An Update on Brandy

Wow, it's been a really scarey few days. Our Brandy's leg been sticking out at a really funny angle and when it does he just has to stop playing and wait until it goes back to normal. He used to yelp when it happened but he doesn't anymore - he says it doesn't hurt anymore. He says it did at first and it scared him incase his leg got stuck like that and he couldn't play anymore or go for walks with me. He didn't like staying at home while Mum took me out.

But he's been taking some tablets every morning and every bedtime, he's really good at taking them. Mum wraps them in a little bit of ham and I get a bit of ham with out a tablet in it. Anyway, the last couple of days Brandy's leg has only gone funny a couple of times each day and he seems to know how to click it back so today we've been out for a nice walk together for the first time since we went to the vets and he didn't have any problems.

Mum did some research on that Googly thing she uses and found out that lots of little doggies have this problem and in dogs like us 20-30% can have this problem. Mummy says there is a genetic degenerative problem called Patellar Luxation, see here for more information:

http://www.cavalierhealth.org/patellas.htm

We don't know for definite that this is what is wrong with Brandy's knee, it could just be an accident to his ligaments that the tablets can mend but Mum & Dad are taking us both back to the vets on Wednesday to be checked to see if they can tell whether this is what is wrong with Brandy and if I've got any problems with my knees. Mum says Brandy is showing symptoms just as describe in Grade 2 of the condition - so we need lots of fingers and toes crossed for our next visit to the vets 'cos I really don't want either of us to need an operation, especially not me!

Brandy's been to the vets and he'll be OK

OK, this is Mum typing!

We've been to see the vet this morning to see what is wrong with Brandy's back leg. It turns out he has inflamed the ligaments that hold the kneecap in place, so every now and then his kneecap slips round to the side and that's what causes his leg to stick out at an odd angle and needless to say, to hurt.

They have given him an anti-inflamatory injection which he was so brave about and didn't squirm or make a sound, as if he knew it would help. If it had been Brinkley having an injection, that would have been a very different story - he does not like needles.

Brandy also has a course of anti-inflamatory tablets to take for a week. If it doesn't sort out the problem, we have to go back next week and he may need an operation to fix the ligaments.

Here's hoping the tablets work. It's very upsetting to see Brandy in pain, but the injection this morning seems to have knocked him out a bit and he has slept since I brought him home.

Brinkley has been for a walk without Brandy for the first time ever - and didn't seem to miss him one bit. I think he enjoyed having his Mum all to himself for once. As soon as we got home though, the first thing he did was go and see how his brother was. As I was walking Brinkley, people kept stopping to ask where Brandy was, they are so well known around here - people even stopped in their cars to ask.

All we have to do for the rest of today is to try and keep the boys calm, easier said than done!

Brandy has to rest.

Over the last couple of days our Brandy has ocassionally yelped when we have been playing. Then last night while he was asleep he started to cry out really loudly and it scared us all. When Mummy got upto see to him he quietened down, but she said he had a poorly leg. Today, he hasn't been running around with me, he's only walked and every now and then he would stop and hold one of his legs off the floor. Mum said he was to rest and she'd see how he got on but this afternoon there was a cat walking past our gate and I went running down and started barking to tell the cat to go away. Our Brandy came down as well and he jumped up at the gate and really yelped. Then he couldn't put his leg onto the floor and had to be carried into the house.



Our Brandy can't remember doing anything to hurt himself, but he says it's really painful. Mummy has phoned Aunty Lucy and we are all going to the vets tomorrow (Aunty Lucy knows where to go 'cos she has to keep taking the cats she's looking after). I remember going to the vets when we were really little and it always used to hurt but Mum said it was to make sure we didn't catch any nasty bugs.



I hope they don't hurt our Brandy tomorrow. He's asleep at the moment and Mum says it's the best thing for him while his leg hurts.

We had a day out yesterday

You may remember a few weeks ago Mum & Dad did a Treasure Hunt and we went with them. Well, we did it again yesterday. I asked Mum why we were doing it again and she said it was because some people couldn't go last time and although we had a copy of the questions we didn't have all the correct answers, after all - Mum & Dad & Aunty Lucy got quite a few wrong, so we were having a drive round to get all the right answers.

It was fairly uneventful for us in the back of the car until we got to Aguilas harbour when we were allowed out for a walk around. We had to go to a nice park near the harbour and while Mummy was writing down some answers we got to have a rest in the sunshine. Then we walked into the main square in Aguilas and sat outside a cafe and had a drink. While we were there, this little black doggie came over to say hello. He was really nice and had a collar on and, although he looked really well cared for, he didn't have his owner with him. We were worried for him as there were lots of people and bikes and cars about but he told us he was a little spanish doggie and knew the area well, so he was ok and he didn't live too far away.

Anyway, after we'd had our drink we said our goodbyes and started to walk back to the car with Mummy & Daddy, but when we looked behind us, the little black doggie was following us. He followed us all the way back to the car and we really liked him but we had to tell him we couldn't take him with us as his Mummy & Daddy would be looking for him. Our Daddy gave him a drink before we left as it was really very warm and the sun was really bright.

Look how bright the sun was shining!

After we'd been driving for a while we stopped again and this time we were next to the beach. Across the road was a lovely set of steps that were all covered with mosaic tiles, it must have taken someone ages to do. It was all up the side of this house,

all up the lamp posts and all up the steps and when you got to the top, there was even a seat which was done the same. Hopefully you can see some of the tiling behind us in this photo which we asked Mummy to take of us.

Anyway, after we'd walked all the way to the top we went all the way back down and posed for a family photo, well Mummy & Daddy like to have them done and we dont mind if we get chance to play on the beach - keep them happy, that's what I keep telling our Brandy, that way we keep getting treats and trips out.

Hey, don't we look good?

Are we allowed Cauliflower Cheese?

Mummy & Daddy often give us a little treat after they've had dinner - usually some of whatever they have had for dinner - after they have made sure it isn't harmful to us. Mum has a website she uses to check whether we can have different foods. Over here Mum says the fruit & veg don't last long unless they are kept in the fridge and today they had to use a whole Cauliflower at dinner time as the fridge was full from yesterdays shopping trip. No, none of this makes sense to me but Mum tells us these things all the time, we never understand what she is on about - but we try to look interested!

Anyway, after they'd had their dinner - we got the left over Cauliflower Cheese - and it was still a little bit warm. Now, although we have been having some really sunny days it does get quite cool at night and tonight we had a little bit of rain - so a little bowl of warm Cauliflower Cheese - it went down a treat and in a matter of seconds.

So we now have very full, very warm, not so little tummys! Yummy!

So much to do .......

When we were just puppies, all we did all day was play, sleep, have cuddles with mum and dad and eat. It was a good life.

Then we had a birthday - we were one, we had a nice party, we had lovely pressies and we thought we were the luckiest puppies in Terreros.

But we didn't know that being one meant we are officially no longer puppies and that we now have to work for our treats. Mum says it's like little boys and girls doing chores for their pocket money.

So yesterday, when we wanted to play out in the sunshine, mummy had us helping with the housework.

Our job was to take all the beds, blankets and toys outside so that the beds could air in the warm sunshine and mmmy could mop the floor.

And being a good boy,like what I am, this is me having done all my jobs. Brandy, on the other hand is noticable by his absence - I'll let you all draw your own conclusion to that!

And isn't it surprising what you find when you have a good clear out!

All party'd out

This is me, 1 today.

We've had a great day with lots of pressies. We had a long walk in the sunshine down to Delphins where Mummy and Daddy gave us Doggy G&T,

and some chicken pieces they had brought with them. Then they let us have a little bit of ice cream.

Aunty Lucy and her mummy & daddy were there as well and brought us some more toys to play with and some chewys and then this little boy was at the next table and we went over to say hello and we were nearly as tall as he was, because now we are 1 we are all grown up big.

Then we all went to another bar which was still in the sunshine and we met 2 more doggies and some more people.

And then we were all tired so we had a lift back home in Aunty Lucy's car and we were allowed to sit on the back seat with Mummy & Daddy as a special birthday treat.

This is me saying 'Thank You' to Aunty Lucy - she likes big hugs.

Now, we're really tired and Brandy is already asleep on his new bed and I've asked Mummy to add some photos so that I can go and sleep on my new bed.

It's really good having birthdays, I wonder when we'll have another?

It's our Birthday

We got up this morning and Mummy & Daddy sang a song to us. Then they gave us some new toys and a lovely new bed each. One has paw prints on and the other has leopard spots on. Our Brandy claimed one straight away and he's laid on it most of the day but they're both nice and they're from our Mummy & Daddy so I'm not bothered which one I have - they're lots better than our old beds which were getting flat and lumpy. Our old beds are going to be donated to 'PAWS' where they take in stray dogs to look after them until they can find new homes.

We're off out this afternoon for chicken and ice cream but not in the same bowl, says Mum. I think some of our friends might be there as well. I hope Mummy remembers the camera!

Now that I'm one, does that mean I'm not a puppy dog anymore? I hope not. I like being a puppy dog, we gets lots and lots of cuddles.

See you later

Brinkley

We've been playing on the beach today

Today, our Mummy & Daddy took us for a drive in the car and when we got out we were at a new place we've not been to before.

The water looked a bit like our swimming pool but bigger. And the water kept coming close to us and then moving away again.

Daddy took us for a walk along the sand, which was lovely and squishy and soft under our paws.




As we walked along we could see some holes in the rocks which we wanted to go and explore so our Daddy let us walk over to them

When we got over to the holes we found they were really big and we could both go in and run around. Daddy said someone would have lived in them at sometime and that further along the coast there are some more holes like these where the goat herder lives and looks after his goats.

We were having such a good time we didn't want to go home and when Mummy & Daddy went back to the car we didn't. Mummy had to come back and get us.

As we were driving away this other car came past us and Mum said it was the Guardia Civil and it was a good thing we weren't still on the beach as Mummy & Daddy might have got into trouble - and we wouldn't want that.

I hope we can go again another day, it was brilliant.

It's our 1st birthday soon - can you believe it?

Mum told me today that it's our birthday 1 week from today. Now I have no idea what that means but it seems important so I tried to look interested.

She got all soppy on me and started to look at our baby photos - aah, come on Mum, not those again!

OK, here's a couple of our favourites to remind you how cute we were.

3 weeks old

The family

We enjoyed scrambled eggs for breakfast from the very first day with Mum & Dad

And we've always loved each other

Our friend Ruby's gone home today

We waved goodbye to our friend Ruby today. Ruby is from Sheffield and has been to stay for a few days. She has played ball with us every day, taken us for walks and given us lots of cuddles. She tried to teach me to play a card game called 'Solitaire' but I couldn't concentrate for long enough because every time someone walked past our gate I would run out to see who it was, and to have a quick bark.

Trouble was, because I'm not allowed at the table she was showing us how to play on the floor, infront of the door and everytime me or our Brandy ran out, we ran across the cards and spoiled the game - apparently.

Thanks for visiting us Ruby, we've had lots of fun.

Brinkley & Brandy

It looks like a mop, but it barks!

Mum and Dad have bought this new telly and everything is really big. But now, strange things appear on it - like in this one, there was this mega-big moppy looking thing that barked - I went to take a closer look but I couldn't work out what it was. I barked at it lots of times but it didn't seem to be able to hear me 'cos all it kept barking was 'get me off this table, I don't like heights!'

The man with the moppy thing seemed very nice.

Our Brandy couldn't be bothered with it all!