The English Paysanne

Adopted us December 2008 left us 18th December 2015 Seven years ago our gentle giant met us over the woods when we were hunting for our Christmas tree. He followed us home and stayed, He came to us very ill , his life saved today he left us ill again. We had to make that awful decision many pet owners have to make. Today he couldn't walk and his eyes said it all. He had had enough and we think more was going on than his auto immune system giving up on him (as if that wasn't enough) . At around 12 years old we think his days were spent for the past seven years enjoying his time barking at trees that squirrels had left a long time ago, chasing deer he was never going to catch, nudging for a stroke and being a loyal best friend. This afternoon we buried him next to his mate Milo under the oak trees at the top of our highest field with one of the most magnificent views over where he use to roam.  Go run Tyser x

Since last Monday we have had an unwell Tyser. We don't really know his age but its estimated around about 11 or 12 so things are bound to start to go a bit awry. We know his joints are giving him pain but he really went down not moving much when walking he couldn't keep up. He was very wobbly Monday morning with symptoms that looked like he had the  canine tick disease from an infected tick bite. A emergency dash to the vets his red blood cells had been affected and broken down. Although the parasite could not be seen in his blood he was treated with injection and antibiotics. Thinking this would get him back on track it was a bit of a shock for him to go down even further. Thursday he was back again with anaemic and weak. A blood test revealed his red blood cells were so below the normal count it was beginning to look a bit bleak. He was suffering from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus , a disease that affects his immune system which reacts by attacking itself. He was adm...

Tyser and I went for a little trip out to the vets this afternoon to pick up Franklin's medical supplies of insulin, syringes and pain killers and the first weigh in for him. After three weeks of dieting and a fortnight of eating expensive Acana light and fit made with un caged chicken, wild flounder and eggs all the way from Canada and made in an award winning kitchen to boost it was time to get on the scales. I think Tyser would prefer the carbs in his old food but were on a mission to loose the five kilos he has gained, his also having salmon oil for the old boys joints as his a bit more Mr Plod like than we would like at the moment. So rationed with his daily requirement for weight loss with a raw hide chew treat each day instead of his dental stick (all that chewing has got to use a few calories surely?) and a few very small pieces of treats needed to get him through the day the weight loss programme started and how much has he lost? one kilo,one sad kilo. He was so gru...

Tyser, our lovable 10 year plus collie cross had a trip to the vets today. The first in along time apart from his yearly vaccinations the only other time he needed to go was when he first adopted us and ended up having ehrlichosis, that awful disease from ticks. But for a while now he has been walking slower, looking a bit stiffer, panting a lot and just slowing down a bit. He had a hair cut a while back which showed up a bit of excess weight he has put on since not going for such longer walks now Franklin is declining. He has had his food changed and restricted in the hope he could loose a few pounds but the weight hasn't really shifted yet. So today he was booked in for a health check to see if there was any underlying problems which come with old age. His hearts good, ears clear and after a blood test, where we waited 20 minutes for the results, (when we have blood test from the doctors here they take couple of days so next time I may just go to the vets!) he got the...

No nothing to do with disposable toilets a toiletteur is a dog groomer. It is beginning to warm up a bit here and Tysers coat is beginning to get a bit long so today was the day for a hair cut by Miss and me. I had one side, Miss F the other (its OK if you don't look at him square on!). He was so good apart from his beard bits and tail end where he got a bit nibberly he sat and put up with us two cutting away. Franklin got really worried thinking Tyser had kind of vanished leaving his hair (his eyesight is failing, like mine) so although he could maybe see the outline of black and smell him his thinner self had bogged off indoors finally having had enough of combing and scissor action.His tail end was left long for a kind of poodle effect. Once cut a shower was in order and a drip dry, he looks a lot smaller now his crimped hair now has a curl in it with the tail end being cut off once we came back from our walk, for fear of ridicule.

Yes not the best set of nashers but he does make up for it in other qualities, our big bear paws Tyser spent the day at the V.E.T.'s today. The big softy needed a bit of work done on his teeth so was put under to have a tartar build up and small tumour taken off his gum (that was done for free) his now back home and on a course of antibiotics for an infection in his gums. I have not been to the dentist for the past ten years and going on the bill I got for Tyser its just as well as I thought  he had a gold one put in while there. I did manage to meet the new male Spanish vet, young, tall and blond. I think he may cause quiet a stir at the vets, working within an all female environment. He mainly is going to deal with cows, this may be an advantage for me having a few as I think there may be a few females making appointments for pet check ups maybe they need to borrow a cow - I can give a good rate!

A moment from the week at La Singlarie Tyser wearing the collar of shame.

 It's been a wee bit hot and sticky here, with no breeze or let up of showers (which the weather forecast has predicted) to cool us down and refresh the greenery that is growing. So it has come the time for Tyser's annual hair cut. He will lay taking in the attention if you use scissors, electric razor would be out of the question for this is a dog that is scared of his own wind, a gentle giant, a hot gentle giant. Miss F took the job on as she has done in previous years. The only bit he wouldn't have cut was around his beard around his whiskers and the top of his head. He still has no sense and now looks even a bit more dimmer, nice but dim in the dog world. Summer must be coming, farmer J wants his hair cut, lets hope he won't look as dim after his locks are trimmed.

A moment from the week at La Singlarie Something has happened to Fizz the cat, she's mellowed and is being nice. Anyone would think she actually likes poor Tyser (he couldn't move in  fear of being attacked)