My trip is fast approaching.
This week has been focused on getting everything ready, working long hours, and trying to keep George calm and stress-free.
He has been extra clingy since his overnight stay but that is starting to settle. He will spend some time by himself now sunning himself in the garden or curled up on my pyjamas on the bed upstairs!
Unfortunately George started bothering one of his paws again - a different one to last time. He let me examine it and it looked a little red and sore. Although nothing like last time.
So the cone of shame went back on. He ran towards it excitedly when I got it out 😆 I must have conditioned him to it well - I must do the same when we start the muzzle training! He tolerates wearing it very well.
I cancelled our Sniffspot walk for the following day just in case. I still had some Neosoothe cream from his recent paw injury and the vet said it would keep so I have been putting the cream on and keeping it clean and dry.
I have some Apoquel on hand which also seems to be helping so it might be an allergy flare-up again.
It looked fine after a day or so. I'm really hoping I caught it early enough and it is not the same issue as last time. We are running out of time for a vet consultation and recovery time!
We went for a walk with my friend and her dog. George did well with the people and dogs at a distance. An off-leash dog got a little too close (although wasn't interested in George at all) which led to quite an explosive reaction.
We had created as much space as we could but unfortunately we couldn't move away completely. He did recover well though and that was the only reaction on the walk.
We've been lucky with running the neighbour gauntlet and avoiding triggers lately. Long may that continue. He's also been doing a lot better with the big dog barks from next door in general.
We've had a couple of tricky days though - he was more unsettled at home reacting to every little noise and barking in the car. It was like the old days again. He must have been feeling a bit under the weather or was perhaps picking up on my stress - there was a lot going on.
I sought advice from our vet behaviourist and he will be taking increased medication while I am away. This does worry me slightly as I'm not there to monitor it. But I guess he will need the extra support.
I'm feeling nervous about the trip (I will be so far away!) but I think I have prepared as much as I can.
All that is left to do is pack my bag, pack George's bag (much more complicated!), hope that it all goes well, and relax and enjoy it!