KathyM

Well, she's still quite slow today (lol in the physical sense, as the mental sense is nothing new symptom-wise haha). However, after her painkillers this morning she had a full stretch into a playbow which is a first since she became ill. She also seems to be holding her head higher today. Baz is going into town to get her (quite sensibly) a boot. That way we don't have to worry about her cutting herself on things that she can't feel when she's in the garden or what have you. If this turns out to be a permanent necessity, I've found a website that makes boots specifically for her problem (they're double soled - top and bottom for dogs that drag their feet). Anyway, all in all today is looking positive, certainly much more so than yesterday. I still haven't got my dressing gown back, that's draped over her as we speak (and smells).

Thank you so much - I will seriously think about that as I am fuming - not because of her not getting her xrays, but because of her being in pain for no reason. I'm very happy to report that after two rimifin and a paracetamol, I have made her much more comfy. She has even braved the rain for a quick wee, and (gah, norty Dharma) trotted back inside. I am absolutely certain tonight that she has a v. v. small amount of sensation in her foot as she is not righting it fully but is making much more of an attempt to. She will right it from a buckled forward ankle with her pads normal, if you get me. That's got to be a good sign - maybe this will all boil down to a good rest over Chrimbo (like most of life's problems could be sorted by!). We'll see what the PDSA say. ps: She knows we're talking about her.

Dharma is sleeping and dreaming something that involves her growling. She never growls in real life (cos she loves everyone) so God knows what she's dreaming. On the plus side, I believe she felt me gently nip her toe-web before. I hope I'm not just imagining it! I also want a baby horse dog. However, the one promise I have made myself is never, ever to adopt another big dog. Ever. If it can't sit on my lap, and no I don't mean in the "Oh f*** I can't breathe, gerroff Dharma!" way, then it can't come live here.

I'm so sorry things haven't gone well - we're all thinking of you all here.

Acupuncture is something I read about for radial nerve injuries, and it's definitely something I'll ask about at the vets (I'm not assuming that they'll provide it of course, just that I'd like to hear if it will help). Thank you so much for the Reiki, it's much appreciated.

LOL, he probably has, he wasn't there and their computer was down!

I have rung the PDSA in Bradford and spoken to a lovely lady (a really lovely lady). She has asked me to get Peter to fax her history to them tonight/tomorrow. Dharma is to get booked straight in if she gets worse, which is unlikely now she's had her pain relief. As far as routinely taking this further, it will be Monday, and only if they can fit us in for an appointment - so we have to ring on Monday morning. At least they will see her before if she's uncomfortable, which is great. I don't think there's any reason to book Dharma back in at the normal vets on Monday. Not unless I want to be responsible for the way they've treated her!

Well, I need a plan B folks. She's home, and she's not been x-rayed. When I rang at 3 they said they'd had an emergency come in but that she was just being put under then. They then rang at 4 and said the emergency op was still going on and could get her immediately. Turned up ten minutes later, no vet on site, the nurse said she'd not been given water, food or even her sodding painkillers. She's had no pain relief all day (we were told not to give her them this morning as they would). Get this though, their excuse is she doesn't need it. Apparently she's not cried "much" and has even wagged her tail once. She's been very good though (yeah that's cos she didn't get up, she wouldn't even get up to come see us!). When the nurse brought her out her head was down, she was crying, she was shivering, her leg was up and her tail was between her legs. I went a bit ballistic I'm ashamed to say and said it was criminal. The vet nurse then rang the head vet who confirmed Dharma doesn't need painkillers. The vet nurse then said she hadn't done without painkillers as Rimifin isn't a painkiller, it's a (and I quote, please don't think I'm this thick) "flamtry". I'm assuming she meant anti-inflammatory. She then said she'd need pain relief over the weekend til they can see her again. So now she needs pain relief? She has to go back on Monday for the head vet to examine her again and let us know if he thinks she needs x-rays then. This is after him saying if she has got a neck problem she needs surgery straight away to have any chance of recovery. I think my first step is to ring the PDSA and ask them for help to sort it out. I will need to beg a lift if I can get her in tomorrow.

Thank you very much all of you It's very much appreciated. I was told to ring back at 3 to find out when we could collect her, but she hasn't even gone in yet.

The guinea pigs have gone to their new home. It's very quiet here. I don't like it. No dogs chewing my furniture, or preventing me having my side door open, or raiding the bin, or playing tease the cat, or leaving a puddle where I'll walk in it in my socks. I miss norties.

I just shared a mango with the foster guinea pigs wot are off to their new home today. They don't want it. Ungrateful piglets. ETA: Literally just as I pressed post, one of the slices was being dragged into the igloo - I only saw the mango, stealth guinea pigs lol.

It worked for me late last night and I've done some pics of the kids for their Nan and Grandad - thanks ever so much.

Thanks folks lol - no definitely not dolly mixtures. These had a smooth outer coating like Tooty Frooties or Skittles, but Skittles came later and were round, brighter and sourer. These were little cubes in pastel colours, sweeter than Skittles (cos Skittles made me carsick so I remember vividly lol). Maybe they were just bastardised Tooty Frooties, they were just like them except smaller and cubes lol.

I read this all last night but struggled to get the board to work to reply. I just wanted to say we're thinking of you all here. Hoping the results come through soon and this blood transfusion works as well as the last one.

I'm sorry, I'm just really wibbling over the anaesthetic (she was really ill when she was spayed) and over shoulda woulda stuff. She's very low this morning, hasn't got up to say hello. Has offered her belly for the kids to kiss before school. Not sure whether it's because she's not had her painkillers this morning (and it's bitter cold here) or whether it's because of the lack of breakfast. I think I'm going to be sick, so I'll be skipping it too. I'll update with any news.

Is that because of the whiskers on his chinegan? Hoping for a quick recovery for him, that ear must've been so sore.

Dharma's still quite depressed in herself. She has got up twice of her own accord today - once for food and once for the kids getting home, although she's nowhere near as happy as normal. She goes in first thing tomorrow for her x-rays and regardless of whether you think I'm a horrible person (cos I do too so it's no big deal), I'd really appreciate some good thoughts for her.

It won't work for me lol - but thanks, if I can get it to that's a bargain!

Can I hijack this while people's minds are on sweeties and ask if anyone remembers the small cube chewy fruity chews? Smooth on the outside? I remember the bigger flatter ones being called Tootie Frooties or something, but these were smaller and cubes and in pastel colours.

I don't get the theory behind Irish dogs "stealing" UK homes. I adopted Ruby from Ireland, and I can honestly say that if I hadn't have adopted her, I wouldn't have adopted any dog - I wasn't looking for a dog at the time. Also, she may have been a pedigree but God bless her she wasn't really "pretty". Likewise when people say "fluffies" steal rescue places from bullbreeds, it's just not true. People don't default to a dog they don't want just because the one they do isn't available. They go to other rescues, they go to breeders. They don't say "Well our family wanted a cavvie, but there are none, so we'll take that dog aggressive male staffie please". Would be nice if they did lol, but they don't.

I wasn't for a minute meaning that surgery isn't a great option for a lot of dogs, and I'm really glad it's worked so well for Merlin. I am concerned about Dharma herself coping with a long recovery and potentially recurring problem. I am also, understandably, not able to "not hesitate" over surgery because we simply can't afford it unless the RSPCA or PDSA carry these surgeries out (and I'm pretty sure they don't). I know that makes me a terrible owner, which is why I don't want to even think about all that until she's had her x-rays.

Oh Holy Mother of God. They're hideous. I can't even look. Quick hide them here in my pockets.

Thank you very much all of you! Lisa - vet says it's definitely not OCD as she would've been a lot younger when she developed it (she's 5), but if he's wrong, I would very much appreciate that advice. Pooby - you're ace, thank you! All the vet info online says if she has a disc issue she'll need immediate surgery, but I have read cases where the problem is managed (and cases where it is operated on and develops elsewhere on the spine anyway). Obviously it will depend on what they do or don't find on the x-rays, but I'm quite concerned about surgery obviously. Putting all that I can't answer therefore shouldn't panic about yet aside, she did seem to show some interest in her ankle and foot last night, and was washing it while stood up, as if she felt something there. Maybe that's a good sign. She still isn't able to right it much (she's taken to flicking her wrist to make sure it's pad down when she walks), so I know it's still essentially numb. I could hack all this if she was still happy Dharma. Last night she got excited for a moment and put her front feet on the sofa (silly mistake Dharma) and we had to chill her out obviously but I suppose that's a start. Normally she's like that 24/7! Obviously at the minute we're doing everything we can to make sure she's the opposite, but it's not hard work which means she's still quite depressed.

That's absolutely not what I meant (and I'm pretty sure it's not what I said). I said we have been told that to get onto a specialist Masters we need a First or a 2:1. I specifically want to do Forensic Psychology, but if it came to a choice between Clinical (which is ten million times harder to get onto than Forensic), I would take teaching. My inspiration to continue to degree level was my Criminology teacher at Access level, who did the Access course, did his degree, and came back to teach. I absolutely would never paint it across as a "poor relation".

Thanks Margaret - here's her pic. It's an old one, but Sod's Law made all the newer ones taken from the other side lol. It is her left front foot that is numb, and the shoulder area is sore. Unsure whether it's sore in her neck too. We appreciate the reiki very very much.