PET'S CORNER

[Wendyf]

A couple of big pets dozing in the sun this morning. What does this photo tell you about the wind direction this morning?

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[Stanley]

Not a lot! (Apart from the fact there isn't much....) Love the sight of the two old lads enjoying the morning....

[PanBiker]

Yes, I was going to say because there is none, they are not bothered which way they are facing.

[Wendyf]

Right answer Ian! It's very rare to see them facing different ways. Sparky is very sensitive to the possibility of midges and gets agitated as soon as the wind falls away. The fly rug helps but not a lot, I have to make sure there is nothing around that he can scratch himself on as he is very thin skinned and can draw blood in seconds! I bring them inside till the sun goes down on a windless evening but I have to tie him up outside his stable or he skins himself rubbing against the walls.

[Stanley]

Keeping old lads isn't easy!

[Stanley]

I think Jack's hearing has improved slightly now that we have finished the ear drops. But I suspect it will never recover the acuity he had before. My whistle is permanently round my neck these days!

[Julie in Norfolk]

I have a day off work today to go to the vets.
Buster and Honey earlier appointment. Buster allergies and Honey a*al gland (she is shy)
Mothers cat late morning. Vaccinations and claw trim.
Our 2 elderly cats this afternoon. Late vaccinations and general check up.

I know how to have a good day! Debit card is primed and ready to fly.

[Wendyf]

Sounds like a great day! I hope you live close to the surgery.

[Gloria]

Wendy, many years ago we had a grey pony who used to get bitten to death. Bottle of sunflower oil, break a bulb of garlic in it, shake bottle, big slurp once a day in feed, job solved. The pony smelt of garlic, but the midges don't like that, job solved.

[Wendyf]

Wendy, many years ago we had a grey pony who used to get bitten to death. Bottle of sunflower oil, break a bulb of garlic in it, shake bottle, big slurp once a day in feed, job solved. The pony smelt of garlic, but the midges don't like that, job solved.

I'll try that! I've harvested a good batch of garlic in the poly tunnel this year. I always used to give them garlic granules in their feed but got fed up of spending money on supplements!
Dennis is allergic to citronella and comes up in awful hives so I can't use most fly repellents.
Talking of supplements, I pulled a load of goosegrass (cleavers) out of the hen run yesterday and, remembering that it was meant to be good for arthritis, I chucked it into the paddock. When I went back 10 minutes later every scrap had been eaten.

[Gloria]

They obviously know what's good for them.

[Stanley]

As David would say, it's spooky time again! I don't know why but my mind went to Goose Grass yesterday afternoon. In Warwickshire it was called Herriff or Cleavers.... (LINK)
If you remember we once had a discussion about some cottages in Barlick known as Herriff Butts and I advanced this as evidence that the name Butts could be because there was a medieval field system in the area rather than the usual explanation of archery practice.
I've never heard of the weed being good for arthritis but always said it must be good for something because some animals used to seek it out and graze it.
That reminds me of a heifer I once owned at Hey Farm that loved docks. A useful beast because as soon as one popped its head up it sought it out and grazed it down to ground level. A lot easier than going round with a spud and uprooting them!

[Wendyf]

When I checked on the use of cleavers for horses it's to support the lymphatic system and reduce swelling, nothing to do with arthritis I got that wrong!

[Stanley]

Whatever.... If the lads ate it it's doing some good! They know what is good for them.

[Whyperion]

the garden grass I have let grow tall this year (it was a mistake I misplaced the extension lead and the wet weather has meant I have not got out to do the normal bowling green length). I have bagged one load of seedy hay if anyone can make use of it, I can do another - there is wild buttercup that I can include or exclude.

The lawn also has some ragwort (I think- it is similar to other plants ) but I think I managed to exclude that - I normally dig it out but the root system is persistant, and there is not much to be out of control - there is far too much up the council verges and it spreads with the winds from passing vehicles). I bought a a small set of cordless clippers for hedges etc from Lidl (?) [the box was ripped than the £19.99 price was reduced a tenner] that work well at allowing me to get just at the grass. I am then doing a high mow around any nasty apparent plants and that is going in the compost bin, then a low mow for everything which is going in waste which I hope will go to incineration.

[Cathy]

A news item about pet food.
The FDA say that certain types of dogs , maybe cats too, are developing enlarged hearts / heart disease from eating Grain-Free food.
(food based on peas, lentils or potatoes).

[Stanley]

I'll bet they didn't find any such problems with dogs fed on best mince and quality biscuit!

[Stanley]

Jack has stopped coughing......

[Stanley]

I forgot to mention, his hearing has returned to normal as well after the powerful ear drops....

[Cathy]

[Wendyf]

Dennis was stood quietly in the field yesterday afternoon and not grazing which is unusual for him. I went to check him a couple of times and he seemed relaxed and cool but definitely not his normal self. I could feel lumps at the back of his jaw which aren't normally there. By 4.30 I was worried enough to phone the vet for advice and luckily there was a vet available who offered to come up.
She checked him out and diagnosed a respiratory infection so he had an antibiotic injection and one to bring his temperature down. I have sachets of antibiotics and painkillers to put in his feed for the next few days. No doubt he will turn his nose up at them!
He looks ok out there this morning.

[Stanley]

Worrying stuff Wendy. Well done for spotting it. I hope the old lad claws his way back, one thing in his favour is that he has the benefit of good weather.

[Wendyf]

Dennis perked up a bit yesterday and is happily eating grass in the field but his breathing is laboured. I tried a few ways of getting the bute (anti-inflammatory) into him but he was having none of it. A trip to the vets to get a large syringe and then a mix of treacle and a bit of warm water finally did the trick..... in fact I think he enjoyed It! The antibiotic powder was eaten in his feed with no problem thank heavens. Time to administer another dose of treacle now!

[Stanley]

Good thinking Wendy, they love treacle! Give the old lad a pat from me please....

[Wendyf]

Remember Billybob the Interloper who arrived in our lives as a stray tom over a year ago? After trying to find his owners we eventually had him neutered and welcomed him in. This morning he wasn't here for breakfast which was unusual and when we set off for Colne later there he was, dead at the side of the road poor lad. Someone had kindly moved him off the road into the farm entrance.
He was such a character, very vocal and walking round the fields with us and the dogs every morning before sleeping the day away on the settee. Such a shock, we are used to our cats dying of extreme old age.