Update on our Senior Min Pin – Dr Quito
Posted by Fiona Nevile in Cottage tales | 15 comments
Photo: Dr Quito snoozing after a long busy day
When Dr Q returned from the vet last month after his dental drama he was furious with me. It was the first time that I had seen any of our dogs looking really hurt and angry. I had, after all, taken him to the vet on that fateful day. Danny had collected him and paid the bill. So I was clearly the baddy.
The black jet eyes were blazing. Despite the after care pills he was clearly in pain
He lay in an igloo basket on a chair beside the warm wood burning stove for four days, with brief trips to the garden to relieve himself. Twice a day he ate soft food and refused to meet my eye.
On the fifth day he looked up when I was tucking in his blanket and we were finally friends again. Since then he as gradually transformed back to our old Dr Q. Eating well, pottering in the garden, railing at the chickens and generally keeping his wife and girlfriend in order.
There has been a bristling in the ranks over this last point but he is the Senior Dog after all. Clearly his bad teeth had forced a sabbatical. We had just thought that he was growing prematurely old.
Dr Q’s return to full health has also meant that Inca and The Contessa have become closer. They spend many hours playing and planning escapes from the garden. Inca, occasionally tests out a possible route, and always on a morning when I’m running late for work. A pertinent reminder that we have to replace another stretch of fencing this spring.
Quito played with Danny for years. For the past year his favourite game was forgotten. But now his special toy – Lynne (a rather bedraggled stuffed lion) has had a prodigal return from the pile of toys that loll under the kitchen table. Since Quito’s recovery the ‘Lynne Game’ has become a key point in his busy day. The idea is to try and grab Lynne from Dr Q’s jaws. She is proffered and then swept away with Olympian speed. Quito is very good at this game and, even if Danny is really trying, Dr Q’s technique usually wins. Danny now works out with Dr Quito and Lynne three or four times a day. Even Lynne is looking slimmer.
If Dr Q wants to go upstairs he drags Lynne to the stair door hoping that D will be attracted by the moth eaten beast. It always works. Irishmen are genrerally sensitive and kind.
Quito is learning to live with much fewer teeth. Sometimes his lips look a bit pleaty but he has worked out that if he rubs his muzzle on the outside of a dog igloo then his lips are pressed back to the normal Hollywood position.
We are delighted that we discovered what was wrong with our Senior Min Pin. The cottage is bursting with dental remedies. We are using Plague-Off (thank you so much Charlie) and Petkin Liquid Oral Care – something that you add to the dogs’ water bowl, which helps clean their teeth. Teeth cleaning chews are the treat in the evening and meaty bones are back in the kitchen. We are now alert to the dangers of rotten teeth in dogs and hope that Dr Q’s few remaining gnashers will last for the remainder of his life. The other Min Pins are loving the teeth care and they will benefit too over the years.
It’s a joy to see Dr Q loving life again, running with the other Min Pins and truly holding his own. Welcome back Dr Quito – we missed you.
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Aw, sweet, sleepy, and content. So glad he’s back in action. Adorable – must have been tough to wait the few days for him to get back up to speed. Congrats!
That’s just great news. And I LOVE your descriptions – you made me smile. (I’ve got a thing about Irishmen too – and it’s not just the accent.)
Ahhh Dr Q, great to hear he is fighting fit again.
We had 2 completely different character dogs, one who loved the vet, he had been so many times as a pup, he just used to jump on the table and wag his tail. and the other, even right up to the last second gave you a glare and a whimper, on entering the vets. Bless them both.
My mums cat is ill at present, they think it is kidney failure, poor thing. THey are treating it as a urinary infection at the mo. But we think she will have to be put down. A much loved pet from my teenage years she is 16 nearly 17 years old. Lets hope she gets better, else she will be saidly missed by 4 generations of family. especially the young ones, who pet her and sing to her. She did used to sing back, but hasnt for along time. Bless her.
Great to hear Dr Q is feeling tip top, you feel so bad when they are off. Each has their own personality. And are a treasure.
I wish we had a pet, but with having to travel for work, it would be terribly unfair of us. One Day, one day.
Sorry Fiona, this is a long comment. But you know people love their animals and will all comment.
Have a lovely sunday. We still have snow on the ground here, it is supposed to be raining but I havent seen any yet.
Dr Q looks so happy and contented, all snuggled down. Great to learn he is playing again.
I have played with Zebbycat since our Mutual adoption 3 years ago. His gestimated age is coming up 11. He loves it, and also adores having toys that are his, and his alone. The daft darling often sleeps on top of or snuggled up beside them.
And Me – yep, I’m his too. Aha, but he is also mine.
Happy rest of thw winter to Mr Q and what he considers to be his harem. I’m sure the Women MinPins are just humouring him……..
Happy snuggly warmth and care to you all, plus huggles and purrumbling, Mickle and Zebbycat downunder in Wellington. xxxxx and purrypurrsnore…..
Excellent news.Hurrah!
So good to hear that. It must have been hard for you to have to wait days for him to forgive you. Everything is harder when they can’t talk.
So glad he’s come through OK.
People who have never had animals probably can’t understand the disapproval element, but with a 16yr old cat, I know exactly what you mean. At the moment he has a strop on about the weather – in West Wales we had a very wet summer, and now the cold, so at the least little bit of sun, he lifts his head and says “I have to go out – I need my Vitamin D.” Well, that’s what it seems like to me!
This was fab to read… Go Dr. Quito!
Carla, I lost my siamese cat to an accident 9 years ago, I still miss her.
Lovely story! It’s wonderful to be able to have a pet.My dear 18 years old siamese cat,Mafalda died a few months ago and I miss her so much!
Absolutely wonderful amusing update on Dr.Quito with a lovely pic. He looks very contented. Loved the bit about him getting his lips back looking beautiful and Hollywood style!
I also bought some Plaque-Off to use on Dougal after reading the comment on your blog. I think he prefers having this sprinkled on his food rather than too much toothbrush action!
Yes – welcome back Dr.Quito – we’ve all missed you. x