Monday, August 31, 2009

Melba visits again

Our weekday routine is now back to normal. Before I went to work, I left Kane with a beef bone on the deck. After I had crossed the road I heard Kane barking and turned back to see people walking past our driveway. Good dog! He doesn't bark to alert me, but to announce his presence to others.

After I returned home from work, we walked around the small block, which takes 20 minutes these days.

In the evening, Melba the Border Collie came over to visit with Adam. Kane was very happy to see her while Adam and I talked about football over a beer. Melba even got stuck into Kane's bones on the deck, which he didn't mind. Then they left.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Sunday lazing

Today was a cold day. We didn't go on our walk until the early afternoon, and it was only around the small block.

Sometime in the afternoon, we had a surprise visitor. Sue B had planned to visit and when she arrived, had Elizabeth with her, who was visiting from Melbourne. They stayed for a cup of coffee. We sat out on the deck while Kane gnawed on his bone from Friday, then went inside. Kane barked so I went to see who he saw and he was laying behind the gate. Poor puppy, he must have thought we had left him and was waiting patiently for our return, so I invited him back inside.

We didn't go on another walk as it was too unpleasant outside.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

wet day

Poor puppy. He woke me very early at 6am, so I let him out. The raw beef heart didn't agree with him, though he usually doesn't have a problem. Then it was back inside and back to sleep. It was also raining.

It was still raining when I woke and gave Kane his breakfast of a chicken wing. Kerry from the house across the road came over with his brother and nephew but Kane didn't bark. The nephew does gardening for his uncle and grandmother at the house across the road, so I offered some gardening work. When there was a break in the rain, we went on a late morning walk around the small block. Afterwards, I left Kane looking through the screen door while I walked to the shops, a one hour outing.

It rained for most of the day, so we spent the rest of the day indoors with lots of football on television. Kane has been quite content.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Friday

I had the day off work today so we managed a mid-morning walk around the small block.

In the late afternoon, Kim came over but Kane didn't bark at the door even though he was look out through the screen door. Not long after, I gave Kane a bone on the deck as Kim and I left to see a film called Adam. After returning, Kim stayed for a cup of tea before leaving.

Poor puppy, I mean to take him on a late afternoon walk but had fallen asleep on the couch and then cooked up another batch of his dinner. Still, Kane likes to have me near him even if we don't go anywhere. Tonight, Kane had diced raw beef heart and cooked vegetables (carrot and zucchini) for dinner.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Thursday

Kane is more confident with the deck steps now. When it still had the gaps, Kane was hesitant to use them and when climbing up, used to wait for me to help him. I think he is much happier not being locked inside during the day.

After I returned home from work, Kane was behind the gate again waiting for me.

We went on our walk around the small block and called past Jet's house on the way after spotting Dee in their front yard. Jet said hello through their gate. Jet's house had new front steps put in made of wood. Kane tried to use them, but they were too slippery for him. Poor puppy.

We spotted another dog during our walk. As usual, Kane sped up to approach the dog, but the handler said her dog wasn't friendly. Only seeing another dog makes Kane walk faster!

Mondeo

The German Shepherd in this is very similar to Kane, except Kane isn't as vocal

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

back to usual

Now that the deck steps are safe and I don't need to worry about Kane using them, I left Kane on the deck with a bone when I left for work.

When I returned home from work in the afternoon, Kane was actually behind the gate waiting for me. It is so much more interesting being outside and being able to see what is happening.

We only had a 11 minute abbreviated walk this evening. We were out on our usual small block walk when Pauly phoned to mentioned he and Lumi were on their way. So we returned home. They came over and checked out the modified deck steps built to Paul's suggestion. Kane barked a deep bark when they came to the door, but only once. Good dog!

It's good to have a rest now and again.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Tuesday evening excitement

Poor puppy. Just like yesterday, I left him inside today while I was at work. The electricity supply was interrupted at some stage last night as well (or early in the morning) so the heater's timer was off kilter and didn't turn on as it normally does every morning. It also meant I was an hour late getting up and going to work. Poor puppy, he may have thought I was going to stay home.

I returned home from work with Pauly Worley who walked back with me. I rang the door bell and Kane was standing up right behind the door. I wonder whether Kane is alert the entire time when left indoors, just sitting up waiting for my return.

Anyway, Pauly gave me a second opinion about the deck steps and came up with a completely different idea to what I had in mind. It was also a good suggestion making use of what I already have. Then Pauly continued home.

Afterwards, Kane and I went on our walk around the small block. We called past Glen and Janey next door and said hello to Poppy the Kelpie puppy. Glen said to return after the walk to discuss the deck steps.

After the walk, I took Kane home and left him looking out through the screen door, then went to see Glen. On our way back, Kane barked. Good dog! Glen checked out the steps and the plank of wood (the failed ramp) and agreed with Pauly's suggestion, so we returned to his place as he had an electric saw.

After Glen cut the wood, we returned and Kane barked again. Good dog again! Glen brought over some wood glue and a nail gun and put the pieces into place. The deck steps are now less hazardous to Kane. Basically, we covered the steps with new wood so that there are now no gaps that used to be a problem whenever Kane lost his balance and slipped.

While leaving Kane inside was more safe, it would have been very boring for him not being able to see people walking past the drive way.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Monday

We have such a routine now.

As soon as I wake up in the morning, I feed Kane his chicken wing breakfast then let him outside to do a pee. Before I go to work, I take Kane out the front where he does a poo and then another pee. This morning I left Kane indoors.

When I returned home from work, Kane was actually by the door. He must have just laid there all day waiting for my return. He may have been awake the entire time, alert to my approach at any time.

Anyway, we walked the small block walk. Kane even sped up in short spurts, so is walking much better. We may be able to increase the length soon to the double small block.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Sunday

Today was almost like yesterday.

We went on a late morning walk around the small block. For most of the afternoon, Kane checked out the street view through the screen door. He saw Sherlock the Beagle at a distance and barked.

In the late afternoon (twilight), we went on a walk around the small block in the opposite direction.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Saturday happenings

Kane finally had a morning walk. Kane also had two walks.

Early this morning, after 9am, which is still early for a Saturday, Brendan and Lavinia came over to collect their belongings, which had been stored in the garage/shed. There was a lot of activity and Kane watched it through the front screen door but didn't bark. While they were here, we went on a walk around the small block.

Later, after Brendan and Lavinia had finished, I trimmed the hedge by the driveway and then left Kane at home and walked to the shops. It is now too much of a distance for him to walk. Poor puppy. Poor me - I am so used to taking Kane to the shops as part of my Saturday routine.

In the afternoon, we went on another small block walk.

Today, in addition to some gardening, I also made another batch of Kane's dinners. I had actually made some last night, but the meat smelled off. Kangaroo mince does have a strong smell, but this was something else altogether. Even though wild dogs and wolves eat decaying carcasses of animals, I didn't want to risk it.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Friday

Today was much like yesterday and the day before that. Instead of his usual bone on the deck, I left Kane indoors. He had some difficulty on the deck steps following his after breakfast pee this morning and I had to help him up. So after a visit out the front for a pee and poo, I left him inside before I left for work. It rained for most of the day.

I returned home from work earlier than usual. Even though it was raining when I left work, it stopped when I reached home, so Kane and I went on our walk straight away. It was good timing as after our walk, the rain resumed. It was still the small block walk, which took 20 minutes. Any further or longer would be too difficult at this time.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Thursday

Today was much like yesterday, except that I was at work all day and returned home at the regular time. Poor puppy, I do worry about him when I am not at home.

This evening we walked the small block in the opposite direction.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

double surprise

Kane is much better with his joints, but I am still cautious.

This morning, before I went to work, I took him out the front again so he could do his pee and poo. We said hello to Jane next door who was driving out on her way to work, and Kane nearly did a dump on her nature strip.

Anyway, instead of keeping Kane indoors, I left him on the deck with a bone, which he seemed to prefer.

I surprised Kane in the early afternoon, coming home as a colleague had to go home during the lunch break and lives nearby. Kane was safely asleep on the deck. Still, I woke him up and took him out the front for a pee and then left him inside.

The second surprise was that I returned home from work much earlier than usual as the same colleague had to leave work early, so I took the offer of a ride.

The late afternoon with much daylight was a great time to go on a walk, so Kane and I walked around the small block and stopped to talk to two different people on the way - one a neighbour who lives seven houses up and another who was a work colleague.

As Kane is walking less, I have cut down on the size of his dinner. The extra that I was giving him - sardines, boiled eggs etc has helped him to fill out a little bit.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

RIP Dusty

Poor puppy. Kane was very sore last night and had difficulty standing up. I had to lift him up to his feet from where he was lying in the dining room and lead him to his sleeping spot.

This morning before I went to work, I took Kane out the front, mainly so he could do his pee and poo. Then I left him inside to keep him safe.

I returned home from work a little late (about 20 minutes) as I visited the pharmacy on the walk back for another supply of Kane's Desmopressin. The previous bottle was dated 17 March 2009, so it lasted awhile.

After I was home, we went on our walk around the small block in reverse. As we neared home, Kerry from the house across the road came over to say that Dusty the Kelpie had suffered a heart attack and died. Poor Dusty, he was 14 but suffered from many ailments. When Dusty was out in his yard, Kane always liked to go across to say hello.

Here is an old photo of Dusty from 16 March 2008.

Monday, August 17, 2009

bad day

Poor puppy, today wasn't a good day at all.

In the mornings our usual routine is - I give Kane his chicken wing for breakfast, then I let him out and off the deck to pee etc. Kane was fine this morning going down and up the deck steps.

This afternoon, after I returned home from work I found Kane lying at the bottom of the deck steps. Poor puppy, I don't know how long he had spent there. He must have had difficulty climbing and stopped. Thankfully he hadn't fallen and caught his back leg(s) in the gaps. I had built a ramp, but Kane refused to use it - probably not wide enough and I will need to reconsider another way.

Anyway, no bones appeared to be broken and Kane was able to walk although very slowly, so we went on the small block walk to stretch his legs.

Poor puppy, he is on an old age decline. If he is a person in equivalent human years, he would be aged between 90 and 100 and in a wheelchair.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Sunday rest day

After yesterday's major walking effort, today was a rest day.

The weather was also rather strange, with intermittent rain showers in the afternoon.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

canine maintenance day

Today was a very exciting day.

It was also a relatively warmer day for winter. In the late morning, I gave Kane a bath. It has been nearly six months since the last one. Although Kane is cleaner, he smells even more doggy.



In the early afternoon, we walked to the shops the short way. Even though the very absorbent towels dried most of Kane's fur, the walk also helped to air and sun his fur. It was a 20 minute walk to the shops, which was a good though slow pace. After my shop, we were intending to walk straight home. As we left, we saw Sherlock the Beagle on his way in - his handler was on her way to the post office to post a letter. So we walked with them. After leaving the shops, I suggested we walk through the woods as Kane was walking much better following Sherlock and had not done that walk in a long time.






It was a good walk until we neared home. Poor puppy, the walk was too far for him (around 45 minutes) and he barely made it up the front steps. Once inside the house, poor puppy couldn't stand up any longer and collapsed.

It was only temporary and Kane recovered but still a little sore.

This evening Adam came over to watch the football game. During the game, I gave Kane a very thorough brushing and then a massage.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Friday

This evening, we went on the double small block walk. Kane started with a good decent pace but slowed down towards the end. Still, we made good time at 20 minutes.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

finally a puppy party

Thursday might be the second last work day of the week, but it is the start of a new cycle in terms of Kane's beef bone pieces and chicken wings, so always a good day.


Kane's Thursday to Tuesday supply is stored uncovered in the fridge so the meat does not sweat to last longer

I had to return home in the early afternoon as the burglar alarm had been triggered and a work colleague gave me a ride and provided some safety backup. Thankfully it was a false alarm. I checked up on Kane on the deck and he was fast asleep.

When I returned home from work Kane was in the same spot some three hours later.

Anyway, we went on our walk to Cook oval in the usual direction. Kane walked at a great pace and properly too. There was a fun puppy party on with Melba, the Shelties, Digger the little Jack Russell Terrier, a sheep dog called Shadow, Molly the black Labrador and a little Tenterfield Terrier. Kane had a lot of fun. Digger was fixated on Kane as always and it was fun watching them not being able to work out the pecking order between them.


It soon darkened so we walked home. Unfortunately after we left the oval, Kane slowed down to his wobbly-dragging walk.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

rest day

We had a rest day today. Rest days are good now and again.

This evening, Melba the Border Collie who hangs out at Cook oval now and again came over to visit with her person Adam. Kane was very happy to see Melba. In fact, Kane gave her lots of doggy kisses, which he doesn't with most other dogs. It was a quick visit as Adam came over to ask me about the football.



Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Tuesday

Poor puppy. There was a hailstorm this afternoon. Kane was out on his deck, which is undercover but he probably would have preferred to be indoors.

When I returned home from work, he was fast asleep on the deck and didn't wake up until I opened the back door.

We went on a walk to Cook oval, but in the opposite direction to usual. Kane likes to walk on soft grass and on the way there, walked at a good pace. As we walked in the opposite direction, we returned back to our block through two alleys. Passing Jet's place two houses up, we stopped to say hello to Dee and Therese's young daughter before returning home. Characteristic of his walk these days, Kane slowed down towards the end. It was a good 30 minute outing.

Monday, August 10, 2009

regular walk

This evening, we went on the double small block walk, which is now the default walk. I let Kane walk unleashed and encouraged him to try and keep up with me. He walks better and properly when he has some pace. Unfortunately, towards the end, he slowed down and walked stiffly. Still, we made good time at 22 minutes.

After Kane's regular dinner, I gave him a portion of raw lamb meaty neck. Just like the way he eats chicken wings, Kane crunches the bone until it is mushy and then swallows the entire piece. With the neck, he did split it into two portions.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Sunday slow day

It was cold today, so much of it was spent indoors. The plan for Kane's bath is continuously postponed.

In the late afternoon, we started on our walk and bumped into Dee two houses up so spent a few minutes chatting. Jet peered over his gate to see. We started walking towards Cook oval, but Kane was rather slow, so we turned to the next block, walking in the opposite direction and then returned home. It was like a figure 6, but we turned at the join, making it a small block and a half.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Saturday shop walk

Kane was very awake this morning. I left the front door open and he barked at passersby and happenings through the screen door. He was also hunkering to go for a walk, so I let him walk to the shops with me in the early afternoon.

We walked the short way there and after we arrived at the shops, we met a friendly black dog, smaller than Kane. After I left Kane at his usual place, I went in, but then bumped into someone from work, so walked out with to show Kane. How timely, as a huge black Newfoundland. He even went up to Kane, who stayed lying down, and dwarfed Kane completely.

After my shop, we walked around the outside of the complex, which Kane always enjoys. We met a King Charles Spaniel called Sooby who was very friendly and had lost his canine companion a week ago. Sooby was happy to see Kane though. On the way back, we met two other black dogs who were tied up and very friendly.

The walk home was very slow. Poor puppy. Perhaps we shouldn't have done the walk around the shops, but it is one of Kane's great pleasures when we meet new canines.

dinner supplements and medication

Kane's dinners are strict affairs, with medication and supplements an important component.

From left

prescribed medication
- Minirin nasal spray (Desmopressin, injected by needle for diabetes inspidus)
- Meloxicam (Metacam, liquid added to food, an anti-inflammatory for arthritis)
- Potassium bromide (Epibrom, tablet added to food, for canine epilepsy)

supplements
- Flaxseed oil (2g, capsule added to food, for skin and fur health)
- Cod liver oil (2g, capsule added to food, for reducing stiffness from arthritis etc)
- Sasha's Blend (2 teaspoons added to food, for arthritis relief - contains glycosaminoglycans including Keratin, Dermatin, Heparin sulphates and Glucosamine & Chondroitin sulphates)





Friday, August 7, 2009

Friday

I was home a little earlier than usual so we on our walk right away with good light. We walked to Cook oval and joined a puppy party on the other side of the oval, with Margot, Lucy, the two Shelties and two new dogs. One of the new dogs was very friendly and wanted to play with Kane, but was too rough for an old dog, so we continued walking.

It also started raining with light showers, so our early walk was timely. Kane was still rather slow, dragging his back paws at times, and our walk took 30 minutes. Poor puppy, I don't know if he will improve, so need to manage his worsening arthritis as best as we can.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

late walk







This morning's bone, fresh from the market yesterday. After I returned home from work, one third of it had been gnawed through.

Poor puppy, we didn't go on a walk right after I returned home from work as CQ came back with me, after helping me pick up a 15 kg bag of senior Advance dry food. The last bag lasted nearly four months.

Kane didn't mind having a rest while I cooked a small lamb roast for dinner, with couscous, roast pumpkin and broccolini. CQ didn't stay very long but did watch me start cooking another batch of Kane's regular dinner. Kane actually had 350 grams of pan fried monkfish fillets (three) for dinner with cooked diced carrot and zuchini, and dry kibble, as well as a hard boiled egg beforehand.

We didn't go on our walk until about two hours after dinner time. This time, we walked the single small block in the opposite direction to usual (in reverse), which took 17 minutes. Kane was a bit slow and seemed stiff. Perhaps we should have had a rest day.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

finally the triple

Poor puppy, he wanted to stay inside today. On Wednesdays Kane has a piece of a dried pig's ear (not a whole one anymore as I fear he may choke) as four quarters of a beef marrow bone bought Wednesdays only lasts Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday. This morning when Kane finished one, he wanted to go back inside, so I had to give him another pig's ear strip. Poor puppy, he does like resting indoors, especially near me.

I returned home from work a little later today, as Wednesdays is also market day (for chicken wings and the beef bone). It was already darker at twilight. We walked around the triple small block, which took 30 minutes. Poor puppy, it is probably too far now as he started walking wobbly and slowly towards the end. For most of it though, he did walk at a good pace properly.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

regular walk

Today was a regular day. Not quite. Last Wednesday's supply of chicken wings was one short (five) so Kane had to have kibble for breakfast. He didn't mind, though we are starting to run out.

This evening, we went on the double small block walk. Kane stopped and smelled much more often than usual, but the walk only took 22 minutes.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Monday

After I returned home from work, there was still some light, so we walked to Cook oval. There was no party there, except for two strange canines out walking. Kane said hello and then we continued around the circuit and then home. It was a good walk that took 29 minutes and Kane walked at a good pace.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Sunday slow day

Today was cloudy and cool so Kane did not have a bath as planned, the last one being back in February. Maybe next weekend.

The rest of the day was one of rest inside.

In the late afternoon, we went on our walk around the double small block. Compared to the last two days, it was uneventful.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Saturday and another puppy party

This morning while we were waiting for Margie, we went across the road to say hello to Maisy the elderly lady. She said that Dusty (the old Kelpie) was at the vet.

Anyway in the late morning, Margie arrived and we went to the vet for Kane's fourth (of four) Pentosan injection. This time, Kane was able to climb into the van by himself and then lifted himself on to the back seat. At the vet, I weighed Kane and he came in at 38.0 kg, a good weight.



Afterwards, we met two Labradors who were waiting for their appointment.





In the early afternoon, I left Kane at home, as he was walking a little wobbly, and went to the shops alone. It was a quick one hour absence.

In the late afternoon, we started to walk towards Macquarie oval for a change. On the way, we called in to Maisy's place for news about Dusty. He came to the door to say hello and wagged his tail. Dusty had kept on falling and it was due to a stroke, but the vet prescribed him tablets, so hopefully he will be around a bit longer.

As we left to go towards the oval, we saw Sherlock the Beagle.





They were headed towards Cook oval, so we changed our plan and walked with them there. There was a puppy party on, with Kel, Molly, Margot and Lucy. The usual crowd. Kane had a lot of fun wandering around the oval after Molly and Sherlock and walked briskly with a good canter (he can't extend his back legs into a run).





When Kane started looking a bit stiff, we left. As we neared the road, Sherlock and his person came behind us. It was great as Kane walked much better with Sherlock. It was a good 55 minute outing.

portraits