Happy 8th Birthday!

Wow, Flash is already 8 years old now! I can't believe how time flies. Love you so much, beautiful boy. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

New pic - Flash going grey I think...

Flash has now lost all the black on his face and I think he is going grey... looking all distinguished. LOL

And a couple of when Bérénice was here the week before last.

And me and the gang

 

Stitches out

On Friday evening, I took Flash's stitches out. It has all healed well, only one corner of the wound that needs complete healing still. Still kept him on lead this morning, but he'll be able to go running again as from tomorrow.

Another accident

After Flash's collision and a limp for a day (which disappeared as quickly as it appeared), Flash has managed to cut his leg badly enough to warrant stitches! I have no idea how he managed to do that, but I suddenly saw blood all over his leg and paw. I wonder whether he caught it on Skye's harness or tag as it is a clean cut.

He had it stitched up this morning and he came home at 5. He is fine, though a bit tired which is to be expected. Nothing a good night's sleept won't be able to sort out.

Collision and sore shoulder

Yesterday morning on our walk, Flash did one of his charging runs at Dylan where Dylan normally tells him off because he hates it when Flash does that. Well, Dylan did the same yesterday, but somehow stumbled and Flash fell over him. Flash was limping for a few seconds and then was right as rain as was Dylan, so I didn't think about it any further. However, when I walked them this morning, Flash was limping on his front right when off lead and trotting, so I put him back on lead for the rest of the walk. He wasn't limping when walking, so again wasn't worried about it. Just thought I'd keep him on lead for a few days. Once back home, I got myself ready to take Dylan and Skye to the vets... and when we walked past Flash who was laying on the upstairs bed, he cried. I then checked his front leg and when I touched his shoulder he cried again. I got him to come downstairs slowly and with each step he cried. It was obviously very painful for him, he did put weight on that leg, but only just and very gingerly. I was then going to take him to the vet instead of the other two, but then decided that Mark would just put him on Rimadyl anyway for a few days as we know that he must have injured something in his shoulder! I still have Rimadyl left from Dylan when he hurt himself recently and I never needed to use those tablets then. So I gave half to Flash. Mark confirmed that it was the right thing to do. By the time I got back from the vet's, Flash was much happier and not limping too much anymore. Emily reported back at lunch time that he wasn't limping, though a bit grumpy and retreating upstairs. When I got home in the evening, I could see a slight weakness and shifting of weight in his front, but nothing drastic. Looks like the Rimadyl is working! I have also given him my mum's pills which contain arnica amongst other things. He won't be getting a walk tomorrow or Sunday and then I shall keep him on lead for at least a week - and we'll go from there.

Strange incident yesterday

Yesterday morning when I got up and the dogs left the bedroom, Flash didn't want to get up. I asked him to come and he did, but he looked pretty stiff on his back end. He didn't really want to come for a walk, but I took him (couldn't leave him behind on his own) but kept him on lead. He was lagging most of the walk, not really interested and visibly uncomfortable. Once back home, he lay down and didn't move.

However, when I got the food ready, he was up and running again, looking much more comfortable. He ate his breakfast ok and has been fine since.

I suspect that he got too cold over night as he was sleeping in the bed under the window, which then made him stiff and uncomfortable in his back. So until it is considerably warmer at night, he will be wearing a night coat/jammie too like Dylan to hopefully stop that happening again.

Obedience Match

I took Flash and Jesse to the annual obedience match at Culverston today. Flash was pretty good and I was pleased to see him say hi nicely to quite a few dogs (whilst having a grumble at others).

He came 5th out of 8 dogs, so did ok - especially as that was a run-off for 4th and 5th place... But he wasn't very enthusiastic about the heelwork and I am now wondering whether he actually feels uncomfortable doing heelwork due to the position which hyperextends his back a bit of course. So he will be doing no more obedience stuff as I don't think he is entirely comfortable with it anymore.

(Picture by Vanda Fitter, 2012)

Never mind, we do stuff at home that he enjoys and he gets his daily run about on walks which is what he lives for really!

After the match, we went to Karen and David, where Dylan and Skye had been staying all morning. All the dogs are happy there and really feel at home there now. :-)