Michelle Walsh's Posts - Exclusively Setters2024-03-28T19:40:32ZMichelle Walshhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/MichelleWalshhttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1950782652?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://irishsetters.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=09or3r7c825a7&xn_auth=no~~Happy Christmas to all~~tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-12-24:865021:BlogPost:8667372011-12-24T00:19:11.000ZMichelle Walshhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/MichelleWalsh
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974323136?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974323136?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a></p>
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<p><span class="font-size-3" style="color: #000000;">Only two more sleeps to go boys & girls :) Hope Santa is good to you all !</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Rohan, Legolas, Theoden & myself would like to wish all our ES friends (both two legged & four legged) a very, very …</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974323136?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974323136?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;" class="font-size-3">Only two more sleeps to go boys & girls :) Hope Santa is good to you all !</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Rohan, Legolas, Theoden & myself would like to wish all our ES friends (both two legged & four legged) a very, very <span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino;"><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">Happy Christmas</span></strong></span> and all the best in the New Year !! xxxx</span></p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974324938?profile=original" target="_self"></a> </p>Lego on the mend again.tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-08-10:865021:BlogPost:7297312011-08-10T14:23:31.000ZMichelle Walshhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/MichelleWalsh
<p>Hi folks !</p>
<p>Just a little up-date to let you know how Legolas is doing. We were back at Gillabbey Veterinary Hospital in Cork again yesterday...left Wexford at 6am & got there just after 8. He was booked in for his arthroscopy procedure on his left shoulder. The ortho-specialist Shane Guerin, who also treated Lego the last time he was there, explained everything that was going to happen. Initially the mineralised tendon was going to be removed but luckily new x-rays were done &…</p>
<p>Hi folks !</p>
<p>Just a little up-date to let you know how Legolas is doing. We were back at Gillabbey Veterinary Hospital in Cork again yesterday...left Wexford at 6am & got there just after 8. He was booked in for his arthroscopy procedure on his left shoulder. The ortho-specialist Shane Guerin, who also treated Lego the last time he was there, explained everything that was going to happen. Initially the mineralised tendon was going to be removed but luckily new x-rays were done & Shane noticed that the bone fragment on his scapula had broke loose & shifted about 2cm further down Lego's leg...this was the cause of the major relapse in early July from simply getting down off the couch. He decided that it was the main culprit of Lego's pain at the moment & needed to be removed (the tendon was left alone for the moment & may continue to do well on the previous steroid injection).</p>
<p>Apparently it was a difficult procedure & took alot longer than initially expected, a few smaller bits were removed via the scope entry points but he had to be cut to get out the bigger piece as it was in a very awkward spot.</p>
<p>He had a bit of a rough night at hime last night but was glad to be home...he's still a bit dopey from being under the anaesthetic for so long but I'm hoping by tomorrow he'll be more alert.</p>
<p>As you can see from the photo...poor Legolas has lost alot of his trademark crazy hair & now looks like a cross between a Chinese Crested & an English Setter ! There's nothing actually wrong with his paw but it has been wrapped up to prevent him from putting any weight on the joint. It'll be like this for a week, there'll be a lot of swelling too in the coming days but Shane said it should all drain away naturally over the next three weeks or so.</p>
<p>Luckily I'm still on hols at the moment so I can keep very close eye on my 'Big-Man' and give him lots of T.L.C :)</p>
<p>Shane gave me the biggest bone fragment to keep, it'll certainly be the strangest souvenior I've ever had :)</p>
<p>We're all hoping that this will finally bring and end to something that has been going on since March 2010 and that in a couple of weeks my baby will be totally pain free.</p>
<p>I also wish to sing the praises of his vet, Shane & the wonderful team in Gillabbey that have taken such great care of my special boy while he was with them. Thanks a million !!!</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974300836?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974300836?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>
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<p>The largest bone fragment.</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974302658?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974302658?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>Introducing something special :)tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-07-25:865021:BlogPost:6946062011-07-25T16:00:27.000ZMichelle Walshhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/MichelleWalsh
<p>To all discerning Setter owners out there especially those of you with a keen eye for something special in the English Setter breed.</p>
<p>We are lucky enough to have a variety of colours in this wonderful breed, the tri-colour, the blue, liver, orange & lemon belton...lots to chose from but now...after years of selective breeding & careful D.N.A screening, I am proud to introduce the latest colour to this elegant breed....</p>
<p>Ladies & Gentlemen I give you....<em><strong>The…</strong></em></p>
<p>To all discerning Setter owners out there especially those of you with a keen eye for something special in the English Setter breed.</p>
<p>We are lucky enough to have a variety of colours in this wonderful breed, the tri-colour, the blue, liver, orange & lemon belton...lots to chose from but now...after years of selective breeding & careful D.N.A screening, I am proud to introduce the latest colour to this elegant breed....</p>
<p>Ladies & Gentlemen I give you....<em><strong>The Green Belton</strong></em> !</p>
<p>This unique colouration is bound to have both tongues & tails wagging at all the best shows ! demand will no doubt be very high, so ladies form an orderly que !</p>
<p> :) :) :)</p>
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<p>Why oh why do they always do things like this less than 24 hours after being scrubbed to within an inch of their lives ????? Maybe 'Vanish' should consider a doggie stain removal line of products :) !!!</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974294877?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974294877?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974295047?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974295047?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a>All the sevens !tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-07-07:865021:BlogPost:6659862011-07-07T17:20:50.000ZMichelle Walshhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/MichelleWalsh
<p>Today on the 7th of the 7th, my little man <strong>Theoden</strong> is 7 :) boy have those years flown by so quickly.</p>
<p>Theoden is from working lines breed here in Wexford (Capparoe & Blackstairs) and has many working F.T.C's in his lines and although he has never been formally trained to hunt...there's nothing on this earth he enjoys doing more !</p>
<p>Even as a puppy, he was only happy with his head stuck in a ditch or stalking rabbits in the nearby park.…</p>
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<p>Today on the 7th of the 7th, my little man <strong>Theoden</strong> is 7 :) boy have those years flown by so quickly.</p>
<p>Theoden is from working lines breed here in Wexford (Capparoe & Blackstairs) and has many working F.T.C's in his lines and although he has never been formally trained to hunt...there's nothing on this earth he enjoys doing more !</p>
<p>Even as a puppy, he was only happy with his head stuck in a ditch or stalking rabbits in the nearby park.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974288657?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974288657?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>This little rascal is an independant dude, healthy, brave & intelligent but sadly suffers from occasional bouts of 'deaf ear' syndrome...uncurable apparently :) although tastey bribes have been known to cause brief peroids of remission.</p>
<p>He adores the water (though avoids dirty puddles while out wakling) and would swim in the sea for ages ...even better if there's something around to 'hunt' :)</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974290710?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974290710?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>If he's not able to go out after his usual 'game' outside (mice, rats, rabbits,birds) then he's quite happy to pounce on the occasional spider he finds in the house or stalk some unsuspecting fly minding its own business & then 'BAM'...no more fly.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974290701?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974290701?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>As every setter owner knows...they have more energy to burn than the national grid ! Dark winter evening & horrible wet days can be a nightmare, Theoden & Legolas like to keep in shape by hitting the treadmill for a half hour or so if its just too bad to go out :) He's a bit of a Diva at times...would sell his soul & probably mine for a brush & blow dry...is in love with the hair drier ! But his biggest vice would be raw hide chewies and does what I call his 'Chewie Dance' at about 9 every night until he gets one :)</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974290999?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974290999?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>When I moved to Wexford nearly four years ago, I started to show Theoden at local dog shows, mostly field days & county shows, it was a great way to meet people & get to know the surrounding area, much to my suprise, he did really well and has a decent collection of 'Bling' for three summers of showing :) not to mention all the dry dog food he wins comes in very handy !</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974291557?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974291557?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>This summer will be his last though to show...maybe just the odd field day here & there & then we'll let the new little man Rohan take over :) but not content with going quietly...Theoden had great success in Adamstown recently wining the Handling Class (Ladies), Best Gun Dog and Champion Dog of the Show !</p>
<p>Shell is very proud of you baby ! Have a very Happy Birthday !! xxx</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974293718?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974293718?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>Recovering once again...tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-04-20:865021:BlogPost:5472702011-04-20T11:22:54.000ZMichelle Walshhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/MichelleWalsh
<p>Hi Folks !</p>
<p>Well it was a long day or us all yesterday. Left Co. Wexford at 6.30am and arrived in Gilabbey Veterinary Hospital Co.Cork a little after 9 for Lego's 9.30 appointment.</p>
<p>The orthopedic specialist had a really good look at him. Initially he was there for an arthroscopy procedure but after having another check of his older x-rays and a good feel of the shoulder area, the vet decided he didn't need to preform one as he could determine where the main problem area was.…</p>
<p>Hi Folks !</p>
<p>Well it was a long day or us all yesterday. Left Co. Wexford at 6.30am and arrived in Gilabbey Veterinary Hospital Co.Cork a little after 9 for Lego's 9.30 appointment.</p>
<p>The orthopedic specialist had a really good look at him. Initially he was there for an arthroscopy procedure but after having another check of his older x-rays and a good feel of the shoulder area, the vet decided he didn't need to preform one as he could determine where the main problem area was. This was good news, as he wouldn't need to be cut !</p>
<p>Apparently he has damaged both the front and back of his shoulder. The lose bone fragment lies to the back but doesn't seem to be causing the pain & lameness. It's the torn tendon, which is becoming mineralised that's the biggest concern.</p>
<p>The vet decided to put Lego out & get 4 more new x-ray views of this area and try re-injecting him with depo-medrone, only this time into the front of the shoulder as opposed to last time, which was into the back of the joint. He only had to shave a relatively small area this time.</p>
<p>We have to wait and see now how long he will get out of this new steroid injection, however the vet has recommended that once it wears off that Legolas will need to come back to Cork for surgery and have the troublesome tendon cut out.</p>
<p>All in all we left Cork at about 3.30 and my poor baby...still very doped slept all the way home, until 6pm. The downside is that for the next two weeks he is only allowed out for two 10 min walks a day in the garden and on the lead !!! and all toilet breaks will also be on the lead...he must be kept quiet and calm at all times !!!! Good Lord...I can already hear the theme music to 'Mission Impossible' playing in my head...how on earth I'm going to manage this I'll never know :) Setters & a calm/quiet/sedantary lifestyle...just don'tt really go together ! at least I'm off for the two weeks (easter break) & can keep a very close eye on him.</p>
<p>So that's the up-date so far my friends...getting there but not quite over yet, there'll be a surgery in the future at some stage and hopefully after that we can all put it behind us :) xxx</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974277573?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974277573?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>On a happier note...Look who's 9 !tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-04-04:865021:BlogPost:5342712011-04-04T17:30:39.000ZMichelle Walshhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/MichelleWalsh
<p>Hard to believe this little rascal, attempting to chomp his way through one of Connor's chewies is 9 years old...time flies :) and what a difference 9 years can make !</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974270376?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974270376?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a></p>
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<p>Same type of chewie...just a 'slightly' bigger beastie :)</p>
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<p>Hard to believe this little rascal, attempting to chomp his way through one of Connor's chewies is 9 years old...time flies :) and what a difference 9 years can make !</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974270376?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974270376?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>
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<p>Same type of chewie...just a 'slightly' bigger beastie :)</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974270643?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974270643?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>
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<p>The trademark 'Lego-Look'...those big brown eyes...that HAIR ! :) It's ok you can laugh :) I know I do, somehow I've grown to love his possibly unique statically-charged appearance, unless anyone else out there has a Setter that constantly looks like he's just had an electric shock !</p>
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<p><strong>~~HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY~~ love Shell xx</strong></p>
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<p><strong>PS:</strong> Legolas is still on for his arthroscopy procedure on the 19th in Cork, fingers crossed all goes well & no more limping !</p>
<p><strong><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974272528?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974272528?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></strong></p>First year away from hometag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-31:865021:BlogPost:5321742011-03-31T20:11:48.000ZMichelle Walshhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/MichelleWalsh
<p><strong>Beloved Connor</strong></p>
<p>I know he's not a Setter but this gentle soul was a major part of my life for over 14 years and today is his first anniversary away from home & I still miss the old man terribly. I ended up with this guy purely by accident, while taking my little sister's Guinea Pig Spike to the vets for a nail trim, I ended up with a puppy ! Con & his six sisters were left unwanted at five weeks of age at the vets all he knew was that their mother was a Border…</p>
<p><strong>Beloved Connor</strong></p>
<p>I know he's not a Setter but this gentle soul was a major part of my life for over 14 years and today is his first anniversary away from home & I still miss the old man terribly. I ended up with this guy purely by accident, while taking my little sister's Guinea Pig Spike to the vets for a nail trim, I ended up with a puppy ! Con & his six sisters were left unwanted at five weeks of age at the vets all he knew was that their mother was a Border Collie & the father was a Rough Collie...he was desperate to find homes for them.</p>
<p>I had lost my beautiful Ceasar (Norweighan Elkhound 13 years) a year ago & was ready for another dog...Con was too cute to ignore :)</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974274495?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974274495?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024"/></a></p>
<p>Here he is a five week old ball of fluff sharing his new bed with a teddy and little Spike. The two of them became very good friends despite the size difference and Con was always very gentle with this bossy little lady :) her fav pastime was chewing on his hair and the big softie just let her.</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974276013?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974276013?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p> A few months later, he's looking a lot bigger but still sharing his bed with his little lady ! Sorry the picture's a bit blurry, I'm taking photos of photos folks ! Didn't have my fancy digital camera 15 years ago :)</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974278543?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974278543?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p> Of all the dogs I've owned Con was certainly the most gentle and patient of beasties...just to give you an idea of his temperment, here he is chomping away on his dinner while Spike chomps away on his hair and he's not batting an eyelid. He was so smart too...never ceased to amaze me, but then I guess Collies are pretty clever dogs :)</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974281708?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974281708?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p> A couple of years on and Con's growing into quite the handsome chappie :) but it was about this time that he was diagnoised with epilepsy. Luckily he didn't need to go on daily meds until he was much older...he always knew when he was about to have a fit and would come over to me. Many years later and I bought my first English Setter Legolas. I had moved house and I bought Lego as company for Con. They just clicked straight away and again his tolerance and patience with this loopy young pup was lovely to see. He was a great help rearing both Lego & Theoden, speeding up toilet training & teaching manners & sharing...I was very lucky !</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974282861?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974282861?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p> Putting up with a bed hogging setter puppy...who despite having his own bed prefered to sleep with his big buddy !</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974284736?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974284736?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Sharing is caring !! Lego's trade mark cheeky look started at an early age :)</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974286803?profile=original"><img width="600" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974286803?profile=original" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p> Here's my baby in 2007 at one of his fav locations...Clogga Beach Arklow. When he was younger he really loved swimming. As he got older we would have to try and keep him away from the water as best we could, it wasn't good for him to get too wet. He developed arthritis, a disease I have come to truly hate. He took a very long time to get dry even with a hair drier & it wasn't good to have him damp.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974288701?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974288701?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>
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<p>One of my fav pictures of Connor, smiling with every part of his face :)</p>
<p>As the years rolled on, the arthritis became worse, we tried everything, herbal remedies, glucosamine, countless courses of cartrofen injections and towards the last two years...daily doses of metacam. However there comes a time when not even the very best of medicines can help. I knew I was probably being selfish but I did try to hold onto my baby for as long as possible. I know I'm very lucky to have had him for 14 years & 3 months, there are many people here on the site that have lost their canine companions at a very young age but still it's never really long enough...the bitter side of loving dogs. Towards the end, I'm ashamed to admit that I often cried myself to sleep, hoping & sometimes praying that my baby would pass away peacefully and spare me having to make that horrible decision again but it was not to be. His mind was still alert, his spirit was willing & his heart was strong but his body was failing him. His hearing was going, he was starting to lose his sight but it was his joints that were finall giving up.</p>
<p>Making the call to the vet to book a day for her to call to the house was incredibly difficult and I was left counting down the days we had let together. Finally the day came, March 31st 2010. My dad stayed with us, he adored Connor. We tried to make his last day as great as possible, even squeezing in a short slow walk and muching on his fav boiled sausages.</p>
<p>When she arrived I just wanted to tell her I'd changed my mind but I knew I had to go through with it. Strange as it might sound I tried to convince myself that the injection he was receiving was just another booster so I could tolerate her doing it. But when the light went out in his eyes and his head fell heavy in my arms... I knew he was gone forever & my heart just broke. I know on some deep intellectual level I did the right thing but a year on , I still haven't quite managed to convince my heart. I think I will always feel some guilt over what I had to do, no doubt their are many other dogs owners out there that feel the same way.</p>
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<p>The picture below was taken an hour before I had to say good bye to my baby...a stately elder gentleman. To those of you still reading, you have my thanks, it has been a bit helpful to write about this difficult experience and so before I upset myself further I shall finish with the last thing my baby heard before he fell sleep each night..</p>
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<p>Nite, nite my love, god bless & sweet dreams...Shell loves you xxx</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974290386?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974290386?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>Legolas update.tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-02-24:865021:BlogPost:4920522011-02-24T18:43:47.000ZMichelle Walshhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/MichelleWalsh
<p>Again many, many thanks to all of you that wished my poor lad a speedy recovery in my previous blog.</p>
<p>The latest news now is that the vet is no longer happy to simply inject into the shoulder joint again. It would reduce his limping and offer some relief for a while but it's not a long term solution...which is a fair point.</p>
<p>Apparently there's just too much of a disimprovement in the area when comparing this months xrays to those from last March.</p>
<p>The xrays were sent to a…</p>
<p>Again many, many thanks to all of you that wished my poor lad a speedy recovery in my previous blog.</p>
<p>The latest news now is that the vet is no longer happy to simply inject into the shoulder joint again. It would reduce his limping and offer some relief for a while but it's not a long term solution...which is a fair point.</p>
<p>Apparently there's just too much of a disimprovement in the area when comparing this months xrays to those from last March.</p>
<p>The xrays were sent to a specialist in Gilabbey Veterinary Hospital in Cork and it seems he wants to see Legolas, so we're now booked in for an Arthroscopy procedure on 18th of April. They'll have a look at what's going on inside. His vet said they might end up removing the broken piece of bone and may have to smooth off some rough bone edges while in there.</p>
<p>They'll also check his mouth while he's under to make sure the tooth extraction went well & all the bits were removed. He seems to have recovered well from that...it hasn't affected his appetite :) but making him take all those tablets was not easy & he did not like the pink ones :)</p>
<p>In the mean time he's back on pain killers and anti-inflammatories...again ! and I have to try and keep him 'calm and quiet'...I guess the vets never had the pleasure of owning a setter ! :)</p>
<p>Anyway my friends wish us luck for the 18th !</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974261937?profile=original"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974261937?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></a></p>Legolas recovers.tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-02-03:865021:BlogPost:4768242011-02-03T20:34:29.000ZMichelle Walshhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/MichelleWalsh
<p>My poor laddie Legolas had the misfortune to brake his shoulder last March and he tore the tendon away from his scapula so hard that he pulled a little piece of bone with it...nasty. He had to be put under several times for a variety of x-rays and then again for a deep steroid injection into his joint. Meanwhile he had two separate surgeries to remove 8 mysterious lumps from his body. He had large shaved patches like the one below all over his body, my poor baby looked like a cyborg that had…</p>
<p>My poor laddie Legolas had the misfortune to brake his shoulder last March and he tore the tendon away from his scapula so hard that he pulled a little piece of bone with it...nasty. He had to be put under several times for a variety of x-rays and then again for a deep steroid injection into his joint. Meanwhile he had two separate surgeries to remove 8 mysterious lumps from his body. He had large shaved patches like the one below all over his body, my poor baby looked like a cyborg that had been through a war. I was a wreck awaiting the results from the lumps but thankfully they were all clear.</p>
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<p>His shoulder hasn't healed up fully yet & he's been back to the vet several times since. I noticed lately his limp was becoming more pronounced...so back to the vets. She recommended another injection and took his bloods. He went under again on wednesday morning. They decided to do his teeth while he was asleep and the vet noticed one of his large back molars was cracked in two. I couldn't believe it as he had never shown signs of discomfort & he never stopped eating, I hope it was recent and that he wasn't in much pain. He had his teeth done in April and they were fine. Anyway she had to brake it up and cut his jaw to get it out completely.</p>
<p>Needless to say his poor mouth is in a bad way. He's on a lot of pain killers & two different antibiotics and because of this she couldn't give him the steroid injection plus his xrays are different to the last ones so they have to be sent away to Cork. At the moment it looks like he'll be back in two weeks time to go under again & get his injection & check his mouth.</p>
<p>I'm hoping all will go well and that he won't have to go through anything else for quite some time, I think he's had his fair share of vet visits for a while ! I'm sure anyone who's had a beastie go under anesthetic will recognise that sleepy red-eye look!</p>
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