Week Commencing 25th October 2021

 As we suffered a bereavement this week there won't be much of a Dembe's Diary this week. I will after this post be having a break for a few weeks whilst we sort ourselves out.

This week was significant for Dembe as he started his hydrotherapy this week.

He enjoyed it once he worked out that he needed to walk and not swim!

He has been a really good boy for us all week. 

We bought him a new bed to make it easier for him to get up after sleeping

W/C Monday 18th October 2021

Monday 18th October

As usual Dembe's daddy is on an early shift, Dembe is absolutely knackered as he hates an early start! 

I haven't been very well so Dembe has been following me around everywhere. He is giving me lots of cuddles and affection as he always does when I am feeling rotten.

This afternoon Dembe wanted to play nudge with his favourite ball, his glow in the dark one that was a present from Bev and Harry.

 I love this face I managed to capture.

He was very happy when his dad got back and his pack was all back together.

As you can see from his smiley face!

Tuesday 19th October 

Jay took Dembe around the block first thing this morning, he bumped into a lady he works with walking her dogs. Then at around 8.30am Jay took Dembe down to the beach as a treat.

Dembe really loves the beach in all weathers. He was running around amusing himself, carrying his ball.

When Dembe came home we gave him a quick hose off in the back garden as he was covered in sand! Dembe was so knackered after his trip to the beach he slept for the rest of the morning.

Dembe's new supplements arrived today so I was able to start him on those when he had his dinner this evening, 

As usual on Jay's day off it was the daddy and Dembe love in!

Wednesday 20th October

Dembe woke me up barking at 7.40am, Jay had left him asleep on the sofa when he went to work. Now he was barking out of the window in his dads bedroom. Shock horror Dembe's daddy is on an early shift today which will throw me and D out all week!

We are having another sofa day today, thankfully I am starting to feel better now. Dembe was very excited to see his dad when he got home from work. Thankfully on both his walks lunch time and after work they managed to avoid the rain! 

At 17.30 Dembe wanted his usual after dinner stroll. The rain was so unbelievably heavy, Jay got changed into his walking gear, put Dembe on the lead and opened the front door. Dembe took one look at the rain and hurtled back into the house. That is the first time he has ever done that as usually he will go out what ever the weather!

Dembe is cracking us up at the moment. Jay has been having Chicken drumsticks a few time which he heats up in the microwave. Dembe loves chicken drumsticks, he obviously doesn't get given the bone, just the flesh. Dembe now stands in the kitchen looking at the microwave and barks at it until the drumsticks are done!

Thursday 21st October

Well this is a shitty week of Jays hours as he is now on two late shifts back to back.  Dembe had a quick walk around the block at 06.30 and then at 8.30 he had a walk up on the common. He met lots of dogs on the common and covered them all in his slobber. He was particularly happy to meet Max a black Labrador who quickly got covered in Dembe's excited slobber.

For the first time in a week I was able to do some sewing. Dembe decided he was going to sit out in his favourite chairs in the garden. That would have been fine had the temperature not dropped significantly over the last few days. It is now feeling much more Autumnal, it took some food bribery to get him to come inside!

Jay popped back at 5pm and walked him around the block. Dembe was a really good boy and settled down early. He stayed upstairs with me until Jay got home just after 10pm. He didn't bark but you could hear his tail thumping against the wall on the stairs. Jay took him for a walk around the block and he surprised him by doing a poo! Normally on his last walk of the night he just has a few wee's. 

Friday 22nd October

Dembe has always had this thing where he may not play with a toy for months and then all of a sudden he digs through his toy box and finds a toy that he then becomes obsessed with. Today he found his Sprout, he hasn't played with his sprout for around 6 months at the very least. Obviously carrot is still a favourite along with find it bunny, blue dinosaur and Aubergine. In the photo above he is waiting for me to throw him his sprout back. He will hit it with his nose back to me and we play this strange game of catch for a while!

Dembe slept most of the afternoon whilst I had a play on my embroidery machine. He woke up shortly before his dad popped back to take him out for a walk around the block. Dems and I sat on the sofa and had a nice cuddle for a bit. Dembe went to sleep really early, for a change I was late going up to bed (19.30). Before I went up to bed Dembe was sprawled across the little sofa snoring his head off.

It made me giggle that he was sleeping with his front legs crossed so daintily. He woke up as I was taking photos of him.

That is the glare from a dog that really didn't want to have a camera shoved in his face!

Saturday 23rd October

Well all change again as Dembe's daddy is on an early today. Dembe had a very early walk and then came straight back up to bed with me. I woke up at 8.30am to the sound of Dembe snoring away!

Dembe is a very cuddly boy today!  Whenever I have a long stitch out on my embroidery machine I go into the lounge and have a smooch with my boy. He loves lying on my lap whilst I hold one of his chews.

Tomorrow we are going to do a recky to find out where Dembe's hydrotherapy is ahead of his appointment on Tuesday.

Week Commencing 4th October 2021

 I have been really rubbish at keeping Dembe's diary up to date this week. Think it was still all the stress from the vets the previous week and being exhausted by it all!

Monday 4th October

Since Dembe had his day at the vets last week he has been incredibly clingy! I am almost falling over him as I go around the house as he just wants to be next to me all the time. On Monday afternoon I went upstairs to get some medication and I ended up spending almost an hour up there having a cuddle with Dembe as he just wanted some close time with me. He is so soppy and affectionate.

This morning was Dembe's first early morning in quite some time, he really wasn't happy about it and refused to get out of bed!

He has got into his new routine quite quickly and is no longer waiting by the window waiting for his dog walker(s) to arrive. It used to break my heart to see him waiting and knowing that due to his limp ( which we now know is  bilateral elbow dysplasia ) he wasn't going out. We now spend lots of time playing, cuddling and generally making a fuss of him.

Tuesday 5th October

I really wasn't very well on Tuesday having a migraine at both ends of the day and alas I didn't take any photos of the boy.

The vet rang in the afternoon as they had the report back from the orthopaedic specialist, who confirmed out vets belief that he has the beginnings of Bilateral Elbow Dysplasia. We were given 3 options, 1. CT scan to see what is happening to the elbows, would involve a general anaesthetic. 2. Arthroscopy, camera inserted into the joints and a good look around, again would involve a general anaesthetic. 3. Conservative management, using supplements, reduced exercise, weight management, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy etc . We have opted for option 3, we have insurance but as they have both said it is only at the very early stages we don't feel it warrants any invasive action at the moment. 

The vet also advised us if we had slippery flooring, which we do, to get some mats down so that he doesn't hurt himself. We have already ordered some mats and are just waiting for them all to arrive. 

We will use pain relief as and when he needs it. We have been referred to hydrotherapy and are waiting to hear back from the physiotherapist.

Wednesday 6th October

Jay was on a late shift today, so he took Dembe out on a walk around the block for his first walk at 5.30am. Then at around 9am he went up on the common with him.

As readers of this blog will know we have a nightmare with Dembe and his food. Sadly some of this problem is of our own making. Every time he turns his nose up we panic and then add something to his dinner to make it more exciting. All this has done has taught him if he refuses to eat then he gets something better. So starting from this evening I will be playing hardball and teaching him if he doesn't eat then he gets nothing until his next meal. It will be hard but it is getting to the point where he is refusing everything apart from cheese and corned beef, which is not a balanced diet! as much as he likes it.

I had a very cuddly boy again, so he had lots of attention lavished on him. As I was getting some sewing done Dembe positioned himself out on the chairs so that he could see me whilst enjoying some time outdoors.

He did make me panic as I couldn't see him later on in the afternoon. I looked all downstairs for him, only to spy him hidden by the Yukka.

Spot the Labrador!

Dembe and I were both shattered so we had an early night as we always tend to when Jay / daddy is working.

 I emailed Happy Dogs and Creature Kind today to formally tell them that Dembe would not be returning for walks with them. It is really gutting as he loves his social time with his friends but we have been told his main walk needs to be no more than 25 minutes and no crashing around or being an idiot. For those that are unaware Elbow Dysplasia is a life long condition that will need to be managed,

Thursday 7th October

The way Dembe was sitting on the sofa made me think of King Dembe so I drew a crown on his photo! 

Dembe thought it would be really clever to turn his nose up at breakfast. So after 20 minutes of it being down and barely being touched it was picked up and put in the fridge ready for his dinner. He looked really shocked when none of the usual treats were forthcoming. Jay nearly cracked but I said to him that Dembe has us wrapped around his paws. For him to be healthy he needs to be eating the meals we give him and not rely on being topped up with treats all day long! 

I admit is horrible knowing he is hungry but I am not to blame for that. He was given breakfast and decided he wasn't going to eat it. This refusal of food knowing that something better will be offered is also a sign of intelligence. I have to say his wind has been much less frequent and less foul smelling since moving over to raw. He is also pooing a lot less and the consistency has become a lot firmer so easier to pick up. Probably TMI for some but Dembe has always had issues with wind and his poo being loose. Even as a small puppy his wind was horrific. That is why we moved him off the Kibble that the breeder had him on as it really wasn't agreeing with him. We have tried a variety of kibble since all expensive stuff but he still has the bowel issues. So that is why we decided to move to raw food for him.

Today would have been Frankie and Willow's 15th birthday, it is the 3rd birthday without Willow and the 2nd without Frankie. They are missed everyday the same as their mum Mollie. They were such a massive part of our lives.

Mollie & Frankie

Both of the above photo's are Willow

Both the above photo's are of Frankie.

Dembe picked at his dinner this evening, we know there is nothing wrong with him as he will eat a cocktail sausage. He is trying it on and it is going to be a battle of wills, only mummy will win this!

Friday 8th October

Daddy was on an early shift today, so Dembe was shattered as he had an early walk up on the common. Plus Jay took him for a walk around the block before he left for work. On both occasions Dembe refused to poo. Which was very silly as when Jay is on an early shift he has the longest stretch without a walk.

Again he ate very little breakfast, which was silly as there would be no treats forthcoming. This is the longest he has not eaten properly for, he is probably expecting me to cave as usual but not this time as I am fed up of trying to get him to eat.

At 11am Dembe started crying and going to the door wanting out. He was very persistent poor lamb. Thankfully Jay was popping back to give me some medications that I needed. So when he came back he walked Dembe around the block. Dembe had two enormous poo's, Jay said he nearly needed a forklift to pick them up😂😂😂😂😂😂 When Dembe got back he was much happier! As Jay had come home then he didn't come back for lunch.

Dembe was really into his blue dinosaur today. He kept jumping onto my lap with his blue dinosaur in his mouth. He likes lying across my lap having a cuddle with a toy in his mouth! 

I told him at 15.30 that his dad would be coming home soon. He ran to his toy box got his carrot and stood at the window waiting for his dad to get home.

Dembe did eat this evening however shortly after he threw it all up. He has been sick a couple of times this week. I think he may have an issue with the Golden Paste or the Salmon oil we have started him on. So after an hour when he hadn't been sick I gave him some more dinner but a much smaller portion with no supplements in. That did the trick and he kept that down. So the plan is now to not use any supplements tomorrow to let his tum settle. Then to slowly reintroduce them one at a time.

Saturday 9th October

Jay is on a late shift again today, so Dembe's first walk was around the block and then at 9am Jay took him for a longer walk up the common. As we didn't get up until late Dembe didn't have his breakfast until after his common walk. Today I threw caution to the wind and put a big portion of raw food in with his minced beef. I decided if he didn't eat it then he would go hungry until this evening. To both of our amazement he polished off the lot. No fussing, no walking away from the bowl it was head down tail up and the bowl was licked clean! I said to Jay we may have a few days where he doesn't eat but we know that he will eat it and not to pander to him! 

Dembe has spent a lot of the day sleeping in the lounge or out on his favourite chairs in the garden.  We have lots of cuddles and playing with his blue dinosaur again!

This evening for his dinner I gave him more raw than the minced beef ( I have been slowly trying to get him to swap over from minced beef to his raw food)  and again he polished the lot off.  I was amazed and Dembe looked so pleased with himself when I told him what a very good boy he was. Just goes to show that he has learned to be fussy and he has trained us expertly to give him nicer food he if refuses rather than just letting him go hungry!

Jay popped home at 5pm and took Dembe for a walk around the block. He will be back just after 10pm and will walk Dembe around the block again for his last wee-wee's. 

I am writing the blog early this week as we are going to see Uncle Paul tomorrow for the first time in ages we are going to his house. Dembe always goes crazy when he sees uncle Paul.

* * *

Take care and have a good week

Week Commencing 20th September 2021

Monday 20th September 

Jay was on an early shift today so Dembe was knackered after his very early morning walk. As usual Jay took Dembe out twice before he left for work, one up on the common and another around the block.

Dembe is coping really well with not having the walks with professional walkers and has stopped staring out the window for hours on end waiting for them to arrive. I feel really bad that he can't go out with them but he really needs to rest this leg.

I noticed this afternoon that Dembe has a small irritation on the left side of his face. It is possibly an insect bite that he sustained last week. Having gone through the photos I took of him last week I know it was Friday when this happened. I remember that Dembe came back from his walk around the block and kept rubbing his face on my legs. That isn't unusual for him but the reason it sticks in my mind is he was doing it for much longer than normal. The area is a bit red and swollen. I have washed it twice with Hibiscrub and I have gone online and got some cream to treat it. I will be keeping an eye on it to ensure it doesn't develop into a hot spot.

Tuesday 21st September

Jay was day off today but was out all morning so it was like a regular weekday for Dembe and I. Dembe was really settled and happy enough playing some brain games and of course having cuddles.

When Jay got back we took Dembe straight out for a walk at the Model Airfield on Woodbury common. There were lots of model aeroplanes flying today and some of them were really noisy but it didn't bother Dembe at all. He is really good with loud noises and is so totally different to all our previous dogs who freaked out at the wind and heavy rain, let alone thunder storms and fireworks.

Dembe was very happy indeed to have his daddy back home again, he practically sat on his dads lap whilst he got lots of cuddles. He behaves like he is a giant puppy.

His raw food arrived this evening, thankfully we got that all in the freezer and took 2 packs out ready to start introducing it to him slowly.

The area on his face that I think is an insect bite has gone down massively and is no longer bright pink. The cream I ordered arrived so I have been able to apply that twice after first washing the area with Hibiscrub.

Wednesday 22nd September

Jay was out most of the day today taking his mum to a hospital appointment. He walked Dembe several times before he left. Thankfully Dembe was a very tired pup today and spent the majority of the day asleep, so he was very low maintenance. 

Dembe's new bed arrived at around midday. Dembe was of course very suspicious of it. He spent ages sniffing every square inch of it and then he pawed it and dragged it into a huge ball, he then lay beside it. I went and laid it out flat again in the hope given time he would accept it! He eyed it with concern from the small sofa.

As you rarely hear him when he moves around the house, it had all gone quiet when I looked up and realised he had got off the sofa and was now lying on the new bed.

We ran out of Dembe's favourite treat Dentastix yesterday, we are making him go cold turkey and no longer have them. They aren't very good nutritionally speaking and they don't fit in with the B.A.R.F. diet. We are trying to get him switched over to more natural treats. We are giving him puffed pigs snouts instead of Dentastix.

Dembe's face is looking a lot better the area is back to its normal colour and is no longer swollen.

Dembe was very excited when his daddy got home. Jay took him straight out for a walk on the common.

Later in the evening Dembe christened his new bed!😂😂😂😂😂

Thursday 23rd September

Fusspot Dembe refused his breakfast this morning, it is my fault I pushed the raw food too quickly as I am always trying to run before I can walk. This will now impact us for a few days as he will be deeply suspicious of anything that is served to him. Bugger! 

I also managed to convince him that he didn't need a Dentastix this morning replacing it with a puffed pigs snout which went down a treat.

He is loving his new bed and every item that he gets to chew is taken back to his bed. This is the first bed that he has been like this with since he was a tiny pup.

Jay is on a late finish today so this afternoon Dembe and I have been having some short sessions of training teaching him to go on his bed. He is picking it up quite quickly probably because there are some scrummy treats involved.

As we are both knackered we go up to bed very early. Dembe is fast asleep when his dad gets home.

Friday 24th September

It is very warm today, normally the weather would have started cooling down by now. Me and Dembe are struggling with it. Jay is on an early shift today so Dembe has been out twice today before he has gone to work. I decided to have a go on my embroidery machine this morning and Dembe wasn't very happy with me. He went off and sulked in the garden where I could see him and he could keep an eye on me.

Back on his favourite garden chair!

We had a panicked phone call from Jay at midday. Due to people panic buying fuel Jay wasn't going to be able to get home at lunch time. He would have got out fine but he would never have managed to get back to work as the traffic was queuing all the way down the road outside his work. However one of our friends was up there shopping so he asked Uncle Paul if he would take Dembe out for a walk so that he didn't have to worry about Dembe all afternoon.

Paul turned up at around 1.30pm, it was boiling hot. He said can I take Dembe up the common so I said yes. I went with Paul so I could show him where Dembe normally goes. Dembe was an angel for Paul. He was really good in the back of the car, he just lay down like he does in ours. He also walked like an angel for him on the lead. Paul said he had no idea Dembe could be so well behaved. I did say to him you only see him when he is going mental with excitement as you have arrived. I told him Dembe only goes mental like that when he see's you. no one else. He was so impressed with Dembe he said that if we are in a situation like that again then we must ring him and he will take him out for us as he really enjoyed it. I am so proud of my baby boy.

Dembe was knackered after his walk with Paul and went to sleep,

Saturday 25th September

Today is Dembe's mummy and daddy's 21st Wedding anniversary! Dembe sent them both a lovely card.

Dembe had lots of cuddles today and we did some more training to get him learning the bed command. I shot a very poor quality video but here it is!

We have had a quiet day as I wasn't feeling the best. Dembe always seems to sense that and just gives me lots of cuddles.