A WET WEEKENDThe pictures must tell the story, which comes in diary form. After a three day absence, Pally limped home last Friday evening, his front right leg dangling. He was clearly in need of surgery - a tired, wet and very unhappy little dog.
The vet said he couldn't operate until Monday so we dosed Pally on pain-killers all weekend. The rain poured down. Monday morning we dropped him off at the surgery.
DOWN AT THE ALGIBRE RIVERThen we went to the airport to fetch our goddaughter, Caitlin, who was paying us a three-day visit. She and Barbara wandered around Loule while I took my last English class before Easter. We'd warned Russ that he'd have to share the guest bedroom - his retreat - for a few days. He didn't seem to mind.
Caitlin settled in fast, which was fortunate - especially for Mini. Tuesday we took our guest west to Foia, near the town of Monchique - the highest point in the Algarve. A few visitors were admiring the views which, on a clear day, extend to both the south coast and the west coast. The car park was barely a quarter full. The craft centre wasn't doing much business.
On the way home we fetched Pally from the vet. His injured leg was heavily bound. The vet said Pally had been shot with an air-gun. The pellet had destroyed the elbow joint. The dog would spend the rest of his life on three legs. Meanwhile, he needed painkillers and anti-biotics.
Wednesday, Bobby, who relishes his meals and loves his walks, refused food and lay down trembling. Back we went to the vet for a comprehensive 90-minute consultation. Bobby is not a model patient. We had warned the vet to await us on the pavement outside with a tranquiliser shot in hand - and he did.
X-rays and blood tests threw up nothing beyond normal wear and tear. But a physical examination showed that Bobby had a nasty infection in both ears. We came away with more antibiotics and instructions to clean out Bobby's ears twice a day. Bobby is NOT enthused.
What the other dogs make of it is hard to know. What they do know is that there are treats in my pocket for Bobby when we're done. We have to block the entrance to the kennel to prevent Bobby diving into it after breakfast. Once he's in, there's no extracting him.
After Bobby's examination we made a brief visit to the Baroque country manor known as Estoi Palace (now part of a fancy hotel). Jones and Caitlin spent half an hour while I joined the dog in the boot of the car.
IN THE GARDEN AT ESTOI PALACEThursday both Caitlin and I enjoyed a therapeutic Jodi massage. (Poor Jodi had had to call in a drain-clearing crew as the roots of a tree immediately outside her rooms had blocked the pipe.) Then we sat ourselves down at a newly-opened Tapas bar for lunch. Thumbs up!
Back at the ranch, Pally has been getting along as best he can. He still enjoys his meals before taking himself off to camp in the sunshine near the gates.
Trying to pee on three legs has been proving a lot more difficult. We had the poor fellow neutered at the same time he was mended, in the hope of reducing his wander lust.
All the while Barbara has continued to hand-feed Barri, who is on a permanent diet of pain-killers and supplements for her hip displasia. The kitchen worktop looks like a pharmacy shelf.
Caitlin proved to be a good walker, which was fortunate. We do a lot of walking. On recent outings both Barbara and I have had encounters with individual bees that took umbrage at our passage.
Caitlin confided that she often walked home 90 minutes from the office where she works in Manhattan to the apartment she shares across the river in Brooklyn.
Bobby awoke on Thursday with all his old sparkle. His appetite was restored and he couldn't wait to go walking. We wonder if the ear infection had been the cause of his problems. Whatever it was, he's back in form.
Thursday afternoon we ran Caitlin back to the airport. Her days with us passed quickly and she's approved several of our favourite restaurants. Come back any time!
No comments:
Post a Comment