Fletcher the Friendly

15/06/2024

Fletcher had a new experience today. Did not take long for him to decide he likes ice cream, brought by his favorite delivery man.

14/06/2024

Annnnnd Fletcher is back on the road! He's been desperate for this and trying hard to convince us he'd fit in the 170 litre boot of a small city car.

13/06/2024

Thursday lunchtime, Fletcher was a very naughty boy who foot planted and refused to go home because he was enjoying the sunshine. Cam could not humour him because he had work to get back to. For the sake of expedience and the care of puppy joints Fletcher was lifted and carried towards home 250 metres away. Several minutes later a car pulled up. Dog got set down. Lady stepped out of car and said, "I saw you pick your dog up. Is he okay? Is there anywhere I can take you?" It was rather wonderful of her to chase after them and offer. Fletcher was suitably appreciative and gave her leans and cuddles.

12/06/2024

Did a physio exercise (game) we call 'cavaletti legs' tonight and part way through Fletcher took a moment to kiss my cheek. Seems it may have been a while since we last played the game.

31/05/2024

Fletcher caught a moth and he did not like the taste. It was so cute though. No sooner did he realise that Cam was trying to catch moths on his hand we had snappy jaws and a little jump. And a bad taste.

Reminded me of the time a poo bag blew out my hand. I'd lost sight of it, but Fletcher knew I was looking for it and set off in pursuit.

17/05/2024

Interesting day. Got a visit from the local farmer and he patted pup while we chatted about fences. Then Fletcher and I sat out in next door's back garden under the glorious sunshine and played with his wee girl. I called him over and asked for his toy then told him to go inside. No. I gave him his toy and told him to go inside to Cam. No. He turned his back on me and home and Cam and went and lay down behind his wee girl. We all laughed. He is a people pleaser :)

29/04/2024

Fletcher is so funny.
Me "No, you're not getting any of the medicinal manuka honey"
Fletcher *drools*
Me "Okay you can lick the spoon before I put it in the dishwasher"
Fletcher *licks spoon, licks spoon, licks spoon, licks bare spoon*
Fletcher *stares at the cupboard where the jar went*
Me "Okay you can have the last scrapings of the other honey"
Fletcher *sniff, sniff, sad little sniff, this isn't what I asked for, eventually licks the spoon, stares at the cupboard, looks sad and unloved"
Cam "it's too floral. Give him the other one"
Me "it's too expensive! It's medicinal"
Cam "I'll give him anything that helps him live longer"
So he got a spoonful drizzled into his bowl. Fletcher was so desperate for it that he waited in the hall because it was TOO GOOD to be any closer to before it was time to eat.

24/04/2024

03/04/2024

Giving Fletcher yoghurt never makes me as popular as I think it should given how much he likes it. He objects to having his chin wiped afterwards 😂

26/03/2024

Tonight a doorbell in the telly sounded very like ours. Fletcher was on his feet in a shot, his body facing the telly but his head turned to the front door in momentary confusion. He really does love visitors.

01/03/2024

Didn't take a photo on our walk but here is the evidence it was a good one :) Fletcher has positioned to snooze away the rest of the morning where the sun hits.

14/02/2024

I just gave Fletcher a few liver snaps from his Christmas present from his Auntie Jude. One was heart-shaped and it is valentines day. I only noticed right as it was snaffled.

26/01/2024

One is these days I am going to count how many times a day Fletcher asks to be lifted onto the couch.

One year ago today we got the keys to our house. Fletcher has only been on its first floor once when I was unwell and wanted bed cuddles. When Fletcher was invited upstairs he was there in a shot. He was lifted onto the bed and said he wanted down to explore. He was lifted off and explored then had to be called when he was about to head back downstairs. He was lifted to see the view from the window - 4 times because he kept on asking to be lifted back up again - then finally put back on the bed and saying 'Nope. Lift me off' and making his way back downstairs. So I didn't get bed cuddles after all.

Fletcher slept with us most nights in the flat though never had been keen on being upstairs in a house.

This weekend, on my way downstairs in the morning, I stopped on the half landing and chatted to Cam. Fletcher was beside himself, so we told him it was okay if he wanted to come up and join me. He was delighted. We were delighted by the manner in which he ran up and down the stairs. Every foot hit every tred. Had never seen him do stairs so well. Fletcher isn't generally allowed to go down stairs (it's only been those two occasions in the past year) because it's hard on his elbows.

But he did so well that I am going to ask for bed cuddles as my birthday treat next month :) it's good we've got the half landing with the 180 turn to ensure a controlled descent.

26/01/2024

Slipped and fell down the stairs from our half landing this morning. Fletcher did sneezy zoomies. Hope it was because he thought I'd been hurrying to say good morning to him and not because he thought it was funny.

18/12/2023

Christmas number nine for my eight year old who had his birthday (and a whole pack of xl king prawns) last week.

17/12/2023

Small Mr McPoutyface is refusing to go out a walk in this wet and horribly windy weather weather.

08/12/2023

Dinner versus snow. Dinner did not win. Bringing his lunch bowl to the back door and shaking it didn't even tempt him.

29/11/2023

Waiting for daddo.

28/11/2023

Had to have a video call with Fletcher earlier. I'd got up and left for work while he was out on his morning walk and the dog was not impressed (although he was very impressed that his dad ordered in an electrician for cuddles).

Little dude saw his specialist last week. He's back to a zero pain score with longer stride, even stance, balanced gait and bendier legs.

Had to visit 'local'l vet because they hadn't seen him in so long that they couldn't prescribe wormer. During the 45 minute drive there I was determined to move to a local vet... but then Fletcher was SO happy to be back there that I will just put up with the travel. He loved his vet and gave her high fives when she wanted to look at his teeth and he thought she was asking for paw. Cam and I stood gaping at how high he got them.

10/11/2023

Little Sir sunning himself.

28/10/2023

Enjoying a seasonal treat of air dried pumpkin.

16/10/2023

Fletcher likes us to go on family walks and often bullies me into it even if I hadn't been going to go. He will run away from Cam, refuse to acknowledge the existence of his harness, and hide behind me while trying to gently usher me towards the front door.

Tonight my resolve held firm.When the little dog gave up he issued a huge sigh that was heartbreaking.

He is home and we are cuddling.

12/10/2023

Fletcher was sedated today and still isn't quite with it. Was swaying on his feet so I asked him to go on his bed then lie down. Never before has he lain like this!

We had a very early start. Cam is sleeping on one side of the dog bed. Fletcher pawed Cams legs apart to curl up in between them for a snooze.

Joints, shoulders and back all looking good. Elbows and knees got stem cell top-ups along with the right iliopsoas which hadn't fully healed.

Neck/trapezoid and lower back muscles are still a little sore from last month's injury.

24/09/2023

Yeesh that weather. Told it was time to go out a walk, Fletcher said 'I have no idea what that means. Rub my tummy instead. I know you can't pass up an offer like that.'

20/09/2023

I put the poor dog in a panic. Asked him to say 'night night' to his Gran and he ran backwards spinning circles with extremely distressed ears. Backwards to the dentastix cupboard that is; Fletcher thought he was being sent to bed without any supper.

19/09/2023

Pictured is Fletcher pleased to see highland gran coming into the room.

Gatehouse Rehabilitation very kindly agreed to see us for one off laser treatment this morning after consultation with our regular provider whose machine was away being serviced.

Sadly that slip left Fletcher sore all over. He'll hopefully be feeling (physically) better soon.

Fletcher had the time of his life. There were lots of different sniffins to be had in reception and he got cuddles from an owner then assaulted (in the nicest possible way) one of the therapists in on her way to start her shift. The boy cannot resist someone in scrubs.

Other dogs look back at their owners when taken away for treatment. One yelped. Fletcher just barreled off for Tuesday morning adventures.

Fletcher was returned to us with welcome ears. He'd had a great time with two lasers on him at the same time. Yes he did sit on the therapist. She said Pet Therapy had mentioned that he does that and she'd poo-pood the idea of a Labrador doing that until he plonked himself down. And yes he did kiss her ears. But he was a very good boy for his laser and settled very well which new animals often don't.

16/09/2023

Poor pup. He was doing so well. When he had his check up at Greenside a couple of weeks ago everything was doing very nicely with just a little tenderness low on his back.

Yesterday morning while toileting Fletcher slid and hurt himself quite a lot. Maybe something like back right/ilio/back. I'm not sure. At a trot he's nodding as the left fore falls but it doesn't look like an issue with the right fore.

Keeping him quiet and warm with a happy chicken filled tum.

08/09/2023

Fletcher is so sweet. He was enjoying a delicious cold drink (pork, sweet potato and apple I think) when I said 'excuse me' asking him to step away so I could add the stirred up remnants of the carton to his bowl. Millions wouldn't, but Fletcher stopped eating and moved off so I could give him a top up.

30/08/2023

Read all about it! 🖥📱

Greenside Veterinary Practice has just launched its impressive new website promoting the opportunities around stem cell treatment.

The site has launched following a clinical study on autologous mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) treatment for chronic degenerative musculoskeletal conditions in dogs, led by Andrew Armitage (pictured), Clinical Director at Greenside.

The research, which has been published open access in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, is the first to use real-world data to demonstrate how cell-based therapies help patients suffering from chronic degenerative musculoskeletal conditions, such as OA.

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