Recently, I’ve been noticing that Iacs’ (aka Bibble) front bottom has something odd going on.  He is, in no way, showing discomfort or difficulty in pee’ing, but something is not right. There is a wonky very wierd growth thing going on.

So I called for a vet visit, showing photos in an email as well as my interpretation of things, beforehand.

Knowing the visit was happening today, Bibble was around the house waiting for the vet to arrive.

He was fine on his own, investigating and he knew the others were about too.

While waiting for the vet, I used my time wisely and tidied up the shed (indoor school) while Bibble “helped”.

In fact he found and ate his après front-bottom examination carrot early!  I found the evidence.  A chicken told me.

Bibble looked totally unashamedly guilty, if there is such a thing.

The vet was running late so Bibble enjoyed exploring his old haunts.  A little known fact – he actually managed to shut his owner, Daisy, into this container a few years ago.  I won’t say I didn’t laugh….. a lot …. as I let her out!

While we waited, I decided to put Bibble back with his friends in the wee small paddock.  There were water buckets but Bibble made sure there weren’t.

The vet arrived and did a thorough examination in the stable.

Pepper, obviously, was on stand-by because you just might need a small unhelpful Patterdale terrier for just this sort of thing.

Bibble was lightly sedated for examination and the vet and I made some decisions as to his immediately treatment – antibiotics, painkillers, and then surgery of the nasty bit.  It is a tough one. Bibble is 27 so any treatment is really to try and sort this in Shetland. Needs must, he will go south but we haven’t reached that decision yet.

Bibble liked the idea of a bucket full of antibiotics!  Best day ever, if you’re him.

Farrier day yesterday and those who needed it, had their hooves trimmed.

Along with some “expert” advice.

Our farrier, Stephen, said the Minion’s hooves were growing straight and the laminitis damage was growing out so I am hopeful.

And I smugly, but hesitantly, congratulated myself that everyone was looking good.  We might to be getting through Spring without any reoccurrence of laminitis.

There is noticeable weight-loss from some….

…. though Albie seems to photograph as a lump.  He isn’t in real life.  Most odd.

The daily food, ie the minerals and vitamins, although not much loved, is eaten.

And they go to the four corners of their hill to find very sparse amounts of grass during the day.

(they share bowls, once they’ve finished their own).

So I am hopeful, if nervous of the rest of this year.

We are not going back to most of them having laminitis. Not now, not never.

Haakon was lying down, probably napping, and I was walking the dogs/cat as per usual.

Pepper had to go and investigate everyone, always (Ted just goes home).

This is the first time I’ve seen Haakon actually take an interest in Pepper.  He tends to usually just carefully ignore her even though he has known her since she was a little puppy.

He wanted to investigate on his terms.

Them’s the rules.

And Pepper wanted to find out more too.

I trust them both to make wise choices.

And they did.

I love that Pepper feels 100% comfortable. If I had stayed around, she would’ve probably curled up and gone to sleep right there.

And then this morning with Vitamin.   So sweet.  My funny little dog.

And now the dogs wear their hi-vis on all dog walks because no one can be trusted and of course the flowers are exactly the same ruddy colour.

So now I am thinking about losing the jackets for the summer as there is absolutely no point. No point at all.

I think everyone should be a very bright white, except on rare snow days.

At least I would know where they are.

Meanwhile, I took photos of wet sheep wool in the grass.   I shall use these as screensavers.

And… the first orchid of the summer.  My heart lifted.

And some cuckoo flowers (I type hopefully as I have actually no idea what the plant is called).

Hopefully summer is revving up now.

Kolka is a pretty lass and I’m glad she lives with us now.

Kolka waits for me and is very sociable, always coming up for a chat.  I like that and hope that it is me she wants to see, not the contents of my pockets.

The weight is back on too and I think she is “spot on” now.  The spring grass is very much here, so hopefully it won’t be hard to keep her like this.  She is a nice shape.

I know Kolka misses Klængur a lot but the old men are good enough company too and there is far less arguing.  She is rather taken with Haakon, but then who isn’t.

They make a happy little herd of three and I am pleased Haakon and Iacs have someone to boss them around otherwise they would just dither around the place not making any decisions.