LabraPaws

20/06/2023

Update on Charley girl. Charley has had quite the improvement over the last day. The vomiting finally stopped which meant even though she was still really unwell with the respiratory virus, the medications now had a chance to start working. She spent much of the last few days coughing uncontrollably and being so exhausted, trying to sleep. Today we noticed a big difference. She is showing much more interest in what is going on and is wanting to go outside and wander slowly around, checking things out. Whilst she still has that horrendous cough, the frequency has slowed down which is wonderful. As long as she doesn't move too quickly or too much, the coughing fits don't start off. So, we are finally on the right path! We know she is getting better as one of her medications is in liquid form and she hates it with a vengeance and gives us a hard time taking it. It has to be given to her with a syringe. The last few days she took it without too much argument, but this evening was a different story. I ended up wearing most of it all over my face.....that's our Charley girl!

17/06/2023

We have had a terrible night last night with our Charley girl. Around 10.30pm she became very unsettled and developed a nasty cough. We were up with her most of the night as she couldn't settle to sleep and was coughing up muck all over the house which required constant cleaning. All night we were wondering if she had eaten something that had become partially lodged in her throat that she was trying to 'clear'. As her breathing wasn't impeded and we couldn't see anything, we discounted that thought. Then we thought had she swallowed a small stick or something that had scratched her throat....then as the night wore on with none of us getting any sleep, we thought was it Kennel Cough. But totally discounted this thought as both our girls are fully vaccinated. Charley's vaxes were done in April. And also as our girls don't mix with any other dogs (we live rurally on a small farm so no close dogs at all), we thought this was a silly idea. This morning an emergency dash to our vets as she was getting worse. After a thorough check up by Dr Greg, he informs us that Charley has Kennel Cough! Where did this come from?? Greg told us that there is a 'new' variant of the disease that has mutated & is now so airbourne it doesn't need to have close dog to dog contact!! What's more, Charley is the second dog this week that has presented to the Braidwood vet clinic with it. The other sick dog, also like Charley has had no contact with any other dogs. This dog also picked it up from 'no-where'...So poor Charley is a very sick little girl on two different medications, plus we have been advised to keep our vapourisers going with Vicks Vapo-steam to help with her breathing and keep her inside in the warmth. Greg told us that she is a lucky little girl that we were on the ball and got her to the clinic straight away as kennel cough can rapidly deteriorate. She will be on meds for the next 2 weeks at least and Greg will be keeping an eye on her. We now also have to keep a close eye on Molly so that she doesn't come down with it, as it is very contagious. Our instructions are that the minute Molly starts showing signs of it, to give her some of Charley's medication immediately and go back to the clinic to get more medication on Monday if necessary. So everyone, keep an eye on your pups and if they show any signs of a cough, get them to your vet ASAP, even if they are vaccinated and not been around any other dogs. This is a nasty sickness and is clearly doing the rounds at the moment.

30/03/2023

Wow, what a commotion this morning. While Charley & I were down the back paddock helping labradad supervise the chooks free ranging, all the chooks started "singing" really, really loudly. It actually gave me a bit of a headache to be honest, they were really loud and just wouldn't stop. Labradad went to investigate and then told Charley to go down to the fence to patrol it, but Charley & I didn't see anything at all. When Iabramum came down to see what all the racket was about, we heard labradad telling mum he was going to send both of us to something called "Spec Savers", hmm not quite sure what that is, but it didn't sound like fun so I don't think Charley & I will go, sorry dad! Anyway, labramum went for a walk down to the bottom paddock and spotted a huge red fox sitting on the other side of the fence watching us all! Oh boy, sorry dad, how did we miss that. In our defense, the grass is really, really long after all the rain we have had, so old foxy had a good hiding spot. So, mum went through the gate and followed the wiley fox all the way down into the valley. Old foxy was stopping every few metres to see what mum was doing and she got really close to it but it still wouldn't run away, it kept taunting her. Eventually it ran into some bushes and mum couldn't see it anymore. In the meantime we helped labradad lock up all the chooks so they are safe and then mum locked up all our ducks also, 'just in case'.... Labrahugs to everyone, Molly 🐾🐾.

15/02/2023

Wow, we have had a big week here at LabraPaws headquarters. A few weeks ago, big sister Molly gave us all a big fright. Labramum discovered a huge lump on Molly's chest near her right leg. It just seemed to appear overnight. And she also found another two big lumps on her chest near her left leg. So off to see our favourite vet, Dr Morgan. We both just love Dr Morgan she is so nice and lots of fun. Dr Morgan was a bit worried when she examined Molly and did something called a needle biopsy. She said Molly was such a good girl while she was doing it as she didn't even move. Then Molly was booked in to have an operation. So labramum took Molly for a drive in the car yesterday, while I missed out! Labradad stayed home to play with me, but I missed my sister and wanted to go for a drive also. Labradad promised me that he will take me for a special drive later on this week. I'll hold him to that! Labramum and Molly were gone for hours & hours, Labradad was starting to get worried and kept phoning mum for something he called updates. Poor Molly was in surgery for over 3 and a half hours! Labramum said there was a lot of trouble getting that lump out because it was massive, approximately 20cm by 15cm (she said she saw it and it totally filled a kidney dish, whatever that is), and was totally under a muscle and caught up in lots and lots of nerves. Mum said Dr Greg told her unfortunately it was growing in a really bad spot and Dr Morgan had to work very slowly and carefully so that she didn't damage any of Molly's nerves or the muscle otherwise Molly would have trouble walking if that happened. Dr Greg told mum that the lump would have been slowly growing for a few years but was hidden under the strong muscle that was why no one spotted it earlier. And then a few weeks ago it just 'popped' up like a spring, pushing the muscle up also, so it had to come out otherwise Molly wouldn't be able to walk eventually. Thankfully the massive lump was not a bad one. Labramum & dad were so very happy when they heard the news! They couldn't stop smiling. Then while Molly was still asleep, Dr Morgan also removed the other two big lumps on her left side, which were also 'good' lumps. She then found another lump on Molly's left leg which she decided to take out and found another one on Molly's side, so yep that one had to come out also. So 5 lumps in total, but Dr Morgan and mum & dad were so happy that they all were 'good' lumps. Yippee! Dr Greg said Molly was a champion! She is so strong and got through the marathon surgery in great form! Because Molly gets scared really easy, Dr Greg & Dr Rhiannon brought Molly outside on a stretcher into the side garden and got labramum to sit on the grass with her so she could cuddle Molly while she woke up so she wouldn't be so scared. That was good. Dr Greg couldn't believe that after about an hour & a half Molly was ready to come home! She got up and decided to go and say hello to a mummy horse and a baby horse. Dr Greg was taking photos of her to show Dr Morgan how well she was walking around so quickly. Molly then decided to go inside the stable block to say hello to another horse and to get some sniffs in. But then she was tired and Dr Greg, nurse Donna and labramum help picked her up and put her in the back of the car so she could come home. Mum & dad say that Molly is such a trooper, as she is still smiling even though she hurts a lot. She has lots of medicine to take for a week and has to go back in a few days' time to have a drain taken out. I am so happy that my sister is back home with me. I told her I think she looks like a patchwork with all the spots that Dr Morgan gave her a haircut! And she also looks funny wearing her new necklace. She keeps bumping into the door way when she walks through, haha, that is also funny. Molly doesn't mind she is a good sport and just keeps smiling! Love you my Molly! Molly told me to tell everyone to have a pawriffic week and sends labrahugs to everyone. Labrakisses from Charley Girl! 🐾🐾.

13/11/2022

Lots to do down in the paddock on nice, sunny days. Charley & I always try to help mum & dad whenever we can. A few days ago, we were helping look after the chooks and also made sure that the vegies got a good water. Labrahugs, Molly & Charley🐾🐾.

05/11/2022

LabraPaws & dad enjoying the sunshine while supervising the chooks free ranging time.

25/09/2022

Our Charley Girl is taking her farm duties very seriously. She is supervising the chooks while they have their morning free ranging time. You never know when those pesky foxes will turn up.

02/08/2022

The LabraPaws take their guard dog duties very seriously. We are patiently waiting for labradad to come home. Then we will let labramum know and she will come & open the gate for dad. Labrahugs for everyone, Molly & Charley 🐾🐾.

07/05/2022

It's my big sister's birthday today. Miss Molly is a labratastic 10 years old! To help Molly celebrate I thought I would show everyone some photos of her over the last few years. Shh, don't tell her that I have hijacked the computer, normally Molly writes on this page because she is the oldest....Happy Birthday to my big sister! Labrakisses to everyone from Charley girl, 🐾🐾.

15/03/2022

Wow, we have had a lot of rain out here over the last 2 or so weeks. Labramum has been writing it down and told us that we had 567mm over 16 days, whatever that means. All Charley and I know is that it has been really, really wet and we have been stuck inside the house. I hate getting my feet wet so have to run outside quickly to do my "girl business" so I don't get too wet but Charley likes to take the scenic route and comes back inside drenched so mum and dad have to towel her dry all the time. Personally I think she does it deliberately because she likes the "massages" she gets with the towel. The first day it stopped raining we were finally able to go down the back paddock to help labramum & dad with the chook chores but Charley decided it was more fun to find the first deep puddle and go for a swim! Really Charley have you no class!! After I finished helping, I decided to have a bit of a sunbake in the warm sunshine. I have missed sunbaking these last few weeks. Enjoy your day, labrahugs, Molly.🐾🐾

12/02/2022

Molly on gate duty....

03/12/2021

Five years ago today, Charley joined the LabraPaws family. Happy anniversary Charley Girl!

Wow, labramum and dad surprised Archie and me this afternoon. We have been having a great weekend cause grandma has come to visit for a few days. We get soo many kisses and cuddles when she comes, she's the best! Anyway I had to go to the vets today for my annual needles, that's pretty yucky. I try to be brave but it's so hard. When we got back home, mum and dad had to go away for a little while so we stayed home with grandma. A few hours later when they got home they weren't by themselves, talk about labraexcitement! They brought home Charley another lab to come and be our new sister! Archie and I didn't know what to say, except - PLAYTIME!!!! And the best bit if she likes us, she can stay!! I told Archie he has to be on his VERY best behaviour and not embarrass himself, well not too much anyway. She might think we are a bit too nutty, we're not really, well Archie maybe but we won't tell anyone :).

So we played heaps and heaps and now we are so tired. But we get to do it all over again tomorrow. Oh boy what fun we are going to have.....labrahugs Molly.

Ps, I just want to thank Charley's foster parents- Matt and Julie for letting her come to our home, you guys are the best! Labracuddles to you too! from Molly and Archie.

28/11/2021

Finally a dry day, sort of. It has been raining "cats & dogs" these few weeks. Labramum said so far for this month we have had 362mm of rain. Not sure how much that is but it sounds like a lot of water. It is so wet and muddy and we have "swimming pools" everywhere. I wonder when mum and dad had the time to put the swimming pools in..... Charley likes splashing in them, me not so much. I like to stay dry. Charley and I have been stuck inside for most of the time as where ever we walk we start to sink into the mud and it is so hard to walk with mud up to our knees. But today we finally got to go down the back paddock again to help labradad look after the chooks. Charley was busy doing a boundary check of all the fences to make sure everything was ok and I helped by supervising the chooks to make sure a mean fox didn't come down to annoy them while they were free ranging. Labramum says we are good girls for helping take care of our chookies. Hope everyone is staying dry. Labrahugs from Molly.🐾🐾

27/10/2021

13/10/2021

It's been a wet and cold day today. Charley and I went down the back and helped labradad with chookie lock up, while labramum put the duckies away. Now we are all inside, toasty warm in front of the fire having a nap after dinner. Labrahugs to everyone from Molly🐾🐾.