Forgive me for slacking, but I’ve been worried about The Princess.
She’s been off her food ever since those damned fireworks, and at first we thought that’s all it was – but as time went on, it became clear that she was not feeling good.
We tried tempting her with various delightful comestibles, such as sardines, puppy food, beef mince and even cheese sandwiches, but during the last week she’s really only eaten treats, a small bowl of yoghurt each day, and maybe a mouthful or two of actual dog food.
She’s lost over 2kg in about a month, and she actually made a puddle in the hall one day when we were out, something she has never done, not since we got her. So on Thursday afternoon I led her outside to get a urine sample, loaded her (and it) into the car and took her down to the vet, where she was felt all over, and had her temperature taken and her symptoms discussed.  Apparently, there was blood and protein in her urine, and white cells too, so it’s probably just a UTI, but before she was given antibiotics we had to return early the next day for a fasting blood test. She is nearly ten years old, you see, and the vet was a bit concerned when he heard that she had been drinking more than usual. He wanted to rule out kidney disease and Cushings, and various other nasty possibilities.
Fortunately, the blood results came back within normal parameters (for a greyhound), so The Princess is now on Clavaseptin for ten days and hopefully that will fix her up. Today, I was very relieved that she actually ate a pouch of puppy food for breakfast, and a bowl of home-cooked chicken and rice for dinner.
I was particularly worried because I’m due to go in for my shoulder surgery on Thursday, and I won’t be able to do much caring for a sick dog – not with one arm, and groggy from the anaesthetic – but hopefully she’s now turned the corner and will recover!
Now all I have to do is finish getting the cards and gifts ready to send to my American and Canadian friends by Wednesday, and make sure all laundry is done and the shopping in, etc. And now the bloody PC, which has my Christmas picture files on it, has decided to do the electronic equivalent of dropping acid or something and it Won’t. Do. Anything! The printer has taken a huff too, and is telling me it can’t print my stuff because it’s out of paper. Which, I might tell you, it really isn’t.
Ah, well. No worries. As long as The Princess is on the road to recovery, I simply don’t care.
Much.
Oh, I’m so glad that it seems the Princess’s problem isn’t too serious. It is so worrisome when our furbabies won’t respond normally.
Smokey sends slurps, believing that saliva cures all things.
Oh Jay! I am so sad to hear that The Princess is poorly. It’s so worrying when pets get old and vunerable. I do hope that the drugs kick in quickly and she is soon her own wonderful posy self again. My little ginger moggy is now eighteen and a half and has been living on borrowed time for about a year! I take her to bed with me each night because I don’t want her to die alone, and keep checking to see if she’s still breathing! She soldiers on to the vet’s amazement. While she isn’t in any discomfort I’m helping her hang on in.
Sorry to hear that you are having an op on your arm. I do hope it’s nothing too serious and that you and your Princess will soon be bouncing about together again. XX
granny grimbles last blog post..
Oh poor Princess! Hopefully she will be back to normal very soon. As for your printer. A good solution can be to turn it off, UNPLUG it from the socket, wait 30 seconds and plug it in again. Surprisingly, they need that sometimes, and it’s worth a try.
I hope all goes well for your op on Thursday!
I know what you mean about no worries, as long as our furries are feeling well. Went through that with my Stinky a month ago. I didn’t care what else was going on. The Queen needed extra TLC for a week. Glad The Princess’s blood work came back fine and she’s eating. And good luck with your surgery! And Babs is right, yank the plug. You cannot believe how often that fixes a printer issue. And what’s up with the PC? When it rains, it pours, eh?
Kathys last blog post..Rudolph the Red-Nosed Bacon
Oh I’m so sorry about Princess. I’m glad to hear she’s on the mend tho. Love her sweater!
Hope all goes well with your operation. My goodness, you have a lot on your plate right now. Take care.
DrowseyMonkeys last blog post..People with Cameras
I very nearly cried when I saw what a pitiful little bundle she was lying on her bed. I’m so glad that she is getting better and I pray your surgery goes really well and you heal quickly! You and The Princess can recover together! You’ll be in our thoughts and prayers. Hugs to The Princess (with an added curtsy of course!)
Sandi
AAh bless her Jay – I’m just boiling up a chicken carcass to make stock for our girl – shall I pop some over? Hippie will have that when she won’t have anything else.
Bloody fireworks I bet she stressed herself into all this!!!
I hope all goes well on Thursday! x
kates last blog post..Absolute madness!!!
Ah sweet Princess- good luck with shoulder surgery – takes awhile to come back to normal after that ..I’m s happy to hear you make home mades too. So do I about every other day .. love sandy best wishes to you both !!!
sandys last blog post..Fallow Deer Camera Inspector
Poor Princess – she does look unwell – immediately felt the need to hug her. Glad to hear that it is not too serious and that she seems to be on the mend. Tell her get well soon from me. Good luck with your shoulder surgery and hope you are soon back to good health.
A x
Dear Jay, My sincerest wishes to Princess for a speedy recovery and to you, Jay, all the best with your surgery. When it rains, it pours, they say. All the inconveniences shadow in Princess’ and your health. My prayers are with you. Petra
Awww pathetic pic init? Glad she’s on the mend. One thing about labradors is they’re rarely off their tucker which can be a problem if they’re not well! Good luck with the shoulder it’s a shame all these things happen at once but it’s always the way. Lets see “Princess”, “Shoulder”, “Printer” that’s three so should be plain sailing from hereon! Happy thoughts coming your way . . .
Ruth – Thanks! I’m sure The Princess will appreciate the healing saliva! LOL!
Granny Grimble – Wow … eighteen and a half! That’s a very good age for a cat, isn’t it? I had a little cat who slept with me, when I was a teenager. She was such a comfort when I was ill or unhappy. I hope your little ginger soldiers on for a long while yet!
Thanks for the good thoughts for The Princess. I do believe she is beginning to feel better, but now it’s apparent that her neck is sore too.
My shoulder is a rotator cuff tear. Apparently the tendon has pulled away from the bone and they’re going to have to put eyelet pins in to stitch it to. It’ll be while till I can ride again, methinks.
Babs – Thanks for the good wishes for both me and The Princess!
We tried turning the printer off at the plug, leaving it half an hour and then turning it back on, but the wretched thing still needs force feeding. Worth a try though, so thanks for that, too.
Kathy – Thanks, yes, the do worry us, don’t they? I hope Stinky is OK now?
Yanking the plug didn’t work, sadly, but I can get the job done one sheet at a time by swearing at it, threatening it with the tip, and pushing the paper in manually. LOL!
Drowsey – Thanks!
Her jumper is great for daytime, but the armholes pull a little sometimes so I don’t like to leave her in it overnight. Looks good though, huh?
Thanks for the good wishes for my op!
Sandi – Thanks for the good thoughts and prayers for us both! The Princess is feeling a little better, she is eating again, thank goodness! I shall pass along the curtsey – I know she’ll appreciate it, but I just hope it doesn’t start a precedent. LOL!
Kate – You could well be right. Stress is responsible for more than we give it credit for, sometimes. She’s eating well today – I let her have three meals (of course, The Pirate had to have three meals too… ) but her neck is bothering her a bit. I don’t know if it’s part of whatever bug she has or just a recurrence of an old injury. I shall watch it.
By all means bring over the chicken stock – it would be great to see you, and The Princess would appreciate it! And thanks for the good wishes for my op.
Sandy – Yes, I’ve heard it will take a while. OH has had shoulder surgery, and so has Tennesse Jenn. I’m prepared for a long haul.
Thanks for the good wishes!
SJ Anne – She looks so pathetic, and she keeps coming over and pushing her head into me for comfort. She is getting a lot of hugs, and she’s lapping them up! She is better, though. Eating well, today!
Thank you for the good wishes for both of us!
Petra – It’s funny how that happens, isn’t it? I often notice that the dogs will get something and then I will, or the other way round! Princess hurt her toe, I twisted my ankle. Things like that.
Thank you for the good wishes! I do appreciate it!
Baino – It is a pathetic pic, for sure. You should have seen her earlier, lying on the couch with her head stuffed under a blanket. Almost as if she was hiding from the world! Actually, I think her nose was cold. LOL!
The Pirate is like a lab. Always on the look out for food, never off his food… if ever he stops eating I really will worry!
Thanks for the good wishes!
She is such a graceful dog (in the picture), even she is unwell.
Dog can get UTI? Hhmm, maybe you can try feeding her cranberries, if dogs can eat cranberries.
Hope all is well.
The Real Mother Hens last blog post..Bells on Bob Tail Ring
One of my many side jobs is pet-sitting. I’ve never considered going international but, all it would cost you is air fare for me and 2 cats and a passport and shots for us all and room and board for the duration of our stay
!
I think it could work!
But seriously. Your baby should be good to go in no time. It’s amazing how resilient they can decide to be. She does look miserable in that picture, though. I just want to snuggle up with her.
Best wishes to Princess and you, on your surgery!
Nicoles last blog post..Unconscious Mutterings
Glad to hear Princess is a bit better. Hope she’s back to her old self very soon. As my grandmother would say in her broken English, “Poor tings”.
Debs last blog post..FOURTEEN THANK YOUS!
So sorry to read about Princess, I do hope she will improve. (I’m very glad to read that you offer her sardines, because I’ve just begun giving them to my dog, but wasn’t sure if it was a good thing to do
Very best wishes to Princess, and for your surgery. xxx
Coastal Aussies last blog post..Hot Pink: Frangipanies from my garden
Aw poor baby. She really does look miserable. I hope she’s well on the road to recovery. Bert sends very wet slurps and an offer of a place on the sofa if Mama is poorly too
English Mums last blog post..Frosty (and skiddy)
Email your address my dear and if you are up to a visit at the weekend and the weather isn’t too bad – I would love to come and see you!
Poor ol’ Princess. Taffy and William send her lots of love and hope she gets well soon.
I wish a speedy recovery to you too Jay fingers crossed all goes well on thursday.
If the princess is sore, try contacting a local racing kennels to see if they have or can recommend a muscle man to give the princess some manipulation maybe she has a pulled muscle or a trapped nerve.
Sounds like you need Gregory House on the case … I bet it’s Lupus !
moons last blog post..Moon and Mrs M’s Monday Montage
The fact that she is starting to eat again is probably a good sign. It’s a shame that dogs, and other animals can’t tell us exactly what is bothering them, so we mere humans are forced to rely on subtler methods of detection.
Hope all goes well with the surgery. Is this a rotator cuff issue?
Mr. Nighttimes last blog post..Let me get this out of the way now…
Aw, poor Princess… you can just tell she’s not feeling well by that sad little expression.
Glad you figured out what’s wrong though, and that it’s nothing serious. Sardines and beef mince– my the girl eats some unusual treats.
PS- Best of luck to you with the shoulder surgery!!
Jenn Thorsons last blog post..A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words: Caption Contest
Oh, poor Princess!! I hope she’s better very soon!
And I hope your shoulder surgery goes well – and you heal fast! Make sure A. lets us know how you’re doing!
RMH – Thanks – yes, dogs can get UTIs, sadly. And like us, once they start, they can be prone to get recurring UTIs. I don’t know about cranberries. I think she’d spit them out! Maybe I should make cranberry biscuits for her?
Nicole – Hahaha! Good try!! Now, if you were offering pet-sitting AND housework, I’d be sorely tempted! Can’t get a damned cleaner for love nor money round here!
Thanks for the good wishes for us both!
Deb – She did look a very ‘poor tings’ for a while, but I’m happy to say she’s looking much brighter now!
Aussie – Oh, yes – sardines and mackerel are great for dogs in moderation. They’re high calorie, of course, but full of omega fats which are good for their coats and immune system. The only fish you have to be careful with is raw salmon, which can be infected with some kind of parasite. Actually that might not be a problem in Oz … you’d have to check.
Thanks for the good wishes!
EM – Oh goodie! More saliva! The Princess will be pleased! LOL!
She’s still eating, which is good. Also she’s now upside down on the sofa with her legs kicking the air, dreaming away. So funny!
Kate – How sweet of you! The house is an absolute pigsty, but if you can stand it, I can! I’ll email you.
Taffy’s Mum – Now that is a good idea. I have the number of her trainer, and I’m sure she’d be able to recommend someone. If it continues I’ll do that! Thanks for that – and the good wishes for my op, too!
Moon – Of course! Why didn’t the vet think of that? Clearly he’s no House! On the other hand, he’s got a much nicer temperament. LOL!
Mr N – Yes, she’s definitely on the mend.
And yes, it’s a rotator cuff injury. I managed to tear a tendon partly off the bone lifting a grocery bag. My quarterbacking days are clearly over!
Jenn – She’s feeling much better today!
Sadly the sardines and the beef mince were rejected. But she’s eating again now, thank goodness!
Thanks for the good wishes!
Jeannine – Thanks! See, I never did get those exercises to do, but in any case it seems they wouldn’t have worked. I have a tear 1.6cm x 1.4cm (minimum, he says they’re nearly always bigger when he gets in there) and the tendon has pulled away from the bone. *Sigh* So how’s your shoulder?
I’ll get OH to let you know how things are, unless I can get to the keyboard quicker than I think I will! :p
Oh, that little photo says it all. Poor little baby, and poor you too, Jay. Must have been a hellish week for all of you. (Hugs) Hope the meds soon perk her up. As for you.. good luck with the surgery bonny lass – you now we are all rooting for you, don’t you? (Hey, here’s an idea, how about aiding your recovery by recuperating on Craggy Island??? I do a good nurse, so I do – worry ye not, I’ll lose the suspenders and lengthen the skirt..)
Skipping lots of healing vibes across the water. xx
All the best for the surgery kiddo. I might have to have an extra Eye Candy Day – a Deppie one, just for you to speed your recovery. XX
Katherines last blog post..Making another start
So glad Princess is getting better. My Mrs bottle fed my dog until it got well too. The vet told us to let her go. But we persisted and she is the best dog we ever had, affectionate and a very alert watch dog.
The bonus is the dog loves my Mrs so much and is totally devoted to her now.
Bengbengs last blog post..Pocho-pocho video, Lerry Silas and night at the longhouse
Shrinky – You don’t know how tempting it is to accept your offer and fly over! I’d love to see the island again! It’s a long way to travel with one arm, though. LOL!
Thanks for the good wishes! And I promise that next time we come over, I’ll look you up.
Katherine – Oooh! An extra Eye Candy day! A Deppie one!! I shall look forward to that!
Thanks. 
Bengbeng – I’m glad you got your dog better with bottle-feeding! Yes, it does make a difference to their devotion, too, doesn’t it? They know when they are cared for!
Poor Princess. And poor you. Best wishes for the surgery. I hope you get the same TLC you’ve given your dog (not literally, giving urine samples in the garden etc, but you know what I mean…)
AnneDroids last blog post..Fame at last.
Sounds like you have more than enough on your plate in the run up to Christamas Jay.
Poor beautiful Princess. I am glad to hear she seems to be on the mend.
Good luck with your op.
J.Js last blog post..Spot the typo
Good luck with your surgery…and I do hope The Princess continues to get better! xoxoxox
meleah rebeccahs last blog post..The Flu
PHEW! I read down this post with my heart in my mouth fearing bad news, what a relief to know she is hopefully on the mend
))
gemmaks last blog post..Afghanistan – The ultimate price
AnneDroid – Thank you! I’ve always said I get better care for my dogs than we do for ourselves.
Urine samples in the garden? I hope not! LOL!
JJ – Seems so, doesn’t it? I’m hoping that it will all be smooth sailing from here! Thanks for the good wishes!
Meleah – Thanks! I’m getting a little nervous .. but the Princess continues to improve!
Gemma – Oh no! I didn’t mean to scare you!
I think I did that once before to someone when I posted the pic of her empty bed. She’s doing well, and now that she is eating properly again she can have her pain meds so she’s not squeaking when she turns her head anymore either! We will continue to keep an eye on her though, because she is very nearly ten years old!
Oh my! Your plate is quite full, isn’t it? I’m trying to catch up on posts tonight, and I saw this one and the one about your shoulder surgery. Girl! You’d better get yourself and the Princess well!
How is her UTI? I hope the meds are working to get her back in tip-top shape.
How is your shoulder? Was this due to bone problems? Connective tissue? Torn rotator cuff? I’m glad you were able to use your laptop, but gee whiz…they could have kept the food out of the way, couldn’t they?
I will be back to check on you.
Hugs – D