My friend Arthur

Today is a sad day at Chez Gromit. My good friend Arthur the beagle has been diagnosed with a sarcoma and needs to go and have some radiation too. Luckily, he knows Dr Rod, and he's going to have his therapy at the same place I had mine.

Arthur, Misty and I have EVERYTHING crossed for your speedy recovery. And we'll make sure we drop by your blog www.arthurscancer.blogspot.com.au. to check how you're doing. Make sure you get Biscuit, Poco, Koffi and Darby to look after you mum and family and we'll try and catch up with you as soon as we can.

Twenty-seven month Checkup - 5th March 2012

Yesterday I attended what can only be described as Dog-Nose-Cancer-Clinic and saw the fabulous Dr Rod, as well as all my friends in the hospital (waves to Susan and Kirsty on Reception) and everyone out the back. Everyone is very impressed with my three whiskers - all on one side and one of them is curly. Whereas once I had the Lone Whisker, now mum calls them the Three Muskateers.

Met a Golden Retriever who had a tumour removed from the back of his nose having his six monthly check (all good) and a really cute Golden Retriever puppy (16 weeks worth of wiggliness) who doesn't have cancer, but instead had a kidney that wasn't working (they took it out). And there was a sick poodle (snake bite while defending her babies) with tiny weeny puppies who exploded out of their carrier bag and ran riot in the waiting room. As fast as their human mum put them back in their carrier, they were off again in another direction. Both human mum and dog mum looked like they needed a break. (and my mum had a big cuddle of the black one).

It was the usual for me. No breakfast, which means big trip to Specialist Centre, then chest X-rays, ultrasounds, mouth exam and a fine needle aspirate of my new lumps and bumps. I tell you, I'm thinking that needle is not so fine. This time I went minus anaesthetic - I am pretty good at this now and they don't need to knock me out to get their pictures. But a little bit of local wouldn't go astray on the lumps.

And, drum roll!!!

ALL GOOD. The new lumps are fatty lumps (benign) and all my pictures and scans are normal. Next checkup - September 2012. Yippee.

Celebrating Gromit Adoption Day - 11th January 2012

Eleven Years?

Can you believe I've been living here for eleven years? I can still remember that first day, when my mum snuck me into her work in a box because she was too scared to leave me home in case I slipped through the pool fence - back when I was a tiny 3kg. Those were the days.....

On the weight front, there has been a new regime. Breakfast is out. Light dog kibble is in. I am walking miles and I am now down to 37.5kg (from the all time high of 41kg when I was not walking). Everyone is very happy with me, even though my fatty lumps now stick out more. I have a waist! Mum and Dad say I am aiming for a number starting with 36. Personally, I am aiming to distract Misty and steal full strength biscuits. A girl has to keep up her strength!

Here are some photos from Christmas. The close up shows my scar and my weepy eye - it doesn't have as many tears so it gets gunky. I hate having it wiped! And then there is the nose - it gunks up too and if it gets blocked, that's Dad's job. Now, I run away if I see tissues. The indignity!!!

I will leave you with photos of my Christmas bear. I really loved him but alas, he has had a slight decapitation incident (Thanks very much Misty). Right now, he is in intensive care (the sewing room), minus the bits of stuffing that are spread far and wide over the yard. Mum says we might be able to save him.

Hope you are all having a fabulous 2012. My next check up is in March, at which point I will have survived over two years (average survival is 18 months). Pretty good, hey?

Happy Birthday to Me - 11th October 2011

Its my birthday and I'm on holidays at the beach.

Can life get ANY better than this?

Every morning, Mum and Misty go walking to cousin Sienna's (the doberman) house while Dad and I do a quick walk to be beach, then we hop in the car and go and pick Mum and Misty up. Then in the afternoon we go down to the beach again and Mum takes me for a walk while Misty tows Dad all over the beach. I really love the beach. It makes me smile

And for my birthday I had a party and invited Sienna and her family over. We had party bags with toys and treats, plenty of food and cupcakes. It was great. Except for that thunderstorm that had me hiding under the picnic table (where its safe). I wouldn't even come out for cake. But I got lots of extra treats under the table, so it wasn't all bad.

We had a great night. I'm still recovering....

Twenty-One Month Check Up - 5th September 2011

Hi Everyone

I'm a bit sleepy tonight. It was my big check up - full mouth exam, Ultrasound of my belly (which is now a lovely smooth pink belly), chest x-ray and to top it off, knee exam while I was knocked out. Mum and dad dropped me off early and decided to wait (instead of driving the 45 mins home and 45mins back) . I was supposed to be out at 10.30am. They rang at 2pm - no results. They tried to wait patiently. Then they came back at 5pm and decided to wait in the waiting room.

And the results.... (drum roll please)....

ALL GOOD. Now you might remember right at the start they told my mum and dad that average survival was eighteen months. And now we're up to 21 months, which is pretty good. All those pesky lumps and bumps are all fatty lumps (labradors are prone and I've got the labrador gene). So now I don't have to go back for six months. Yippee.

I will leave you with a photo from the farm on the weekend. Spring has sprung (we woke to a very balmy ten degrees) and I spent Sunday morning enjoying the sunshine, while mum and dad worked on the fences, and Misty chewed up a tennis ball and watched for cows.

Off to bed for me.

Gromit

A Winter's Tale (or is that tail?)

Well, winter has arrived and it is not being kind. Now that I'm old I get to sleep inside, and I have a great jumper that my mum sewed, but it has been freezing. Misty hates the cold and tries to cuddle with me all the time. Sometimes I let her. As you can see, two dogs on one bed is very squishy.

Dad has been going to the farm without us these last two weekends - which is great because it was minus five last Sunday morning. He's been working on a special project and I can't wait to see it. I've never seen a fireplace before, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to like it.

Maybe winter won't be so bad after all...

Fifteen Month Checkup - 7th March 2011

Hi everyone

I am just back from my fifteen month checkup for my fibrosarcoma - I had an Xray of my chest and the vets had a look in my eye, which keeps weeping and a good look at my mouth.

And the good news, I got the all clear. Next appointment in six months time for an ultrasound and more Xrays. This doesn't mean no vet visits - I am still trying to figure out my knee, which blew up a few weeks ago, leaving me temporarily a three legged dog. I am now back walking and building it up again at physio. So I'll still be seeing my physio and my orthopaedic vet. But at least there's no cancer.

Sadly, my radiation vet Dr Valerie is returning to her home town in Canada, so this was my last visit with her. Farewell Dr Valerie - mum, dad, Misty and me all agree we could never have done it without you. While we're sad you're going, we think its great you'll be closer to your family. We hope we'll get to see you again some time.

Love Gromit