Tag Archives: Pepper

I’ve Done Too Much

I think I’ve done too much today. My fault, of course. I never learn so now I am resting on my bed with a heat pad hoping tomorrow will be better.

In other news, Pepper’s bloods came back normal (one slightly elevated something, but nothing worthy of note), so that rules out any nasties going on and I am relieved.  I think we will stick to a dietary intolerance diagnosis.  Luckily Pepperlikes her Royal Canin diet and I am trying hard not to let her trawl any other outside food, like bird grain, duck poo, spilled sheep feed, anything she can find really.

I am having to be tough on Pepper, which I find extremely difficult.

I have never been tough with her, which may have been the problem – but that little face……. I always give in but have to think, no, this is hurting her little tummy despite what she says.

Skippy has been diagnosed now – apparently it is the throttle switch and cable so I need to find someone who speaks/reads German and order a new one.

I did my daily put-something-on-Ebay/Etsy listing – I can’t decide which is the better platform so am dividing the jewellery between both of them to see which one has the greater range.  Ebay is winning so far just in views and interest.

I made the chap on the left today too.

Maybe there’s a potential untapped market for Muscovy Duck photography.

 

Comes in Three’s

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.

PepperPot Update

Pepper is feeling much better again and thank you all for your kind words.  I am sure they helped her.

All four legs seem to work 100% and she is back to being very enthusiastic about food. She has this horrid habit of trawling the ground while she runs looking for anything edible, even if it isn’t.  Nothing stops her and then she is ill again.  She never learns.

This morning Pepper asked to go with me when I was taking the Eggbox (Jimny) out for a spin as it had had a flat battery through not being used very much.  I shoved her in the back and off we went to see a friend and her two Shetland Sheepdogs.

There was lots of running around.

Plus a bit of growling but no fights. The dogs were just establishing boundaries.

Well, Pepper mainly.  She was the only girl and she had to make her point of who was going to Rule the World.  Her, obviously. Them’s her rules.

I had a cup of coffee, a good chat and then Pepper and I went home only to find this…..

While I was having a rest on my bed, I heard weird heavy breathing.  When I looked over to Ted’s unmade bed, I saw Monster had secretly taken up residence, which made him the weirdo as that is only Ted’s bed.  No one else ever sleeps there.

Pepper arrived upstairs and could not believe her eyes either.

It was a very odd thing for Monster to do.  So not like him.  He has been a bit lame recently so I bought him a new bed, which has not got here yet.  I wonder if he will continue being strange once it arrives.

A Worrying Day

Pepper has not been well. She’s wretching all the time, refusing to go on a dog walk (unheard of) and has been on the whole pretty miserable.  She even walked away from her uneaten breakfast.  Not a well Pepperpot.

So I’ve been nursing my sick little dog all day, in the belief that the best cure is nil by mouth (fresh water only) and sleep. I did give her 5ml of slippery elm in a syringe this morning which I think has helped to calm things down.

I have no idea who or what Pepper has eaten or even how she found it as she was already on house arrest since running after a mountain hare (it luckily escaped) and then produced a limp out of nowhere, which became steadily worse all evening and even added a back leg. As Pepper could no longer walk, we were carrying her around the house, and garden and I was very frightened for her, worrying all night. But suddenly the next morning, of course Pepper was fine again, all limping gone but hence the 24 hour house arrest, just to be sure.

I hate it when Pepper is ill but on a good note, though, she is a sweetie and always takes herself outside to be sick, which I appreciate hugely.

Into my shed we went this afternoon, for peace and quiet.  Pepper slept a long time, which was exactly what I wanted for her.

Afterwards I let her outside to run around a little while I fed the ducks, etc.

When we got inside, I gave Pepper some supper and she wanted to eat it so hopefully whatever was bothering her, is now leaving her system.  Honestly, I’ve never known such a dog with so many troubles.

The Best Rugs

Not much has happened today which, as you know, is how I and my back like it.  No drama, no fuss.

Everyone behaved at breakfast and that always makes life simple.  Afterwards, I spent my morning on the phone to a physiotherapist who phoned to talk about my GP referral (he never mentioned that). We had a good conversation and I felt I was understood and a plan might be made. You never know.  I am optimistic.

Then some games with Pepper, which involved me trying not to be chewed while someone tickled her tummy!

 

Pepper is (mostly) adorable and very pleased with herself because a few days back, she caught herself a mouse!  All her very own work too.

Because Pepper wanted to bring it home, I had to swap it out for one of the sheeps’ biccies to get her to give it to me to dispose of. Fair exchange is no robbery in this house.  She was a very good girl about this otherwise she would run around with the mouse in her mouth, tail hanging out like a gruesome lollipop!

The old horses and ponies are doing very well living in the centre of the summer track.  The two year old grass there is slowly being eaten down and will hopefully last a little while longer.  My plan is to keep them in their rugs (either a rain sheet or a 50 – 200g fill depending on the weather) while they live outside in bad weather 24/7.  That way, their rugs will do the job of keeping them dry and warm. I think they are happier like this and have wintered better.  They move around more too.

Anyway, that’s the plan.  It’s not a very cheap one, though.  I have learned the hard way that you get what you pay for.