Tuesday 23 June 2015

Getting On



I haven’t posted an update for a while re Dusty and Harley.

Dusty had to have another six week course of antibiotics earlier this year (after I’d posted the last update) for his persistent jaw infection and our vet hopes that if it comes back again, it will be possible to give him more antibiotics rather than operate to remove that part of his jaw. Of course there is no way of knowing how this will turn out and I don’t want to jinx things like I usually do, so I’m saying nothing….

After Harley had her teeth cleaned and came home with sparkly gnashers and a clean bill of health, I took her back a couple of months later for a check-up and the tartar was back. She has dental food, Plaque-off and dental treats. Neal says I am doing everything right and like Dusty, Harley is a mystery.

She has to go back in July for another check and if there is still a problem, Neal will repeat the tests as the one for calicivirus (which was what he thought it might be) can give a false negative result.

It’s so odd because she is otherwise healthy, her coat is as soft as silk and lovely and thick and her eyes are bright. I’ve had a peek at her gums and I’m saying nothing – I don’t want to jinx her either. She loves the big chunky dental biscuits and munches into them with no problem which indicates that her gums aren’t sore.



And we’ve been back to the vet with Dusty as he started holding one back leg up – sort of. He was balancing on his toes, just in the evenings. He still bounces up and down on his back legs in typical spring-er spaniel fashion and out on his walks, he never limps or falters.

He’s been on an anti-inflammatory medication for the past two weeks and has stopped standing on his toes. Today he went back, starved and ready for sedation in case he needed an x ray, but because he’s doing so well, they decided to wait and see. Now he has to stop the anti-inflammatory and if the limp comes back, then he will have to have the x ray.

The worry is that he has a cruciate ligament problem. I don’t even want to think about that and what it could entail.

And me? After five lots of antibiotics, I’ve got an appointment with an ENT specialist in August – almost a year after my problems started. Would you believe within a week of the appointment coming through, I started to feel a lot better? Not completely though, so I won’t cancel the appointment.

In other news, my youngest grandchild starts school in September. Gulp. What a milestone!




23 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear you've been poorly, but it's always the way, make an appointment and you start to get better- but as I've found, it doesn't last for long. So hope the specialist can sort out what it is.

    Pats for Dusty and Harley and fingers crossed they are okay.

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    1. Thank you, Carol - I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of all these problems eventually xx

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  2. Hope you're all feeling better soon. It's horrible being unwell in the summer months. Lovely pictures xx

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    1. Thanks, Suzy - I'm feeling a huge lot better than I was, I really am. It's more of a niggle now. I feel as if I've spent the last few months in a fog and it's finally starting to clear xx

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  3. I hope everyone recovers very soon, Teresa. However, it's encouraging that you are feeling better, so fingers crossed that this will continue, and I'm sure it will still be very helpful to see the ENT man at last, so wishing you a positive outcome in August.
    It's incredible to think that your youngest grandchild is starting school this year! The time really does fly past and seems to speed up with every year that goes by.
    By the way, thank you so much for all your lovely comments on my guest post over at Rosemary's blog last week - they were so interesting and it was fabulous of you to share them.
    Wishing the gorgeous Dusty and Harley a very happy and healthy summer. xxx

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    1. Thank you, Joanna.
      I am so enjoying Tying Down the Lion - I love the way the story is building up and I'm becoming very fond of the characters and even the car! My husband read the first part and said he wanted to read more too xx

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  4. Aw, poor Dusty! And poor Harley and you, of course ;-) Hope all three of you improve/continue to improve.

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  5. Good to hear from you, Teresa. What you need is a resident vet! But those are lucky, much loved animals.

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    1. A resident vet would be very useful, Frances xx

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  6. Tim 'n' Ted nod knowingly and say "crossed paws always help".
    Mum says good luck to you, too, for your vet appointment - whoops specialist appointment.
    tail wags and licks
    xxx

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  7. Lovely to hear your news, Teresa, and how Dusty and Harley are doing. It's always the way of it - when we finally get an appointment the problem begins to clear! Best to get checked anyway as they'll rule out nasal polyps, which was the problem I used to have.

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    1. Thank you, Rosemary. I have wondered about polyps. It will be nice to know one way or the other xx

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  9. oops!
    Wishing you better really soon - all of you. So exhausting for you all this.
    My goodness the littlest one starting school. Terrifying. How the years go. My two are young men now :-) xx

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    1. Thank you, Sue. They grow up too fast don't they - sob sniffle xx

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  10. Hi Teresa,

    It's always worrying when we have concerns and mysteries surrounding our beloved furry friends' health and well being. Hope all works out well and that you will be just fine. Typical to feel better just before an appointment.

    A very special September day ahead for your youngest grandchild. Gulp and where does the time go....

    Hugs,

    Gary :) x

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    1. Thanks, Gary - September is going to be emotional that's for sure xx

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  11. I'm glad you are beginning to feel better Teresa, such things can bring you right down. So it's good to hear you'll be seeing somebody soon.

    I'm so glad you updated us about Dusty and Harley as I was wondering how they both are, and I'm sending my best wishes to all of you for trouble free times ahead.

    Take care x

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    1. Thank you, Maria.

      Dusty is booked in again for an x ray and this time they will definitely be doing it as his limp came back as soon as the medication stopped. Although he's hopping around, he's not in agony like he was with the jaw abscess which is good. It's just so difficult trying to get him to take things easy xx

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  12. What a worry! I do hope that the sunny weather will bring you all good health - finally. I remember my daughter's first day at school as if it were yesterday - that was 18 years ago. They grow up far too quickly. Wishing you all the best.

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    1. Thank you, Nicola. They are treating Dusty's limp conservatively with restricted exercise and hoping that does the trick.
      You never forget their first days do you? They do grow up too quickly xx

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