And now we must turn again to the topic of Jake’s “trousers.” No, I didn’t know that euphemism for his backside either, and I was flummoxed at his bronze good citizen class when I was prompted by a very respectable lady to make sure I brush his “trousers.” (As if I wouldn’t!) If that respectable lady is reading this post, she may wish to avert her eyes now.
Every few months, Jake needs his least favourite medical procedure – to get his anal glands emptied. We know the signs oh so well. I won’t dwell. Sometimes this indignity happens at the vet, sometimes at Glamour Pooch along with claw trims and a shampoo & set. Er, bath. I know hardier souls than us do this procedure themselves but after reading on Lurcherlink about a poor soul who accidentally sprayed her glasses in the process I thought no, PAY someone, preferably someone who does this day in, day out. I don’t have to sterilise my specs, Jake gets the evacuation done neatly and quickly. Win-win.
I had a long chat with the vet about why Jake is prone to this. He (the vet) was happy with the balance of Jake’s diet and my daily poo patrol confirms this. But after reading Lurcherlink, we might try sprinkling a little bran on his meals too.
We also found that Jake has lost another kilo – now we must try to stop my aunt putting it back onto his hips over Christmas…
Every few months, Jake needs his least favourite medical procedure – to get his anal glands emptied. We know the signs oh so well. I won’t dwell. Sometimes this indignity happens at the vet, sometimes at Glamour Pooch along with claw trims and a shampoo & set. Er, bath. I know hardier souls than us do this procedure themselves but after reading on Lurcherlink about a poor soul who accidentally sprayed her glasses in the process I thought no, PAY someone, preferably someone who does this day in, day out. I don’t have to sterilise my specs, Jake gets the evacuation done neatly and quickly. Win-win.
I had a long chat with the vet about why Jake is prone to this. He (the vet) was happy with the balance of Jake’s diet and my daily poo patrol confirms this. But after reading Lurcherlink, we might try sprinkling a little bran on his meals too.
We also found that Jake has lost another kilo – now we must try to stop my aunt putting it back onto his hips over Christmas…
Labels: Health
Jake had been going so unacceptably (uncharacteristically) radge at any dog that sniffed his bum that we were seriously talking about calling our favourite behaviourist for some advice. But before we did that, we took him to the vet for a checkup. Le pauvre chien! 'Twas his anal glands again. After this was sorted, Jakey is much more chilled about eager noses in his nether regions. And no need to call in the dog-shrink, either.
Labels: Health
Clearly Jake is eating better than Sandy. Seriously, we've been tweaking his diet to rebalance it after reading an article in Dogs Today about making sure your natural-fed dog gets a properly balanced diet. Jake was still on a variation of the vet's original exclusion diet from when his food allergies were diagnosed, and though he was looking pretty well on it we decided to make some changes. He's still getting either turkey or pork for one of his two daily meals, still mostly having tatties as his carbohydrate, but instead of random fruit and cooked greens/carrots on an as-and-when basis, we're moving towards 33% meat, 33% cooked tatties and 33% cooked mixed veg. So it's proper-like.
Sandy, the bowl stand has room for two bowls...
Sandy, the bowl stand has room for two bowls...
I ate lunch at my desk and while I was at it, called “Glamour pooch” and booked an unsuspecting Jakey in for the full works. His pre-Christmas treat. (Or ours.)
Then back to work, tra-la-la. A new colleague came in and asked a Serious Professional Question. After earnest debate in the office, I showed him some info on my PC. And when he left, I looked down to see a scrap of paper by my keyboard on which I’d written in very clear handwriting:
“£18-28. Bath, nails, ears, anal glands. 1-1.5 hours.”
I felt like running downstairs and screaming – it’s for my dog! not me!
Then back to work, tra-la-la. A new colleague came in and asked a Serious Professional Question. After earnest debate in the office, I showed him some info on my PC. And when he left, I looked down to see a scrap of paper by my keyboard on which I’d written in very clear handwriting:
“£18-28. Bath, nails, ears, anal glands. 1-1.5 hours.”
I felt like running downstairs and screaming – it’s for my dog! not me!
Poor old Jakey turned inside out from both ends last week. Poor wee soul. Actually we’d done quite well (quoth the vet) – it’s been 18 months since his last bad bout of gastroenteritis. Then it hit with a vengeance. Probable cause: lapping from a still puddle in Selkirk. It’s quite put me off my Gregg’s steak bakes.
Very rapid improvement with a) the vet’s jag-in-the-bum b) canine Imodium equivalent and c) a course of antibiotics. Jakey’s back to rights! It’s a happy day when poo looks like poo.
Very rapid improvement with a) the vet’s jag-in-the-bum b) canine Imodium equivalent and c) a course of antibiotics. Jakey’s back to rights! It’s a happy day when poo looks like poo.
Labels: Health
>> FFWD Jakey >>
These drugs make some dogs hyper, said the vet when he handed over J's medication for his allergic bronchitis. Blimey. I'll say. It's like having him on fast forward - or speed.
These drugs make some dogs hyper, said the vet when he handed over J's medication for his allergic bronchitis. Blimey. I'll say. It's like having him on fast forward - or speed.
Labels: Health
Week Two of the stovies exclusion diet. Jake of course is entranced by his new diet of pork and potatoes - how much nicer than anything else! How will he cope when he is moved onto other food?
Gussie went to Costco today for industrial quantities of pork and potatoes, earning a hero's welcome from Jake. And now back to the peeling...
Gussie went to Costco today for industrial quantities of pork and potatoes, earning a hero's welcome from Jake. And now back to the peeling...
Labels: Health
