursday ... Sadly, I only had the phone with me, but you can clearly hear the male Cuckoo's call at the beginning of the video. He then flies off the wire and out of sight before a crow comes into frame. It's a widespread belief that jingling coins in your pocket while the cuckoo calls will bring prosperity for the year ahead. I'm not superstitious, but something I like/have to do!

Coat, Holes, Chicken And Things

Sammi seems fine today, though I'll give her loxicom again tomorrow. With Steve not getting into the living room, I've realised how little TV I watch. Yeah, Neighbours and Enders 4 days a week, but today the TV hasn't been on and Beyond Paradise at 8pm I guess is the earliest thing I want to watch. It's entertaining and just makes me smile. 

These girls are a handful, constantly up to no good if left to their own devices. I dread the time when Steve comes out into the garden and sees their handy work, anyway, I've filled in the hole and we've moved on. I'm so glad they have each other though, they do keep each other entertained. 

Facebook followers will know that Zeus stole and ate 4 raw frozen chicken thighs yesterday. Human error again. I left them on a tray on top of the cooker to defrost, it'll take me time to remember that there is a dog in the kitchen again, the kitchen here is usually an unsupervised dog free zone. Bet the little shit enjoyed it!!! 

I questioned on Facebook what people would do about showing a well constructed, fit but out of coat dog. I have my opinion but it was interesting to read the majority would show their dog out of coat. When I have in the past, I've often regretted it, a particular show with a young Sammi comes to mind. I know there are stages during moults when the coat looks tatty and dirty, that's definitely a day to be at home, but as the coating ends and shine returns bitches can look better, bald but better. (I have found that rarely have I had to withdraw a male from competitions because of a moult, but Ross went through an awful junior moult)I'm not talking about general open shows, or even breed shows, I mean champ shows where the best of our breed should be competing and coat condition in such company could knocks us down a fair few places. 

So, If I was going to WELKS on Sunday, (which I'm not) would I take Beti? I'm not sure, I feel I would be letting her and her reputation down if she didn't go into the ring looking her best, but I guess a bath and a blast would answer the question. I totally understand that coat is of secondary importance, as is colour (but we all know what can happen when you show a dog of Asha's colour!) but in a class of quality bitches we have to accept that our out of coat female, could be 2, 3 maybe 4 places further back than they otherwise might be, if we as owners can accept that then so be it as at the end of the day, the bitch really won't give a damn! 

With the help of friends, early indications are that I will get to the National on the 10th of May, so that's 2 weeks away. Let's just hope she looks a little better by then, especially as there is no yearling class and she, like others of her own age, will be in with the big girls in PG. I'm travelling on my own that day, the only way to make it feasible is to take 4 dogs, leaving Sammi and Ross for friends to look after, and for everyone's safety Zeus will just have to be in a pen. Here's hoping eh!

Sammi's limp

Not sure what happened to miss Sammi, but today she has a limp on her back left. With her hip score it can't be hips so that's one less thing to worry about. Hopefully just a knock or a twist, I've given her some loxicom. 

Uterine Blockage

 A friend's cat has been going through exactly the same as Luther, so that's the third I've heard of in a short time. Male cats are more prone to urinary blockages than females because their urethra is longer and narrower than that of females, making it more susceptible to blockages. Here's hoping little Tommy makes a full recovery but I would like to know what is the cause of it? Is it something we are feeding them? I know cats should have plenty of wet food as dry can cause problems, but some cats, Luther being one of them, will leave the wet food for the dry! 

Steve

Steve is progressing, but we accept it will be a very long, slow struggle. He made it through to the kitchen for the second time today. What he really wanted to do was go outside but it was just too cold. He is always more mobile in the first half of the day. The nights are the worst as he seems to experience great pain and leg twitches, he moans out loud in his sleep which keeps me awake. He has even been rambling and the other night when I questioned it he said "I'm just singing my song!" Of course he doesn't remember, but the lack of sleep some nights is really getting to me, especially as my hands and knee are hurting too. Am I Ok? LOL as they say I have to be don't I; but I'm walking a fine line between tears, hysterical laughter and exhaustion. 

I've been to pick up 10 bags of dog food today ... 10 left in the kitty at Wynnstay now. Tomorrow I'm going to empty the food shed of everything that shouldn't be there and give it a good tidy before bringing the bags in, I also need to order yard disinfectant (I usually get it at shows) fish, chicken feet and necks. I'm Ok for cat food, for now, but these days I get that delivered anyway. 

At Least We have Fields

Drool

Meerah's drooling seems to have stopped, as has the bed shredding, well for now anyway. She was drooling quite excessively, which was noticeable by her wet bedding in the morning and if she had spent any significant time in her crate it during the day. I can't imagine it was stress, she's not the type, so maybe just the last minor bits of teething as the teeth set into place. 

Easter Monday

My lovelies - and the tree is coming into life too.

Meerah's behaviour is really awful at the moment. Bed and carpet shredding, is only the tip of the iceberg. I do remember Beti being particularly bad at the same age - she chewed up my glasses. I can't turn my back on Meerah for 5 mins and she's done something, yet she so well-behaved when I'm there. She's also drooling a lot, maybe it's all to do with teeth?? 

Beautiful Beti is bald, so maybe not a bad thing that we are missing the 4th show of 4 next week. I'll still be gutted though!!!

Someone has been behaving very well, but today had it on him a little. Thankfully, a biscuit did the trick!

Steve has made it to the living room today. It was quite a task, but by going "out and in" rather than through the cottage he got there. Though I dread anyone just turning up, that would really do my head in, I think we both would benefit from seeing friends occasionally, it feels a bit like covid at times! At least the sun is shining again today eh!

Happy 6th Birthday Luther

Polly

Beti's sister is doing really well in her new home (well since last November) It just goes to prove that not every home is right for every dog and having the ability to know that a dog in your home would be better elsewhere shows understanding of your dogs and an ability to put their needs before yours. I did it with Lia, and Jake (Chino) it ripped me apart but the dogs thrived and blossomed in their new lives. 

Show Day 3 Of 4

This Was Yesterday

In Welsh we have a saying  "Ti wedi cachu yn y parlwr," direct translation is "You have shit in the parlour."  I'm sure that from that translation, you can work out that it means something like, "You've pissed on his chips!" Well as far as Meerah is concerned I've "Wedi cachu yn y parlwr," and she's not speaking to me. Beti and I are finding it quite funny. 😁Meerah has, for a long time, been waking up at 7am, and that's fine, I can do 7am. I get up, everyone goes out, has breakfast, then they relax to digest their food. During that time this week I've been putting my nurse's uniform on, make tea and toast for us both and giving Steve his medication. I've then cooked my knee with a hot water bottle for about 40 mins or so before getting dressed. In what ever order works on the day, it's then dogs out and help Steve up, washed and dressed before another cup of tea ... to be honest it's then almost lunchtime anyway! 

So Meerah, well with the light mornings Miss Meerah has been waking up earlier and earlier and after a bad night with Steve I was not ready for the 5.30am alarm call. I called "Shut up Meerah," she was not having it. At 6am I really had had enough, I was furious and knackered so I got up and kicked her crate 3 or 4 times and using rather unpleasant language I requested that she be quite and sleep a little longer, bless her she obliged. Now I know it may not be in any dog training manual and would probably be frowned upon, but I didn't lay a finger on her and this morning I was first up at 7.15am. 

After our "Bad start" yesterday, we had a lovely day, fun in the fields and with warm sunshine I persuaded Steve to venture outside. He was nervous, we both were, but his bathroom seat was ideal to sit on in the yard and leaving him there I gave the bedroom a quick clear out and made us a cup of tea. When I got back out he was just sitting on his chair again. I asked "where have you been?" He replied, "Down to the gate and back, Darryl has done a great job!" 😮 Ahhhhh ... why didn't he wait for me to be there? "Because I knew you wouldn't let me go!" I give up. Today it's pissing it down and blowing a hoolie out there so we've decided to try a walk to the kitchen for a cuppa at 3pm. 

Anyway back to Meerah, well her nails needed cutting and like her mother she hates having them done. With no one here to told her still I had no option but to tie her to the gate to be done. I tried just holding her first, but it was not going to happen and I got it on me and decided it had to happen, so yeah I tied her to the gate and it did happen. Because she had a tantrum at the wrong time, one nail did bleed as I cut through the quick, but hell it didn't kill her did it! She really was not a happy bunny and didn't come near me again for the rest of the evening ... but you know sometimes needs must ... stop laughing Beti! (Yes I did hers too - she's such a good girl) 

Some Fun

Naughty Kong stealing Beti

Beti and Meerah

Zeus and that ball

Meerah, Ross, Sammi

Some Photos

Name The Tree

This tree is growing in the bottom field, we didn't plant it, it's going stronger each year but I've no idea what it is. I tried to get a photo to do a google search, and there was Beti, "photo .. treat!" You have to laugh at her don't you. 

Anyway I'm not sure what it is as google search came up with a few similar ones and I don't have a clue. (Though Common Osier Willow looks likely!)

Crufts Critique

Morning Exercise

Another Dog Show Day

Today should have been another dog show day for the girls. I'm sitting here pondering how we would have got on and missing my friends, but I'm not despondent because I have my lovely husband back home. Ok, I can't help but look at the classes and wonder where we'd be placed, but I'm grateful beyond compare that the most important person in my life is back by my side. I can't deny I hoped his mobility would be better, but he can just about make it from the bedroom to the bathroom, just the 2 inch step to come out of the bedroom is causing us problems. (he's calling it Everest) Thankfully, the chair is ideal for him and the electric reclining bed has come into it own as it raises him partly out of the bed. The financial cost of this fall really doesn't bear thinking about .. that on top of Luther's £719 vet bill throws us well and truly into the shit financially for a few months. Thank god our vets are willing to take monthly payments!

Last week there was so much talk about today's show, well not just last week actually. Apparently the tickets were a done deal with the "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" rumours rife, corruption and cheating was predicted again ... how funny to see the predicted winner wasn't even entered let alone exhibited. Often I feel the unfounded rumours are more damaging to the breed than the so-called corruption. I'm not denying it doesn't go on, it does, but in my opinion to a much lesser degree than the rumour mill would have us believe! 

I suppose today that I can take some comfort from the fact that Beti has thrown her coat, and Meerah? Well at the moment she doesn't look like she has the potential to make the grade, time will tell if she'll look the part with maturity, but with luck and good fortune I may be able to mate Siska again next year. 

Still Waiting

 We expected Steve home yesterday, but we are still waiting and hoping he gets home today. I'm ready, well as ready as I can be, I am a little nervous but I'm sure we'll get into some kind of routine that works for everyone. 

Sunshine And News

I'm hoping that everything goes to plan and that Steve will be coming home tomorrow. I've spent most of the morning and early afternoon moving furniture in the bedroom. Hard work, but you surprise yourself with what you can do when you have to eh, I just hope I'll be able to move tomorrow. 😕

Though the hospital visits on top of life at Blanik have been time-consuming, I guess the real hard work for me starts now. Thank god for the caring friends that I have in my life, I'll need them now more than ever because let's it face I've got no family that I can call on and I'm no nurse!