Would you?

 

Would you?

                            Marnie , aged 15, with a feline patient

Mary from‘ In the Corner of My Eye’ commented that dog food is said to be fit for human consumption. It reminded me of the time my eldest granddaughter stayed with us while she had some work experience locally. Work experience gives students in year 10 or 11, that is, children of 15 or 16, an opportunity to find out a little about the so-called ‘world of work’. 

At that time, Marnie thought she would like to become a vet and so applied to our veterinary surgery for the opportunity to gain insight into the profession. She had and still has excellent interpersonal skills and great empathy with animals. Every day she reported for duty and got on very well with Nadia-the-Vet and the rest of the staff.

                                    Cat under anaesthetic

Though they are not specialist animal nutritionists and only a very small fraction of their training is devoted to diet, vets in general practice will often suggest a change of diet for pets, particularly if an animal is not thriving or has particular problems, like renal failure or a propensity to hairballs, for example. 

There is a wide choice of pet food in the market, but most veterinary practices carry only the more recognisable ‘scientific’ brands.  Nadia-the-Vet and Marnie decided to taste test the dog and cat ‘wet’ food and found the different recipes quite palatable.

                                Marnie with a puppy patient

There are professional animal food testers and the video clip gives a taste (groan – sorry!) of their dedication to duty.

When I was a child, there was not a great variety of commercial animal food but I used to enjoy munching dog biscuits occasionally. I found them quite tasty. The food our cats have looks quite attractive and, judging by the smell, is highly flavoured, but I am not tempted to taste it.

Would you?

The Further Adventures of Frodo the Faller - Loving the Attention

The Further Adventures of Frodo the Faller – Loving the Attention

Having got back into the rhythm of Visiting the Vet Frodo has had an interesting few weeks. First there was blood in his urine – lots of it! A scan revealed he may have a tumour in his bladder but we decided there would be no invasive surgery. Nadia-the-Vet said he might live for another year. We were very sad but reminded ourselves that he has had and is still having a very good life, despite his problems. More antibiotics were prescribed and there has been no more blood.

Frodo has been subject to epileptic seizures since he was nearly three years old; they are sporadic and don’t last long but recently he had five seizures in less than twenty-four hours and they exhausted him. The following day he had a dramatically upset stomach in the middle of the night (and the middle of our bedroom!) We took him downstairs and watched him carefully. He seemed uncomfortable and we were worried that he might be having another attack of bloat. Our vets were closed so Barry took him to the emergency vets seven miles away and he was put on a drip to rehydrate him. Barry got home at 2.00 a.m. and had to collect him from the emergency vets at 7.30. Frodo then had to spend the day with our vets on a drip and we were told he would stay there overnight. However, he got into a bit of a state and was tangling himself in the feed tube so we brought him home.

All returned to normal for a few weeks until one morning we noticed Bertie licking Frodo’s leg. Blood was trickling down it and we thought it might be in his urine again. When I looked his urine was fine but he had what looked like a gash on his thigh, as though he had caught his leg on a bramble. Another trip to the vet disclosed that he had an abscess that had burst. Again there was a suspicion that it might be more sinister but a course of antibiotics cleared it up. Julie-the-Vet advised that the skin medication was affecting his immune system and that he should stop taking it. Frodo had lost quite a lot of weight in recent weeks – he had been 29 kilos but had dropped a kilo and a half. Although he looked thin he was quite as lively and hungry as ever so I started supplementing his two meat meals with two of cereal, milk and eggs. Within six days he gained two kilos.

A couple of weeks later he had another stomach upset and lost a kilo.  Julie-the-Vet prescribed more antibiotics for him and I fed him just eggs scrambled in water for a couple of days to give his system a chance to recover. He now has cooked food because although he loves raw food his digestive system can’t seem to tolerate it.

It’s a delicate balancing act trying to feed Frodo enough to keep him satisfied and at a good weight without overloading his system. He has just had another cluster of four seizures in twelve hours. He was very disorientated and got lost in our garden in the middle of the night. He slept all day yesterday and ate nothing but is his usual ravenous self today. Each incident knocks him back and each recovery takes a little longer but he is a fighter. Nonetheless, we know his days are numbered and fear that his next adventure may be his final one. Luckily he doesn’t know that and enjoys his food, his walks and the company of those who love him.

Conservatory Cats' Chats April 2013

Conservatory Cats’ Chats (C3) April 2013

Jellicoe: We are pleased to report that all is proceeding satisfactorily. The longer we spend with The THINKER and The MAID the more relaxed we are with them. 

Isambard: Although we refer to ourselves as the Conservatory Cats the truth is that we spend very little time in the conservatory these days. The THINKER has renamed us The ENTROPY GANG.

Herschel: We thought that sounded rather complimentary and quite superior until The MAID told us the definition of ENTROPY.

Jellicoe: We were surprised to learn that it means ‘a state of disorder; a lack of pattern or organisation.’

Isambard: Then we didn’t know whether we should be flattered or insulted.

Herschel: We decided it was a tribute to our presence. After all, it is better to be noticed than ignored.

Jellicoe: It is certainly true that we have made an impact. When we are engaged in what The MAID calls our ‘‘Wall of Death’ moments we have noticed that objects are displaced and fall to the floor.

Isambard: At such times, usually once or twice a day, we are invited to spend time on the STAIRS. We can hurtle up and down those to our hearts’ content without fear of harm or injury to ourselves or others.

Herschel: We have been fully integrated with the DOGS since we last blogged. It happened very quickly in the end.

Jellicoe: First we met the one the Servants call JENNA. She is black and the smallest of the DOGS.

Isambard: Then the spotted DOG was introduced to us. He is called FRODO.

Herschel: Finally the two youngest DOGS were allowed to greet us nose to nose. GUS is big and black and BERTIE is big and golden.

Bertie with Herschel

Jellicoe: Isambard, who admits he is the most timid of the three of us, is very confident around the DOGS and seeks them out to play. He particularly likes BERTIE.

Bertie with Herschel and Jellicoe

 Isambard: Yes, he is a little rough at times and does not understand CATetiquette (CATS do not sniff bottoms) but I understand he is still quite immature. It seems that DOGS take a long time to grow up. He will learn.

Herschel: We are intrigued by OUTDOORS. The DOGS go in and out several times a day. Unlike us they do not use litter trays. We are keen to explore OUTDOORS too, but we are not allowed out.

Jellicoe:  The Servants have indicated that we shall be able to go into the OUTDOORS which they call the GARDEN in the SUMMER when a special fence will have been erected.

 Isambard: We rush to the patio door when the DOGS ask to go out but the Servants prevent our egress. They have started organising the GARDEN so that we can join them OUTDOORS though they say we shall not be permitted to explore without them in attendance except in our small enclosure which will have a roof.

Herschel: It is because of the RED KITE which could snatch us up and carry us away. There is a SPARROWHAWK, too, but we think that is less of a threat to us. SPARROWHAWKS usually only eat small birds.

Jellicoe: We could eat small birds, too. We like watching the birds and we would love to catch them.

Isambard:  The Servants like watching the birds, too. The MAID puts food out for them. Perhaps she is fattening them up for us.

The very small servant is called ISLA

Herschel: What else has changed? Another very small Servant has been born. We haven’t seen her yet but our Servants went to visit her the other day and took lots of photos. Oh, yes, we no longer sleep in our pen. Instead, when the Servants and the DOGS go to bed we almost join them.

Jellicoe: That’s to say we go up the STAIRS but we don’t go into their bedroom. We sleep in our radiator beds – that’s when we’re not playing.

Isambard: We call out to them when we hear them waking up in the morning. Sometimes The Maid has to let one or two of the DOGS out 

in the middle of the night. She never looks very happy about that.

Herschel: We’re always quite sleepy so we don’t bother to chase her down the STAIRS and play the ‘Let’s see if we can go OUTDOORS’ game.

Jellicoe: I’m sure she appreciates our consideration. After all she really needs her beauty sleep – and as much of it as she can get.

Isambard: I think my favourite Servant is The THINKER.  I like to cuddle up to him though The MAID will do if he’s not around.

Herschel: Jellicoe and I don’t mind who we sit on, just so long as we’re stroked and told how beautiful we are.

Jellicoe: We all purr as soon as anyone looks at us. I still have the loudest voice of all, though Herschel is quite noisy, too.

Isambard: I remain the quietest brother. I had to go and see Nadia-the-Vet the other day because my eye was sore. It’s all right now – nothing to worry about. She thinks I probably knocked it when my brothers and I were playing. The MAID says we’re all going to the vet soon and we’ll have to stay there for a whole day. I don’t mind if we’re all going together but I’d rather not go, really.

Herschel:  There’s one thing I do to The MAID that she doesn’t seem to like. I bite her hands. She knows I’m only being affectionate but it hurts and makes her hands sore. She says it reminds her of another cat long ago – Angus. I wish I had known him – he sounds quite a character.

Well, it’s time for us to have another snooze. I’ll say goodbye from all of us.

Ciao!

The Fifteenth Blog of Augustus Lazarus Cooke (Gus)

The Fifteenth Blog of Augustus Lazarus Cooke (Gus)

Hello everyone!

We are all very sad today. Mr Human took Winston to see Nadia-the-Vet ‘cos she knows all about cats and she gave him an injection to make him feel better and she said he could come home on Wednesday. Everyone thought he was getting better but he wasn’t and he died in the night. He was nearly six, so not very old, though older than me and Bertie. Bertie will miss him ‘cos Winston liked to lick his nose and ears and Bertie liked licking Winston.

It feels very strange in our house right now ‘cos Mrs H has gone to stay with Susannah and Frazzle and Mr H has gone out to meet some friends. He took us for a nice walk first and he said he wouldn’t be long so I expect we shall sleep ‘til he gets back.

I think something exciting is happening next week – something to do with Santa Paws? Anyway, we all hope you all have a lovely time, whatever you’re doing. I shan’t blog again until the Noo Ear.

Be good!

Hwyl fawr am nawr! (That’s Welsh for ‘Goodbye for now!’)

The Further Adventures of Frodo the Faller – Frodo Visits His Friends the Vets

Frodo implores

Just over six months ago Frodo had a gastric torsion and underwent an operation to untwist his stomach. As a precaution, Phil-the-Vet put a stitch in to prevent it twisting should he have bloat again.

A few days before Christma Frodo turned his nose up at his supper. He’s a naturally greedy dog but the anti-epileptic drugs he has to take twice a day make him ravenous. Rapaciousness is a well-documented side effect of the medication, together with ataxia, which is variable.

I looked at him and ran my hands over his sides. He looked a little full but nothing too much. Then I felt the underside of his tummy and that seemed somewhat distended. He wanted to go out in the garden so I took a torch and went with him but he didn’t do anything, just mooched around a little then came back in. I was concerned that he hadn’t peed and although he didn’t appear to be in great discomfort he had retched a couple of times, which filled the air with an interesting odour.

Frodo with Bertie

With our experience of dogs with bloat – three, all Dalmatians – we decided that he should be checked over. I wanted to take him but Barry insisted I stay at home and look after the other dogs.

He and Frodo were gone for ages and my imagination was running riot by the time they came home. There was an accumulation of gas in his stomach from undigested fermenting food so Phil and Nadia had introduced a tube into his mouth and down to his stomach to relieve the pressure – that is, release the gas!! Barry enjoyed that bit;-) After that, he was given an injection – Frodo, not Barry – to relax his intestinal tract so that any remaining gas could be expelled.

We expected to spend a malodorous few hours but actually, it wasn’t bad at all. Frodo slept soundly all evening and I decided I’d sleep downstairs for the night with him but he went upstairs and so did I. He then proceeded to sleep deeply all night, not moving from his bed. Normally, he ambles about, rather like Goldilocks trying out different (dog) beds. If the bed he wishes to commandeer is occupied he looms over the occupant, not making a sound, until the bed is vacated, often with a snarl. The protest is purely for effect – Frodo is the senior dog and all the others know it.

On the other hand, I slept badly, one ear open for sounds of discomfort. I was concerned that Frodo had not had his full quota of drugs though it takes more than a missed dose to cause him to seize. He is fortunate in that respect. Some dogs are so sensitive that the doses must be administered at the same time every day. For them delays can trigger seizures.  One owner I know gets up at 5:00 a.m. to give her dog his pills. His second dose is at 5:00 p.m.

Frodo went back to see Nadia-the-Vet the following morning and was pronounced fit and well. She remarked on how different he is when Barry takes him. With me he’s on guard the whole time, watching and grumbling quietly to protect me. With Barry he’s relaxed and completely unconcerned. It’s the same when we go out walking. He rarely strays from my side but if Barry takes the dogs out without me, Frodo strides ahead confidently, barely giving Barry a second glance - unless he has a pocketful of biscuits.

Back to normal . . .

Anyway, the boy had a special diet for a few days and we introduced his normal fare gradually, mixed with the blander food, as his digestive tract recovered.


I call him ‘the boy’ but he has just had his tenth birthday so he is really getting to be quite an old dog. He doesn’t know that, thoughJ

The Seventh Blog of Augustus Lazarus Cooke - Gus and the Collar of Shame

Hello everyone!Before I go any further I just want to assure all my blogging friends out there that I'm ALL RIGHT so please don't worry about me!I told you a little while ago that I was born with an 'unbelievable hernia' which we all hoped was going to repair by itself. (Actually, I've discovered now that it's called an 'umbilical hernia' – sorry if I confused anyone!)

This is me at eight weeks old. I'd just joined my new family and I was smaller than the cats. You can see my hernia quite clearly.

This is me a couple of weeks ago. My hernia doesn't show as much here but you can see water dripping from it.

Anyway, I was nearly nine months old and it still hadn't closed up so last Wednesday I went to see Nadia-the-Vet and she said I'd have to have an operation. I didn't know what that meant but Nadia-the-Vet and Mr Human seemed quite relaxed about it so I decided not to worry. On Thursday the morning routine changed. Usually I get up around 5:30 or 6:00am and have my first breakfast. I generally have two breakfasts – sometimes three. After my first breakfast I go back to bed for a couple of hours and then I have my second breakfast when the others have their first meal. If Jenna doesn't come downstairs with Buddy and Frodo and has hers later I occasionally have a third meal to stop me jumping all over her. I'm not a greedy chap but I am a Labrador and I have to maintain the breed standards. (That's different to the 'Breed Standard' that the show dogs have to fit, in case you're wondering . . . )

Anyway, as I was saying, everything was different on Thursday. No breakfast, for a start – that was very odd, and I was ever so hungry. The next unusual thing to happen was that Mr H took me out on my own. I was excited about that – it's always fun to go out – but I was a bit nervous, too, 'cos I like to go out with the other dogs. I was really surprised when we got out of the car and I saw that we were at the vets' surgery again. I mean, I'd only been there the day before! Mr H took me in and then he left me there and that was exceedingly peculiar but I didn't have time to wonder about it 'cos the nurses made a fuss of me and put me in my own little kennel. I didn't like that much as I like to wander around and see people but they told me it was 'for my own good' so I stopped fussing and went to sleep wondering when I was going to have something to eat. The next thing I knew was that one of the nurses shaved some of the fur off my front paw. It didn't look very smart but she said it would soon grow back. Then I fell asleep again and when I woke up my tummy felt a bit sore but I sat on one of the nurse's laps so that was all right. I'm a big boy but I am still a puppy and I do like my cuddles. Later on Mr H came to fetch me and take me home. All the others were ever so pleased to see me and sniffed and licked me but I was quite tired so I soon went to sleep again. I didn't feel quite right but I had a small supper and then we all went to bed.

On Friday and Saturday, I had my two breakfasts as usual but we didn't go out for a walk as my Humans said I ought to rest a little more. On Friday I was licking my tummy so Mrs H put a stiff collar on me to stop me. I didn't like it at all! She gave me some biscuits to make me feel better but I was miserable and didn't want them. Once I'd promised her I wouldn't lick again she took the 'Collar of Shame' off and then I wolfed down the biscuits.

 I really didn't like the collar - it frightened me and I couldn't lie down.

It wasn't tight on me and it didn't hurt but it felt very strange.

I wasn't interested in the biscuits Mrs H gave me. You can see there's one right next to my nose!

Sunday was better 'cos we went walking but it was quite strange. Ordinarily I rush about and then have a jolly good swim. I couldn't do either of those things 'cos I was wearing a special harness that gently stopped me galloping off and we didn't go near any water. I was disappointed about that but it was good to go out. We weren't out for long but by the evening I was beginning to feel really uncomfortable. We all went up to bed but I just couldn't get comfortable and went to sleep sitting up leaning against Mrs H. My Humans were worried about me 'cos I was breathing fast though once I was fast asleep they said I was breathing normally. In the morning Mr H took me to see Kate-the–Vet who made a big fuss of me and gave me an injection so that I wouldn't feel the pain again. Today he went to get some 'Meloxidyl' 'cos I was starting to hurt again. I'll be completely better very soon – that's what my Humans are telling me, anyway – and most of the time I'm completely happy, mobbing Jenna and Winston and chewing pens, shoes and other interesting Human possessions as well as playing with my toys. I'm going to see the nurse on Friday and then maybe I can get back to my usual exercise – can't wait!

Do you know how much I weigh? I'm 28.5 kilos - that's nearly 63 pounds. I've only got to grow a bit more and I'll be as big as Frodo - wheeee! (I really like Frodo - he's cool! - and handsome!) Frodo and I hang out together in the garden under the bird feeders. We like to tidy the garden for our Humans 'cos those birds make such a mess - and we quite like clearing up the bits of fat cake. Sometimes when it's hot the fat melts and it drips onto me. It doesn't get on Frodo - I don't know why.

The 'very berry'cake is a pretty pink and I think it rather suits my dark good looks. What do you think?

Mrs H was a bit cross with me even though she was laughing and I was worried she might put the collar of shame on me again so I did what I always do to show her how much I love her.

Also my head on her foot means she can't get up quite so quickly and then she might forget all about the c.o.s. I'm not stupid!

That's all for today!

Hwyl fawr am nawr! (That's Welsh for 'Goodbye for now!')

Winston’s mid-May blog 2010

Winston here . . . p'rrrrr, p'rrrrr . . . 

I've just got back from seeing Nadia-the-Vet. It's all right, there's nothing wrong with me -I just had to have my annual booster. It doesn't seem like a year ago that me and Monty had our boosters and I got so embarrassed when he misbehaved. Who'd have thought he wouldn't be here this year? Poor Monty!When I got back today all the dogs rushed up to say hello and give me a good sniffing. It was nice to get home again and go back to my soft cushion in the conservatory. It gets really hot in there – soooper!I like going to the vet. Everyone makes a fuss of me and tells me I'm beautiful. Nadia-the-Vet's ever so nice but she did say I was a little overweight. I was rather hurt by that – I think I'm a fine figure of a feline and my tiger tummy looks very impressive. Still, I'll have to lose a bit of weight – I know it makes sense. It's been hot lately and the birds have been busy in the garden. It's fun watching them but I'm not interested in chasing them. They're ever so noisy and they start so early in the morning, before it's light. They're still flying about as it's getting dark, too. Don't think I'd like to be a bird! Too much like hard work, don'tcha know.

The stinging, buzzing things are flying about a lot as well. I leave them alone 'cos when I was a kitten I was playing with one and it left its sting in my chin. Mrs H got it out and I was all right and the lump soon went down but I don't want that to happen again and I definitely don't want none in my mouth.I heard that Foxy has got something wrong with her hips – hip displaced I think Mrs H said. Anyway, she's going to have some treatment, just like Jenna, but maybe one day she'll have to have a new hip. Poor Foxy! 

The tiny mice in Jenna's and Gus's ears have moved away now so everyone's pleased about that. Gus is ever so big and he's still growing. Jenna looks really small next to him. He keeps jumping on her and sometimes she yelps so Mr and Mrs H are making him stop. He don't mean to hurt his sister; he is only a puppy – just rather a large, strong one. Sometimes he jumps on me but I can hide in smaller or higher places than Jenna can. I think he's going to get as big as Frodo – I know he'd like to be as big as him 'cos he really likes Frodo.

What else has happened? Ooh, yes! There was water coming through the sitting room ceiling the other day but it's all right – Mr H knows what made it happen and he stopped it. He's ever so clever. Gus had a new toy and it had to be mended twice almost as soon as he started playing with it. Now all the stuffing's come out and the squeaker's gone. He keeps taking my toys, too. Gareth and Louis come over one day to collect their barbephew what Mr and Mrs H looked after when they was in Noo Yawk. Louis played with me – he likes me. Oh, and Mr H went off for the day – he went ailing and when he come back he was all red and ever so tired but he said he'd had a really good day and then he fell asleep. Mrs H had a quiet day at home all alone – apart from us, of course. It was really hot and all us animals slept all day. Mrs H didn't', though.

That's it, I think. Be good!

TTFN

Winston’s March blog 2010

Winston here . . . p'rrrrr, p'rrrrr . . .

Well, February come and went in a flash, didn't it? I was just thinking what I was going to write and then blow me it was March before I turned round. So, what's been happening in this neck of the woods? We don't live in woods – it's just something the Humans say and it means 'here' so why don't they say 'What's been happening here?'

We've had lots of visitors. Gillian and Callum come one day to look after the dogs while our Humans went out. Us cats don't need looking after but the dogs are pathetic fond of company and need enjoy people around them constantly much of the time.

Then Gillian and Marnie arrived and there was great excitement 'coz it sounds as though Marnie might come here to go to school. Me and Monty don't understand that 'coz there are hundreds of schools all over the show but the school she's at is pretty poor cop. Anyway, she's got to work hard to get her greys or she can't come. That's funny 'coz Mrs H don't work hard for her greys apart from trying to cover 'em up and Mr H don't have enough fur to go grey! Me and Monty find it ever so difficult to understand our Humans sometimes!

That same time Bethan come home and there was lots of hugging among the Humans – bit over the top if you ask me but at least they don't go sniffing each other's bottoms like the dogs do – dead common, me and Monty think! Us cats face each other eye to eye and put on stilts and a bit of fur extension to show we're to be reckoned with. We like being stroked and chatted to by the Humans, though, specially if they've got prawn treats (Susannah was the first and best Human to bring them to us!)

What next? Oh yes, Jenna-the-Labrador started limping so of course the Humans went all soft on her and took her to see Phil-the-Vet. Me and Monty knew what the answer would be – walks on the lead and a bit of pain relief. Honest, these dogs don't handle pain well, not like us cats. We never murmur . . . (What? Mrs H has just said that we don't murmur till it's almost too late. H'mmm, yes, there's a lot of truth in that. When Monty had osteo-something he didn't cry and . . . well, let's just say the Humans noticed and took him to Phil-the-Vet and Nadia-the-Vet and Mark-the-Vet and they SAVED him and he don't even limp no more!)

Anyway, the Humans took Jenna-the-Labrador out on the lead for two weeks with the other dogs and she was ever so good so then they let her run free again and after two days she was hobbling again so this time Phil-the-Vet decided to take x-rays and Jenna had to spend another day with the vets (which she loved, exhibitionist that she is!) 

Mr H was ever so serious when he brought her home. 'Not good news,' he said and Mrs H gasped and said, 'Oh, no! What?'

Phil-the-Vet said that Jenna has damaged all her hip and shoulder joints and has to be very careful for the next eight weeks and then be watched after that. Well, I'm only a cat but I think if you go throwing yourself all over the forest chasing balls for goodness' sake, you deserve what you get. Jenna's nice, though, and I think Gus plays a bit rough with her and she squeaks but he don't take no notice of her so I hope she'll be all right 'coz me and Monty are ever so fond of her, specially Monty.

Then the Humans got all funny and started tidying and clearing and cleaning. I mean, they're always busy but this was different and then new people come to stay. It was Mr Human's brother and his wife and we expected to see them at Christmas but they was late getting back from Efreehopia so they didn't come then so we didn't see them. Me and Monty kept a low profile 'coz our Humans had told us that Margaret don't like cats much (I know – can you believe it? – and we're so gorgeous and all!) but anyway they come and stayed for a couple of days and it was fun. Me and Monty was much better-behaved than the dogs, natch!

So now it's back to just the Humans and us again but I've heard tell that Gareth's children are coming to stay soon and that'll be good. I think that's all I've got for you just now. I'll see you again soon.

TTFN

The Fifth Blog of Augustus Lazarus Cooke (Gus)

Gus gets his toes wet . . .

Hello everyone!

It's been a funny sort of week. We went out with Tia and Foxy on Monday (their Humans were having 'half-term' – I don't think that's anything to eat but they were all very pleased to be having it) and the next day Jenna was limping really badly. She has been limping on and off and the Humans were making her rest and trying to stop me leaping all over her. She's also going bald!! Well, it's not really that bad but her fur is very thin in parts and she's chipped a couple of bottom teeth – not surprising the way she catches that fast-speeding ball in mid-air!

Anyway, the Humans decided she should go and see Phil-the-Vet so Mr H and Marnie took her on Tuesday. Phil-the-Vet thinks the hair loss might be 'hair-moan-all' – I think that's what they said. Well, when they came back they said Jenna was only to go for walks on a lead for two weeks. I thought a lead might be a bit narrow to walk on but then Jenna explained that it meant she'd have to wear a lead and not be allowed to run about. Sounds pretty dull to me! So yesterday Mrs H took Jenna and me to a place we'd never been to before, with a large lake and lots of birds. They came rushing over to us making all sorts of funny noises. Mrs H walked us all the way round the lake and took lots of photographs too. I wanted to rush about but I had to stay on the lead as well 'coz it wouldn't have been fair if I'd gone off the lead and Jenna couldn't. It was good – lots of different smells and although it rained a bit it wasn't cold. Mrs H said we must have been practising for Maypole dancing as we'd twisted our leads round and round. When we went home Mrs H took Buddy and Frodo out for a walk and I kicked up a fuss 'coz I wanted to go too. I didn't create for long – after all, I am a Labrador and we are a patient breed.

On Wednesday Mrs H and Marnie took me to see Nadia-the-Vet – she's the one who mostly looks after Frodo. When I was born I had an 'unbelievable hernia' – something like that - and Charlotte and Ali said it would probably close up on its own but Nadia-the-Vet said it hasn't so I have to have a little operation soon. I think that means I go and spend a day with Nadia-the-Vet – I'll like that.

Today, Mrs H went out early with Jenna and I wanted to go too but when she came back Jenna was nowhere to be seen. I was puzzled, then I remembered Marnie saying that Jenna had to spend the day with Phil-the-Vet, having blood tests and a skin by-topsy. It felt really strange without her and I missed her, especially when Mr and Mrs H took all us boys out for a walk. We went to the lake place again but this time I was allowed to run about and it was ever so much fun with lots of mud and puddles. Frodo and I really enjoyed ourselves and so did Buddy, even though he wound his lead round lots of trees. He can't see very well and goes in the wrong direction so my Humans keep him on a stretchy lead so he can have a bit of freedom but not get lost.

Jenna came home this afternoon and her blood's just as it should be but the Humans have to wait a while for the by-topsy results. I want to play with her but I'm not allowed to 'coz she's still got to rest her leg though she's not limping now.

What else has happened? Ooh, yes, I have a proper bed upstairs now like the big dogs and I like that. Sometimes I spend all night on the Humans' bed but usually I sleep next to Frodo. I really like Frodo – he's awesome. I hope I'll be as strong as him one day. I already weigh 20 kilos and Jenna's only 25. Frodo's 33 kilos – he's a big boy, all muscle. I think I am quite strong 'coz I nearly pull Mrs H over when we go out of the front door. I think it's a bit naughty to do that really 'coz she makes me sit and wait before we go out and before I get in the car. It's just that going for walks is so exciting. 

I am good at waiting though. I sit and wait and look and shake hands and lie down and sit again before I eat, even when I'm really hungry and Winston's about to have my food.

Tia and Foxy are coming again tomorrow 'coz Gillian and Callum are going to dog-sit while Mr and Mrs H go out. Marnie and Kiri can't come 'coz they're in a Prance Show and Paul's going to watch them. It's good though, 'coz Foxy plays with me and that means Jenna can still rest.

It's fun when Tia and Foxy come to stay. Last time they were jumping in the water all the time, chasing the ball – well, Foxy wasn't; she's not really interested in the ball. Frodo goes in the water as well and I nearly went in too. I went in up to my knees. It looks fun but 'm not sure about it yet. I expect it's all right – maybe next time I'll go right in.

Shall I? Shan't I? I want to . . . but I daren't . . .

Hwyl fawr am nawr! (That's Welsh for 'Goodbye for now!')

The Further Adventures of Frodo the Faller – cured?

Well, our boy never ceases to amaze us all, including his vets. After a week on antibiotics and the eventual cessation of the horrible gurgling, wheezing, panting breathing he went back to see Nadia-the-Vet, who usually deals with him. She was very pleased with him; he had responded well and she thought the megaoesophagus had corrected itself. For the time being he will continue to eat minced meat and avoid bones until everyone is satisfied that he is fully mended.

Following a week of encouraging him to stand up at the work tops to eat – which thoroughly confused him as he has always been scolded for scouring the tops – we are now back to telling him he mustn't climb up so he's even more bewildered. Actually, he's not – he's a very bright dog and knows full well how to grab our attention. As he has a tendency to throw himself at his food we make him 'sit' and 'look at me' and 'wait' before he's praised for being a good boy and allowed to dig in. The procedure calms him down and means he doesn't bolt his food.


Feeding times are always a circus in our house. The Ocicats Monty and Winston are given their chicken wings in the conservatory. Usually, Buddy Liver Spots, Frodo the Faller and Jenna-the-Labrador are fed outdoors, the food being apportioned according to fastest absorption. Therefore Buddy Liver Spots, thirteen years old, gets his food first. Once he is established in munch mode Jenna-the-Labrador is next in line. Lastly Frodo the Faller receives and consumes his food in record time. Gentle Dominie, hindered as she is by her not-very-cooperative hind legs, is given her food in the kitchen. After she has finished the others are allowed back indoors and Buddy immediately takes up station at the conservatory door, waiting to clear up after the cats. There is much grumbling and growling but it's all top show – everyone knows that anything left over from Cats' Breakfast (or Supper) belongs to Buddy as of right.


Recently, because of Frodo's indisposition, the regime has changed. Buddy and Jenna go outside to eat as usual while frantic Frodo is kept at bay. He then eats in the kitchen – the cats still eat in the conservatory – and then remains indoors until the outside diners have finished. Bear in mind he will not go out to relieve himself until after he has eaten – his bladder is quite full in the morning! - so there are conflicting tensions. He has to watch while Dominie eats – more tension.


Then comes the Ritual of the Medication. They all have MSM, Glucosamine, Vitamin E, Omega 3 and Magnesium Citrate. Additionally, Dominie and Buddy have Bromelain (for arthritis). Frodo has Phenobarbital and Potassium Bromide which are anti-epilepsy drugs, plus Taurine. They have their pills in peanut butter, though Frodo couldn't cope with that recently because of his affliction so currently has them in Benecol. After that they all settle down for a satisfying and refreshing snooze.


Around 2:30 or 3:00 pm they start creating for supper, after which there's another round of pills for Frodo. His final dose comes before bedtime. Fortunately he's not very sensitive to the timing of his medication so there's a certain amount of leeway.


So, although it seems as if Frodo is back to normal, we will not change anything in his diet until he has another x-ray in about three weeks' time . . . £££ . . . bless him!