PET'S CORNER

[Stanley]

Thanks to all of you, I think we are doing fine so far. I shan't relax the treatment! (Makes you wonder why we bother, it's only a dog!)

[Stanley]

Jack's wound improves rapidly, it is definitely showing signs of closing now and is a beautiful deep red colour signifying good blood circulation. I am very happy with it!

[Cathy]

[Stanley]

Nice......

[Julie in Norfolk]

Finally, I think I have managed a photo onto the site! The new love of my life who is licking the back of my neck as I type!

[Wendyf]

Ooh, what a handsome little chap!

[Julie in Norfolk]

Thank you. He has since eaten the mouse mat next to me.

[Stanley]

They do things like that.... Remind me who the blur at the bottom right is..... (Like the housecoat!)



The present state of Jack's wound. Amazing progress for 15 days. He must have an iron constitution.

[Stanley]

Jack's back is even better this morning so I have decided to discontinue the salt water treatment twice a day. At the moment he is getting a wet back on every walk so that's taking care of softening the crust and the salt may be doing more harm than good by irritating the still open wound. I shall keep a close eye on it.

[Marilyn]

Let nature take it's course...
He will likely get itchy once the scab forms. ( we all do)

[Stanley]

It's hardened up but doesn't seem to be bothering him unduly..... We see Gillian again on Thursday.... That'll be a free consultation, up to now this episode has cost £65. Cheap at half the price!

[Julie in Norfolk]

Hi Stanley, the blur bottom right is Honey the cocker spaniel. Tragically, we lost Sam-u-el the span-u-el around this time last year to liver failure on the day of the Beast from the East. We made the decision for him and let Honey see and sniff him which was again, a good decision.

However, it is good to see Jack improving. Keep up the good work.

[Stanley]

I remember that Julie, it made me cry then and nearly now.....

[Wendyf]

We let Bruce have a good sniff of Bertie when we brought him back from the vets on Xmas Day.
When I had Robbie, my cob, put down a few years ago I was despatched inside as soon as the knacker man arrived leaving my vet in charge. It was all over and done in a few minutes but the vet had taken Dennis out to sniff the body before it was taken away. It wasn't something we had discussed but I was grateful he thought to do it. The downside was that it allowed quite a bit of blood to gather and it ran off the grass onto the stony track. I spent a tearful half hour trying to wash it away ..... "out, out damned spot!"

[Stanley]

Terrible situation Wendy..... Best advice I ever had was from Gillian when we put Jack down, she told me to concentrate on the good years I had given him and not the death.

On a brighter note....



Healing beautifully and giving him no problems. We see Gillian tomorrow and I expect her to sign him off.

[Stanley]

Gillian has signed Jack off and declared the wound closed and healing well. He will get 3 days more on his antibiotics. He's happy, it isn't bothering him at all. Gillian commented that after all these years she still wonders at the miracles of nature and Jack is one of them. (She gave me another Gold Star for nursing.....)

[Cathy]

Very good nursing Stanley and maybe his spirit knows he has to stick around as long as you Stanley.

[Stanley]

Thanks Cathy, it was a joint effort, Gillian reckons he is a little miracle as it only took 3 weeks for the main healing. I dreamt last night it had opened up again but reassured myself this morning as soon as I woke up. He's always there next to my head first thing in the morning after spending most of the night on the sofa. I even gave him the treat of rubbing the wound for him last night, he loves that because of course he can't reach it. That in itself is nursing because gentle stimulation of the site encourages blood circulation and final healing. I shall be sloughing off scabs shortly!

[Stanley]

Jack has ended his course of antibiotics. This dog is feeling no pain and has recovered from the attack 3 weeks ago......

[Stanley]

There's always something isn't there! I have been bathing Jack's ears with warm salt and water, he has a raw area in one ear and a soft cyst in the other! I am not mucking about, I will get Gillian to have a look at him as soon as there is a slot.
PS. His back is healed, just a hard scab now that isn't bothering him. I have put him back in his harness.

[Stanley]

Gillian booked for Monday...... His ears don't seem to be bothering him but better safe than sorry.....

[Stanley]

The soft lump in Jack's ear is twice as big and I noticed this morning it's spread into his neck.... It's worrying me and I am glad I am booked in to see Gillian tomorrow afternoon.

[Julie in Norfolk]

Good luck for tomorrow.

[Stanley]

Good job I booked him in Julie. It's getting bigger and is bothering me but not him apparently. He's only scratched it a couple of times.... When he does I distract him. He's sleeping like a log as well.... I'll be glad when Gillian has given a verdict!

[Stanley]

Problem solved. Jack has ear mites and the haematoma in his ear is caused by him shaking his head. I should have recognised it earlier and feel guilty. I am on incredibly expensive ear drops for 3 weeks, than 3 weeks rest then another three weeks to kill the eggs. Go knows where he picked them up from.....