Catastrophe!

Thanks, Lou and Sue. Glad you approve of the new carpet as much as Henry does! ;D

Sadly, we had bad news at the vet's yesterday afternoon. He had sent H's X-rays off to a specialist and they say he has severe osteoarthritis with complications - a very long word that I can't remmember, but not curable. He's going on a different medication, and may have to have painkillers! They give dogs Tramadol which amazed me.

The Vet Practice does recommend alternative therapies, so he also might have acupuncture or water therapy later if this new drug doesn't help. The final drastic 'treatment' would be a replacment knee. Just like humans - I expect Les's new knee is made of titanium, too. An op would be v.v.v. expensive, about £6,000.

The vet agreed that not having to go up and downstairs would help, so we hope the new meds and more rest will ease poor Henry's pain.

We do hope so, Cherry. I hate seeing him limping around.
I wince when he goes downstairs and it obviously hurts him.

It is a lovely carpet, and weren't we lucky to get our Axminster before the company went into receivership!

That's true. We might have to put a barrier across the stairs until he gets out of the habit of going up. Before the floods, he hardly ever went upstairs and still isn't allowed in our bedroom.

I hope so! He didn't go upstairs at all yesterday, which was good. He likes it downstairs and it's his 'normal' place to live.

The problem is that OH has decided to keep the PC and desk etc in the spare bedroom, instead of cluttering up the dining room. I'm happy about having the 'office' upstairs, but H. might want to be with OH if I'm out.

Yes, he has a basket in the kitchen. He often retreats into it. That's 'his' special place although he often lies next to the wall in the hall.

One thing he's doing much more lately is howling! I had to depart down to let him out at 6.45 today. I told him to go back to bed and he has. The vet says it's common as dogs get older. He howls if he's indoors and we're outside, or if he's in the garden and we go in. He used to be quite laid back about it, but isn't at the moment, certainly.

Henry's routine is to be let out at about 7.30 and then fed. We don't really want him to get earlier and earlier! I expect you know that Labs are food orientated...