Blowing in the Winds of Change

Dansmam

Ooohh Robin those Yorkies! I can just see the pack of them terrorising Pup. You and Musketeer sound quite a team 😀. I hope he's come through the op in good form.
Temperature-wise have you seen there's a forecast of 29 degrees in Inverness ?!!!!
I'm down south this weekend visiting the aged P and it's doing wonders for the vitamin D though there are some shocking sights in the town. Dear brother saw a topless man before 7.30 yesterday ☹️ There are also many bra straps and tattoos on show, but I believe that's the fashion nowadays 😱😱😱😂😂😂
Best wishes to dear Musketeer for a rapid recovery and a happy gentle summer for you both x

*Robin*

Hello World, :hello:

Bubbles - thank you; tricky business cuddling a pooch who is wearing a lampshade, but we're managing.

Maddie - ooh you lucky thing; several RL friends have also been touring Scotland and the North over the past few weeks (family 'significant' birthday trip / bucket-list item for Great Granny who has been going on about "Driving Miss Norma").. They all say it's been an absolutely magical time for them; visited loads of new places without having to avoid any midges!
Fingers crossed that your "health stuff" has been satisfactorily resolved..

Dansmam - Hope your parents are doing well, and enjoying your visit. Talk of topless males and bra-strap fashion made me chuckle..
Can't help worrying when temperatures in the UK are hotter than Andalusia - even mates in soggy Cumbria are complaining of drought! Am thinking of travelling up the coast of Portugal and then exploring Galicia this time in order to enjoy "pleasant" temperature zones on our journey - is DD still in the North of Spain?

Musketeer was sooo pleased to see me when I collected him from DV's clinic; trying to bounce even though both his back legs were bandaged and must have been sore.
"You can remove the dressings tomorrow - and clean all the wounds" I was told. Easier said than done at home without help, but we managed. Musketeer is now bright yellow across most of his undercarriage and rear legs - Betadine stains caused by my not having enough hands to hold him still and also apply it carefully!
He has two very neat scars in place of over-sized dew-claws - it made sense to remove them while he was anaesthetised; I've seen a couple of nasty accidents involving dew-claws being ripped off and given that Musketeer will have to be on a chain at camp-sites while we're travelling, it was a risk I prefer not to take.
Don't think Musketeer has yet noticed that his baubles are also missing.. Either that or he must be one of the best-natured dogs in the World!

If I ever manage to climb the quarter million steps back to debt-free status, it would be interesting to have Musketeer DNA tested. Before his op, I decided that we now know each other well enough for Musketeer to undergo a proper scrub in the bath. To my surprise, the faint pattern of spots which I'd assumed were oil stains from sleeping under a car at his old home, did not wash out.
This, together with the other health issue that has become apparent, made me wonder whether one of his parents is a Dalmation? This breed has a genetic mutation which makes them subject to bladder stones. I'd already noticed that Musketeer was having problems with his waterworks, so it was another item on the list for DV while she was operating.
"A mountain of crystals" was her verdict.
Leaving me with a juggling act: One type of diet is needed to control these stones, another is best for the Mediterranean illness. I declined to change Musketeer back to eating a manufactured specialist kibble [at vast expense], so have dusted off m' herbal remedies and ordered a couple more which are recommended for keeping Dalmations healthy. In three days there has already been an improvement, although Musketeer won't drink enough water to help shift the crystals, so we've added three or four bowls of bone-broth 'tea' to our daily routine. He thinks that's great!

Going out twice in one day - dropping off then picking up Musketeer - completely floored me. When we finally got back to the Nest after a short wobbly walk, I fell over and then discovered that I literally could not move. For hours. Fully conscious but unable to do more than blink.. Seriously weird!
Reminded me that I need to pay attention to my own health as well as sorting out the dog.. Need to take m' supplements regularly, which I haven't been doing since CD died.
Silly me.

Today am grateful for another cloudy day at 25'C, for DS4's success in gaining a place to study for his Masters, and the patience of my very dear friends who trust me to repay the loans they gave me - also for the efficiency of our new solicitor who is pushing through the sale of DH's flat.

Spends:
Musketeer's op - £110
Medicinal supplies - £45

please-let-me-be-lucky

Take care of you Robin. Lots of things to be thankful for there, but lying on the floor unable to move is certainly not one of them :eek: Xx

Bubblesmum

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote: »

Take care of you Robin. Lots of things to be thankful for there, but lying on the floor unable to move is certainly not one of them :eek: Xx

Thinking the same thing... you are amazing x

Sun_Addict

Only you would be willing to take on a dog who needs medical care Robin, despite your own health issues. You should be very proud of yourself, you're an angel xx

*Robin*

Friday again (panic?!), :hello:

Lucky - it wasn't that bad, honest - just weird! Was curled up with Musketeer, offering cuddles and sympathy after his ordeal (stroking first, then just with hands on his head and shoulders). Musketeer's head lying on my lap but after a while had no sensation of pressure. A most peculiar lack of feeling, all over. Anyway, eventually the problem went away.

Bubbles - was wondering whether you've ever experienced episodes like that?

Sun.A - haha; am no angel, but thanks for the compliment!
The rescue centre volunteers - and their vet - all thought Musketeer was healthy, although I was expecting that he would have at least one of the endemic Mediterranean illnesses. To be fair, they didn't have funds for a full set of blood tests which is what showed up his health issues.

Dear Vet wants me to take M in to the clinic every three days at the moment, which - with walks - is using up pretty much all of my energy. Apparently an infection in Musketeer's leg wounds is almost a certainty so am not allowed to administer the sub.cut antibiotics m'self at home this time. <sigh>
So far DV has been pleasantly surprised, although Himself did manage to get the cone off one night while I was asleep and he chewed out a couple of stitches, so now has staples and a bandage on that leg - the wound was a bit red but clean (no infection). All other stitches were removed yesterday.

The specialist supplements arrived and seem to be having a beneficial effect already - DV said that M's bladder felt normal (rather than full of rocks as it was a week ago). Phew. She is quite interested in my alternatives to feeding the pricey kibble, but did say she thought most of her clients wouldn't want to bother with putting together a suitable fresh diet.

Had a great conversation with New Neighbour yesterday; now have his mobile number in case something else goes wrong - last week there was a huge leak in the irrigation system which I couldn't tell him about, nor sort out for him as it was behind a locked door. Also have permission to bring my van across his land - which am legally allowed to do anyway, but really would prefer to avoid annoying a judge with the issue.

Am grateful New Neighbour has decided being friendly is best, also that he's obeying the law and has now doused his ruddy bonfire! Thirdly the electricity has come back on - yay can have a cuppa, wash up and find sufficient energy for a long overdue shower (did the hair-wash day before yesterday ).

No spends - amazingly, all Musketeer's revision appointments [and drugs] are included in the price of his op.

*Robin*

Sunny Sunday, :hello:

Musketeer can now remove his cone at will, and does, so we're trying a different approach. Think the staples are itchy so after some thought am applying Germolene and Aloe Vera alternately, keeping him in view [when awake] and calling out a firm "No!" every time his nose goes near the wound. Not very happy about the Germolene but the anaesthetic in it seems to have done the trick.

Yesterday's big success was finding m' personal supplements - can tell from the way am feeling that Vit B, Selenium, Magnesium and Q10 levels are all low, and need the Milk Thistle for liver function - as does the dog; his hepatic blood test results were way off.

This morning I collected Milk Thistle seeds from the dying plants in the garden but got stabbed so much that I abandoned lifting the roots. Have to clear the terrace for pot plants which can go into the ground over the summer and be watered automatically.
Musketeer performed normally - only those of you with male relatives or pets who've had prostate or urinary crystal issues will understand what a huge relief that was! Apologies if tmi - but it really is a medical emergency if the problem becomes acute.

Am beginning to panic about everything which needs to be done before M and I can run for cooler pastures..

*Robin*

Hello MSE World, :hello:

Can't seem to settle to essential tasks today..

We had a good day yesterday though; Dear Vet was delighted with Musketeer - there was still no infection in his leg wounds which have been declared 'cured'! ..This was a first for DV in her 30 years of being a veterinary surgeon; both M and I got hugs, and I've promised to bring over a tube of the iniquitous Germolene for any other patients undergoing dew-claw removal. She also wanted to know more about the supplements I gave M to reduce the chance of an infection taking hold.
M was relieved of the hated lampshade, and also passed fit to have his second rabies jab, after which his passport was stamped liberally - so he's now ready to travel.

Followed up success at clinic by *not* going grocery shopping - still got plenty to eat in freezer & store-cupboard. Did buy a few more packets of raw mince for M (they fit in camper-van's freezer - will simplify shopping for him while on the road ).

Spanish van is now at the bottom of the Nest's steps to facilitate loading while using minimum energy. Deciding what to pack for summer on the road is difficult - really want to take my Bullet, but can't see the solar kit providing enough power for it. Shame, as I use it almost every day, but the motor unit is rather heavy to lug about - if I can ever catch the public weighbridge when it's open, might change my mind after checking the rest of the load. Need to keep some capacity for vino of course (always an acceptable gift when visiting mates ).

Had just sorted out and packed the mobile internet kit when m' more robust house connection went off. Good opportunity to check mifi still works - sent home provider an email; just as well because they weren't aware of the problem, but fixed it within half an hour. Seems mad to need two systems in order to ensure one functions, but there we go - that's life in the back of beyond!

Grateful for no headache or toothache today, for a delicious flower-scented cooling breeze, and New Neighbours continuing to be friendly.

Spends:
Vet; rabies jab and M's mince - £42

maddiemay

Great news that you are feeling better and that M has got the all clear and a liberally stamped passport:D:D

Best wishes for your travels.

MM and the furry one x

*Robin*

Thanks Maddie - not quite at that point yet, though!

For those who read m' last update and thought:
"Eh? Her vet has never before done this procedure when it hasn't got infected? ..Can't be a very good vet, then!"
..Should point out that in this climate, infections after all kinds of surgery are much more common. The local hospital avoids elective procedures during summer months for this reason. Wounds near the ground are especially at risk (which is why Mister and I have not been able to walk in the river since his op).

Last night as we were enjoying our evening perambulation I felt humbled by my good fortune in having found this beautiful place, although there was poignancy in wondering whether I've spent my last winter at the Nest; the end of DH's and my dream - our retirement garden.
Truth is I cannot tend it properly any more.
Ah well..

Now is a time of lists and boxes.
Better get on with it, eh?

Grateful again for lack of toothache - coconut oil "pulling" really works! Grateful for the dawn chorus, and blissful cool for another hour or so - let's see how much I can do before the sun's heat burns off the freshness (Neighbours are already out there mixing concrete).