 (Photo: Dasher is 14 now.) Dasher's Italian Greyhound blog 2023 This is the continued story of Italian Greyhound Dasher from July 2009 - see old blogs. The latest "happenings" will be put on at the top at frequent intervals, so the story unfolds from the bottom and up! See videos of him on YouTube under my name: sighthounddotnet, Email me or go back at any time to my sighthound.net start page. Happy reading! - Janet |
| Older blogs: 1st blog July 2009 - 2010 - 2011 - 2012 - 2013 - 2014 - 2015 - 2016 - 2017 - 2018 - 2019 - 2020 - 2021 - 2022 |
Saturday the 2nd of September 2023 - and the 15th blog! Thursday the 31st of August Friday the 18th of August  Mega makes the most of the 5 meter flexline!  While I crawl around weeding in the kitchen garden, Mega lies sunbathing in the strawberries and supervises!  He also relaxes in the back garden while I do gardening work! (Dasher goes inside as he prefers to lie in a dog bed!)  Typical Italian Greyhound, they HAVE to sit ON TOP of other dogs and cannot just lie beside them!  It can be very tiring for Dasher who just wants peace and has to put up with a lot of silly behaviour!  On Monday I took the bus to the vet where Mega was examined, approved of and given his second lot of vaccinations! Here he is sitting waiting for the bus to come like a professional traveller! It was his first time in this special travel bag, good as gold and it was also his first time ever on a bus. He was a bit scared when the bus twice banged and crashed over some road works, but could quickly see that he was safe and everything WAS ok! He was greatly admired by two passengers!  Chewing on an apple he has brought in from the garden! Thursday the 10th of August Monday the 7th of August Help! That's my garden chair....NOT the best place! 
Sunday the 6th of August 14 weeks and 14 years old lying together! 
Saturday the 5th of August I spotted them sitting together outside on the patio!  (Dasher's ears are often up as he is almost totally deaf - but tries his best to hear if he can.) Wednesday the 2nd of August Family to lunch and Mega was very much admired, loved and approved of!  .  .  However, the family Cavalier King Charles did NOT approve! Mega is too silly and lively for his taste!  Mega amuses me by disappearing into the flower beds when he needs to poo! I can leave it there, but not on the lawn! Saturday the 29th July  Side by side! Mega now knows precisely where he lives and pulls hard to get home faster on the last stretch, stopping at the gates! He has no desire to run away, but I know now that if he did ever get out, he does know the way back again!  What the heck is that "thing"?  Mega loves sunbathing and will sit anywhere to enjoy it! Wednesday the 26th of July  Even though they have eaten their food, they still hope I might drop something when I start to make mine! Tuesday the 25th of July  12 weeks, soon 13 and the extreme elegance of the Italian Greyhound is very slowly growing day by day!  Sitting beside me in a bed at my feet in my office!  Mega tells me when he wants more food sitting here where I put down their food bowls! (I feed three times a day shortly before I eat my own meal, but as a puppy he needs up to 6 times a day - much to Dashers’ horror as he has to stand watching, but he is used to this torture now!  Then Mega soon realised that after the lunch time meal, they get a treat of a chew stick (rubbery-soft compressed chicken as old Dasher CAN break his teeth) so the little cheater tells me he is finished and “full up” in order to quicker get his chew stick – together with Dasher who eats real fast! THEN afterwards, he tells me he needs more “proper food” and finishes his portion! What a trickster! After dinner, their main meal, the tradition going back nearly 30 years is they get a tiny piece of the white crunchy stem of Chinese cabbage! (I eat the green leaves.) They LOVE this and I am barely forgiven if I ever run out of it! So he does the same “I can’t eat any more!” trick for this as well!  Mega with his piece of Chinese cabbage!  Two days ago it rained all day, so Mega had to endure wearing a little coat I have had for many years!  Relaxing on the sofa afterwards! I have taken all the thick seating cushions off so he cannot break a leg jumping down, it is now so low.  Here, sleeping on Dasher (who puts up with a lot), one can see he is not black at all, but a VERY dark shade of brown, which I find very beautiful.  Inspired by a friend whose IG fetches tennis balls for good exercise, I tried Mega, who fetched this once, like he was trained - but then he decided to keep it for himself! But it's too early yet for such wild exercise!  On a walk this morning he waits patiently while Dasher pees and later when we turn and head for home (I walk in a big circle) he pulls like mad and knows EXACTLY where he lives and can't wait to get home! He stops at the gate!  Please let me in! Friday the 21st of July Tuesday the 18th of July Up until now I have to carry Mega on dog walks with Dasher, but today there was a "break through" where he walked a small part of the way! Had some good sniffs. However, he threw himself down in the grass several times, but I waited... he is only 11 weeks old after all! Then he greeted the neighbour's dog Hugo (seen below the 2nd of July) with cautious enthusiasm – and no fear! I was pleased. No photos as unfortunately my hands were full!  Sleeping later! Saturday the 15th of July Thursday the 13th of July Tuesday the 11th of July Monday the 10th of July Unfortunately it is pouring hard with rain today! 31mm in just a handful of hours! We got soaked on the very short doggy walk.  Mega still hasn't mastered the art of burrowing underneath blankets!  Above: Mucking about playing in the bed in my office.  Sleeping together again. Dasher is being kind but really and truly he is NOT keen on being lain on top of! He knows Mega's just a puppy though, so one bends the rules a bit!   Now I again have TWO watching out for burglers down at the gate!  . Left: Mega inspects a garden light and right he is leaping high up at the oven and cupboards as he is annoyed he cannot reach my food! I gave him a little piece of cheese, which he loved!  They are so cute together! Their relationship will grow enormously as soon as Mega isn't a "delicate baby" any more. Sunday the 9th of July Sunday the 2nd of July Dasher meets my neighbour's dog Hugo when out on a walk - but Hugo is more interested in ME, as I always give him one tiny "treat" from a bag I have in my pocket, whenever we meet!  .  Hugo just pushes past Dasher to get to his treat!  Dasher finds all sorts of edible things in the lawn, from wood lice, Daddy long legs and dead worms to pigeon poops! Ugh!!!  I help a poorly bee after some heavy rain. Wednesday the 14th of June Sunday the 4th of June Dasher and I went to a family birthday party yesterday on bus and train and he met up with a new and very cute "Cockerpoo" puppy in the family! Here they are mucking about together!  Above: Sitting on the train for an hour good as gold! Dogs travel free if only one small dog and sitting in a bag (or crate).  .  .  . . I think he understood it was a harmless baby and he just let it do anything it wanted! They played together for hours so in the end we put them on the lead as Dasher IS after all, an old dog at 14 years old! ! He really enjoyed having a playmate as he misses Solo badly and has never been alone before. (I had 2 Whippets when I got him.) Right photo: Travelling home on the train lying between my legs absolutely tired out after a very long and active day! Sunday the 28th of May I had a wonderful “sighthound day” yesterday with two good “sighthound friends” to lunch with no less than 3 Whippets! Fauna I know well as I have looked after her many a time but the two others: Whuffi and Happy of 5 months were new to me. Dasher, who is used to and likes Whippets, quickly discovered that young Happy was still of the puppy age where you are polite and careful with your “elders”. So Dasher chased him mercilessly around and was trying to mate on him most of the time! Finally, after about 4 hours of irritating, unwanted attention, Happy snapped out with a loud yelp-come snarl and told Dasher off! It took just a split second and from that moment, all Dasher’s hopes were, yes, dashed! He then showed Happy deep respect and stopped all irritating behavior. These photos are from before the telling off, where he also would like Happy’s bone!  . . . .  . .  Below: After he was told off and wondering what to do next!  ... it was a really wonderful day for me chatting with two other sighthound lovers! Tuesday the 16th of May Dasher had to go to the vet for a little operation to remove two loose teeth - and the vet found two more that were broken, so he did a very good job - it is especially worrying to operate on a very old dog.  I got the job of watching over him as he came round - as I was sitting in the waiting room anyway! Here he is very drugged up. Dasher was groggy for a long time after on Tuesday but is VERY fresh and happy now!  Sitting on the sofa contemplating life the day after! Thursday the 11th of May After many days where it seemed to rain a lot, then many days with a nasty, very hard and cold wind, at last some sun and a lovely day - where Dasher enjoys the warmth beside me in the garden where I sit for five minutes in between weeding! 
Thursday the 4th of April  . Dasher is whole 14 years old today! Doing very well except that he is almost totally deaf, which is a big handicap. I have to use hand signels to communicate and a soundless whistle to call him. (The Danish flag because he is a pure Danish dog!) Sunday the 30th of April  Dasher doing what he's best at: dashing around the house at high speed! He does this 3 times before each meal - used to be 10 times but due to his age.... this photo shows off my wonderful Japanese Cherry tree! Tuesday the 25th of April  Lonely walks from now on... sigh....Solo is missed every second of the day... Sunday the 23rd of April My kind opposite neighbour managed to find a source of Chinese cabbage for me and came with one she had bought! I haven't been able to find one where I shop for several months - I don't know why as I have always had one in the fridge for nearly 30 years. I eat the green part of each leaf - no matter what the menu is for dinner! And all my dogs through the years have always adored crunching on the white stem. Maybe it gives them valuable fiber? I have even taught several guest dogs how to love a piece after dinner! So Dasher was thrilled with an extra big chunk!  .
Tuesday the 18th of April  I can hardly bear to write this, but my darling, so entertaining, very intelligent and bossy Solo had to go to the vet for the last time last Thursday. His back and hip pains were merely getting worse not better after another fall before Christmas and despite two different painkillers from the vet. he was just suffering too much and I found it my frightful duty, to save him from more pain. He now even refused to come out on a walk, so the pain had to be bad. It was cruel to let him go on living in in such pain... But Dasher and I both miss him badly, he was SO funny and entertaining and bossed me around! A very unique character. Here he is sunning himself in one of the last pictures I took. He was only 10 1/2.....I truly thought I would have him for many more years... this breed can easily be 15 even 16. Wednesday the 5th of April Wednesday the 29th of March Monday the 20th of March From the garden yesterday!  . Below, the sun suddenly broke through in the clouds, after at dull, freezing cold day. 
Monday the 6th of March My son and daughter-in-law came yesterday - the dog's favourite people, and brought a huge bone present for them both, but beforehand...  Solo is SO happy to see them, he playfully grabs up a toy and sings a very loud song of joy!  . Dasher spent hours chewing his! He retired to my office for privacy!  . Solo runs off before anyone can take it from him! Wednesday the 22nd of February  When are you coming and making my dinner, mum? Sunday the 19th of February  Dasher finds an old toy duck and enjoys killing it all over again!  Checking around the garden after a big storm and I see these pretty crocusses doing just fine! Spring is here! Tuesday the 7th of February  I have never known a dog who could ask me to do something or tell me something SOOO intensly as Solo can!!! He looks like a big question mark! If I say the right words he gives a loud woof meaning "YES!!!!" and danses around with happiness! Friday the 3rd of February  Poor Solo! After about 2 weeks with the pain killer Loxicam, I discovered he was bleeding from his intestines and had two nightmare days where he asked to go outside nearly every half an hour! I immediately Googled the product and read that a side effect was bloody diarrhea and so stopped giving it plus I contacted the vet who very kindly came the same evening after work with some other painkillers and a product for restoring the natural stomach and bowel bacteria etc. Wednesday he was much improved and today Friday, at long last no more blood! The poor dog must have really suffered from griping stomach pains. He has not had any pain killers the last few days as I am not giving meds on such bad digestion – but he seems a lot happier and fresher. Monday the 30th of January  Above after visit to the vet., he was briefly in our frosty garden.  . On January the 26th it was Dasher’s turn for a vaccination at the Animal Hospital. I went in with what I thought was a very healthy and lively, playful dog - apart from the fact that he drinks a lot so I wanted him tested for diabetes. To my shock though the vet found quite serious heart murmurs and declared that his heart was not working at all well, meaning his inner organs like lungs, liver and kidneys would not have the optimal blood supply they need and surely are suffering. Then after a short wait while he tested some blood samples he took, he said no diabetes but signs of other things wrong and not good at all so Dasher has to go on a diet designed for dogs with poorly livers. I was very depressed for a day or two as of course he was tired after the visit and one front leg hurt where the blood had been taken, so he limped badly for some hours. But two days later he seems his normal fresh and dominating self – so I actually wish I did not know about his very worrying “invisible” state of health inside his body! The Hills diet food is ordered and will arrive this week, meantime he eats Hike’s food designed for elderly dogs. So now I have two patients to worry about.... Wednesday the 25th I buy most of my dog food from the Danish firm Hike who appear to have a very high standard of quality - and some good chew things. The dogs know the smell of the box even from a distance, and get excited as they know that Hike kindly put a free little treat inside with the food I ordered! I put the box on the floor in the utility room:  . Solo leads and scratches on the box as Dasher doesn't want "trouble" or a fight!  . I rip the tape off and Solo sticks his nose inside! He knows the big packets are NOT what he is looking for!  . Yeah! I grabbed the treats before he did! And then showed Dasher, who sits to show how good and deserving he is!  . There are exactly two pieces, which makes them very happy! Monday the 16th of January 2023 - and the 15th blog! Below: Taken from the doorway: I took Solo to the Animal Hospital in Slagelse the 12th of January, Then a while back in December, he tried to jump up on something and fell backwards on the stone kitchen floor so I think this has started the old injury again. The vet has examined him very thoroughly thinks the same. He cannot double his left leg up under him when jumping up – it doesn’t fold up, nor can it bare his weight on landing again.. and he collapses if he’s pressured or pushed by Dasher. So now he has painkillers for about 6 weeks in the hope he can heal himself.  I spotted the moon over the house the other morning!  Dasher is all playful as he has stolen a sweet paper from my wastepaper basket in my office!  The two lie together in the bed beside me as I eat. Dried dog food swells up in the dog's stomach - of course! This is only natural as all moisture has been removed. Always test before feeding your dog, if you try a new brand. Take two particles of the new food and put one in a small bowl of cold water leave the other alongside on the table top. One new brand I tried swelled up to a shocking nearly four times the size! See here after 3 hours:  . You should bear this in mind when feeding your dog, because what looks like a very modest portion, can swell up to 2-3-4 times the size after a few hours and could make your dog vomit some up to relieve the pressure. At the very least, it will give your dog a lot of discomfort - at worst he/she may throw up the entire meal. Therefore, with ANY brand of food, you need to know exactly how big the meal will become in a few hours time - and serve the appropriate amount. This is probably a major cause of overweight dogs (not to mention the possibility of bloat and torsion). People fill up their dog's bowls with a portion that looks "the right size" in their eyes but not allowing for the fact that whole lot actually becomes, say 3 times larger in the dogs' stomach! We all know how dogs are "opportunists" and eat whatever they can whenever they can, so best to to regulate according to the known "swelling point" - which varies a lot from brand to brand and contents to contents! |
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