The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Pets & Working Animals => Dogs => Topic started by: Kitchen Cottage on July 24, 2015, 06:57:27 am

Title: my brave little soldier
Post by: Kitchen Cottage on July 24, 2015, 06:57:27 am
is home after his bi lateral enucleation.

I am knackered, having driven from Essex to Dorset at 4.30am dropped him off, worked all day, picked him up at 6.30 and driven home.  Was home for 8.50pm but I haven't slept because every time he moved I was worried he would get the buster collar off.

He's had a loading dose of rheumocam and some antibiotics.  My supermarket made the mistake of knocking down chickens to between 15 and 50p last week.... so I have 26 in my freezer and 2 in my oven for him.  He's had some scambled eggs and is resting on the sofa.  I put him in the crate last night.

One cover has blood on it but I was told to expect it and he doesn't seem in too much discomfort, enough to make him quiet and miserable but not to try and touch them.

So glad to have him home!
£349.31 well spent and I was SO PLEASED with the vets! ;D
Title: Re: my brave little soldier
Post by: Louise Gaunt on July 24, 2015, 07:11:36 am
Well done both of you. Hope he has a speedy recovery and that his quality of life improves now he will be out if pain.  :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: my brave little soldier
Post by: doganjo on July 24, 2015, 08:14:39 am
And get off that blind dogs forum, they're a waste of time. We're your friends!
Title: Re: my brave little soldier
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on July 24, 2015, 08:44:53 am
Well done, Hope he has a speedy recovery.  :)
Title: Re: my brave little soldier
Post by: SallyintNorth on July 24, 2015, 10:25:54 am
Brilliant news  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: my brave little soldier
Post by: devonlady on July 24, 2015, 10:51:54 am
God love him!! I'm sure he'll be happier now and so will you :hug:
Title: Re: my brave little soldier
Post by: Cosmore on July 24, 2015, 11:25:09 am
Glad all went well, hope his recovery is sooner rather than later, poor liitle dog! Well done you for such effort in gatting him sorted :) .
As I'm in Dorset, if possible I'd be interested to know which vet you went to, sounds like an excellent canine vete
Title: Re: my brave little soldier
Post by: Kitchen Cottage on July 24, 2015, 11:47:36 am
Spring Corner Vet in Bournemouth :)
Title: Re: my brave little soldier
Post by: Bionic on July 24, 2015, 02:41:06 pm
Tired and weary but I am sure you feel it was worth it. Hope he gets over the op very soon
Title: Re: my brave little soldier
Post by: pgkevet on July 24, 2015, 03:09:06 pm
I can only recall one bilat enucleation i had to do.. partcularly since that dog woke up with a big grin on it's face - the first time it had been pain free in months and left the surgery wagging it's tail.

It's also worth reminding folk that dogs are a business expense and vat claim whenever possible.. rural guard dogging and vermin control even if it's their presence scaring off the vermin cos they can't see to catch it. If it still has a sense of smell and better can still hear then as far as I'm concerned it's a legitimate claim.

Lastly for anyone that hasn't come across the trick.. a selection of cheap scents.. use one type in the middle of doorways, one at the top and bottom of staircases and another on mobile furniture (office chairs)
Title: Re: my brave little soldier
Post by: Kitchen Cottage on July 24, 2015, 03:53:29 pm
I am a solicitor so I'm not sure they will let me claim him as an expense  :roflanim: :roflanim:

Luca  was blind anyway but I'm started doing more scent marking for Denzel now I know he is deaf/blind and not thick!

I have some old stable matting and I've been cutting that into strips to make a trail around the yard. 

It is funny because his eye pads are stitched on so can't be removed.   

I was expecting Luca to be a little more lively by now.  He has eaten/drunk/had his drugs but he's just quietly on the sofa.  I suspect he is in discomfort but I don't think too much pain because he isn't crying at all and he is very vocal when in discomfort.
Title: Re: my brave little soldier
Post by: doganjo on July 24, 2015, 07:03:11 pm
The drugs will have taken a lot out of him, and he is quite old isn't he?  I'm sure he must be pain free, and is possibly just confused.
Hope he gets more and more better each day.  He's lucky to have you - I wouldn't have taken him on in the first place, and I would have put him down before now.
Title: Re: my brave little soldier
Post by: Kimbo on July 24, 2015, 07:30:15 pm
Bless him, Im sure he will feel a lot better very soon. Well done you KC for being brave too  :bouquet:
Title: Re: my brave little soldier
Post by: Kitchen Cottage on July 24, 2015, 09:20:08 pm
Doganjo,  He is about 7 so not that old.  He is more alert now and I've had to put a massive buster collar on which he is very much objecting to!  ;D
Title: Re: my brave little soldier
Post by: Kitchen Cottage on July 25, 2015, 08:38:47 am
He didn't have a bad second night.  He was restful for most of it.  He has had todays metacam/rheumacam so should be out of pain for a while.  He is eating and drinking but I haven't seen him pee for a while.... I suspect I will find it!  The big buster collar is a real restraint on his movement but he can get his hind leg around the small one and scratch at the dressing on his right eye so I have no choice. 
I have to return to Bournemouth on Tuesday when they will take the dressings off.  He appears calm, tired, comfortableish and not infected  :fc:   
After Tuesday they will want to see him to have some stitches out but I will ask if they will let a London vet do that.  If they aren't happy, I'll take him back down there before they have been more than fair with me.
Very pleased so far and Luca is loving his diet of roast chicken!!!
Another advantage is that Tilly has had two nights in the kitchen and had to get used to not going where she wants.....
Title: Re: my brave little soldier
Post by: pgkevet on July 25, 2015, 10:06:45 am
I am a solicitor so I'm not sure they will let me claim him as an expense  :roflanim: :roflanim:

....

You'ld be suprised... if you worked from home or you'ld taken the dog to the office daily...

One of the local barbers takes his dog to the shop every day and it sits in the window, acts as an advert to draw the kids. the dog gets petted by customers etc and after my suggestion they now make a legitimate claim for him.

I also had one cusomer who serviced vending machines at a large airport. He took his dog round with him for company..but that made it a guard do and his accountant successfully claimed back all the vat and fees for the previous 6 years including feed. Obviously as a farm or small holding dog it's an easier claim but if you keep papers and docs at home .....a partial claim perhaps

My own dogs got used as occasional blood donors and i had no compunction in claiming on them.
Title: Re: my brave little soldier
Post by: doganjo on July 25, 2015, 10:11:05 am
A car dealer I used to do books for also had a dog on the premises - I successfully claimed for his food and vet bills as his kennel was in the yard where the cars were kept rather than beside the house which was 500 yards away.