Tag Archives: old age

Iacs Today

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The vets from south (Ardene House Vets) were in Shetland and Iacs was on their list.  He sees them annually for a check up after his operation a few years back for penile squamous cell carcinoma.

Iacs’ appointment wasn’t until the afternoon so OH and I got on with another looming chore. We finished sweeping out the sheep shed and left it to dry.

Afterwards, I took some painkillers and went outside to sit in the sunshine.

It was a beautiful day.

Later on I received a message saying that the vet was on her way to us so I went into the field and led Iacs out so he was close by when they turned up.  Haakon followed too.

(I have no idea why Haakon has to stand like a giraffe).

I was already feeling windy about Iacs having a general anaesthetic at his great age so I had a chat with Daisy (who is Iacs’ owner) to decide what was the best way forward.

The vet arrived and we discussed the pros and cons of sedation bearing in mind his age (31yo) and possible complications (colic).  Because Iacs’ last examination had been clear, the vet gave him a good clean/feel and said it all felt very normal and no obvious growths.  Ok, she couldn’t see because Iacs would need a general anaesthetic for that and, as there has been absolutely no signs or symptoms, we decided to leave it with the view that if I observed anything over the next year, then obviously we would do something if it was considered necessary.

Colic is an ever-present enemy at their advanced ages.

So that is what we decided.

(and the vet said she wouldn’t have known Iacs and Haakon were 31 and 32yo and they looked amazing – I breathed a huge sigh of relief).

No Electricity

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We had a planned power outage today – new power lines were being put up in our area, I think. We all knew it was coming weeks ago, but, still, it is never much fun.  I spent my day having those ridiculous quick thoughts like “well, I’ll just switch the light on” or “I’ll put a wash on” only to realise it was not possible so I vaguely polished furniture instead while OH went to town for supplies.

It was my turn to walk the dogs and the weather was not great – windy F8, a moderate gale.  I found all the horses and ponies in the sharp cut of the valley which has lots of shelter and grass.

Iacs thought I had brought carrots. I told him I had nothing and got this rather stern stare in response.

Vitamin was close-by too and I noticed she is suddenly looking even grayer. I guess it is her winter fur coming out and the new summer coat arriving with increasing white hairs.

I found a rock to sit on out of the wind – the dogs were happily doing their own thing – hoping Fivla would have a chat but she walked off.  Humph.

Fivla needs a good brush – they all do.  Maybe tomorrow – I have visitors coming over.

Bored with no electricity, I went into my shed with the now-hopefully-worn-out dogs to make a hand-felted Shetland sheep.

And the electric came back on, as they said it would, around tea-time.  It is amazing just how much we rely on it and now I can turn on lights, and put the washing on.

Twice a Day Feeds

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I had the dentist (for me, not the horses) first thing this morning. Afterwards, I took one look at Lerwick (there was a large cruise ship in), quickly turned tail and went home.  I had that sudden feeling wanting to go home, though I did manage to nip into the feed merchant on my way.

Anyway, everyone was waiting patiently for me to get back.

I was needed, in my own special way.

After making the statutory hand-felted sheep with feline help (gosh, he was annoying), armed with my bucket and gloves I went outside to quickly poo-pick the track.  Everywhere I went, Haakon was watching me. He kept popping up on my eyeline.  It was as if he was trying to tell me something.

After the track was cleared, I mixed up two buckets of fattening food and quietly put them out into five bowls, hoping I wasn’t noticed.  It is much easier to dish out food without everyone crowding me and arguing.

However, I could see Iacs had already clocked that something was going on.

I distributed fairly and shouted …..

For once, Haakon was right. There was something going on – unexpected food.

While the cold north-west wind continues to blow, the rugs are staying on.  I think we dodged the sleet, though.  Anyway, everyone is very pleased with this new twice a day feeding routine.  They think they are onto a winner.  I think it is not going to be forever.

Last Night

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I felt bad but it had to be done.

Despite it being a glorious sunny and still evening, everyone who is rugged had to have their rugs put on because tomorrow was going to be a day of shite (that is actual meteorological terminology used frequently in Shetland).

So, I went out in the Eggbox (Suzuki Jimny), like I was going on safari with the boot stuffed full of  rugs, water containers and headcollars.  But first I threw carrots at the little boys and they came galloping over.  Tiddles was easy, standing still, and putting his own rug on if he could.  Then I drove over the open grazing (scattald) to see the old folk.  Diff on, low-range and we off-roaded into the hill.

Again, they galloped down to see me and no one needed asking to stand still or needed a headcollar. I wonder if horses and ponies have a barometer built in, or know when bad weather is imminent? I could feel the appreciation, though and I was right – today is a shitty day – all wind and rain. But I know their rugs are doing their jobs.

Even little FIvla said I could take her rug off possibly in August, but not a minute before!

When I got home, I found Monster had worked out his new bed and was very happy in it too – it’s his Man Cave.  So, win, win.

Moved the Oldies

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As some of you may be aware, the world news is terrifying me, so I thought I would try and read a sensible newspaper over breakfast to put things better into perspective.

My plans were duly thwarted.

I didn’t stand a chance really.  I don’t know why I bothered.

Pepper has been “funny” as in funny peculiar, not funny ha-ha, all day.  Her tummy rumbled and off she went to the garden.

I dragged her out for her walk (she wanted to stay near the house watching me do the dog walk with Ted) so I walked the track boundary and, while I was fixing fence wire, all the horses and ponies came up to talk and say they were hungry.  I looked at their field and decided they could all be moved to better grazing.

With open gates, they followed me up the hill to the main exit.  Then I put headcollars on Haakon and Iacs and told the rest to follow, which they all duly did with nobody going “off-piste”.

This is the nicest field now and it will hopefully do them all until the proper grass starts to come in.

I don’t think the old men (Haakon and Iacs) look that good – ie, a bit scrawny in the back end – so hopefully this was a wise move and, as the spring grass arrives, they will start putting more weight back on.

And so Pepper spent her afternoon shivering, making horrid noises and then a long sleep in front of my little shed fire, while I cried my way through “The Help” and made another sheep.  When Pepper woke up, she said she wanted her tea now, so we are back to the beginning again. *** sigh *** I am none the wiser with this little dog and her tummy.