No not anything from the Simpson's, but a summary of Blue this week.
Itchy
Blue had been a bit itchy in recent weeks, so for a while after his shower we decided to omit the body lotion spray, which helps to reduce the wet dogie odour after his weekly swim.
As it turns out this has made little difference, though it is amusing when you touch his side, without effort you get his "itchy spot" and the back leg comes up in response. Even when he is being blow dried, as soon as the air touches the itchy spot, he lowers his back and raises his rear leg as a reaction.
Touchy
This week is my turn for taking Blue out on his inaugural morning walk, I used to call it a dawn walk, but the sun is still not up when we return home, not at least for another hour this time of year. As we exited the front garden, spinning like a top, back arched and doing a rat-a-tat machine gun bark, the scent of foxes, got Blue's juices going, he was then re-acquainted, with an old foe, the "Milk float" which Blue had calmed down a bit, but out of nowhere he decided that it was a mortal enemy that must be warned off, and as we walked along the bottom alley on the way home, a black cat appeared from nowhere, and tore off down the alley, with Blue eager to follow in hot pursuit, though the lump holding the lead was not as sprightly as him or the cat, and soon the alley was feline free.
Scratchy
Though not related to the "itchy" saga above, Blue has been scratching his ears a lot recently, what is also noticeable is that he has made his ears sore and lumpy. We will keep a close eye on this, it may be that the central heating is making him a bit warm, and the ears are getting scratched both out of a reaction but also habit. Blue normally likes to have his ears massaged.
Not sure how we ever discovered this, or what his last slave died of, but it does come in handy keeping a watchful eye on his ears. If they get worse or show no signs of healing over, it will be a trip to the vets, that will be interesting with Blues bedside manner at the veterinary clinic. Blue has no longer got the temperament for up-close, manhandling.
Limpy
To complete this set, on arriving home from work yesterday, as is customary, unless he is being taken out for a walk, Blue likes to play his favourite game in the garden, football.
Running catching, chasing, jumping are all part and parcel with the ball in his mouth or fetching it to parade around, so very proud of himself.
As is quite often the case, two or more balls are required, and in this particular incident it was in pursuit of a ball that went under a shrub, that Blue came out without a sound, but a limp.
Mortally wounded he made his way to me with the limp getting worse each and every step. Arriving at my side he collapsed at my feet, summoning enough strength to lift the injured paw for me to inspect, no bones broke, no penetrations could be felt, he would survive. But it meant the game had finished, and he was ushered back into the house where he was given bed rest.
In the past when Blue has had a similar incident rest for 24hrs or 48 normally gives enough time for a full recovery, and this was once again the outcome.
So Blue has had a varied week, and continues to be a great companion, and a pleasure to share our lives with;
Below are a couple of pictures involving Blue this week
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| Blue 1-0 Football |
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| You can shower me but I will not let go of the ball! |
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| I'm still not letting go! |
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| Blue leaves some of his fur in the pool |
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| Blue find "Ironing" boring! |
For more pictures of Blue check out my Flickr photo-stream
