I haven't had a spare minute to write an update recently.
It's been an incredibly busy period at work, as well as trying to secure a new role in a big restructure. Things are finally starting to settle a little, and I can catch my breath.
Anyway, back to George.
As always, it's been an eventful time.
His last appointment with the physio went well — she’s pleased with his progress and his range of movement. We trialled reducing and then stopping the Metacam (his anti-inflammatory). I haven't noticed any difference, so he still isn't taking it. We'll have our next visit sometime in the New Year.
He's been doing really well at home. He probably only barks 3 out of 10 times now if a neighbour walks by — compared to 10/10 not long ago.
He’s resting well and seems playful and happy. I’ve reduced his Clonidine on our rest days when we don’t need to leave the house.
We’ve got some really hot weather at the moment, so finding quiet walking times is a bit of a challenge.
His love for splashing in any patch of water or mud is strong on walks, although he doesn’t usually go out of his depth.
He doesn't like clean water though — surprisingly, he is completely indifferent to the paddling pool and splash pad at home. At least he isn't scared of them anymore, so that's a win.
At a beautiful Sniffspot recently, I was picking up his poo and when I looked up, he was nowhere to be seen. I could hear a duck quacking in the distance and thought, uh-oh.
I ran over to the steep bank, and there was George, having (I suspect) fallen in, swimming around while this duck left him for dust.
I don’t think he meant to do it, and he got out pretty quickly, but that’s the first time I’ve ever seen him have a proper swim!
The following week, at a new Sniffspot, he had a swim in a little pond — deliberately this time!
I’m loving his increasing confidence.
On the same visit as the accidental swim, he was paddling in a little stream. There’s a small footbridge over it, and he was interested in going under the bridge — surprisingly brave, as there wasn’t much space and it was dark and confined.
At one point, he just stopped. I called for him to come out, and then heard a little whimper. I realised he was stuck under the bridge!
Trying to remain calm, I jumped into the stream and reached under the bridge. Thankfully, I was able to free his harness, which had become stuck.
I was very proud of him for not panicking and staying calm. I think I would have panicked if I was stuck in a small, dark space with water.
I was slightly less proud of him for trying to do it again. 😆
I’m so relieved I was able to free him quickly and easily. It’s never a dull outing with George.
At daycare pick-up the other day, he was very excited and very thirsty. I gave him a drink of water, which he gulped down very quickly.
On the drive home, I heard a strange noise from the back. I turned around to see he had projectile-vomited all over the back of the car. It was dripping out of the door when we got home.
He didn’t seem unwell — I think he just drank too much water too quickly which, combined with the motion of the car, had spectacular results.
My fault — I need to be more careful in future. So I spent a glamorous Friday evening cleaning vomit out of the car.
As I said — never a dull moment!