Willows Canine Academy

01/02/2025

01/02/2025

Not something anyone wants to think about, but I couldn’t recommend Fred enough. He was ok the other end of the phone for the last 2 months. He played an important part in Otis story. Our send off couldn’t have been more peaceful, personal and special. In the comfort of our home. I would advise popping this details down somewhere safe. I found this very overwhelming when I had to start planning. Who to call, how to arrange things. Fred was phenomenal and thanks to his advice Otis has and extra 6 weeks xx

31/01/2025

30/01/2025

I have made the most difficult decision to say goodbye to Otis tomorrow afternoon. He isn’t much of himself anymore. I need to put my emotions aside and do the best thing for my darling boy. I have on repeat in my head his last days are better to be good days than wait longer and them be bad days. Today and tomorrow, mad as it seems we are working as normal, as this is his routine. We are glad for some sunshine today. Please bear with me over the next two days if I’m a little slow getting to you or quiet on arrival. Otis would love to spend his last days in his work seat, head out the window, seeing all his buddies, eating hotdogs and popcorn! Thank you all for your support during these difficult months xx

09/01/2025

My baby having a pootle about!

14/12/2024

Otis update! Firstly can I say thank you to all my wonderful customers for your support this week. It’s not been easy but having you all has really felt like a pet support community! Oat is stable and back to basically his normal self. He is eating, drinking, plodding about as usual and seems to be on the up. I’ve learnt a lot this week and through cancer research and macmillan (rather than vet related human conditions has been more informative) I have come to the conclusion he has a fungating tumor. He isn’t out of the woods. This evil thing will get him eventually but I do not think it’s immement. The tumor can rupture and cause bleeding, which he had for 4 days and it’s now stopped. This caused him to become anemic which was taking his strength, making him vomit and in a general bad way which would have ultimately lead to his passing. The bleeding had subsided and he started to mend again, with an iron supplement and finally taking food, giving him chicken livers (iron high) he is getting there. I honestly believe another day of bleeding and he would be gone. We actually had a last day together this week. It’s been tough. Although I am now mentally prepared for the next time this happens and how bad it can get. But for now I am hopeful we can get him through a last Christmas, maybe longer if we’re lucky. My strong little man. Xx

10/12/2024

A rare day off work but not for the right reasons. Bad day with oat. I painted this whilst he slept. Inspired by a little sit down in the sun we had this summer in Avington country park. I hope I get to sit somewhere with him soon. On a brighter day x

21/11/2024

Otis has had a lovely week! I seem to have a system now re his ulcer at least. We still don’t know for certain the severity or even the type, or even positive it’s a tumor, but pretty sure it is. Vasaline on the wound has worked wonders! Huge sanitary towels and hospital grade bandages. Disappointed with mildmay in Overton, didn’t give us much info at all on how to manage the ulcer. Didn’t even wrap it or anything. Sent us away with simple antibiotics and no helpful tools at all. Luckily my nurse friend and Google has been a savour! He’s still ok at the moment. We have also started giving him more cbd oil and turkey tail mushroom suppliment. Yunnan baiyao on the way too. X

19/11/2024

My love