Flying solo

*Robin*

Hello Diary and MSEers, :hello:

missrlr wrote: »

Oh Robin, why the vet spends?
Also for goodness sake North Sea swimming? Really?
Another week at work done, too many left for my liking but hey we shall see. Only been threatened and bullied again.

Missrlr - very very sorry to hear you're still getting a hard time at work. The only positive spin I can suggest is that the Powers Above are making it easier for you to leave a job which, of itself, you really enjoy?

As for the rest, I'd better tell it in order:
Divo Four, CD and I went to a small sea-side town where I spent many happy summer holidays working at a riding stables; DS had never been there although he'd heard plenty of stories about it, of course.
The camp-site we used to stay at was packed full to bursting, but the chap in reception remembered my old Boss and after a pleasant half hour catching up on the last fifty-odd years, he told me where we could park up without getting into trouble (for free; very MSE :T).
We walked on the beach, in the wooded dunes and along the estuary; restoring our spirits and good temper.
Divo Four sketched and photographed the views, ran and cycled - exploring the area by himself while CD and I pottered about much more slowly - quite happily.
On the second day CD had enough confidence to run on the beach with DS - which she hasn't done since losing her sight - while I took 'photos with his camera (the first time I've had a go with DS4's Xmas pressie - it really was a good deal; the lens is amazing!).

Yesterday morning CD looked sad; she had hot ears and refused her breakfast.. Instinct said it would be a good idea not to explore further along the coast but head somewhere closer to the wonderful vet who treated CD last month, just in case.
We'd passed signposts to an archaeological site on the journey out, it was about half way and seemed a more interesting attraction than anything close by the sea-side (also less likely to be over-run with kids who all just had to stroke CD; honestly there must have been well over five hundred who petted her during the first two days!). While DS and self were discussing it, CD went to sit in her travelling position between the front seats - that decided us.

The site was fascinating, in an open wind-swept field. Blissfully child-free, CD enjoyed wandering about off-lead while DS and I learned about the people who'd lived there four thousand years ago. We took turns climbing down a steep ladder into an ancient flint mine - absolutely amazing considering it was dug with bone tools.
But CD still didn't want to eat, so I called the vet. She had one appointment left in two hours' time; we booked it. Bit of a gamble because the road was already busy with Friday afternoon traffic and camper-van isn't the quickest or nippiest vehicle, but we made it with half an hour to spare - just time for a quick cuppa in Vet's car-park before taking CD in (am really enjoying that aspect of mobile living).

It was the right decision. Don't know whether this is a reprise of LP's horrible illness or something else, but CD is back on antibiotics and instead of being admitted to go on a drip, I'm supposed to get a litre of rehydration fluid into her today using a giant syringe (so big I need two hands to use it - she hates it; hopeless task!).
Lateral thinking came up with an alternative; I poached CD's chicken and some garlic in lots of water - she accepted that happily!
This morning CD looks much brighter; we've already been for a walk and she's finished the chicken / water mixture, so our next task is to replenish supplies, and get her some white fish as a variation..

maddiemay

So pleased that CD is a little better today, was so worried when I read the word "vet" yesterday.

At 60+ and having been the housekeeper to 7 woofers as an adult I have not yet had the problem of getting fluid into any of them, but never know what fate will throw at us, and your chicken stock idea is now firmly filed away in my brain just in case:A (If only 7 dogs in an adult lifetime does not seem many, I would add that we have been so fortunate to have the majority of them live long and healthy lives. Miss MM will be 6 very soon and we are hoping that she will too live a long time and that at least one of us will be here to care for her)

Dansmam

Hey Robin, I do like your way of living - sounds like if it's interesting, you just do it. That's how we lived when the kids were young and I so miss being that way. We makes our beds...Glad you got CD back to the marvellous vet, and I too am filing away the poaching method for getting dogs rehydrated. Our loony lurcher is still but a bairn, but when he's stressed its mad panting panic so we need all the hints we can get. Wishing you all well, and CD a rapid turnaround. Glad you saw sea and history

Dansmam

Oh miss rir and all, my job is also rubbish and getting rubbisher, so working on a plan...

missrlr

Dansmam fingers crossed for you and work. I am currently deciding if I am going to put a formal complaint for bullying in to my bosses (who are doing the bullying) but think that way means I definitely don't get a reference worth anything. See they win again! No one else they own the blinking company!

Anyhoo so glad CD is getting better. Had a similar trip for Doglet today, pancreatitis kicking off again but Buscopam seems to be effective and we hopefully have caught it early .... Not enjoying being anywhere near his butt with the stinkiest farts coming out of it.

chevalier

glad to hear that CD is ok. Nice to know that kids over there ask to pet her though. Something that is still being worked on over here.
chev

Edited to add. I have found a recipe for golden paste, but I am having a fit of CBA so havne't made any up yet. Currently I am putting the end of a teaspoons worth of turmeric in a cup with a spoonful of sugar and a little hot water, and just swallowing it down together. Hope it will have some beneficial effect. Does making it into GP more effective, and if so do you know why?

*Robin*

Good evening everyone, :hello:

Thanks for your good wishes Maddiemay, Dansmam, Missrlr and Chev. They're working; CD was more herself again yesterday although DR commented that she looked stiff and old. Which galvanised me into brewing up some more GP while I was cooking his birthday dinner, and today - after three doses [she'd missed nearly a week because the last batch went off in van's non-functioning fridge] - he was gobsmacked to see CD running alongside Divo Four again!
Another great result is that DR has finally decided to ask his medico if he can take it too:
"Lord, I could do with a bit o' that," he said as he puffed the few yards between camper-van and his house. We all had the feeling that this birthday may very well be his last so it was wonderful to hear him being at least a little positive.

Maddiemay - sorry to worry you; I was worried m'self when CD suddenly didn't look quite 'right'..
You got me thinking; I've no idea how many dogs [or cats] have been part of our family over the years - of course we rarely only had one at a time which makes it harder to remember, and often looked after friends' animals while they were away too..

Dansmam wrote:

I do like your way of living - sounds like if it's interesting, you just do it. That's how we lived when the kids were young and I so miss being that way.

Yes it feels good to have the freedom to be spontaneous - but don't forget the time and effort it took to get m'self motivated for this trip, lol. Do realise am very lucky - trying to make the most of this summer with Divo Four, it probably won't happen again..

missrlr wrote: »

so glad CD is getting better. Had a similar trip for Doglet today, pancreatitis kicking off again but Buscopam seems to be effective and we hopefully have caught it early .... Not enjoying being anywhere near his butt with the stinkiest farts coming out of it.

Missrlr - sorry to hear Doglet's pancreatitis is flaring up again, it's a horrible complaint, so hard to get rid of.
:think: It is an inflammatory illness.. Just spent the last hour reading - this is long and involved but interesting, main-stream wisdom:
http://dogaware.com/articles/wdjpancreatitis.html
Also worth checking out the FB TUG page, put 'pancreatitis in dogs' into the search box - looks hopeful but definitely using coconut oil rather than olive oil. Hints on successful diets too from admin and other members (stinky back end not a sign of healing in progress).

Chev - yes, turmeric is much more effective when cooked up with black pepper into GP. It also needs fat to metabolize effectively; either coconut or olive oil *not* any other kind of oil or fat (think I prefer the former, plus coconut has so many other uses - even as a chocolate substitute when one needs a treat, yum! ).
Know what you mean about CBA - kicking m'self today that it took nearly a week to get a new batch together, especially seeing how it has such a great - and fast - effect on CD's condition.

It helped that Gas Engineer came back and gave van's pipework the all-clear, concluding the bottle was faulty - so now have a working fridge and mini-freezer again, essential for stopping GP from going off within a few days.

Oops, lappy battery about to expire - night-night everyone! :wave:

missrlr

Thanks Robin, I had found that I my travels around interweb, interestingly Doglet detests and I mean completely refuses anything with coconut in it. Even a smidge has his nose twitching and refusing to go near the food. He walks out of the kitchen if you open a packet up. Always has been like that too. Fussy little so and so!
Think I am stuck with olive oil for him anyway.
Glad the fridge and freezer can be working again and CD is bouncing. Let's hope. A practical demonstration does gee DR into action to help himself

*Robin*

Hello Diary and MSE Friends, :hello:

Had a hair-raising trip through the centre of town during rush-hour this morning, dodging clueless summer-students on bikes and very nearly getting stuck between a scaffolding lorry and a rather nice Beamer.. Got through the gap with inches to spare, mirrors folded in and the help of one of the scaffolders to guide me through - all to return the dog crate which was a huge disappointment; very shabbily made - reckon there would have been a good chance of CD collapsing the thing around her if I'd been foolish enough to try putting her inside it!
Now we are waiting for a courier to collect the large box.

missrlr wrote: »

Thanks Robin, I had found that I my travels around interweb,

Sorry about that; while falling asleep I suddenly thought - bet you've seen this article already! Still, the link may be of use to another reader so I'll leave it.

missrlr wrote: »

interestingly Doglet detests and I mean completely refuses anything with coconut in it. Even a smidge has his nose twitching and refusing to go near the food. He walks out of the kitchen if you open a packet up. Always has been like that too. Fussy little so and so!
Think I am stuck with olive oil for him anyway.

From reading on the TUG site, coconut oil is the only oil / fat which does not require pancreatic enzymes to metabolize.
Could you fool Doglet the same way I get GP into CD - with frozen pills which are scentless (paste pressed into recycled paracetamol blister packs then put in the freezer). CD happily takes hers wrapped in slivers of smoked ham - which probably wouldn't be suitable for Doglet at the moment - but the other article says boiled frankfurters are ok to feed during pancreatitis flare-ups; it would be easy enough to cut a slit into the fatter type of sausages [once cooled!], add a pill and tempt Doglet with those, or gobbets of boiled chicken perhaps?

missrlr wrote: »

Glad the fridge and freezer can be working again and CD is bouncing. Let's hope. A practical demonstration does gee DR into action to help himself

Indeed, am very relieved to have a working fridge / freezer again, even though it's only a small under-counter model; didn't realise how much I rely on being able to keep certain foodstuffs cold, and how annoying it is when milk, GP etc., go off so quickly in this weather.

DR's next consultant appointment has been put back another eight weeks - can't help wondering whether the NHS hope he'll die before they get around to him - so have suggested he talk to the clinic nurse to see if she can give permission for him to add GP to the bagful of allopathic meds he's already on, which really aren't controlling his symptoms very well.
His birthday present is a huge success though, noticeably improving air quality in his home; well worth the hefty price-tag!

ETA - Spends:
Q10 supplements - £20

maddiemay

First ever batch of GP made this morning, and only One smoker's finger to show for it LOL.

I have been saving my empty blister packs for weeks and weeks, so a batch of those filled and ready to freeze (when I have re-organised a shelf in freezer to take them). The rest of the batch is in the fridge and I will add to my meals as I prepare them e.g. scrambled egg or omelette breakfasts. For my lunch I stirred some into my sardines to go on toast. I am hoping that it will help with the pain I am getting in my joints etc and enable me to be more mobile, I so miss just being able to go for a walk or sightsee when we are out and about.

I hope that DR will ge the go-ahead and that GP will improve his quality of life and prolong it. Great that you are able to help him so much ATM.