My poorly puppy!

Well my dog is not actually a puppy any more as he is 13 years old this year, his name is Patch as some of you will know from previous blogs.  We call him Peter Pan Patch as never seems to get any older…..

Patch is my baby boy as well as my 4 cats, but he has been through the mill the last 6 months.  In November he had to have an abscess removed from his mouth and a lump on his eye lid removed – bless him.

Then about 6 weeks ago I found a lump under his front left armpit the size of a pea, he has other lumps & bumps due to his age and being a cross breed – Collie with a Spaniel.  Our vet Richard is aware of these and not worried so wasn’t too worried about this new one I found. Richard asked how I found it because of where it is so I explained, I ask him for both paws when having a treat so he does just that but the left paw didn’t come up as high as the other one so I checked all around his leg and found this little lump right up in the armpit.  Richard said to keep an eye on it for 4 weeks and gave Patch painkillers, the famous ‘Metacam’ – oh no I thought not again as he had this after the last surgery.  We had to keep up with his exercise which I do every day, some long walks and some short then a couple of rest days as he is getting older.

He loves his walks over the field, especially with his friend Star who lives 4 doors away. I cannot keep him out of the water ha ha!

Patch playing over the field with his friends…

I kept an eye on the lump and seemed a little bigger then a couple of weeks ago I checked it and it was the size of a grape so had grown considerably, he was due back at the vet in a couple of days anyway so Richard could check it then.  As I expected it had to be removed to avoid further pain and discomfort for Patch, it would also affect his ability to walk & run so best to come out.  So I booked him in for 3 days later.

Again a whole day without him in the house was awful.  So on Tuesday 18th April  I took him in first thing and hated leaving him there, his little face. I couldn’t wait to get that call to say he all OK which came about 1pm, he came through surgery great and was in recovery then I could pick him up at 4pm – 3 hours was a long wait as just wanted him home.

He won’t wear a cone on his head so we put a T-shirt on him so he couldn’t lick the wound as had stitches in, he didn’t mind this at all really and looked so sweet.

Needless to say he wasn’t my friend and as he is usually a mummy’s boy but he didn’t want to know me.  I knew this wouldn’t last so I just made him comfortable and made him a special dinner of boiled chicken & rice which he loves.  He had this for a couple of days then back onto his normal food.  Limited exercise due to the wound but he wanted to go out so tiny walks up the front street was all he could do, he wanted to keep going but vet’s orders. He kept me up most of the night as wouldn’t settle but was only the one night thank goodness.

He was back at the vets last Friday for a post op check and all good – which is great news.

I’m pleased to say he has done well and almost back to normal, he is back at the vet Friday to have stitches removed then he should be able to go back over the field for his walks..

I am off to Bolton on Friday to see my mum and family so of course Patch comes too as loves a little holiday to see my sister & nephews as they fuss him lots.  He will have to take it easy playing football this time though. He will do his therapy dog routine at the care home when I take him to see my mum whom he loves to bits too and she enjoys seeing him.

This is not cruise related but I know I talk to a lot of my customers about Patch and they tell me all about their dogs and even send me pictures.  He spends most of his time under my desk whilst I’m working and has done this since I returned from 3 months in Australia. He’s just making sure I don’t leave him again I think hence why I take him with me wherever I go if I can.

He’s my excuse to leave the house and take him for a walk and a break from the computer when working all day & he let’s me know when it’s time to go.  He cheeky but adorable & we love him to bits.

Taking about dogs, you can take them with you but only if sailing on QM2 transatlantic to New York – I’ll tell you more about that next time.