Hervey Bay Holidays

October is holiday time at our place and we're just back from the fabulous Hervey Bay. Now, there was lots of discussions as to whether or not we could go this year because of the cruciate repair. Worst case scenario - a sore leg while we were away.

Mum and Dad decided to take the crate, and me and go anyway. Lindsey, my fabulous physio, said no beach or loose sand but keep up my walking and stretching exercises. So, off we went. Our holiday house was great - the crate was set up inside the lounge next to the TV, and there was an undercover area off the living area. And across the lane and down a bit was the cat rescue lady from the local rehoming centre - Hervey Bay Pet Warriors. Unfortunately I wasn't allowed to visit the cat enclosure.

We had a routine while we were away - each morning Mum and Misty walked over to Aunty Allison's house, where Sienna the doberman lives for a play date. Dad and I stayed home, watched TV and ate Coco-Pops. Then we hung round till 4pm (and laid in the sun), when the off lead beach opened. Misty went for a walk and paddle while I stayed home, then Mum and Dad walked me over to see the beach. After five days of following this punishing schedule, Misty started to falter. And we thought a not-quite two year old labrador cross was unbreakable.

Our first day home, Misty still hasn't woken up properly, I haven't stopped smiling and Mum and Dad are checking their 2011 diaries to book for next year - a great holiday had by all.

Happy Birthday to Me - 10 Years Young

Happy Birthday to Me....

Its my birthday, and I'm ten (in dog years), about seventy in human years. No wonder I sometimes feel a bit old.

Even though I'm stuck in the garage I'm still having a great day. I went to physio this morning, then dropped in at the local vet and saw Jacque and Jacqui who gave me lots of pats and little bits of lamb puff. Unfortunately we were too early to see Trish, but later in the day she sent me a lovely email, which made my tail wag. Everyone says I am walking fabulously, and they can't believe I'm only three and a half weeks post-op.

Its been raining today - torrential at times - a good day for a cuddle up in the crate. For dinner tonight Mum made bacon and egg burgers (Grandma and Grandpa McDonald had a snack bar when Mum was little, and Mum makes a pretty good burger), and then we had cake. Rich gooey chocolate cake. Yum. Mum did try for a photo, but really, can't I eat my cake in peace. (Yes I can because I kept running away from the camera)

Of course, now my belly's full and I'm feeling a bit sleepy. Might just go and have a nap.

Crate Wars

At Chez Gromit we are currently undertaking a battle which shall be known as Crate Wars. You see, the crate only comes out when someone isn't well, and right now that's me. Although I'm not sick, I'm just recovering from my knee surgery. My crate, bought for my 2007 surgery and decorated with my special moon and stars doona cover, is in the garage on a non-slip mat until I'm allowed on the stairs.

I'm doing really well with my knee - walking and happy without any pain relief. I've just started physio and four times a day I get to go for a 5 minute lead walk, and do my bending and stretching exercises. I love getting out and about - there's only one problem - every time I get out of the crate, someone else gets in.

It seems Misty is a lover of all things crate, and despite the fact we don't both fit comfortably, she keeps hopping in with me. Sometimes I let her, and sometimes I bark and bark until Mum or Dad comes running.

Last night, we had a really big storm. I'll let you in on a little secret. I'm a bit scared of storms and I had to get Dad, then Mum to sit with me until I stopped shaking. And you know where Misty was? Fast asleep in MY crate.

The Great Crate War of 2010. Let the battle begin...

The Torn Cruciate

Hi Everyone

Well, its September and I have tried really hard to forget about being sick, so I've neglected my blog. Anyway I was booked in for my nine month checkup - complete with chest xrays to look for secondaries. Two weeks before the appointment, I hurt my leg - the right front leg - so bad I wouldn't put it on the floor. Mum and Dad thought it might have been something to do with the back legs and took me to the physio.

My fabulous physio couldn't find anything, so she sent me to the vet. At first Mum didn't understand why everyone was looking SO worried, but then she understood - everyone was worried about a bone cancer. So I was given pain relief, sent to bed and told to come back in a few days for xrays. Cut a long story short - we bought my chest xrays forward and xray'd my front legs, and I met my new vet - Dr Bruce - who does orthopaedics. He said there was nothing to see in the way of cancer, but some signs of arthritis. Mum and Dad were told to take me home, give me no medication and free exercise and see what happened.

Well, day five of this regime, I couldn't hide it anymore. The real problem was my right rear, and I had a cruciate tear. So, back to Dr Bruce who did a really cool operation called a TTA. Now this is my second cruciate op, and has gone so much better than the first one. No plaster, a special pain relief patch and already I am doing toilet walks every four hours and I am raring to go. Mum has set me up in the crate/playpen in the garage until I am a bit more steady on the legs. I get my stitches out on Monday and I start physio on Wednesday.

Here's some photos of me the day after I came home from hospital.

Prison Farm

Hello everyone.

Guess what? I have another whisker. That's two now, one on each side. And lots of white hair. I went and saw Jacque and Jenny at the vet and they were very impressed with my new look. (That's me at the back, if you look closely you'll see my nose).

Mum and Dad promised me a special celebration for all my hard work growing another whisker and I could see the car getting packed. How exciting - a trip to the farm.

The air was fresh, it was a great day for lying around on the concrete waiting for cows to wander past. But wait on. What is that??

I'd forgotten. We have a fence to stop us chasing cows. Dad did most of the construction, and Mum helped with the finishing touches and the rock surround (all hand collected from around the farm). No escaping now.

As you can see, we aren't real impressed with our new space.

Happy Easter - 5th April 2010

Hi Everyone

I am now five months post diagnosis and I'm really starting to enjoy life again. My nose is heaps better, as you'll see from the photo. Still regrowing my hair and I have one 1/4 inch long BLACK whisker. Mum says I look distinguished. I have started to play with my toys and also with Misty and life is getting back to normal.

We are just back from our Easter weekend away. Mum and Dad took us to the farm - although I am now calling it the Prison Farm. Dad built us a fence. A solid, escape-proof fence to stop young Misty from chasing cows/kangaroos/cars. She is such a naughty dog. Of course, if she is chasing, I need to provide moral support by chasing as well. Now all we can do is bark and warn the cows not to come near. Not fair!

Mum took us up the road to the Mt Lindsay Road, a long walk for little legs. Dad took us along the fence line where he has been clearing a tractor-wide path. There were lots of sniffs and things to explore. We didn't make it to the river this trip - the cows are down that end of the block so we didn't want to tempt fate by walking past them.

You'll see Misty's photo above. This is her watching Dad leave for work in the mornings. She does this every day, and if she hears Dad's car coming home, she stands up to wave hello. Now that she's been with us a while, she's really part of our pack. We have a cuddle together during the day (see photo above). Mum hadn't seen this before, so she decided to take our photo to show Dad. And you.

Kreative Blogger Award

Many moons ago, my good friend Eleni bestowed this award on me, and finally now all that medical stuff is over and done with, I’ve got time to accept the challenge.

What challenge?

I’m going to tell you 7 fun and interesting things about myself. Fun? Interesting? Hmmm.... well here goes.

1. I was born at Peninsula Animal Aid and two of the four puppies in my litter died unexpectedly at 11 weeks old. Mum was out running one day and ran into the man who took the other surviving puppy, whose name is Max. He is very good looking (just like me).

2. I like dry Weet-Bix, straight from the box. If forced, I will eat them with milk.

3. I did my cruciate leaping off the retaining wall near the clothes line, while protecting the family home from the little dogs next door. This has resulted in ongoing problems, four different plaster casts (like the red one in the photo above), years confined to the garage while it healed and a new fence halfway across the yard to stop all further access to the retaining wall.

4. I have never figured out how to jump up into the car. Can put the front paws up on the seat, but the back paws need help every time.

5. I have a red and black tartan dog jumper that looks very David Jones/Myer and keeps me toasty warm in winter.

6. I am in love with Margaret across the road and the A-team at the vet – Jenny, Tricia and Jacqui. And especially Lindsey, my doggie physio, who got me walking again.

7. I have learnt to roll over onto my back so vets and vet physios can look at my bung leg. When I was learning, Mum used to sing me a song for rolling over. It goes like this:

There were ten in the bed and the little one said

Roll over

Roll over

And they all rolled over and one fell out.

I’m sure you know the song. Anyway I’ll let you in on a secret. I can roll over all by myself, no singing involved. But Mum thinks I can only roll if she sings. So every time we go to the vet, I make her sing… It makes my tail wag every time I think of it.

OK so that's me done. Now I'm meant to nominate 7 others to do this. But I don’t know any other dogs that blog. So if you think you’d like to take up the challenge, feel free to accept the Kreative blogger award on my behalf.