Sunday 31 December 2017

Here's To 2018

Here we are at the end of another year with illness in the family. This time it's poor Archie. We had to take him to see the out of hours emergency vet on Thursday night as he started being violently sick, so much so that the sick turned into blood. He was kept in overnight on a drip, blood tests were done which didn't show anything untoward, and drugs were given to stop the sickness, however, then the runs started. We collected him late on Friday afternoon and we had a check up appointment with our own vet yesterday morning. He's still got the runs, but the vet said it could take quite a few days for that to stop, but he's otherwise happy in himself, he's got a good appetite, though we're only giving him chicken and white fish, and he's lively enough.


Before all this started, he'd licked out a plastic pot which had contained lemon mousse. There was no quantity of the food in the pot, just a trace around the sides. The vet said that shouldn't have caused such symptoms but perhaps he's had an allergic reaction to it for some reason. She said that these things sometimes happen and they never fully realise the cause.

So far, the visits to the vet have cost us in excess of £600, that's the most expensive lemon mousse I've ever bought. I don't care what it costs us though, I just want Archie to be okay. We'll definitely be more vigilant where human food is concerned in future though, it's scary how an animal can react to something, even in such a minute quantity.

I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who's visited my blog this year and for all the wonderful, encouraging comments you continue to leave, every single one is very much appreciated.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year.

I hope 2018 brings you health, happiness and anything else you might wish for.

60 comments:

  1. And a happy new year to you. And Archie,

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  2. Poor Archie, he does look a bit sorry for himself in that photo. Hope he feels better soon. Our Betty is off her food for some reason, she seems ok otherwise. Animals are a worry aren't they, as they can't tell us what's wrong. Happy new year to you, hope 2018 is good to you.

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    1. He really has been through the mill, it was quite scary seeing him vomit blood. I hope Betty picks up soon, I'm always worried if Archie's off his food as he's quite a greedy boy so I know he's ill if he doesn't want to eat. Thank you.

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  3. Hope Archie recovers quickly xx

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    1. Thank you. He's quite well in himself now, it's just a case of waiting for everything to right itself but he's been given tablets and potions to take so I hope it won't be too long.

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  4. Bless him, I hope that he gets better soon. His expression in the picture says it all.
    Thanks, and to you too. xx

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    1. Thank you. I think Archie's just fed up now of not being able to eat as normal, though chicken and fish are his favourite foods so it's not all bad.

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  5. So sorry to hear about poor Archie. It´s horrible when one of your furry friends become ill, so worrying. Its hard when they find things behind your back, but so easy done. As you say cost isn´t the point, but that amount certainly makes a hole in your pocket.

    Happy New Year to you and your family, hope that it brings all that you hope for. Take care, xcx

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    1. It's been very worrying, I hardly slept on Thursday night after they'd kept him at the vets. Luckily, he's insured, we'll just have a £90 excess to pay just so long as they pay out, but no doubt our premium will increase when it comes up for renewal, we already pay just under £60 per month. Thank you.

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  6. Here's hoping Archie is well soon, any time Miss Kitty isn't well it just breaks my heart.
    Happy New Year to you and your family.

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    1. Thank you. It's so worrying when our pets are unwell, he's much better now so I'm hoping he's on the mend.

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  7. I hope Archie continues to recover quickly. He looks very sad on this photo, poor wee thing. Wishing you a happy new year, too. x

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    1. Thank you. He's actually quite well in himself and seems to be improving all the time. I think the only thing he's sad about now is the fact that he's on rations, though his rations consist of chicken and fish so it's not all bad. Wishing you a happy new year too.

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  8. Oh no, poor Archie! Glad he is on the mend though, what a worry.
    We will have to take Molly, one of our cats this week, she has rather smelly breath and i know she will need some teeth taken out and that it will cost around £300. But it needs to be done, you just can't leave them to suffer can you, whatever the cost.

    Happy new year to you all, I hope 2018 is a good one for you. I really enjoy your blog and always look forward to an update from you, your post are always interesting.
    x

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    1. I think the expense comes with owning an animal. It's a big decision to take on a pet, lots of considerations. I'm always sorry when I watch animal rescue programmes and hear that the animal is there because the owner can't look after them any more, I'm sure the cost will be a factor in many cases. Thank you, I'm so pleased that you enjoy visiting, I love writing my blog and meeting like minded friends such as yourself. Wishing you a very happy new year too.

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  9. Oh no, I do hope Archer recovers soon. He's such an adorable little dog. My little Lilly had much the same illness. She had a shot and was on antibiotics for a week. She's fine now (after $200 vet bill). But, of course like you I'd pay anything to keep her well. We too, don't know how she caught this illness. I wish you all the best for the New-Year and please give Archie a hug from me. Pat xx

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    1. Thank you. I'm glad that Lilly's fine now, it's awful to see our little furry friends unwell. Archie's definitely improving, thank goodness, he gave us quite a shock. I'll be only too pleased to give Archie a hug from you.

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  10. Oh bless him. I hope he's soon back to his usual self. Vets bills are so costly aren't they? But it doesn't matter for furry family members. They are just as important to us.
    All good wishes for the coming year to you and your family Jo. X

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    1. I can't believe how much it costs for a trip to the vets, it's a good job that we've got insurance, though that's costly in itself. Thank you, wishing you all the very best for 2018 too.

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  11. Jo, so sad Archie is poorly, I hope he's feeling better soon, they are like our children. Happy New Year to you and your family.

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    1. I'm sure he'll be back to normal soon, he's happy enough in himself now so we've just got to get his stomach right. Thank you, wishing you and your family all the very best too.

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  12. Hoping Archie feels better real soon, he doesn't look too happy bless him. I know with cats there are many things inside the house that are poisonous such as Poinsettia, lily pollen etc and outside De-Icer fluid and obviously any poison such as rat killer. There are many hazards and I'm sure you've considered lots already. I'm sad poor Archie was unwell and do send him good wishes for a full recovery. Happy New year, Cathy x

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    1. Thank you. He's more upset that he can't eat what he wants at the moment, he does love his food. We may never know why he's reacted as he has, I just hope it never happens again as it was so scary seeing him vomit blood. Happy new year to you too.

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  13. Poor Archie! And you too, as it can all be so frightening when we don't know why it happens. Hope he is on the mend. Expensive, yes, but pet insurance, I believe is a help. Hope 2018 is a good one & I've just realised what happens this year!!! Take care & huggles. xx

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    1. It was very frightening and I hated leaving him at the vets, but I think it was for the best, they got the sickness under control. I'm hoping that the insurance will pay out, we pay enough for it, but we'd have paid anyway. Thank you, wishing you and your family all the very best for 2018.

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  14. With all best wishes to Archie for a speedy recovery. And to you for a happier start to 2018! Take care x

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    1. Thank you. Wishing you all the very best for 2018.

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  15. Get well {cuddle} for Archie, I hope he is soon back to his normal self.
    My brother just got a cavalier puppy, he's called Charlie and 14 weeks old, very cute!
    Blessings to you and the family for a wonderful 2018, wishing you lots of fun and happy times ahead.
    Julie x

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    1. Thank you. Your brother has made a brilliant choice, Cavaliers are the most loving dogs, he's in for lots of fun with his new puppy. Wishing you and your family all the very best for the year ahead.

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  16. Poor, poor Archie. He does look very miserable. Hope his belly has settled by now. We always gave Max plain yogurt with his meals to settle his belly. Happy New Year.

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    1. I'm hoping that his belly settles soon as he's still got the runs. The vet has given him medication to help. Thank you, wishing you a very happy new year.

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  17. Poor little Archie, I hope he's on the mend now. Wishing you a very Happy and healthy New Year.

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    1. He's much better than he was, though he's still got the runs. I'm hoping he's going to get back to normal soon. Thank you, hoping the year ahead is a good one for you.

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  18. Oh, poor wee Archie. How scary for you, Jo! I hope he's on his way to a full recovery now. Happy New Year!

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    1. It was really scary, I hope I never have to go through that again. Thank you, wishing you all the very best for 2018.

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  19. I'm sorry to hear that Archie has been poorly and hope that he's soon feeling much better. It can be very worrying when our pets are ill. Wishing you and your family all the best during this new year 2018.

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    1. Archie's much better in himself but he does still have an upset tummy, I'm hoping that it clears up soon. Thank you, wishing you a very happy new year.

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  20. Oh no! I hope Archie is back to his normal self soon and wishing you the best for 2018. Happy New Year!

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    1. Thank you. Happy new year, I hope 2018 is a great year for you.

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  21. Happy New Year. Vet bills soon mount up don’t they. This year we have paid out over £2000 and now Tivvy is on permanent medication,

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    1. Thank you. A trip to the vets is really expensive, I'm glad we've got insurance. I know that Archie will eventually be on permanent medication for his heart so it's a good job we took out the insurance when we did.

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  22. Oh no, poor Archie! I hope he's feeling better now. It's a known fact that dogs react like that to lemon and citrus fruit so I'm surprised the vet didn't get on to it. It's truly shocking how much vets charge isn't it, £600 sounds fairly scandalous to me. Hoping all is well with your mum. All the very best to you all for 2018.xxx

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    1. He's feeling much better than he was now. I think dogs need to eat a certain amount to react in a way such as he did, it was literally a trace which he licked, though we're still not sure whether this is what caused the reaction or not. We've been lucky so far with vets bills, but they seem to charge what they like, it isn't a cheap do. My mum's much better than she was, thank you for asking. Wishing you a happy new year.

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  23. Get well Archie. A friend's dog a rather excitable staffs are 40 mince pies. I know I know who has forty mince pies!!! Well the emergency vet had to give him something to make him sick costing £400. All the best for 2018 Jo.

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    1. Wow, 40 mince pies! Eleanor's boyfriend's dog jumped up and got the Christmas cake off the worktop and ate the lot. She was taken to the vets to make her sick too, though it cost them less than half of what your friend paid. Thank you, happy new year.

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  24. I hope poor Archie is feeling better already.

    Happy New Year! :)

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    1. Thank you, he's definitely improving. Wishing you all the best for 2018.

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  25. Oh poor Archie, I do hope he gets better quickly.
    That is a cute photograph of him though.

    Happy New Year Wishes to you and your family.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Archie seems to be on the mend now. He's been having a bland diet of chicken and fish and we added a bit of rice to it yesterday which seems to have done the trick. Thank you, wishing you a very happy new year.

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  26. oh my gosh. Sending all good thoughts Archie's way.

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  27. Hopefully as I am late in visiting he is on the mend. Despite the substantial vet bill they are worth every penny. Would it be worth getting some sort of insurance? Best wishes for 2018.

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    1. He's definitely started to improve. They are worth every penny, we've already got insurance so I'm hoping that they cover the bill, but we'd pay it whether or not. Thank you, wishing you and your family all the very best for 2018.

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  28. Oh, I do hope Archie is continuing to improve. It's so hard with animals because they can't tell you how they feel.
    Wishing you all a fabulous 2018 xx

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    1. He's much better now than he was. Thank you, wishing you a wonderful year ahead.

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  29. Hey JO,
    So sorry to read about Archie. It must have been very worrying for you all. Glad to hear that he's on the mend.
    Leanne xx

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    1. It was so scary but I'm pleased to say that he's on the mend, still not 100% but much better than he was.

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  30. Poor Archie! Glad to hear he's doing better!

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    1. He's improved again today so he's nearly back to normal now, it was a very frightening experience though.

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