Jig: week 4

So another week has come and gone. The weather has given us a few problems- as it has for so many people  Ghillie's dog food was stuck in a depot somewhere in the midlands last weekend, and after frantic phone calls, we finally managed to obtain what I think was the last bag of Arden Grange sensitive in west central Scotland. Of course, having been told we were unlikely to get our supplies until after Christmas, they actually turned up the next day so we needn't have paniced after all. The same applied to some vitamins and supplements that I ordered for Jig and likewise after managing to source them locally, they turned up the next day. At least we are well supplied in the event of any further weather disasters and, I now know where to obtain food and supplements locally- and at a much better price, so all's well.....
Jig has continued to do quite well overall. He has had a couple of 'bad' days when he has seemed really exhausted after being out and has slept virtually unmoving all day afterwards. He gave me a real scare this morning when he had a severe choking fit while eating. Something had obviously got lodged somewhere in his throat where he was unable to free it and he was in quite a bit of bother and distress for a short time. His usual snack of snow settled him and he really seemed to enjoy his walk in the sunshine and the winter wonderland that greeted us in our local country park.

Ghillie had his annual check-up this afternoon. He doesn't enjoy going to the vets after all the trauma during his first year but he was quite well-behaved for a change. I think he is developing a moderately more laid back outlook on life.

He has certainly developed a liking for our new chairs. I know they are recliners but that is really going too far!!! If Frank catches him, he will not be amused!!!
I took Jig with me to the vets as I wanted to weigh him. He has been losing his coat...new central heating is playing havoc with all of them.... but I was sure he was losing weight as well. I was shocked to find that he had lost 3Kg. since the end of November. My vet however thought he looked really well; he was certainly bouncing around the surgery like a lunatic and vocalising fit to deafen us all. He is not showing any adverse effects so far from the prednisolone so I am going to increase his food a little to see if I can get some of the weight back on. We will be going back to the vet hospital again sometime in January. Both my own vet and Rory feel that the coQ10 enzyme and additional vitamins will certainly not do any harm and might just help and of course at this stage, I will try anything that might just help improve both his quality of life and longevity.
The important thing is that my own vet sees an improvement re the salivation and throat problems since she last saw him and says that he is not in any pain at all.
We are going to have a quiet Christmas, but it will be a very special one knowing that unless a real miracle happens, it is likely to be the last we spend with my 'big Jig'.
I know from the lovely messages I have had, that quite a few people are keeping up with our story. Thank you all for your good wishes and support. I hope you all have a great Christmas and a happy, healthy, and successful New Year.
Best wishes from Lindsey & Frank, JIG, Flyn and Ghillie.