Miserableolgit

Busy morning, doctors, home, lunch, second mug of tea and another great video to watch. Bliss.

Where's the High Street? 👓

Not sure how I missed this thread but glad I found it. Fantastic to see a nice old gun being nursed back into good condition.

Better training leading to consistency across the licensing departments no problem. I believe we already have markers on licence holder medical records and have to submit medical reports upon application & renewal anyway.

I've got a bottle of Thornit but we've gone from using Intrasite Gel which removes "non viable" tissue before dressings to Manuka honey which is also anti bacterial. No idea as to the cause of this issue, it came on the same day as bringing the dog home after it was in over a weekend due to a v high temperature a week or so after the pyometra op. It's a bit of a convoluted tale, started off as lameness in one foot, no sign of bite, stings etc. She had been caged and on v short lead walks leading up to vet confinement and the day bringing her home. She stopped bearing weight on that foot - vet checked foot / leg etc during post op check - nothing. About 4 days later in the evening I noticed pinkish fluid between the two main toes where a noticeable hole had appeared, no puss, no smell. Cleaned it up, put her in the cage. Next morning the tissue between the toes was grey, ripped easily and stank like decomposing flesh. Whizz into the vet, swab taken - when doing it the swab went through the flesh from bottom and out the top of the foot. Lab report indicated 3 different bacteria involved. No confirmed cases of Alabama Rot in this area for some years, it's considered a very low incidence county [Norfolk]. This tends to affect the kidneys and in the majority of cases is fatal. It's a mystery. No bite or puncture wounds anywhere which leaves only some kind of insect bite to which the dog has reacted. I know some snake bites can cause tissue death but no snakes about, besides the dog has only had lead walks on my patch. The foot and pads [what's left of them] really are a terrible mess, in all my years of owning lots of dogs I have never encountered anything quite like this - nor has my vet and she is good.

Them's proper machines! The Kirby G5 we have is along the same lines. Body of cast aluminium with not too many plastic bits. It has a clutch that when engaged via a pedal provides a degree of drive in forward and reverse to the back wheels. Brush bar and belt and cable are all easily available and replaceable. Comes with extension pipe and tools and I think it has a carpet wet wash tank doobry too.

Following on from my last about one of our Springers, our current bill is growing like Topsy as she contracted a foot issue which has resulted in a large amount of tissue necrosis [dieback] in the pads and areas between the toes. Cause unknown but involves 3 different bacteria. The foot is being dressed every three days alternating vet and us. She's on 3 lots of antibiotics. I would post photos but they would put you off your dinner.

As above. Rest In peace.

I can guarantee that every time I go to use something around here and find it broken, clogged or failing to work nobody knows anything about it. We gave up on the plastic bag less machines a long time ago as Mrs tends to be a bit cack handed and breaks them. We bought a Kirby G5 off eBay, a bit like an old fashioned aluminium Hoover and it’s been very good. It’s built like a tank and all the bits are replaceable. The other main machine is an older Henry that I inherited from my mother. Being older it is pre restriction so has decent suction- as the actress said to the bishop- fna, fnar. Due to complaints about the Kirby being a bit weighty (it has power drive so there’s no need to haul it over there place) in moment of madness I bought a smaller rechargeable machine made by Shark, it’s rubbish and clogs up like mad. Mind you both my Missus and daughter have long hair and they seem to shed it just as much as the dogs.

Extracted from resin present in certain... um, err, trees. Burns a treat, good for cleaning paint brushes and thinning oil based paints.

I have had more than one dog that took exception to the sound various fireworks make but were fine with the sound of gunfire as they had been carefully introduced to the latter under controlled conditions when young then exposed to them on a regular basis whereas fireworks tend to be random and therefore not easy to introduce. Years ago my approach was to use a fireworks sound effects recording played over and over at a very, very low volume while reassuring / occasional treat / playing with the dog at the same time. Short periods at first but gradually building up so that it becomes just a normal background noise. Gradually increase the volume very slowly as the days pass. Acclimatisation, praise, reassurance, distraction etc. Take it slow, very slow.

As usual I enjoyed that Simon. The rats have come back around the yard and kennels here and despite having bait boxes and traps out I must get on their case with some lead.

My son is in maintenance engineering which requires him to work both nights and days. His previous place had a strange shift pattern that changed as time went on but did not seem to give him much time between working a few days then having to go in for a few days of nights with only a short break in between. His present place demands a couple of day of day shift, a couple of days off then a couple of nights with being on call at times. I don't think I could cope with that kind of chopping and changing but I did work permanent nights for a few years back in the 70's. I got on well with that if the hours were regular but I didn't like being on call at short notice. for my own wellbeing I had to make sure I got out and about during the daylight hours though.

I’d like to keep driving as long as possible as we are out in the country and off the public highway in an old farmhouse. The nearest public transport from the village is only a sparse service from the nearest village. The prospect of losing the ability to go somewhere when I want without interminable waits for buses full of potentially germ laden folks (I’m immune compromised) does not fill me with joy. My vehicle has auto lights including dipping LED headlights. I dislike the auto dipping because as others have said they are slow to react. Same applies to the auto dip rear view mirror. Anyone who used the old floor mount dip switches like me soon got used to dipping as soon as an oncoming vehicle came into view.

As you say it was a forced on him as I'd hate to have him suddenly go down with a torsion or for it to prompt cancer. I had another dog with the same thing many moons ago and had to have the same done. Apparently none of his litter mates had it so luck of the draw. Difficult situation what with him being a birthday present as the family thought I needed a new project post my illness. Bad few weeks as one of my ESS bitches went down with pyometra last week. Luckily I caught it in the very early stages and the vet got her on the operating table the same day. She pulled through but has been very depressed as she had a phantom too so is rattling with drugs. Her temp spiked at 40.3 on Friday, not eating, drinking and only one poop since the op so a dash back to the vet and she stayed in on IV's etc. Picked her up Sunday and back tomorrow for a check. Thanks. He is a looker.