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Post by Karla on Jul 7, 2010 8:23:25 GMT
So pleased he's doing so well with you - fingers crossed the vets don't find anything too serious with him and just a bit of tlc along with a healthy diet is all he needs
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Post by MrsDoolittle on Jul 7, 2010 10:11:07 GMT
Love and hugs to Blue, who although going through a challenging patch, has you and your family to support him through it all And hugs to you too Sue and of course Robbie and Missie Blue sounds like a real character who will steal a lot of hearts Love Margey
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Post by moopops on Jul 7, 2010 12:30:52 GMT
Glad he is more perky this morning, sending lots of ear ruffles, hugs and get well thoughts
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missysmum
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Post by missysmum on Jul 7, 2010 13:40:59 GMT
Blue had a good walk today but it's clear that the G.A is still affecting him. Basically, he's asleep unless he hears someone in kitchen or going out back door where upon he wakes and is there in a flash. He's a very quiet boy though. After his walk he had a very small portion of dry Burns and a bit of boiled chicken & Rice. He is peeing OK today, infact doesn't seem to be drinking or peeing quite so much, still the odd bloody urine spot on tiles though but we don't think it's as much as before. When we go back for test results I will ask them to do a dip stick in his pee again. Here are some photos and 2 small videos taken mostly on Monday with a couple after his "experience" yesterday and one today. Having a mouch on patio (video) Having a small rawhide (video) A couple of pictures to show his lovely kind face and colour better! This one shows his big tummy!! On mat by back door with Missy A very sleepy boy after his experience at vets yesterday Bedtime yesterday, wrapped up warm after I had given his lots of massages to try and ease his pain Today by the back door with Missy and Robbie Blue definately needs the company of another dog, he seems reassured when they are there. He also needs to know where his human is all the time when you are at home, if you are in garden then he's there, go in the house and he's there!! I introduced him to Tommy the Tortoise today - he wasn't interested (unlike Missy who would eat Tommy if she could!!). We went to Halsted today and was out for couple hours, Blue was fine and I think that is because our dogs are there too. We have not used a crate for him at all since his arrival, he is not destructive in any way. We reckon he's already lost a bit of weight and he is walking on his back legs much better, with all that weight off him he's gonna be a even bigger stunner than he is now. He's such a dear, dear boy.
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Post by BW on Jul 7, 2010 13:46:51 GMT
Lovely update on the little(?) chap Sue - glad he's making good progress, & yes, you're right: he does have a lovely kind face.
Barney x
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Post by waffley on Jul 7, 2010 22:46:13 GMT
He certainly is a handsome chap, and once the weight comes off I think he will be an absolute stunner!!
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missysmum
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Post by missysmum on Jul 8, 2010 8:56:49 GMT
When Blue arrived to us he was wearing a red collar with daimontes all over it ( ) and I thought it was not for him (or me!!). Since then he has been wearing one of Robbie's leather one's but that was too wide/big for him so I popped out to PAH and got him his own "house" collar. He is now sporting his SLR tag on it. I think the colour suits him well. We awoke to a rather smelly room where the dogs sleep! No packages so obviously just wind! We knew it was Blue as he hadn't been to poo since Tuesday morning!! That was rectified this morning on their walk. I walked all three together today past school to see what he was like with children and he seemed OK. Blue adores his walks and has been getting two good walks a day and some sessions of playing ball in garden, this all had helped to move some of his excess weight already. Playing ball to Blue means running to get ball, impaling ball on bottom tooth and that's it. He happily lets you take ball from him to throw again. We don't allow ball in house as it's for games out doors, our two know this, Blue tried to sneak it indoors, he's so funny (oh, and I am not being cruel!!! they do have loads of toys indoors!!). Blue's manners needed improving so I have been teaching him that it's not OK to barge past humans through doorways. He's made to wait and let us through. Taken him some time to get the hang of it and sometimes he still needs reminding! He's also getting much better (if not selective) at sitting at kerbside. Blue is not a dominant dog, in fact he's very placid and laid back, happy to be in a dog pack but with no aspirations on being the dog leader. FOOD: The previous owners family has said that Blue has food aggression and I have been monitoring and supervising this since he arrived. My take on the matter is this; Blue is an extremely slow and delicate eater, e.g. Missy takes half minute to eat/bolt any meal, if that! (piggy ), Robbie takes a bit longer and is a bit more delicate, he can take 2 - 3 times longer than Missy. Blue takes up to 4 - 5 minutes to eat his small portion!! Now if you are a slow eating dog and a greedy dog like Missy eats hers and then tries to eat yours you may well get defensive. I haven't witnessed this but it's possible. I ALWAYS supervise meal times (even without a foster). I feed them all in same room but Blue is fed about 6ft away from them. I then make my two leave room whilst he finishes his food. He does look a bit wary to start with and looks around but soon sets about eating up. I also wonder if Blue has been allowed to "graze" feed, i.e. food in bowl all day and he eats when he wants. When he first came he didn't finish his meals so I threw away what was left (or my two would eat it!!). I wanted him to know he had to eat at specific times. He's fine with this now. I have taken his bowl away whilst he's eating, taken food from bowl whilst he's eating and he's been fine with that, no aggression to humans anyway!
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Post by Karla on Jul 8, 2010 9:24:28 GMT
Great update Sue - sounds like Blue is really coming along nicely. I think you're probably right about the grazing part - if he's that slow at eating he's probably never had to finish a meal in one sitting before. Glad to hear the weight is starting to shift, he'll be as fit as a fiddle in no time
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Post by waffley on Jul 8, 2010 10:45:04 GMT
Thank you for the update Sue. Sounds like your assessment of the food aggression business is spot on! Holly just hoovers up her food in seconds. Tigger was much slower, especially towards the end. You are doing fantastic work with Blue Sue, and it sounds like he is pretty quick on the uptake too! Hope you all have a good day
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frazzyb
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Post by frazzyb on Jul 8, 2010 11:21:03 GMT
Sue you're doing such a good job with him. He's looking so well and most loved-up! He's the sweetest chunky chap. And Marcia, you're not a neurotic mum! We all get the wobbles over our 'furkids', as one of my friends calls them. Has to be said with a Scottish accent, or it doesn't work. Edie's just been on a drip for 2 days after a vile, projectile vomit bug that went right through all three of ours (and all over the carpet, sofa, and from Moth all over Edie when she wasn't looking. Just lovely...!) Think I may stick with goldfish from now on ... They're all much better now, but leaving her at the vets, with her old wobbly legs sad eyes and knowing she'd be there for a long time was hell. Many tears all round.
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missysmum
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Post by missysmum on Jul 8, 2010 11:25:53 GMT
it sounds like he is pretty quick on the uptake too! When it suits him, yes!!!! He can also be very selectively deaf. He tries his luck everytime with going through door first and just can't understand why I keep opening and shutting door! In the end he twigs, walks away then I let him through! Sweet little s*d though!!
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Post by waffley on Jul 8, 2010 11:30:06 GMT
Sue you're doing such a good job with him. He's looking so well and most loved-up! He's the sweetest chunky chap. And Marcia, you're not a neurotic mum! We all get the wobbles over our 'furkids', as one of my friends calls them. Has to be said with a Scottish accent, or it doesn't work. Edie's just been on a drip for 2 days after a vile, projectile vomit bug that went right through all three of ours (and all over the carpet, sofa, and from Moth all over Edie when she wasn't looking. Just lovely...!) Think I may stick with goldfish from now on ... They're all much better now, but leaving her at the vets, with her old wobbly legs sad eyes and knowing she'd be there for a long time was hell. Many tears all round. That bug sounds awful. I'm so glad they're better now. I know what you mean about leaving them. I'm not surprised you were in tears. I would have been too. It's the eyes that get me every time. About 4 years ago Holly (mini dachsy) had to go to Newmarket for the removal of 3 discs. That was 4 days of hell. It should have been longer, but she is such a determined little fighter, that she recovered far quicker than they expected, and was walking straight away! I love that expression you used "loved-up", and it does describe Blue right now. He certainly landed on his paws being fostered by Sue!
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Post by waffley on Jul 8, 2010 11:34:22 GMT
it sounds like he is pretty quick on the uptake too! When it suits him, yes!!!! He can also be very selectively deaf. He tries his luck everytime with going through door first and just can't understand why I keep opening and shutting door! In the end he twigs, walks away then I let him through! Sweet little s*d though!! Ah but that's Whippets for you! I think they know how lovable they are and try and get away with anything they can! And it often works! Holly thinks she can get away with things by wagging her tail and looking cute!
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missysmum
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Post by missysmum on Jul 9, 2010 8:23:05 GMT
Yet another good night with Blue, you honestly don't know this chap is here most of the time. He's still trying to resist his training for not pushing though doorway before me but he has underestimated my determination to sort this! He does comply in the end, he has too or he doesn't go through! Lovely walk this morning. Took them all up by the school again and waited for children to come along. Blue got lots of strokes and he was gentle with the children and did not jump up at all. Of course, we then got the parent that steered her child past the dogs as though they were man-eaters! "It's OK" says I, "they are placid and gentle", "no, she doesn't like any dogs at all" said Mum, "well she won't if you keep re-enforcing fears in that manner" says I!!!! Why oh why do parents re-enforce in this manner, children will never move forward if parents keep them back (sorry, used to work with children/families with behaviour issues and still get frustrated!!). Blue's bowel is now back to normal and that's a great relief - I can now stop burning the scented candles in the dining room! I also think that whatever was causing the urine/blood spotting may be cleared up, I can't find any drip spots today. Maybe his metabolism reacts slowly to medication? Anyway, will get vet to check urine one more time when we get results (which should be soon).
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Post by Casparsdad on Jul 9, 2010 9:17:59 GMT
On the eating issue, Caspar has always been casual about eating up his food, if he doesn't feel like it,he leaves it till later, but it always goes by the morning. Since our foster, Simba, has been with us he has shown much more interest in eating up his meal, in case Simba gets it, even though we keep them apart to give him a chance, and pick up his bowl if he doesn't.
I agree with you, Blue's supposed aggression was only reasonable defence by a slow eater. Some folks don't understand, or don't think it through.
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missysmum
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Post by missysmum on Jul 9, 2010 16:27:58 GMT
He is a funny little thing. A few days ago I tried him with a piece of apple as a treat (my two love apples and carrots as a low calorie treat!). He wouldn't touch it then but today when I tried again he ate it, maybe he's just realised it's all he's gonna get! He also ate his dinner up a bit quicker tonight which is either an improvement or he's hungry!
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Post by BW on Jul 9, 2010 18:04:21 GMT
Pleased to learn that things are on the up for the lovely chap, & well done for getting shot of the diamante collar Sue!
Barney x
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Post by MrsDoolittle on Jul 9, 2010 20:12:14 GMT
;D Love the collar Sue and much more befitting You are doing such a great job And your updates are such good reading - hope you are keeping a daily log for your novel? So glad that the blood problem may be solved as we may then see you all at Mistley, or Gosbecks and with the free running Blue will be lean and lithe within no time ;D He does sound such a character and does have such a lovely face. Sounds like I need you in my house though ............. 5 of us try and get through the doors together! Look forward to the next update Love Margey
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frazzyb
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Post by frazzyb on Jul 10, 2010 9:09:53 GMT
Hi Sue - he's coming along really well with you. And well done for the quick retort to the over-protective mum. Wish I could be as quick as that - we always move to one side on the pavement when the hords of yummy-mummies treck across the common to and from school, but we still get scowls and flinches. They are especially vicious, my whippets. I think Moth squashed a butterfly once ...! Lily still attempts the door barging after 2 months, not fiercely, just quietly and wrigglingly. So we do a lot of pausing (pawsing?!) and waiting. The other two sigh a lot - they think she's a slow learner, but I think she's very clever and stubborn. Typical whippety-creature!
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Post by wee_island on Jul 10, 2010 9:26:14 GMT
Oh I so wish I was allowed another whippet *sigh* Blue sounds like the perfect boy (if a little on the chunky side! Aalto is only 12kgs!) He sounds so like my Aalto. He's also the slowest eater in the world, like he chews each kibble one by one! Lulu hoovers hers up and has to be distracted from standing over poor Aalto
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