Awful ‘Haviour

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Well, we are just back from our visit to the vet.

I would love to say Pepper behaved like a dream but she didn’t – it involved a cat in a box and words were said. I was ashamed of her and had to apologise to the owners.

I thought Pepper liked cats.  I was wrong. I saw a side of Pepper I haven’t seen before.  It wasn’t pretty.  She was high on adrenaline and wouldn’t listen as I forced her to sit on my lap.

Anyway, the upshot of our visit (apart from a certain 7.5kg Patterdale terrier possibly being banned due to bad ‘haviour), is that Pepper’s chronically itchy ears (no better despite regular drops) and her troubled guts could be related to each other – ie digestive allergies. So she is now on a special (read £££) magical diet, new ear drops and we are going back on Monday for a review.  Blood was taken and she was a very good girl about that.  Thinking about it, “terrier gut allergies often stem from food sensitivities, leading to chronic inflammation, itching (ears) and recurrent ear infections”.  Now that I can believe and that’s Pepper. As for the limping, that’s for another day but she has different painkillers that won’t aggravate her tummy.

Meanwhile, in other worlds, this morning found me getting my old Etsy account a bit more up to date and I put a few things on to sell.  I am going to try and keep going with selling stuff I no longer want or need.  Money is much nicer than other people’s clutter in a box.

I had company.

I might even put the sheep on Etsy if they are not selling many in town.  It is early days as the cruise ships are not here yet.

Comes in Three’s

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Bad luck comes in three’s.  That’s the saying and my Monday was no exception.

It began well, and I was lured into a false sense of security as I started the fully-loaded washing machine.

1. It stopped working half way through the cycle – soaking wet clothes and no obvious reason.

2.  I am still stressed about Skippy dying – so that counts in my book.

3.  And, lastly, Pepper refused her breakfast and is back to wandering lonely as a cloud.

Luckily OH got the washing machine going. I know not how (something about the plug) and I can stop worrying about that.  I feel sick when the washing machine dies and would rather have no tv than no washing machine.

Skippy now has a very proficient doctor who is busy diagnosing the problem – possibly battery – and he says Skippy is basically an electric mobility scooter by any other name so hopefully it can be mended (pretty please God – a broken Skippy just makes me hear the words “a total waste of money”).

And as for Pepper – well, she ate her tea – huzzah, but apparently she doesnt like the brand we have so I opened an expensive Lily’s Kitchen tin which she loved and obviously cat food.  I can see where this is going so I phoned the vet surgery and made an appointment for Pepper to have a complete blood count done.  Then, at least, I can rule out anything suspicious and know she is just a bloody-minded wee dug who has me under her paw running around in circles for her and not IBS, pancreatitis, kidney/liver disease, cancer, Addison’s, etc…..

The washing-machine and Skippy I can let go of, but not Pepper.  I think this eating/not-eating has gone on long enough now.  Tomorrow afternoon is the appointment. Taking blood should be fun.

Goodbye Flossie

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We knew the weather would be very bad at 8.00 when we usually go out to feed everyone, so Floss and I got up an hour early (plus the clocks went forward last night) before it all revved up. We wanted to get everything done while it was safe to be outside.

Floss is going back to her home, having helped me enormously over a hard winter.  Later on, when there was lull in the weather, we went outside so she could say goodbye to everyone.

(we also put a hand under everyone’s rugs to find them totally dry and warm, which was good, as some quantity of rain had fallen).

 

And then Floss went to say goodbye to the sheep and we decided to have a sit in the sheep shed, mostly because it was dry.

This is one of my favourite past-times.

While the weather was raging outside, we were dry, calm and peaceful.

And ‘Bert was very cuddly – there was a brief minute when Flossie imagined taking ‘Bert back with her but he’s not great on a dog-lead so that would be the difficulty.

(I ❤️ this photo so much!)

However, Lambie is great on a dog-lead but not half as cuddly.

And then inside to try and put a few things on Ebay – the job that is always waiting for the rainy day.

It was not made easy but I achieved and put a few things on.  We’ll see what happens.  I feel quite inspired.

So farewell to Flossie. Both she and Daisy have been an immense help and support when I needed it most.  I think I can do this on my own now.  I just need a system.

What a Difference a Day Makes

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Well, someone is feeling 100% better and would happily eat all the meals she missed on her day off.   I must admit I do try and feed her slightly more when she’s hungry because she’s already a skinny little dog.

But the happy light in her eyes has returned and she is back to bouncing like Tigger so I am relieved. I can worry about something else instead like Skippy, (my electric wheelbarrow) who died this morning – dammit.

You would think I would just get used to Pepper’s eating difficulties and learn how to harden my heart and wait it out but I find her visible suffering difficult to watch. I take it very personally and it reminds me of BeAnne’s slow demise which broke my heart.

Anyway, again, Monster’s medical skills obviously worked.

“The best thing we can do is go on with our daily routine”

Meanwhile, outside it goes from the sun shining to violent hail showers in seconds.  Floss and I were tidying the big shed when this arrived.  The noise was incredible and then as quickly as it arrived, it stopped.

Not Well (Again)

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Guess who said no to her breakfast (again)?

Guess who is wandering around like a wet weekend feeling very sorry for herself, while making wretching noises and constantly asking to go outside with her tail between her legs?

Well, obviously not Ted – he’s on fighting form, happily eating anyone’s unwanted breakfast/supper/tea/bedtime snacks, etc. Ted, the actual dog dustbin.  I have yet to find anything he doesn’t eat – even broccoli stalks.

Luckily, the excellent on-site nursing staff are very atttentive and taking good care of our utterly miserable patient.

I am not neglecting Pepper either. Today she has had slippery elm, albeit unwillingly, two good sleeps and has now managed to choke down a little bit of boiled chicken, from my fingers – apparently she can’t eat out of her bowl anymore.  OH even went to town (for supplies) via the vet and collected some Promax (probiotic paste).  I bought some pumpkin powder online too.  I can’t think of anything else.

It is a bit all or nothing with Pepper.