Sally gives us a fright

First off, thanks to Sally for her blogs this last week, and apologies to those who don’t like her style! She’s off home now, having given us a fright last night.

Ate her tea with gusto, started in on her long chew then about half way through stopped chomping, looked around with a worried face and started giving a demo of a dog in acute distress. She was panting, pacing about, lying down for a few seconds and getting up again, hiding under the dinette and at the end of the bed against the wardrobe, you name it.

Our first thought was that she was uncomfortable internally and needed to go out. Outside, she was absolutely fine, but back indoors the whole performance started again. Checked her over; no tender areas, no lumps, limps or swellings, but nose warm and dry, ears almost hot, now panting with all of her tongue hanging out.

We got the number for the local vet from the web and rang them, but they wanted £125 even to speak to us “as she’s registered with another vet.”

We decided to hang on for a bit and took her for a long walk, when she was again fine, normal tum and all the rest of it. Back at the boat she seemed more settled as we started to get ready for bed.

It was then that Sheila had her brainwave – suppose there had been a firework display that she could hear but not us? If we had heard bangs outside her behaviour would have been entirely expected. We let her sleep with us all night, though I had to shove her out halfway through for a bit when she decided to show how much she loved me by punching me in the face with her forepaw several times.

This morning she was A1 again; local advice is that Shrigley Hall nearby often does a firework display as part of their wedding package.

Sally has been bright as a button all day; we’ve been staggering round half zonked, of course. Never mind, Sal was ecstatic to see her Mum back and they’ve headed off for home.

We’re planning a quiet afternoon and evening; we’ve an Ocado delivery in the morning and a date to go to the Boar's Head for Sunday lunch with Stephen and Jayne.

We’ll be into the yard on Monday, probably.