Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Poorly Pippa

Happy New Year everypup. I hope you all had lovely holidays or howlidays if that is how you bark. Not that I ever bark, apart from when it is breakfast time, but it is always more of a Ha-Roooooo than anything else. Today it was a Haroo followed by a RUFF!

Now I like to do a review of the past year. Misery does one on her blog so I should get to do one as well I think. But as I've not posted much this year there is nothing to review. Sad Pippadog.

Instead I shall tell you about my poorlinesses. I didn't tell you when I was very poorly, but I am feeling better enough now to say a little bit. But not much, Misery can write vast boring reams about it on her blog for anyone interested in techy detail. Or in this case, ticky detail. Haha!! I hope Ammy likes my joke.

Last month I was feeling a bit listless, but one day, I really couldn't be bothered to go anywhere. I didn't even want to go down the stairs to go out in the mornings. Not even to chase cats.

Poorly me on my sofa


Master and Misery were so concerned that she even got out of bed early, and they bundled me into my Land Rover before 8am and we shot off to see my nice vet, Pedro. I had only seen him the previous week for my jabs and I seemed ok then.

Pedro gently felt me, and said I had some pain. Clever Pedro. While I was lying on the floor with my head flopped in Master's hands, Pedro and his assistant took some blood from my front paw (just like Skye had at her vet's), and then they cut some of my toenails.

We had to go back in a couple of days time for the results of the blood test but in the meantime, Pedro gave Misery some painkillers for me. Previcox. I can recommend those to everypup. They are chewy and taste of caramel and smoke.

My cocktail cabinet


When we went back to see Pedro I was already feeling a bit better, but he gave me some more painkillers, and some new tablets. I wasn't very keen on those, they don't taste nice. They were called doxycyclin. He hadn't got all the test results through but he told Misery I needed one of each every day. A couple of days later he emailed us and said that the test for erlichia canis was positive. I had very high readings of this and Misery had to double the dose of the little yellow doxycyclin tablets for me.

I have erlichiosis. It is a nasty tick disease. I will say no more except that I am still eating those nasty tablets for the next few weeks to try and get rid of the horrid organism and its effects. I will let you know when Misery writes about it, and you can read all the ticky detail then.

Not having my photo taken. Don't like nasty tablets


Here is something more interesting. We all went geocatzing to Comares before I was poorly. Master and I decided to admire the view while Mistress was sent off to hunt for the geocache. Master thought there might be catz near the castle so that's why we didn't go. I must say that puzzled me, I thought the whole point of these expeditions was to find catz. Geocatz or otherwise.

Here I am standing and thoughtfully sending out radar to detect nearby catz


Yes! I found one. I would have had him too but Master didn't want to go diving under the car with me. So we set off back for my Landy to avoid anymore catz. But on the way down, I found another one and nearly had him too. Mistress didn't find her cache. I found two catz but didn't get them. I think my expedition was the most successful though.

[They went back on New Year's Day without me and found the real cache. Master did anyway, Misery was her usual useless self. She reported back that there were no catz around - huh, a likely tale]

Back in Gib again and feeling better after my tabs.

One of my nice Christmas cards with doggies on


Looking for my friends - the monkeys

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

I never realised tick's could be so dangerously infected.
So very pleased you are on the mend, you keep looking for those catz and reporting back. :)

Marvin -The Hollow Hound said...

Dearest Pipparoonie,I am so glad you are feeling better now, but I know from past experience, TICKS are not at all nice. In fact they are very, very dangerous to us Canines.

I am not going to be like my J, and take up your blog with MY STORY, because unlike my J, I do realise it is NOT ALL ABOUT ME. ;0D

I wish you a wonderful speedy recovery soonest.

I had to stop reading your post, I was drooooooling too much it seems, CATZ.............mmmmmmm! Can we have a quiet barkerwoo together on this tasty subject?

Happy New Year Pippa, and I hope you continue to improve healthwise.

Your friend, Marvin xxxxx

Raising Addie said...

We are so sorry to hear that you are not feeling well. Ticks are the worst. All paws crossed that you feel better real soon.

BIG hugs to you!

Addie, Lucie and Hailey

Pei In The Life said...

Glad you're starting to feel better Pippa. We're sending Power of the Paw to help you get to 100%.

Hap-Pei New Year!

Bolo

Tama-Chan, Benny, Vidock, Violette, Ollie, Heloise, Momo, Ryu said...

Hello Pippa. This is our very firs visit to your blog, We read about your problem with erlichiosis on Bolo's blog and came over to ay that we hope you will be feeling all better soon. Ticks are nasty creatures.

I must tell you that although I am an English Springer Spaniel, I share my home with three cats who all adore me and vice-versa. Maybe I can convince you that cats can be wonderful!

Woofs,
Tommy
(in France)

Lola and also Franklin, too said...

Hello Pippa. I don't believe we've met, but any friend of Bolo's is no doubt a fascinating and special doggy. He told us about you feeling poorly and now we've read the details here. We want to send our best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery and we are very sorry you're not well now.

lotsa healing licks, Lola and also Franklin, too

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

We are so glad you posted, Pippa. After you mentioned feeling poorly in one of your comments to us, we were worried about you. Hope all those meds can knock that illness out of you for good. Those ticks are nasty buggers.

We hope you have a much better year in 2011.

Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

Chef said...

Oh Pippadog, we were wondering what was wrong with you. Thank goodness you have medicine that is making you feel better. Ticks are very nasty little things. We're so glad you're on the mend.

xo
Chef

Martha said...

Oh dear Pippa, we are sorry to hear you have been poorly.
We know how miserable that is - these ticks can be very nasty indeed!
We take it Misery is your human - we once saw a film of that name and we urge you to beware of sledgehammers!
We look forward to visiting your blog again and hearing that you are all better.
Bailey was very poorly indeed recently but you would never guess that now - she is back to her usual self and bouncing about!
love
Martha and Bailey xxx

The Army of Four said...

Hi Pippa! First let me say you are looking VERY handsome. A bit sad, maybe, but oh, SO handsome!
Secondly, I LOVED your joke! Hee hee hee! You're so funny! And handsome.
Thirdly, aren't tablets horrible? ICK! I don't like ANY tablets. Not even the "chewable" ones. They're icky. I hope you feel better FAST so you won't have to take them any more!
Fourth.... Um... sorry. I forget. But have I mentioned that you're handsome??
Love,
Ammy

Peppy Sheppys said...

Hello Pippa! We hate those tick things with their nasty diseases. Bloodsucking fiends. Glad to hear that you're feeling better. You certainly are looking good! Rowwwrrrrr.

Ethel Jean.

P.S. You know JNTR et al are our REAL WORLD friends, right? We blame our expanding pack on our respective apes. They are bad influences on each other.

Anonymous said...

Yuck. Nasty stuff, that ehrlichiosis -- here in the States we call it Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Thank Dog it usually clears up after a few weeks of antibiotics. Hope the humans came through unscathed -- that little bug is dangerous to them, as well...
- - - - - - -
Jack@PDB
dog beds and more

Asta said...

Oh Pippa
I'm so welieved to see you
I had heawd that you wewe poowly and was tewwibully wowwied. Thank dog that you got some medcins , even if they taste yucky, the main thing is to make suwe they make you well..We all love you and want you full of good health in the coming yeaw
smoochie healing kisses
ASTA

Peanut said...

We are glad you are on the road to recovery if not fully recovered yet. Mom had a friend who got a nasty disease from ticks. She is doing better now after taking her yucky pills for months.
We hope you have the same results.

Ruby Bleu said...

Oh poorly Pippa...I'm so sorry you are not feeling good. Make sure you take all your medicines and I'm sure you will feel better in no time. Paws will stay crossed for you my friend!

Lots of Licks, Ruby

Noodles About said...

Glad to hear you're feeling better, Pippa

J1 & Noodles x

Mango the Maltese kiddo said...

Happy New Year Pippa,
We wish you a good year filled with good love, good health and good laugh.
And a special wish for that cocktail cabinet soon to go away!
Cheers for your health.

Randi said...

Oh MY DEAR DARLING PIPPA!!!

I hope you are feeling much much better! Those damn nasty ticks! They shouldnt' be bothering my lovely Pippa... I hope you are taking your yucky tablets & getting better fast!

Did you get my Holiday card? I sent it to your Gib Flat....

I could never forget my first love...The dear darling handsome Pippa...

Love & Licks,
Randi

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Hope woo are still on the mend!

BTW, I'll warn woo if you venture to chekhk out Tommy's blog - with those Chans -

He
*GASP*
SNUGGLES WITH THEM -

It is shokhking!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
PeeEssWoo: Mind woo, they are tasty - I mean nice looking khats BUT - one of them does have some Sibe Eskhape tendencies!!!

Fred said...

So glad you are all better!

Lorenza said...

Pippa! Pippa! Pippaaaaa!
I am so sorry to know you were so sick!
Glad to know you are getting better now!
I will have my paws crossed for you hoping you will be fully recovered soon!
Take care
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Noah the Airedale said...

We heard about your sickies Pippa. We are so relieved your getting better. Now make sure you take those yucky tablets because they'll help you. We're going to send healing airezen for you matie.

Noah Willow Tess Lucy x

Charlie said...

I hope you are feeling better soon and can go out and find more geocats. Keep taking your pills!
- Charlie

Jacks, Narra, Tuchuck, and Rousseau said...

Oh, Pippa! We're so sorry to hear you haven't been well! Yet you still made time to read our blog--we certainly appreciate what a good friend you are.

We wish you and yours a very wonderful new year! Get well soon! (Though you are always handsome, regardless of how you feel.)

Cheers!
JNTR

Jed and Abby in MerryLand said...

Hi, Pippa! We just learned about you from Bolo and we came over to give you our get well wishes. Abby had a bout of RMSF last Fall, so she is extra full of the sympathy. Glad to hear you are starting to feel better. It took Abby several weeks to get completely well.

It's nice to meet you. We don't have a blog, but we enjoy visiting others and getting to know doggies all over the world.

Jed & Abby in Merryland [USA]

How Sam Sees It said...

Oh dear. We hope you are on the mend and feeling perky very soon!

Sam

Samantha ~ Holly and Zac ~ said...

Hi there Pippa,

We are so pleased you are on the mend....and have paws and fingers crossed that soon the nasty disease will be gone completely.

Nasty, evil horrid ticks.....

So you keep looking for those catz and monkeys, get better and enjoy lots of that yummy toast. Okay?...:D

Moondance Huskies said...

My darling Pippa!
So glad to see your new post with some pictures of your very handsome self! I am SOOO happy that you are taking your medicine (even if it IS yucky) and that you are feeling better. I have been so worried about you! I have a special card for you that I will be sending in the mail. I hope you got my special gift on FB for your barkday.
I have CATZ here...THREE of them! AND there are catz outdoors too! We could chase them together.
Be sure to get plenty of rest and know that I am sending you lots of prayers and healing husky energy. Power of the Paw for your 100% recovery!
All my love,
your Skye XXXXXX