Day 54 of Ania's Diary & more problems with the Caravan

Ania is doing well and loving the caravan. Her breathing is good although she had a little choking fit just now. We are not faring so well.
On top of the mud and water we woke up to frozen pipes, no running water, the electric went and the telephone wont work.
My caravan is not so appealing now. Today it was so cold I just could not face any more cleaning.

Eventually we have to move our pitch so that will not be this visit so I may well leave it.
A small amount that we have lost.

Day 53 of Ania's Diary

A wonderful night. We kept the heating on very low and Ania slept on the caravan seats . she always wears her woolly coat I knitted for her. Here in the Devon the air is purer and her breathing brilliant. she is so happy to be here and although  -4 this morning and very frosty we all enjoyed a walk in the fields alongside the very swollen river, where the hedges have washed away in place.
While Ania enjoyed her morning sleep we were dressed in hats and coats and started to clear the mud. Between us we worked for 8 hours to clear the mud and silt. Our possessions are piled sky high outside ready to go to the tip.

We are both very tired and will do some more tomorrow. I think we will save some of the furniture and have put it outside to dry in today's sunshine.

Day 52 of Ania's Diary

After a sleepless night worrying about our caravan and listening to Ania's labouring breathing we packed up and I drove the 100 miles to our caravan to see what we had to face. Mud everywhere, ruined carpets and furniture. Now I am here I am ready to tackle it.
Ania and my other 2 are loving it, you have never seen such happy dogs. Ania always breathers better when she is up here, the air is clearer for her. She has had her acupressure and is now fast asleep.
tonight she will put her woolly jumper on as the temperatures are dropping and we are expecting a heavy frost.

Tomorrow I will start the task of cleaning the mud off.
Tonight we have a photo of Fudge my Miniature Poodle whom I rescued 6 years ago.

Day 51 of Ania's Diary

What a day. Falmouth has been cut off. The main road out was flooded and the roads chaotic.
We tried to walk in the fields but they are soaking and even the banks full of mud.
The wind has been high which has made Ania gasp when we were walking. she still has her strength which is good.
We need to get to Devon to our caravan, everything has to be moved and the water drained out and the mud washed away. Hundreds of pounds have been lost. We will not be able to stay there and the site are now not going to move us so we will have to leave.
I need to keep Ania as stress free as I possibly can or it will make her ill again.

The rest of the country is now suffering.

Day 50 of Ania's Diary

Nothing to report today. Ania is doing so well, hardly any coughing or laboured breathing.
The weather is atrocious . I have spent the day cleaning and washing ready to go to the caravan. Then a friend phoned. I cant believe the kindness of people. She and a friend had dragged the carpets out of the awning, even the curtains were covered in mud and water. The furniture remains in the flood water along with the rest of our things. There is no way we can go as we would never get ourselves and the dogs through the caravan door. So now we are home with the wind roaring down the chimney and the rain lashing down outside.

We are lucky that we have a roof over our heads and our actual home is not flooded.

Day 49 of Ania's Diary & Floods

We have had an upsetting day and the dogs have picked up on it. Here in Cornwall we have taken a real battering with the weather.
We keep our caravan in Devon, on a site very close to the river and had a phone call at 10 pm to say they were moving caravans out. Ours could not be moved as we have a big awning with lots of furniture in, some belonging to my late Mum, even a freezer and spin dryer. The lot has been flooded and it is standing in inches of flood water. So far it is just below the caravan door.
Nothing can be done, the roads are closed and we just cant get a further 100 miles without hitting more flood water.
Hopefully we will go up in  a few days and the site is going to hire a skip to throw everything in.
We can then be towed to a higher place.
The next storm is on the way. My poor Ania is coughing. I had to hurry her away from an enormous tree uprooted and more debris to come.

Day 48 of Ania's Diary

Here in the South West the weather is horrendous. Only I could have poodles that insisted on going out for their walks. 6 waterproof coats and 2 of mine are still dripping in the bathroom.
I cannot fool Ania, she knew it was Saturday and the day for us to go on our vets walk.
Only 2 of us braved the weather and the waves were crashing , luckily it was low tide and we were nowhere near them. An enjoyable walk but wet and cold.
Ania is so much better and has not coughed once since her acupuncture. She is still plodding but the fields are waterlogged and there are huge puddles as the ground can hold no more.
Tonight we are forecast gale force winds so there is worse to come.

So glad we are home and not in our caravan as we should have been.

Day 47 of Ania's Diary.

Yesterday Ania's acupuncture was the icing on the cake. Since then she has been very tired but the coughing and choking has stopped. We have nearly reverted to where we were before she had her accident.
Today we went around the field 3 times instead of the normal 2. I am hoping to build it up until she can do a lot more. My 2 little ones are suffering as Ania will not be left behind. We are back up to 3 30 minute walks a day now.

The weather promises to be really bad so we will not be going to the caravan this week. We have not been for weeks now and want to check that all is well.

Day 46 of Ania's Diary

What horrendous weather we are having, floods and the south west has taken a real battering. I was out for 5 minutes with the dogs and have never seen rain like it, we were drenched and just before we were due to go to the vets.
Ania coughed and choked in the vets before going in but prior to that she was a lot better.
Today she lay down and totally relaxed for the acupuncture. The vet said after her ordeal last week she could have died and thinks we can get back on track again. Working on her with the acupressure every night is keeping her going and providing she has no more accidents is confident we can resume the position we were in before her accident.

Providing Ania remains stable we will have the next acupuncture in 2 weeks time and it will gradually get longer. this is wonderful news. Never have I had a dog that loves the world as she does and there is not a nasty bone in her body.

Day 45 of Ania's Diary

A week later after her accident I can at last see an improvement in Ania. Only once have I heard her  cough and her breathing is not so laboured.
When walking she still had not quite all her energy back.
Tomorrow we will go to the vets for her next acupuncture so I am hoping to talk to the vet and see what he says.
The acupressure every evening helps us to have a good night. Certainly on looking back she is vastly improved.

If Ania is better and the weather improves we will go to the caravan at the weekend where she always breathes a lot better.
Not had time to iron or scotch guard the bag yet as but will put it on when I do.

Another Bag Finished

One husband much better and my plans for today cancelled left me some spare time to get on with some sewing. I have made a smaller version of my fabric doggy poo bag and when it is pressed and scotch guard treated I will show you a photo.
Hopefully a well known dog magazine will feature them in their magazine next year.

There is so little time now having to look after a poorly dog, making her food and making sure it is all mashed up.
Check out my websiteCornishk9crafts.yolasite.com in the next few days for updated photos.

Day 44 of Ania's Diary.

We mare not having a brilliant time. Ania is breathing noisily and having choking fits. I gave her a piece of chicken skin, one of her favourites and she choked on it, took nearly an hour to get her sorted.
We see the vet on Thursday. If only she had not had this accident to her chest all would have been well.

The homoeopathic tablets arrived, the day after ordering so now I have to get them in to her.

Day 42 & 43 of Ania's Diary

Not a good couple of days. I started Ania on the Arnica , quite pleased that I had got the high dose into her only to find them scattered over the carpet in the afternoon. somehow each one I gave her, she managed to spit them out when I was not looking. Into her food they will go now irrespective that she should not have food with them.
This dreadful wet weather is not helping and we have got drenched going out today, twice.

Ania's breathing is not as good as it was before she had her accident and she has had a nasty coughing fit this afternoon. We will have to see what the vet says when she goes for her acupuncture on Thursday.

Day 41 of Ania's Diary

After writing last night Ania became so poorly. Her breathing was so bad I had to put the humidifier on. The acupressure did not seem to help and she was distressed.
We did not have a brilliant night but Ania was up this morning and no way was she going to miss her dog walk.
I do not even have to tell her that it is Saturday and we will go to the vets and she will see her doggy friends. Her strength has not gone and she thoroughly enjoyed it although her breathing was not so good.

This afternoon Ania has slept, so exhausted and only had a short afternoon walk. So far this evening she is sleeping peacefully and I hope we do not have a repeat of last evening. I will let you know tomorrow.

Day 40 of Ania's Diary

Ania is slowly getting better. We had a much better night. Her coughing has eased but her breathing is not brilliant. I am sitting here listening to her so will go and put the humidifier on to put some moisture in to the air.
Today we have had a lot of mist and this does not help any ones breathing.

I was able to go out for a couple of hours today, there is always the danger of Ania going into crisis and choking.
This setback is not good and I have to wait until Thursday to see my vet.

Day 39 of Ania's Diary

We did not have a very good night. Ania's breathing was laboured and she has now started coughing and gagging again.

Today we have had limited exercise and Ania must be very bruised and is so tired. We are praying that all the good work will not have been undone. This is such a worrying time.

Day 38 of Ania's Diary.

Not a good day. Every day we go on the same walk, nothing varies, this morning was no exception.We went to the field, where about 6 months ago 2 wooden benches with wavy edges were put in for people to sit.
This morning Ania decided to chase Fudge with her new found energy. Not looking where she was going, yes you have guessed it, she went straight into the bench and into her chest. Only her padded harness saved her. Ania bounced back, staggering, gasping and about to keel over. I thought that was the end. Luckily 2 friends were also in the field and rushed to help us. After me  holding her up and a massage we were able to come home.
I rang the vet who was away and another phoned me. We have pain killers as Ania is shocked and bruised. I am devastated to think this has upset her breathing, the odds of that happening were one in a million.
Now my neck and shoulder are very painful trying to keep the weight of her 46lb body up.

As long as she gets better I do not mind.

Day 37 of Ania's Diary.

Not such a good day for Ania, breathing wise. From 3.45 a.m I was listening to her noisy breathing and today it is not so good. This sometimes happens the day after the acupuncture and shows it is working. We hope she will be better tomorrow. Later this evening I will work on Ania and give her some acupressure.

There has been no time for any sewing. My husband is poorly and by the time I see to him and then do even more research on Ania's condition the day has flown by.

Day 36 of Ania's Diary

We have not long come from from the vets and once again Ania has had her acupuncture. This time it was a shorter session and she is taking it well. The vet is so pleased with her that we will now go to 10 days before she has her next session.
In the meantime I will continue to work on Ania every day with the acupressure.

Today it has been very drizzly and misty and even this did not upset Ania's breathing.

Day 34 & 35 of Ania's diary

Saturdays are always hectic for me so I did not blog yesterday.
We are up early and the dogs and I go off to our dog walking group at the vets. We are a very friendly group. Ania gets so excited and cant wait to go.
We were joined by a lady who had not been for 3 weeks and she was amazed at the change in Ania. She is now forging ahead on walks and not dragging behind. It is a joy to watch her and I am hoping she will gradually be able to walk even further.
Today also has been a good day and as I write this Ania is sleeping on the chair and the other 2 are tucked either side of me on the settee.

Day 33 of Ania's Diary + New Coats Completed

Yesterday I put the flea treatment on Ania and by last night she was gasping and choking. I worked on her with the acupressure and this helped her so much. Today her breathing has been noisy, especially on walking although she managed to run across the field today.As I have had to stay in today to speak to the vet I have completed both Ania and Abby's waterproof coats and by the look of the weather outside I think they will need them tomorrow.

Day 32 of Ania's Diary

Very little to report today. I am continuing with the acupressure for Ania and she is doing well. We do have short spells of heavy breathing  but no more coughing and choking.

One dog coat finished!

At last I am fully motivated and spent the afternoon sewing. I have finished Fudge's coat. The shop assured me that this fabric is totally waterproof so now we will wait for the rain to test it out. I have started on the next 2 dog coats and hope to get them finished tomorrow.

Day 31 of Ania's Diary

Ania is still doing well. Usually there is somone home with her but we both had to go out today and when we returned Ania got so excited that she began to gasp. After that she barked so much that by the time we went for a walk she was gasping.
Soon I will practice the acupressure on Ania to help her some more.

I seem to be spending a lot of time cooking for Ania. I used to have my own business making dog treats until it became unviable to continue. I am now making them as they are soft for Ania and she can manage to eat them.

Sewing the Dogs coats

The sewing machine is set up, the dog coats cut out and the first one has been started. I have made 9 previously with supposed waterproof fabric. I am assured this time it really is waterproof so time will tell. By the time I have purchased all this different fabric it would have been cheaper to buy them.
I will make one first of all to see if it really works.

I have also sold another fabric "doggy poo" bag so this will all help towards Ania's very expensive acupuncture. This is the last one and is sold . A very popular fabric.

Day 30 of Ania's Diary

Ania is so much better. Tonight I will start the acupressure on her . We had a good night, no coughing and only a bit of laboured breathing. We are ecstatic as this should prolong her life.
We have been out in the fields and Ania has started to play with her toy.

Last night the fireworks shook our house and Ania was not phased at all. Abby had her den as she is terrified of them and Fudge barked. Hopefully it will be quiet tonight.

Day 29 of Ania's Diary

A marvellous day today. Ania has been for her acupuncture and the vet has taught me the acupressure points from the book I bought so that I can work on her every day. Every day she has improved and although the treatment is costly she is worth every penny of it. For the past year I have had the most miserable dog but to see such a happy bouncy dog is the best present I could ever have.

Day 27 & 28 of Ania's diary

There is very little to say. My lovely girl is breathing better, her energy levels have not been like this for at least the last year.
Tomorrow we will go for our acupuncture along with the book of acupressure so that I may be able to help her at home.

I can only thank my lovely friends from the LP alternatives group, mostly from the USA who have come up with all these wonderful suggestions.

Day 26 of Ania's Diary

Ania has done well today, her energy levels are much better although her breathing at this moment is not good .
On Monday Ania will have her 5th acupuncture , finally I got hold of the vet and he is delighted with her progress.
The book I ordered about canine acupressure arrived today and I will take it to the vets with me on Monday and he will show me what to do which hopefully will help her even more.
We are delighted and it has been a very satisfying day.

Dog coats Cut out.

Whilst having to wait in for most of the day I have been able to cut out the dogs coats. I have cut out 3 and they are now ready to sew.
Already I have made 9, each one made of "waterproof" fabric which has turned out to be no such thing.

Instead of buying the fabric on the internet this time I have been to a shop so that if it leaks back it will go.
By the time I have purchased 3 different types of fabric it would have been cheaper to go to the pet shop and buy them.
This is a picture of a long handled "fabric Doggy Poo" bag ordered for a customer.

Day 25 of Ania's diary

Ania is still doing well, a little coughing but has much more energy.

I have been waiting all day for the vet to phone me to see if she will have more acupuncture and still nothing. If we do not have any more I fear for her future.  It is such a worry.