Dogs, Cats and Birds

I`ve had a really nice couple of days. Our weekend at Kerry`s was lovely and restful as always, apart from Roman keeping us on our toes of course, though we wouldn`t have it any other way. As the weather was really nice we went into Basingstoke yesterday afternoon to look around the shops, something I should not be allowed to do unsupervised...lol!. I came away with a picture for the living room wall and a ceramic bread bin...I will not divulge the cost because I haven`t exactly told Jim yet and he does need to be the first to know...lol!

We do have a problem with Jake though. When we first took him on at 21 mths, Labrador Lifeline Trust told that he had hip dysplaysia and would need treatment in the years to come. The diagnosis was confirmed by our vet Dominic who has since left the practice. He told us that Jake wouldn`t have problems until he reached the age of 5 or 6 when arthritis would set in, he told us not to worry and let Jake get on with his life. Now it seems it has caught up with him, he is five in March and although not yet arthritic he is experiencing problems now. On Saturday afternoon he started limping heavily and when I looked at his leg he screamed in pain, something he never does so it must have hurt him badly. I gave him a paracetemol and Slava looked in the phone book for a local vet. We did find one but by that time Jake had fallen asleep where we stayed for several hours, the painkiller must have kicked in and relaxed him enough to let him rest. Next morning however he was running round like a puppy as if nothing had happened and we were completely puzzled as to why he was so much better. By the evening he was limping again and we knew he had to see the vet today.

Our vet is a lovely young woman who really cares for the health and welbeing of the animals she sees so we knew she`d have some answers for us. She checked Jake`s hips and confirmed that they are quite bad and she prescribed ani inflammatories and several days rest. She also said that when the arthritis starts, and it will start, they will be able to manage it well. We now know that because of thebad hips when Jake hits the ground when he runs he is more likely to injure himself than a healthy dog would so at least we now know what we`re dealing with and can treat him accordingly. She wants Jake to carry on running and jumping as much as he likes despite his wonky hips and then told me that it`s best he has a good quality short life than a long one wrapped up in cotton wool, Jim and I agree entirely, he would be very miserable if he had to be kept on the lead all the time and we can`t do that to him. She also told us that the tablets we are using are cheaper on the internet and to use a suppliment called Seraquin to help repair his joints, apparently it`s very good stuff so I`ve ordered some already.

Remember I told you about Willow the cat next door? Well it turns out that it wasn`t him that was trapped in the house opposite but it seems they do have a cat who is similar in colour to Willow but much bigger, I was so relieved. Despite not exactly a cat lover I do have a soft spot for Willow, he`s quite mad and unfortunately not the most attractive of cats but he is so sweet natured that you can`t help but love him. I think he might use up those nine lives sooner than he should because he keeps going under parked cars,  jumping in car doors when someone is getting in or out (he used to do that to Slava on a regular basis) and he thinks nothing of running back and forwards across the road which always makes my heart jump.

When I arrived home from work I looked out of the window and noticed that my bird feeders when emptying fast, I was thrilled, then I looked again and saw a goldfinch and knew straight away why the food was going down, they are greedy little things. I looked again and another two had joined him and all at the same feeder too. I love goldfinches because they are so pretty and now there are three they will soon be more.

 

This photo from the net doesn`t really show the colours of to their best advantage.

 

This is better but I`ve try to take some myself tomorrow

Anyway, my friends. I hope you all have a lovely weekend. Take care and bye Bye for now. :o)