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Day 56: Realisation Strikes; I’m a Loonie Dog Lady and the Vet Calls with a Blow.

Writer's picture: Samantha KnightSamantha Knight

Updated: Apr 9, 2022

I know everyone loves their pets, but there is a boundary between loving them and them consuming your every thought during every waking hour! I feel I have crossed that line.


It dawns on me as I’m casually flicking through social media, that all of my posts have my dog in it. Lloris is always my main feature.


I wonder if it’s just of late because he needs me so very much, but I scroll back a little further and there he is, his cute little face continually featuring.


I then look at all of my Amazon purchases over the past month and the list is monopolised by gadgets for Lloris or purchases on a whim of things he just may like or need.


I go to place an online Tesco shop and realise everything in my favourites basket is for Lloris’s home cooked meals. In fact the only things for me in the entire weekly shop is a bottle of fizz and some activia yoghurts!


I started giving thought to ‘Am I obsessed with my dog?’ When I walked into the office one morning with him and announced him …

“Here he is?!”

I realised that no one looked up to give him their full attention. Is it just me that thinks he’s worthy of being announced upon entering a room!? Hahaha. Oh I have gone too far and I know it!


I find myself listening out for his sweet soft snuffle snores at night and only when I can hear them do I feel content to sleep.


I think you’ve got to have a word with yourself when you start chatting about your dog with the most random of people or steering conversations to include him.


I am giggling at the thought of this ‘crazy dog lady that I have become, but if you’re not going to love you pet unconditionally like a true family member then don’t have them I say!

I shall make a conscious effort though to not push upon others stories of my dog. I shall keep our special moments to ourselves or save them for our blog!


I can’t gurantee he won’t continue to be the main feature of my social media posts though… he’s so photogenic he makes me look good!


 

Today we tackle an item from his ‘strength’ test.

  1. Can he hold himself in a squat to poop?



 

Random phone call from the Vet reveals that although initial tests on the lump removed from his head showed it to not be cancerous, there was an element of the testing that proved inconclusive and they asked previously if they could perform some secondary tests on the sample for research.


It turns out, upon further investigation that the lump on his head actually was a low grade 1 Mast Cell Tumour.


On a positive note, good margins of flesh removal was achieved all of the way around it and no cancerous cells were left behind.… AND I feel better that chopping up my beautiful baby boys face was justified!


The negative is that up until now I had thought all of his cancerous cells were contained to his right hind leg. The latest find shows that the cancer is not contained and can spring up anywhere.


Not something to overly dwell on. It’s all cut out of him and the catalyst for the cancer coming out now was likely his IVDD accident and the shock trauma to his nervous system. Nothing could have prevented that.


So the focus remains to get him well, strong and keep him trauma free! The latter is easier said than done with this little feisty french bulldog!



PS: Terrible day on toilet antics. Plenty of accidents!! will he EVER get full control back? Does he actually have full control now but just doesn’t want to go in the garden when it’s chilly and wet out??! Hmmm I just don’t know?!?
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Carla Romang
Apr 01, 2022

Oh darling I’m sorry to read that about the lump on his head, but glad they got it all out! Onwards and upwards 😘😘

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THANK YOU’s

Whilst it goes without saying that a big chunk of credit for Lloris’s rehabilitation to being a walking puppy dog again goes unquestionably to him! There have been many helping hands along the way that are more than deserving of a mention … 


Thank you to; 

Davies Vet (Johnny & Alex) for their remarkable surgery, prompt action and after care. He came home a calm and happy dog…even if his legs weren’t working…his wound has healed remarkably well without scaring.


To Dr Rinnert van den Bergh - The Holistic Vet who never raised an eyebrow at his little accidents and always progressed him further after every treatment.  Lloris is especially grateful for the liver paste you would win him over with! 


To Nisha from Paws & Hooves - Hydrotherapy.  You have been remarkable in your patience with Lloris. Thank you for answering the phone when many others didn’t that day.  Finding you was meant to be.


To Willow Vets in Newport Pagnell who took Lloris on as a new case for his cancer straight away and operated within two days. The entire team of staff have been nothing but kind and professional and whilst Lloris will continue to hate you all (hate may be a bit of strong word…. But I’m not so sure?!) I on the other hand think you are all amazing. 


To his Uncle Cristian for building his ‘Frenchie Bouncer’ was a big game changer in our rehab! 


To his Grandad for building his Pig Pen which he has grown to love 


To his Nanny for his the daily love and company not to mention the endless cleaning of him and my house!  We truly couldn’t have got through this without you, you gave me the break I needed to keep my sanity. 


To Matt the Chippy for his back door ramp! 


To the IVDD Facebook support group.  I learned so much from you. https://www.facebook.com/groups/178483559398659/?ref=share


To my friends and family who reached out to help me. Everyone of you that messaged, read our blog and paid an interest in both his and my well being made such a difference on both the dark days and the light.   Lloris loves people so the visits and gifts all lifted his spirits and snapped him out of the sulks!


To Dan, Lloris’s dad. You stepped up when he needed you the most and answered our cry for help to get him to the hospital that day.  It will always be a shame we couldn’t stay the family unit we had wanted for him. We certainly tried!  Thank you for letting him live with me, I can’t imagine the heartache of giving him up. 


To the friend in my life that gave me focus from day 1 when I asked for help bringing him home … he said something like  “I have the dentist so can’t help you that day, I would if I could but … you’re going to have to get used to handling him and lugging him about on your own, so you may as well just get on with it now”. I thought he was being an unhelpful arse at the time but actually that was the best piece of advice I could have been given. Man up and get on with it.  You can’t turn back time or change anything. You are where you are, so take a deep breath and in the words of Nike - Just do it. 


And that we did! 

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