Medical update

I forgot to mention that Wesha was weighed on Tuesday: 15.3Kg.

We returned to the vet for a check on her stitches yesterday. I was curious to see whether Wesha would still be so happy about going to see him. She is usually sooooo excited and happy when we go to the vet. When I lifted her out of the car, she was excited as usual. Also at the reception and in the waiting room. But when the vet himself came into the waiting room, she was suddenly not sure whether she was still happy. On one hand, she really wanted to greet him as usual, but on the other hand, she wanted to walk away from him. When he took us into the examination room, Wesha was suddenly certain, that she really, definitely wanted to GET OUT!! She was pulling to the door very strongly. When the vet offered her a Frolic, she did walk over to him, sat down nicely and ate the Frolic, but then she wanted OUT OF THAT ROOM!! Once I lifted her onto the examination table, she was standing still (not shivering or anything) nicely.

The vet was very happy, he said he could see that Wesha wasn't licking the stitches at all (and she really isn't, when we are around, we don't even let her wear the T-shirt anymore). We have to return next week Friday, to have the stitches taken out.

It is becoming more and more of a challenge to keep Wesha calm. She desperately wants to play with Ghandi. Also in Ghandi we have noticed that he doesn't get the action that he is used to. He now sometimes takes a toy into his mouth and then he just races around the garden like an idiot. So this week cannot pass quickly enough!

Since the operation, Wesha is shedding even more hair. I thought she was all done, she has only a strip of long hair on her back, but even that is coming off now. Must be the stress. She is really a short-haired Toller at the moment! I took this pic during our walk this morning, so you can see how "naked" she is.

Recovering

Wesha is recovering well. She is still sleeping a lot, but she also wanted to play with Ghandi a few times today. We had to put her in the crate to prevent them running and playing. In the crate, she then fell asleep. Ghandi has been very sweet for Wesha. When she came home yesterday and went into the crate, he went to sleep right next to the crate. At one point Wesha whimpered and he immediately went nose to nose with her and "talked" back. When Wesha was out of the crate, he was only sniffing her very carefully, but he didn't initiate any play (until he noticed her doing better today).

Wesha doesn't seem to be in any pain. She eats well. Reto walked a 5 minute round with her today and that went well too.

When Wesha is not in the crate, we have to barricade the black chair, because she wants to jump into it to sleep. So we have put the footstool upside down in the chair. She doesn't like that at all and she has been standing in front of the chair, looking at us accusingly a few times today. Ghandi doesn't like it either... he loves sleeping in that chair too.

Back from the vet's

Wesha has been spayed this morning. I took her to the vet at 08.30 and she became an injection with something to make her groggy (she is always very excited at the vet's). Within seconds I could see her calming down and after a while she sat and then lay down. After a few minutes she got up, but she could hardly stand. Shortly afterwards, the vet came to get her.

At 11.30, I called the vet and was told that everything went fine, Wesha was waking up, but still very groggy. I could pick her up if I wanted to. Of course I wanted to! So Reto and I went to pick her up. We took an old t-shirt of Lorenzo with us. That way, Wesha doesn't have to wear one of these "lamp shades" to prevent her from licking the wound.

The vet showed us the x-rays that have been made of her hips and elbows. They looked fine, but we have to await the official "verdict". That may take a week or two.

Since we got home, Wesha has been in her crate. She had her eyes open for a long time, but now she is sleeping. I let her wee in the garden a few minutes ago. She walked a few steps and after she relieved herself, I took her back in to sleep some more.


The vet gave us some painkillers and a light antibiotic for the next few days. We will have to keep Wesha on the leash for at least 10 days. No running, walking stairs, jumping or playing. I guess we will do lots of brain training with her, to keep her happy.

This and that

Since we returned from our holiday in Davos, we have let Ghandi sleep "free" (no longer in the crate). Every now and then we find something in his bed, but usually, he does well and leaves everything alone.

The funny part is, that since the crate is no longer in use during the night... Wesha has returned to it. When we go upstairs in the evening, she is already sleeping in the crate. Also during the day, she often sleeps in there. I am glad that she feels so well in there.

We still use the crate to separate them while eating. Ghandi gets his food in the crate and Wesha in the hall or kitchen. One exception is their breakfast, since I hand feed them chicken necks then. They then sit in front of me, quite close to each other, without problems.

Wesha has lost some weight and lots of hair. One of our trainers hadn't seen her for a while and she saw her this morning from a distance. She asked me whether we had shaved Wesha! No... she just lost lots of hair. Only on her back she has a strip of longer, curly hair left.

During our last training, Wesha didn't do so well. Almost as if she didn't know what the commands "sit" and "wait" meant. (rolling my eyes while I am writing this). I hope she will do better this afternoon. After that training, we will have another break, because of the operation tomorrow. I am a bit apprehensive and I hope all will go well.

Vet's appointment

On the 25th of August, Wesha will be spayed. She will also be x-rayed to check her hips and elbows for dysplasia. I do feel a bit sorry for her, because it is a big operation, but I trust that she will come through it just fine.