Summer is Here!

At last some decent sunshine! My Border terriers love it, Buffy jumps up on any vacant garden chair even in the garage yard to grab some sunshine. Bobby is more "a get hot, go into the shade and then go out in the sun again" dog. All our doors are open during the summer and the dogs come and go as they please (although mostly this means they are never more than ten feet from me). I have two large water bowls for them around the house so where-ever they are they're never far from a drink. I change their water twice a day whether it's low or not to keep it fresh, as insects and dust can quickly taint it.

In the middle of June we went to Swansea for the day which offers a great coastal path walk under trees and has a beautiful dog and child friendly beach. This is Bobby having been in the sea watching the children run back. We normally go more often in the Spring, Autumn and Winter when the weather is cooler but this weekend it was cool but sunny; great dog weather and great children play weather.

At a recent three monthly check up our Vet found Bobby had a bit of arthritis in one of her back legs. I had been treating her for nearly two years with Cod Liver Oil supplements and half a powdered Glucosomine Sulphate tablet twice a week. Now she has the dog version of the same things and the jury is out on which is better. Bobby is Fifteen and a half (that half matters at her age). She is still bright and cheerful and loves swimming and chasing seagulls.

We don't take her on such long walks anymore and she seems none the worse for that. Buffy is now back to health after struggling for a long time with wheat & yeast allergies. Buffy is now on a fresh meat, rice and vegetable diet and on Alpoquel and is responding very well.

As it's summer in the UK now it can get warm very quickly so keep an eye on your dogs and if they are outside provide some shade. Also remember dogs and children left in cars even in the shade is dangerous! This is what the RSPCA say about dogs in hot cars.

Enjoy your day. If you think this article is useful you can make a small donation to me here  Thank you for your support.

Moving On . . .

I know it has been some time since my last post and that is for a number of reasons; but if I'm honest the main one has been not wanting to write about my dogs, because losing Buster was still so fresh and raw in my mind. I still miss him and I guess I always will but time as they say is a great healer.

People often ask me (especially soon after Buster passed) if my other dogs missed him or noticed that he was no longer there?

First I need to state the obvious that dogs are not human and they do not have human emotions; even if we sometimes transpose ours upon them. They do "read" our emotional state very well and respond to it with actions but they are not feeling what you and I feel.

Both Buffy and Bobby noticed a difference in that they were more attentive to doors opening and who may come through them, but after a few weeks that passed. They both sniffed around the gardens and Bobby took to having a wee under the bush that Buster used to use for the same purpose, so maybe she was drawn to his smell?

If Busters name comes up in conversation Bobby looks up and listens but Buffy does not. 

My conclusion from this is that Bobby has some concept of Buster and that he is no longer with us but that Buffy does not. Bobby and Buster grew up together and Buffy joined us when they were aged six and five respectively so that may explain that.

Life does go on and I have to say that I value my time with my dogs now even more than than I did before (and most people would say I was attentive to them before). Losing Buster within three days of him becoming unwell, has made me more aware of how fragile and precious life really is and how quickly things can change. Bobby is over fifteen now and Buffy is over ten.

Summer is here now and recently we've enjoyed a family day out at Swansea beach with children and Bobby and Buffy. This is Bobby below watching our girls running back.

If you have dogs make sure you treasure them and love them as they love you. You never know when they will be gone.

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Goodbye Buster my Dearest most Special Friend

I am very sad and sorry to tell you that Buster died cuddling me in his bed yesterday evening at approx 7.20. 

I loved him deeply and he was my closest buddy and always cheerfully there for me and everyone else in the family. I told him many times in those last 15 minutes how much I loved him and how much fun we had together and how much he had enriched all our lives. 

He and I went out together for our short last walk in the sunshine yesterday morning (although I didn't know it was the last then) and at that time I was still optimistic that he could recover, at least partially. 

Since Sunday morning when it was evident something was wrong I've taken him to the Vet everyday except Monday and he had both medication and pain relief. It seems that he had a series of strokes that could not be contained. We still have Bobby & Buffy and I love them too but Buster was so special to me. This morning I've arranged for him to be cremated and we'll get him back in a week. 

Although the raw heartbreaking pain of his passing is so hard to bear right now; I am very, very, very happy and extremely grateful that he was in our lives for nearly 14 years; he was such a special friend. I will remember him with love in my heart for the rest of my life.

Goodbye Buster and thank you.

The loss of a pet can be devastating and sometimes you need some help to get through. Long after Buster passed I found this ebook by Robin Jean Brown, The Dependable ROAR Method.

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Border Terriers in the Forest

Autumn is a great time for dogs and especially Border Terriers who love to explore the sights, sounds and smells of the Forest. 

We visit Leigh Woods in Bristol frequently and these are some photo's of recent ambles.

Bobby is deaf now so it's not safe for to be let loose.

Waiting for permission to get out of the car.

Find the Border Terrier :)

Go Buster

Along the trail

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Buster's Post Op News & Aftercare

I'm pleased to say that Buster's operation to remove a damaged tooth and also remove a couple of connected and infected teeth went very well.

He was released late Friday afternoon and all went went very well during the operation with no complications; he came home quiet and subdued but ate a small meal in the evening. By Saturday morning he was brighter but still not himself but by early Saturday evening he was pretty much himself again and perky.

On Monday he was his old self again and much happier now that the damaged and obviously painful tooth had been removed. He's on an anti-inflammatory drug along with some antibiotics and he doesn't like them at all, shaking his head and walking backwards.

Yesterday he had his post op review with our Vet and he passed with flying colours. During this examination our Vet recommended a different brand of dog food (Hills Prescription Diet Canine T/D Mini) to help give Buster and our other dogs good dental health from here on in; especially important in dogs whose teeth go much further back in the jaw than their mouth opens (making effective cleaning difficult). 

It is more expensive compared to "mainstream" dog food brands (but like anything you only get what you pay for) and our vet suggested buying a bag and just putting a handful of Hills T/D Dental in each bowl. That is enough to keep their teeth clean.

All our dogs now have a handful mixed up with their cereal and gluten free food and I am pleased to recommend it. The picture (so you know what to look for) above has a link to Hills Prescription T/D Dental small dog food on Amazon, but it will probably be cheaper at your Vet. Hills also do versions for medium and large dogs as well.

I know I said it before in my previous post, but looking after your dogs teeth is very important as bad teeth can really damage your dogs overall health. If in doubt ask your Vet what you can do to keep your dogs teeth in good order.

I use a phrase with my children that is also pertinent to this topic and that is; "you don't have to clean all your teeth, you only have to clean the ones you want to keep."

Hope you have a great day. If you think this article is useful you can make a small donation to me here  Thank you for your support.

Cheers


Mike

Summer Time and Buster's operation.

It's been a busy summer for the family and our dogs spent travelling around both the UK and parts of Spain. 

We've also had some great adventures in the Somerset Countryside and recently spent long lazy days down little deserted lanes collecting Blackberries while the dogs investigate hedges and later inevitably baking crumbles, pies and making jam (and picking twigs and grit out of the dogs coats).

At the regular Vet check up during the summer break Buster was found to have some problems with a cracked back tooth that had become infected. He had some topical treatment some antibiotics and a change of diet to see if the tooth and those affected could be saved.

Unfortunately that has not been the case and on Friday 4th September Buster goes into the Vet's for an operation to remove the damaged tooth and the others that have now become infected. This means a general anaesthetic and he will be hooked up to a drip while he is unconscious to make sure his blood pressure remains stable. Because of his age he will also have several blood tests taken to make sure that the correct anaesthetic and amount is used. 

He is a fit and happy dog in every other respect so we are all hopeful of a positive outcome.

During conversations with my Vet about Buster she said that one of the biggest causes of poor health (and even death) in dogs was unhealthy teeth and gums. If left unchecked infected gums and teeth will gradually release fluid (pus which is really the dogs white blood cells fighting the infection mixed up with the infected material). This fluid is swallowed and over time damages the dogs internal organs; mainly the kidneys and liver which can lead to eventual failure of these internal organs and of course death.

We have always fed our dogs on quality dry food that keeps their teeth clean and once or twice a week given them teeth cleaning chews and the odd bone and leather chews. When I clip their nails every other week I always check their teeth but I missed Busters cracked back tooth until the Vet showed me how and where to look. It was probably a bone treat that cracked the tooth but we don't really know how it happened. 

With Border Terriers their teeth go much further back than the mouth opens and I had been missing the very back teeth deep in the mouth. So if you're not checking these already I recommend you begin now.

Hold your dog with your left hand over the top of your dogs snout and place your thumb between both the top row and bottom row of teeth, then gently with the forefinger and middle finger of your right hand fold out and over the fleshy gum flaps along the upper row of teeth. Do this gently but firmly. Then do the same with the bottom row of teeth. Look carefully. I do it outside in the morning as the light is more even.

If you see a lot of Tartar and plaque (hard yellow coating) around the back teeth book in with your Vet for a dental clean up. Next make sure that you touch each tooth and see if there's any movement; if there is, it's a sure sign of infection and needs to be seen by your Vet.

Also if the gums look red or are a dark pink or there is evidence of blood around the teeth please take your dog to the Vet as this is a sign of gum infection. It's more dangerous than I thought so please make sure it's treated as soon as you can.

I now do this rigorous mouth check every other week and have taken to brushing their teeth (which did not go down well to start with). Another indicator of poor gum and teeth health is a runny eye or an eye that has a discharge. 

I'll let you know how Busters operation goes next week.

Have a great day and enjoy life with your dogs.

History and Adventures with Border Terriers.

I've had dogs all my life. One of my earliest memories is curling up with my Mum and Dads old sheepdog (Wendy) when I was about three. Wendy was the sort of dog that any child would love and I did dearly. Even now over fifty years later, I still remember playing hide and seek with her; and I know now when she let me win it was because it was her deliberate decision, not because I was a skillful "hider."

My Grandparents bred Dachsunds and they were quite successful in County shows and although Dachsunds were smart they never really appealed to me. I was used to working dogs that my parents had I guess. Not that they ever worked for a living herding sheep or hunting, no their job was part protection, part educational for me and my brother but mostly as friends. No, they were more than that, they were part of the family and on some occasions were higher in the pecking order than the children (meaning me and my brother and cousins). My Dad was an Engineer and we moved to wherever his jobs were. Sometimes working on major Gas facilities in the South of England or helping to build Redcar Steelworks in the North (yep that was my Dad). 

Later on my Mum got a Beagle and she was my friend and confidant during my impressionable teenage years. A little more stoic than Wendy, Sheba was nevertheless fearless when it came to spotting prey and giving chase. Mostly this was the neighbourhood cats who quickly learned that although this dog was fast, it could not climb fences or jump onto cars. In all her years of chasing she never caught anything. 

Later on in life I discovered Cairn Terriers and then Border Terriers of which I now have three.

It was a completly different story when the Terriers arrived. The Cairns were fearless in hunting vermin and animals that disappeared down holes in the ground, including digging their way in so that they couldn't get out.

The Cairns, although expert diggers never caught anything. The Border Terriers however have a little more intelligence and diligence built in. Not that Cairns are not fantastic dogs but they are quite different to a Border Terrier.

Once when they were very young and whilst out deep in the Somerset countryside we strolled through an old woodland and came into a clearing at the bottom of a steep hill with so many Rabbit holes in it that the hillside resembled Swiss cheese. I knew we were in for trouble and I called my Border Terriers back, but in vain. Too late, they had scent of the chase and their minds and ears were completely closed to my plaintive attempts to recall them. The girls (sorry can't call them bitches) chased anything that moved as the rabbits hurried and scurried down any hole they could fit in. My boy ran and watched and then took up position near a hole at the top and sat down just watching the hole from above. I had given up on getting them back and waited at the bottom of the hill with leashes ready for when they were tired enough to come back.

Buster sat still as a statue and then one unlucky Rabbit looked out of the hole. In a flash Buster seized it at the back of the neck and a second later the Rabbit was dead. Carefully he brought it back down the hill, stumbling sometimes but never losing his grip and instead of coming to me as I expected he took his prize to the base of a nearby bush and started digging. He was clearly intent on burying the Rabbit he had caught. I saved him the trouble and walked over and put his lead on almost without him noticing. The Rabbit was small and I did bury it in the hole he had made. 

By now the girls had got tired chasing shadows and the fast Rabbits and came panting up. Their leashes were on before they knew it and we headed home.

I have never been back to that hill side and since then have them on extendable leashes when we go anywhere near Rabbit country. Even as older dogs their ability and willingness to chase down vermin is unabated; but now I know how to avoid dealing with their "prizes" and I avoid taking them to target rich environments.

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