Day 299 of Ania's Diary

Today it is raining. Summer has disappeared and we have had a couple of very quick walks around the field and each time luckily we have missed the heavy rain.
If Ania was miserable, did not eat or wag her tail and showed no interest in life I would know exactly what to do. As it is her breathing is getting a lot worse and she lay down in the wet grass earlier to try and catch her breath.
Fudge is still managing to chew his knee and keeps making it bleed. He must either have a bite or caught it although there is no mark.

The dogs are desperate for a bath and maybe this will help Ania a little.It  is a major operation to bath her now though although the last time she was more comfortable for it.
 In particular Fudge is very scruffy but until he heals his leg I cant do anything about it.

Day 298 of Ania's Diary.

Very upset today. We have not been on our dog  walk for 3 weeks due to being away. I did not say a word but Ania knew and she just knew and started barking and getting all excited.

By the time we arrived at the vets she had to lie down to calm her down.
Today was the shortest walk and ideal for puppies so off we set, Ania delighted and being amongst her friends but gasping all the way.
30 minutes later we settled down for a nice cup of coffee, we are so welcome to sit on the terrace of the beach cafe and watch the beautiful sea. We had a rest and the others left us whilst I and someone else continued to our cars.
Ania could not walk and it took 20 minutes to get her to the car which should have taken us 5 minutes. My friend offered to fetch his car but we struggled on. Finally we got home to rest .
Ania has just been out for 20 minutes again, she just will not go to the toilet in the garden or on her lead and again she has come in gasping for breath.
We love our Saturday mornings but now we have to make the decision whether Ania or any of us will be able to go again. It will be more stressful for her if we leave her behind.

Day 297 of Ania's Diary

Not a long post today as I am absolutely shattered. Fudge had me up twice in the night. He does not seem to be poorly but just is not quite his usual self. In between times of being out in the garden I could not sleep.
Funnily enough Ania had quite a peaceful night and there were times when her breathing was normal.
Ania was angry this morning, she wanted to go around the field with my friend for a second time but her breathing was so bad I could not let her. The same happened this afternoon.
Tomorrow is our dog walk so goodness knows how we are going to manage. It is only the shortest walk but even that will be too much for her. Leaving her behind would cause her so much stress that either we all go or not at all. My group are brilliant though and so patient if we have to go very slowly.

Day 296 of Ania's Diary

Unlike the rest of the country it has been dull and dreary all day with a stiff breeze.
The night was very humid and I was up 5 times as Ania was very restless. At one time she was rubbing her chin on her basket as if she was so uncomfortable.
I am now being firm, there will be only one round of the field for Ania as her breathing has got significantly worse. My walks are taking a lot longer as I slowly bring Ania home and then continue with the other 2.
People are now beginning to hear Ania's breathing as she walks. Her determination to continue with life is amazing. She is not ready to die yet and is the first one waiting to go out.
As long as I leave a long space between walking and feeding Ania is also eating well. I only have to open the fridge door and Ania is there in the hope that their will be a piece of chicken or sausage which she loves waiting for her.
Every day is precious with our beloved dog and the days are passing by so quickly. She is a very special girl with not a nasty bone in her body and has never growled since the day we had her. She loves life and the world but it does not always love her.

Day 295 of Ania's Diary

We have had a mixture of rain and fog for a lot of the day. This morning I could not even get Ania to come down the stairs until it I was getting ready to go out.

I insisted on only going around the field once and she was gasping when she came home although I took the other 2 out for a longer walk and still she was going to come with me. Now I am going to have to be firm and only do a short walk with her.
Until this afternoon Ania has slept more peacefully but this did not last and she was rasping again.
At the moment her breathing is very quiet and she is stretched out on one of her quilts. I shall delay doing her acupressure as it is so quiet and calm here.
Fudge is not himself. He slept all night in his basket, unheard of as he normally creeps up on the bed and did not even want to go out. Maybe the rain has made them feel depressed after the lovely weather that we have been having.
I spoke to soon . Ania's breathing has not started to become noisy again. Since coming home the dogs are eating well again, I was throwing it away last week but that could have been because of the intense heat.

Day 294 of Ania's Diary

We have had torrential rain today which has now cleared but the humidity is 100% and it is airless.
This morning we went out in the rain and as Ania was gasping my friend took the others whilst I tried to bring Ania home. She was having none of it and if they were going so was she. It is only her sheer determination that is keeping her going. It would be far easier if she gave in and stayed in and rested.
This afternoon we walked half the field and she was so bad I brought her back and then took the others out. This is what is taking so much of my day up, all this walking.
Just as I decide to take Fudge to the vets he becomes better today and we have had no problem at all with him.So fingers crossed it was just the hot weather doing all of this.
Tomorrow I must book Ania's next acupuncture session, I have normally done this by now in case the appointments are all gone.
Each day is a bonus for us now but in all of this Ania is not at all miserable.

It has been too hot to sew but I must start again and re do my website and update it. CornishK9crafts.yolasite.com

Day 293 of Ania's Diary

The air today is cooler and we have had very heavy showers but Ania's breathing is not. I met a very good friend this morning and we were about to go around the field again and Ania was nearest to her and she looked at me and said we have to get her home quickly. We did  this and Ania was so poorly she could not even swallow her breakfast.
It seems today that every time Ania moves her breathing becomes laboured. I am listening to her breathing above the sound of the television and it is rasping and has been all day.
This afternoon I had to curtail our walk as well. The trouble is Ania will not be left behind and wants to go. When a stranger asks you what is wrong you begin to realise that other people are beginning to notice her breathing too.
Fudge has poorly tummy again , I will leave him to settle down for a couple of days and if not it will mean a repeat of the very expensive tests to see if his campobylacter has come back. This evening he chewed his leg and made it bleed.
Things are not good at the moment for these dogs of mine.

Walking has become a problem as the children's play area is not fenced off so Fudge cant have a run as its holiday time and we are very short of walks here.

Day 291 & 292 of Ania's Diary

Yesterday Ania flatly refused to walk, she would not go to the toilet so the other 2 followed suit and would not go either. Food was not eaten and thrown away so I decided we should come home. So here we are and Ania has not only walked around the field twice but has also eaten. The dogs and we are shattered. It was not the best journey home as we hit a nasty storm and there is a lot of packing up and cleaning to do before we can come.
The dogs are now sprawled out fast asleep and quite exhausted but contented.
We were so lucky with the weather and I think we had the best 2 weeks possible.
By last night the campsite was practically full and I had never seen so many people on bikes and as you know Fudge hates this. It reinforced our need to come home and as it has been raining the door has to be shut and this seems to keep the people on bikes indoors.
I have not been home long enough to really tell how Ania is. Hopefully she will regain some of her energy now that it has gone a lot cooler.
Usually I book Ania's next session of acupuncture but I walked out of the vets last time without giving it a thought so I must sort that out this week.
We are delighted, the heatwave has passed and although it has been a very difficult time we have got Ania through it and she is still with us.

Day 290 of Ania's Diary

Another view of Stover Park.
Last night Ania was not even able to walk out to the gate and the same thing happened this morning.
We decided to go to Stover Park which was a different ball game altogether, Ania was excited and started barking and by the time we got there was exhausted. She was quite happy to sit by the picnic bench with my husband whilst I went back to the forest.
Fudge is not well , his tummy must be sore but it did not deter him from racing around the forest.
It was cool when we started but luckily I took Ania's cool coat as the sun came out and it is now very hot.
Ania is very tired and does not want to lie out on the grass so we have put the fan on and we are inside the caravan but it is still very hot. Luckily she is sleeping very peacefully.
Tomorrow we have to think that it is time to go home, either tomorrow evening or early on Sunday morning.
It has been very quiet on the site but tonight a few people have arrived with their caravans.

Day 289 of Ania's Diary

The welcome overnight rain left it cooler this morning so off to Stover Park we went. In places it was quite wet but I left Ania as she still cant walk very far and off to the forest we went.
This is the beginning of the forest and we leave the path and go into the heart of the forest. No one was out this morning and we met no one to talk too.
Fudge was sick this morning and I think the heat is getting to him. The dogs will all need a nice bath and clip again when we go home.
Ania still cannot walk very far and she gets so excited when we go out that her barking uses up all of her oxygen.There is something magical about the Park that she just loves as we all do.

Day 288 of Ania's Diary

It has been cooler tonight after the overnight rain.
Ania managed to walk to the grass outside of the caravan site this morning and back.
Fudge was poorly again when I went out on the evening walk but as it looks as if the rain is on its way we have been out earlier and both dogs seem fine.
Fudge and Abby are not happy without Ania and I take them all out , then bring back Ania and then take the other 2. It is a major operation and takes a long time but as long as we still have Ania we do not mind. She is worth very bit of it.
The dogs are not eating even though it is cooler so I try to feed them later in the evening in the hope they will eat it.
Ania needs her fur clipping off again, in 2 weeks it grows so quickly.
I took advantage of the dogs being better today and the weather cooler to have my day out in Exe

ter. Just to do this once in a while gives me a real break.
When you have a poorly dog it is quite hard to look after them but it is something I choose to do and will give up a lot to do so.

Day 287 of Ania's Diary

Last night I was once again able to work the acupressure on Ania and she had a good nights sleep.
We had rain in the night but not a lot of it and today it is so much cooler. We have been sitting outside but there are dark clouds gathering and the sun has now gone in.
Fudge was poorly in the night and had me out so today it has left me feeling very tired.
I should have had my day out to Exeter but I was afraid to leave him but he seems fine again now.
When we get home I will take him to be checked out at the vets which will probably mean a series of tests again.
As it was so much cooler we took the dogs to Stover Park this morning. Ania once again had to stay on the picnic bench with my husband . Her breathing has got so much worse but there is something magical there which we all love.
Today I decided I would walk the whole of the forest and met several people so had company most of the day. Instead of being in there for an hour we were there for over two and the dogs are tired out now although I hope to take them for a short walk in case the promised rain comes.
Things are looking fairly good today although as we know they can change at any time. We have to make the most of all the good times that we can.

Part of Stover lake.

Day 286 of Ania's Diary.

Fudge and Abby in Stover Park yesterday.
Ania survived last nights crisis. She did not want to be touched. The only way for her to have any relief is by lying very still. We have been out under the gazebo for most of the day.
This morning after the thunder and rain of last night it was very humid. I managed to get Ania up to the grass at the top of the road to do what was necessary and she came back whilst I walked the other two. Ania insists on carrying her toy and always has done but she can no longer hold it.
Any excitement now is going to cause us problems now.
Today is the last of the very hot weather and we are forecast thunder and floods from tonight so maybe Ania will be better when it is cooler.
We could not even go to Ania's favourite Stover Park as the humidity was too great.
Fudge has recovered well, I upped his garlic tablets and they seem to have done the trick.

Day 285 of Ania's Diary

I am writing this in between another crisis with Ania.
We had a brilliant morning, woke up and it was cloudy with a stiff breeze. We went to our favourite Stover Park and Ania again had to sit on the park bench with Alan. She just could not walk to the forest although she would have loved to do it. I took the other 2 and it was wonderful and we had a brilliant walk and even walked all around the beautiful lake.
All was well and we returned to the caravan just as the sun was shining. All afternoon we have sat outside and all was well.
A couple of hours the family arrived , Ania got so excited but became very agitated. I tried to take her for a walk and she just could not do it.
We have brought her into the caravan , her breathing is horrendous. I have sponged her down but she does not want to be touched and got more distressed than ever. The fan is going full blast on her and usually she wants me with her. I want to get her outside into the cool and to go to the toilet but I have to calm her down.
If she does not stop I am going to have to drive three miles to the cool park as this is bound to calm her.
I write this with one eye on her knowing that I cannot halt this dreadful evil disease and she does not deserve to end her days like this.
We just need to get over this hot weather and if I was home I could not keep her any cooler.

Abby in the cool forest yesterday.

Day 284 of Ania's Diary

I have wasted the afternoon trying to get my photos from my camera on to the computer but the driver is faulty so am so frustrated at a wasted few hours. So no new pictures I am afraid.
It was the hottest night last night but Ania coped well.
This morning we woke up to cloud and a stiff breeze. I managed to get Ania up to the top of the hill for a short walk before taking the others further.
By lunchtime the sun had come out and it was scorching so we are waiting for it to cool down a little and then we will repeat the procedure and I hope I can get Ania up the hill, not very steep I hasten to add. I really do not want to drive 3 or 4 miles today just to take her for no more than a 5 minute walk.
Our friends have gone home today but we are going to stay up here for a few days as if we were home we would not be able to sit outside.
The gazebo is wonderful to sit under and I do not think I have ever sat outside for so long.
Ania was exhausted just being outside and asked to come in the caravan so we have the fan on for her and it is not as hot as it was yesterday and the sun has disappeared which should make a difference very soon.

Fudge does not like this heat although his tummy seemed a lot better this morning. They have no desire to go for a walk in this heat.
I have brought sewing to do with me but it is just too hot to do anything except try and keep cool.

Success!!. I have sent the picture in an email to myself taken in Stover Park yesterday. I will do that in future. I do hate to be beaten.

Day 283 of Ania's Diary

I am very frustrated. I took some lovely photos of the dogs in Stover Park this morning but I am unable to download them so I shall have to try again tomorrow.
Today it is very hot but we were out early in the car and went to our favourite Stover Park.
Ania could hardly breathe and could not make it too the cool forest so she sat on a picnic bench in complete shade with my husband.
We expected the park to be empty, it was full, mostly dog walkers taking their dogs to the cool woods.
Abby is not good without Ania but she still came with me and Fudge had a lovely run and it was so cool amongst the trees.
Again this evening Ania would not walk so once again I drove to the Park. She still could not walk very far \and I had to walk to the woods on my own. There was no-one there and it was very eerie. We did not go that far into the forest and we did not like it that much and Abby was only too happy to return.

Since coming back I have had a very hard job to stabilise Ania's breathing but she is now sleeping peacefully.
Sorry there are no new photos but I will have to try to find someone who can help me to fix it.

Day 282 of Ania's Diary

What a busy day it has been. A visit from our daughter who's 40th birthday it is today and then we had our friends for afternoon tea.
Today it is even hotter and the dogs are suffering badly. I have had to get a wet cloth and wipe them down.
Prior to that last night I was halfway through Ania's acupressure when she started gasping so badly. I had to stop and we had such a job to regulate her breathing. Tonight I have not touched her.
This afternoon I went to take the dogs into the field only to find that the baby cows had been put in so that has put an end to our riverside walks for the summer. This was fantastic for Ania as it is all flat ground. She was so upset earlier when I kept her on her lead to go for a short walk .
For the rest of our stay I shall have to drive to the park but it is 3 miles away and with this heat going in the car is not going to be good for Ania's breathing.
Fudge is better today thank goodness I upped his garlic tablets and I am just going to put it down to the heat.
Another hot night but I am here with the caravan and awning door wide open.

Day 281 of Ania's Diary.

Hot! Hot! Hot!.. Today just has to be the hottest day and we are melting.
There is no way we can sit in the caravan and are outside under the gazebo. There is no air and it is too hot to do anything.
Ania had a good night and she has coped. We have her in the shade and are constantly re wetting her cool coat. It is too hot even to take her over the fields.

We did manage a walk this morning, Ania always has to carry her newspaper chew and she is stubborn , not capable of carrying it but is going to try and do so. We climbed over the stile and it fell through the slats in the bridge into the river at a point where it was not viable to go in and get it.
She was so upset and tried hard to get back to find it but it was at a too dangerous place.
Fudge is poorly now and his poor little tummy must now be so sore. He has not eaten a thing and he loves his food. He is the cleanest dog ever and cries to go across the field so even in this incredible heat I have had to take him.
The picture is of Ania at home taken with her cool coat on.

Day 280 of Ania's Diary

Last night was the most scariest since Ania was diagnosed with this dreadful disease.
She was in a deep sleep but I needed her to go to the toilet before bedtime. It was a job to wake her but we did.
After settling her down and getting ready for bed myself Ania started to cough and choke. I was in and out of bed until I finally stayed up with her. All I could do was give her lots of healing and run her throat. She was so frightened as we were. Had we been at home I would have got the vet out too see her and I feel it would have been the end.. All of this lasted an hour and by midnight she had settled down and that was it, it was over.
For most of the night I dozed in case it happened again and luckily it did not but today has been so tiring.
We were up early so that we could walk across by the river, Ania could only make the 2 fields as the heat was beginning to rise even at 8am on the way back.
The rest of the day has been very hot and we have spent it outside under the gazebo. Ania has been very restless and again this evening when the family came over.
I have not long finished working the acupressure on Ania and she is so exhausted she is fast asleep and I am hoping that this will continue all night and we do not have a repeat performance of last night.
Fudge is better and Abby is her usual noisy self, nothing phases her.

Day 278 & 279 of Ania's Diary

Last night I had no internet and it has taken me 15 minutes just to get on this page which Is why I did not post yesterday.
We were up at 5am yesterday and giving their dogs their walk at the sea front field at 6.15am. We then set off for the caravan When it got to 8am the heat was beginning to rise and Ania was gasping.
It was a stressful day for Ania yesterday, the family came over and she  was so excited and her tongue was blue. There was a possibility that we could not stay.
Son in law brought over his gazebo which is a blessing  and has helped a lot.
Last night we left all the windows and skylights open and it became so cool that Ania had a wonderful night and her breathing was fantastic.
For some reason there have been no cows in the field , unheard of but it has been a blessing for us. Last night and again this morning we had a walk along the riverbank under the trees before the really hot sun came.
We have had to sit outside all day as it has been to hot to go into the caravan.
I have spent 10 minutes trying to download a photo with no success so think I will have to give up.

Dinner has been outside and it has been lovely apart from the flies .
Finally I have given up trying to use my phone and managed to top up my mobile broadband.

Day 277 of Ania's Diary.

It is 39.9 degrees here and this is unheard of for our part of the world and it is unbearable. We are just not used to it down here.
We are sitting in the front room, usually cool but so hot with every window open and the fan going.
The dogs are desperate to go out and do not know what to do with themselves.
I was at the vets  by 9am having done a short walk in the field earlier. Luckily there are some small gardens next door to the vets and by the time the others turned up we did a very short walk around there and then headed down the cool path to the cafe on the beach where we sat in the shade.
By the time we had a nice chat and came back our cars the tarmac on the road was melting in the heat.
Ania in all of this was fine. She is eating again after her acupuncture and she is well. Now her breathing is not good with this heat and she is restless. They do not know where to lie in the cool.
Tomorrow for us should be dull and cooler but I will hope to get up really early too get to the caravan before the heat comes up.
I am worried that Ania is going to be able to cope with all this but her zest for life is still there . All the bags are packed and she knows where we are going. The trouble is she thinks that we are going now.
Fudge has an upset tummy and I am hoping it is the excessive heat and not his campobylacter

 coming back. I worry that he will be poorly whilst we are away.
Looking forward to seeing these hills again although the cows are probably back in the field so we will have to give it a miss.

Day 276 of Ania's Diary

This is Ania before I shaved her once beautiful ears but we still love her as much as ever.
It was cool this morning so we were able to go twice around the field. We had to get up earlier as we were due at the vets for Ania's acupuncture. Usually the vet is very busy and we are late but not today. Ania was thrilled as ever to be there and as she had not had much of a rest she was tired and stood there whilst the needles were put in. She was so good and when we come home she usually sleeps for hours. Not today , it was lunchtime and she was not going to be left behind and was determined to go out with the others. There was no way she was staying home with me.
Again this afternoon she went around the field twice.
What has really pleased me is that Ania has eaten all of her dinner tonight as I was having a problem to try and get her too eat.
I am sure Ania will be up early again tomorrow as it is our walk with the vets. If it is hot we shall not walk but will go down to the cafe on the beach for coffee. So many people with dogs go there and we are allowed to sit on the veranda overlooking the beach which is very beautiful.

Day 275 of Ania's Diary

It has been degrees cooler today and the sun did not come out until lunchtime. The wind is quite high and chilly so this makes for one very happy dog who can breathe a lot better.
We have had 3 walks today and Ania has been around the field twice and done very well.
I have not had to put the humidifier or the fan on at all today and our room has no excess heat in at all.
The one problem I have is Ania's appetite, it is not good and she is hardly eating.
Tomorrow morning Ania goes to the vet for her acupuncture so I am hoping that it will stimulate her appetite .I  do think that the vet will be pleased.
I am glad that I have managed to get a morning appointment as Ania will be better than she is in the afternoon and can rest for the day then as she sleeps for hours afterwards.
Fudge is not himself and I hope he is not going to be poorly now that we are planning to go away.

Day 274 of Ania's Diary

It has been even hotter today. We did a very quick walk around only half the field at 8am as the sun was very hot at this point.
Today I was determined that we were going to clip Ania, she would not eat and we cannot go on like this.
From lunchtime until early this evening we clipped her in stages. She was so distressed and did not want to have her feet or face touched. Her breathing got really bad as did the choking so it was gentle strokes and lots of love with stops and starts. Finally I took off a carrier bag full of fur. There was no bath as I know she would not have stood it so Ania was gentle wiped over with lavender baby wipes.
She is exhausted and I worked the acupressure and she is now behind the settee and her breathing is bad.
I am hoping that Ania will eat her supper tonight if it gets a little cooler. It is even too hot to take the dogs out for a walk and we did a quick walk under the trees in the field below.
In between all of this Fudge and Abby have had a lot of their fur clipped off.
We are hoping to go to the caravan on Sunday so I will take my clippers with me just in case I need to take off any more fur as  at this time of the year it grows so very quickly.

Ania has never been clipped so short, her beautiful ears are gone. I will take a photo very soon but she is still the dog that I love and cherish.

Day 273 of Ania's Diary.

Overnight every window and every door was left open. Ania was so restless that I left the humidifier on for a while but had to switch it off.
We were in the field at 8am with Ania's cool coat on but she was gasping from the start. I took her once around the field and we were straight back and then I took the other 2 for a bit longer walk.
Ania has not eaten all day. Her breathing is horrible but she never complains.
At the moment Ania is lying in the doorway with the fan going full pelt to keep her completely cool.
I wanted to clip Ania's fur off today but she is too exhausted and the quickest I can do it in is an hour.
Hopefully tomorrow she may be a little better. I was told that the heat would kill her and she would only survive if we did not have a hot summer.
We are planning to go to the caravan on Sunday and we will be able to go to the cool Stover Park

 under the trees and it will be lovely. That is if this weather holds out.
This photo was taken before the heatwave and before Ania had all her ears shorn off.

Day 272 of Ania's Diary

It is hot and summer has arrived in Cornwall. Ania is suffering badly.
Every window in the house is open as it was last night. We should not grumble but the weather has gone from being cold to excessively hot.
Ania is making gurgling noises in her throat and it is not pleasant. Tomorrow if it is hot I will strip all of her coat off.
We went to the woods as normal this afternoon in the car. It only take s 5 minutes in the car but Ania could not walk, even though it was a lot cooler. Her gasping was pitiful. She will not go to the toilet in the garden so we have to go.
Shortly I will work the acupressure on her and hope that this will help her and I am not looking forward to the night.
Fudge is better again today although he also does not like the heat.
We have to stay in so that we can keep all the windows open to help Ania

Poppies in our garden.

Day 271 of Ania's Diary

It is hot! The sun is hazy but summer has arrived. Ania and I both found it too hot to sleep last night and she spent half the night wandering around trying to find somewhere that was cool.
We got up earlier and were off to the field with Ania's cool coat on.
The lunchtime walk was a no no and I got the car out and took the dogs to the cool woods just now. Ania gasped all the way but she was determined to do it and would not stop for a drink.
If it is hot tonight the humidifier will be put on to enable her to feel more comfortable.
This weather I believe is set too continue and if it does I will just have to shave off Ania's coat to make her feel more comfortable.
Fudge has an upset tummy and has followed me wherever I have been today. It could well be the heat that is doing this.

Yesterday it was too chilly to sit in the garden and today it is too hot but so lovely for people as the sun cheers people up no end.

Day 270 of Ania's Diary

This morning the weather has been very kind to us. The clouds were over and it was quite chilly, no sign of the hot sun we were promised but oh so good for Ania.
We did a quick trip to the field for a toilet stop and then Ania just knew we were going out and would not eat her breakfast. I needed to get the food from the vets so we set off early. She was very good in the car and did not do so much of her usual barking.
After collecting the food we waited for our friends to turn up and off we set off on our walk. We did it in record time as Ania forged ahead and as it was one of our shorter walks we were able to stop off at the cafe on the beach for our welcome cup of coffee. An enjoyable walk.
This afternoon I drove to the cool woods, the sun has come out this afternoon and Ania was not going to be left behind. She had her cool coat on and it was quite chilly under the trees but our progress was slow. She was too exhausted and she was gasping and we had to keep stopping for a drink and her to get her breath back . I did not mind at all as at least she is still with us, Her spirit is still willing but her flesh is weak.
Fudge and Abby are fine too.
I was hoping to sit in the garden when I came home but the neighbours are having a barbecue and I hate the smell of it and the smoke is blowing our way so have had to shut all the windows hence why I am on the computer now.

Day 269 of Ania's Diary

I am sitting here with the television on and above it I can hear the noise of Ania's breathing.
Today she has seemed very depressed and has hardly eaten. I do not think she was happy to be left behind yesterday.
We have a mixture of sun and cloud and it is not too hot but I put the dogs in the car and drove to the cool woods this afternoon. Ania did well and she was ahead of me the whole time and although we crawled along she did not flag. This was the quickest that we had done this for a long time. She is now exhausted  and has not been very lively for the past few days.
Tomorrow is our dog walk so I am sure that Ania will realise this and be all ready to go. I am hoping that our friends will be able to tomorrow . It should not be too hot as we are forecast it to be cool in the morning but I shall take Ania's cool coat with me just in case so we will be prepared.

Owing to a revamp of our garden I have not been able to get on and do any sewing but I am hoping I may have some time this weekend. although it is always good to get the outside jobs done while it is still nice weather.

Day 268 of Ania's Diary

It rained this morning so all was well. Ania was still being very quiet and not her usual bouncy self.
This afternoon the sun came out although the wind was high and we could not keep the door open.
Off I went to the field as usual only to find their was no wind down there and it was very hot. I now had to get Ania back without walking around the field and I did not even have her cool coat to put on.
Finally I got her home and she was gasping and exhausted. I took the chance that she was sleeping and took the  other 2 dogs for a walk to the cool woods. We walked there and the wind was making it feel really chilly.
Having only crawled around on our walks my legs and feet were aching. It is surprising how soon you get out of the practise of walking and as I love it so much I need to get going again.

Ania seemed very depressed when we got home and there was no greeting from her and she eat her dinner and has gone back to sleep again. Now I think she realises that she just cant walk and do what she wants to do and I am finding this very sad.

Day 267 of Ania's Diary

It is still cool with a stiff breeze. The rain soon cleared away and the weather is ideal for Ania.
For the first time today I felt very sad that we are no longer able to do long walks. Too take her out in the car more than necessary is so stressful.
 Since being poorly Ania gets more excited than ever and barks all the way which of course makes her so poorly. Then we get there she is not able to breathe and walking becomes a nightmare.
Although we live in a beautiful place we are very short of dog walks and our parks are very tiny as our streets are very narrow.
There is very little to report , Ania is eating well but seems to be a bit depressed today, she has probably picked up on my feelings and she has slept for most of the day. Not even a bark  as she has done for the past few days.
Fudge has behaved himself although he had to stay on his lead this afternoon as the boys were in the field playing football and he would not stop barking at them.
Dear little Abby sticks we me and plays with her ball for most of the time.

Now is the time for you to purchase a fabric doggy poo bag to put those little plastic bags of dog waste in. Certain towns are taking the doggy poo bins away and this way you can carry it safely home. All proceeds go towards Ania's very expensive vet bills.

Day 266 of Ania's Diary

Today it has rained nearly all day and has been cold and windy.  It has been good for Ania. Since being sick yesterday Ania has been better. She obviously had a lot of rubbish on her chest which needed clearing. In fact her appetite has increased so I have to make sure that on these good days she eats plenty to counteract the days that eating is a problem.
We have had short walks and the dogs always wear their coats which does help to keep them dry and we always use the hairdryer on their legs when they come in.

Ania is sleeping peacefully at the moment as I have not long worked the acupressure on her. Fudge has behaved himself again today as we have had company on our walk, it is the morning walk when he goes off the field that is the problem. this diverts him and he has something to focus on and just loves the attention of my friends. He is the most lovable dog and people do not realise just how naughty he can be.

Day 265 of Ania's Diary

Today I have returned to the land of living after a harrowing couple of weeks. although my mouth feels like a football still the rest of my body seems to have returned to normal and I can now function properly.
Ania was sick this morning, just the rubbish coming from her chest. I will have to be careful that she does not get pneumonia.
Even though the weather is cool we are never free of this wind but Ania is determined to go out although her breathing gets progressively worse. All the time she will still wag her tail and her determination is what is getting her through all of this.
Fudge has behaved himself. We met a friend this morning so this kept his attention on staying with me.
Now I am feeling better I cant wait to go to the caravan but will have to wait until after Ania's acupuncture next week.
I have lost a couple of weeks but it is time to get the sewing machine out and get on with some sewing.

A crochet cardigan that I made a few weeks ago and will soon put it on my website Cornishk9crafts.yolasite.com

Day 264 of Ania's Diary.

Ania is not having a good day. The walks have been extra short as I am still in a  lot of discomfort.
The weather is dull, dreary and cool but Ania seems exhausted and her breathing is far from good. A friend came around this morning and Ania was still full of enthusiasm and pleased to see her.
Even when I cut up the beef at lunchtime and got the chicken out for the dogs dinner Ania was not interested.
We have had one good week and now it looks as if we are going downhill again.
Fudge has been very good lately, he only comes off his lead once a day and early morning. I let him off his lead and he was gone, straight across the field and up on the road. There was no way he was coming back and I think he got the smell of a cat. He came back to me about 5 minutes later but I dare not tell him off as he will be too afraid to come back.
For the past few months I have been walking with other people in the morning and it has kept Fudge with me but the past couple of weeks I seem to be on my own and he is beginning to wander.
This is such a worry as he has been good for so long.

I do tell people not to wait for me because Ania is slow and we like to stop for her to catch her breath. I would rather that they did this than avoid us.I fully appreciate that people are in a hurry these days, at one time I was too and people do lead busy lives.

Day 262 & 263 of Ania's Diary

Yesterday I was feeling to poorly to post. I had been up all night with raging toothache and 11 days of it was taking its toll. I had phoned every dentist I could to see me as my own was still booked up even after I had rung for 2 days.
To cut a long story short I managed to get hold of the emergency dentist last night and my friend drove me 10 miles. He took one look at it and said it was overfilled and he could take it out. All this because the dentist had decided I needed it filled before it gave me any trouble and it was one of my good teeth. The relief to get the pain out the way was fantastic and the staff at the clinic were wonderful and so kind unlike the treatment I had received from ours.
In all this dear Ania had to be put aside. At lunchtime the 3 dogs went to the vets for their dental check but Ania was so excited  her breathing became bad that hers were left.

Because I could not bend down last night for the first time ever I never worked the acupressure on Ania. What a difference it made.
This morning I did not feel great so had to fool the dogs as it is Saturday and our dog walk. We went out later but Ania's breathing was terrible although she insisted on carrying on walking.
I have worked on her acupressure at lunchtime and she has slept and I will do it again this evening to try and get back on track.
My husband is taking the dogs out now and they will have a shorter walk until I feel better to revert to normal.

Day 261 of Ania's Diary

Not going to write much today. Raging toothache has settled in again and I am not able to see a dentist until Monday. 10 days of raging toothache with 2 visits to the dentist has taken its toll.
Ania is doing so well and she has started barking again. She should not be able to bark with her condition but it has come out loud and  clear today. This of course will not help her.

We have had the garden rubbish taken away and been outside today and Ania has been with us. This is brilliant news as her energy levels are now getting better. It is wonderful news and we are so thrilled about this.

Day 260 of Ania's Diary

Although we have had a little hazy sunshine and it has been warmer each time I have been out with the dogs the cloud has come over . So we have been lucky. This morning Ania had a problem to get home but she slept it off and is eating well and that is the main thing at the moment.
We have been busy sorting out the garden and Ania wandered out once but soon came back indoors to sleep. she has no desire to stay out in the garden with us these days.
On the other hand Abby and Fudge have assisted with digging up all the bushes and we have our work cut out.

We have not been to the caravan for ages and I am missing it but with this raging toothache I need to be home in case I need to go back to the dentist for the third time. I am wondering if Ania has settled better as we have been home for quite a while now although she gets so excited and loves the caravan and the lovely walks that she has. Most of our friends have left the site now and it has been very quiet and Ania loves company.

Day 259 of Ania's Diary

Well here we are, Ania with her shaved off ears. I took this photo this morning on our morning walk when she had to take a break because of her gasping. Abby has her back to us and Fudge is lying down in the distance chewing a ball.
Ania has to carry her newspaper chew when she goes out but it is a problem now as she insists on carrying it and then drops it and I have to go back.
We are having no signs of summer down here and it has been dull and dreary all day. The sun has tried to come out but not succeeded.
Ania has been quite breathless today but it has not deterred her and she has trotted quite happily around the field although we have had lots of stops and a rest in between. Also she is still eating well which is a bonus.
We have been out doing some gardening today, this raging toothache is non stop and I wish the dentist had never touched it in the first place. This has put me off going away hence why we are doing major works in the garden.

Day 258 of Ania's Diary.

The weather has been a mixture of sunshine and cloud but not too hot.
Owing to my raging toothache one week later I rang the dentist and Ania got so excited as for some reason she thought I was going to take her out. It did not matter that she had not long come on from a walk with the other half.
So when I returned from the dentist and still may I add with raging toothache I decided to drive the dogs to the woods. Ania is her own worse enemy. she barks so much in the car that by the time we got there she was too tired to walk. On top of this she managed to take her favourite toy with her and kept dropping it. It was a very slow painful walk, very cool and muddy under the trees and Ania gasped the whole way.
Usually Ania is so exhausted that I do not hear her again for the rest of the day but she has recovered eaten all her dinner and decided that she would join in with the others and bark at anyone who cares to walk by.
It wasn't until I was talking to a lady where I parked my car and she pointed out how very patient the other 2 dogs must be to wait for Ania that I realised how they are. Fudge has to stay on his lead or he would run off onto the main road and Abby is quite content to stand and wait until Ania recovers enough to  walk a bit further.

My 3 dogs go together that is for certain.

Day 257 of Ania's Diary

Nothing much to report today. Ania is very quiet and has slept for most of the day. she has eaten all her breakfast and decided she would have one of my home made dog treats . I had not made any for a few days as if she wont eat them then the other 2 will not either. They are really fussy Poodles.
Fudge has probiotic yogurt every day because of his tummy problems and it seems to be doing him good. I make it myself and Abby and Ania both used to eat it but will not touch it now.
I have raging toothache after my visit to the dentist last Monday so we will be going out very soon but the walk will not be long.
It is not like summer and we have a gale force wind blowing which is making it feel very cold although the sun has now decided to come out. We should be sitting in the garden but we would be blown away if we did.
Every day is different with Ania and I am not used to her being as quiet as this but I do not think that she is poorly and her breathing is very good and not laboured. This weather is good for her.

Day 256 of Ania's Diary

Since I bathed her Ania is so much happier and she has not stopped eating.
We were up early this morning and we only went once around the field and then she eat all her breakfast and was eager to get off to the vets. As she was so excited I had to get out early to calm her down.
The weather is on her side, it is very blustery, more like winter and passing showers which we were so lucky to miss . Ania completed the walk, forging ahead the whole way. We did stop for coffee though which gave her a chance to recharge her batteries.
As  luck my vet was on duty today so he had a chat with me after the walk and he was delighted that Ania had taken a turn for the better. He thinks we will get a lot of down days in this very difficult illness but as long as she comes up in between we may be able to go on for a while. Ania will also be able to have another acupuncture session in a couple of weeks time as long as she continues to make such good progress. I really though the end was to come a few days ago but Ania has a lot of determination as have I

The other side of the bag that I made this week. Before I could add it to my Cornishk9crafts.yolasite.com website I put it on facebook for my poodle friends to see and last night someone asked to buy it and I was able to post it off to them this morning. I am delighted as all proceeds go towards my very large vets bill.

Day 255 of Ania's Diary

Could not resist taking a photo of this perfect poppy in my garden.
I agonised whether we should bath Ania or not. We went to the field this morning where she managed to go around the field twice and met a friend who said how much better she looked than yesterday afternoon.
That clinched it, we were home and she was in the bath and fluff dried , all within an hour and all before she had time to gasp too much. I thought that was it and she would be too tired to do anything else for the rest of the day.
How wrong I was, Ania was at the door first of all and she was not too be left behind.
It was warm but the wind kept it cool although we were forecast heavy rain.
Ania is usually too exhausted to eat but this evening she eat all of her tea and left only a very little behind. I am so thrilled as I was quite in despair and thought if we went on like this she would not make another week.
The dogs always seem to be a lot happier after being bathed and clipped although they make such a fuss of being done and hate being groomed.

Day 254 of Ania's Diary

Things are not good. The weather has changed,  is raining but is quite warm although it is getting very dark here.
This morning I though it was going to clear up so I bathed Abby and Fudge and clipped them. I wanted to do Ania as well. Her breathing this morning was not good and I had to bring her home.
I have managed to clip some of her fur off and want to get her in the bath but her breathing is not good.
 She has shown very little interest in eating. At lunch time I cooked her favourite sausages and scrambled eggs to tempt her and she wolfed them down.
We went for a very short walk in the rain but Ania just stood in the field and would not move.
I am now agonising should I put her through the stress of having a bath which she badly needs . I have a feeling I wont be doing it.
The only good thing  is that Ania is sleeping well at night. I know this as I have raging toothache which is keeping me awake at night.

This is just a bag that I have finished making and will be putting it up for sale on my Cornishk9crafts.yolasite.com website.

Day 253 of Ania's Diary

Today has been hot and sunny although quite a breeze. At lunchtime I decided we would take the dogs to the fields by the sea and my husband would sit in the shade with Ania whilst I walked the dogs around the cool lake. Ania had her cool coat on but was not able to walk even a quarter of the field and it was cool with the breeze off the sea.
Later she insisted on coming to the field with me and just could not do it.
I have worked out that is she never went out then she would be a lot better. Mentally she is a puppy but bodily she is not and the two are clashing. She is the first at the door and so excited to be going out. She does get too excited if we go in the car and this tires her out.
In between times she has been fine and has managed to eat the best she has for the past couple of days. Instead of lying down she just looks at me and nothing will budge her.
The rest of the week it is supposed to be raining and a lot cooler.
I have not spoken to the vet yet but I do believe that she will not be having any more acupuncture.

Ania today in her cool coat with the beautiful Swanpool in the distance. This is a popular dog walking area and there were lots of dogs out , my other 2 seem to have disappeared.

Day 252 of Ania's Diary

Today has been better. Ania had quite a good nights sleep and the coughing and choking has stopped.
There was thick fog this morning, it did not help a lot but we coped.
This afternoon the sun did not have the humidity of yesterday so this helped Ania. The grass had been cut so there were not quite so many bees but we were careful.
Luckily Ania was feeling a lot better as we had to drive to the hospital for my husbands appointment and I do not like to go very far and leave Ania . The dogs were fine though as it was cool in the house and we were only gone for a couple of hours.
Each day is a bonus and Ania still wants to go out but she has not been able to swallow very much of her food so we will try again

later and she has it now in stages throughout the day.

Day 251 of Ania's Diary

We have just arrived back from a disastrous walk. This morning it was pouring with rain and we got drenched so missed out the lunchtime walk. It then stopped raining so off to the field I went and to my dismay the sun came out and it was very hot.
The field is full of clover and the first thing was a bee attached itself to Abby's foot. 2 ladies saw her going frantic and came and helped me whilst I removed the bee. Abby seemed to be ok so I left them and started my walk. 5 minutes later Abby started being violently sick and choking. I now had to get home quickly with the sun shining and a gasping Ania.This was not easy but we got there. Ania coughing all the way.
I have sorted Abby out and she now seems fine and worked on Ania who was far more distressed and in quite a bad way.
We could not have been out for more than 30 minutes, chose the wrong time as no sooner did we get in than the clouds came in again and it looks as if it will rain any minute.
In all of this chaos Fudge seems to be the only one today who is well although he has been drinking excessively as usual.

Day 250 of Ania's Diary

It is more like winter here today and the dogs and I have got drenched twice, there seems to be no let up with the wind or rain.
After days of very little sleep I slept for 5 solid hours and I hope Ania did too. She is not doing quite so well today and I fear that there will be no more acupuncture for her. Also she is miserable and when I cut up the chicken at lunchtime, which she can smell a mile off she was not interested.
Of course she was the first at the door when it was time to go out and just will not be left behind. When it is pouring with rain it is not easy to have to wait for a dog who is rooted to the spot and will not move. Purely because she does not have enough oxygen to be able to do it. I think it is only her determination and zest for life that is keeping her going.
There was only me out today , none of our friends joined us and I cant blame them in this dreadful weather.
Fudge was able to go off his lead as there were no bikes around this afternoon and he took full advantage of this and he was gone trying to sniff out the rabbits with of course no success.

Hopefully the rain will clear this evening and I will be able to creep out the door with the other 2 dogs to give them a longer walk.

Day 249 of Ania's Diary

We had a brilliant night. I woke three times and there was silence, no noisy breathing.
Ania awoke and realised what day it was. She constantly barked until we got to the car which did upset her breathing badly.
Once again it poured with rain so we sheltered for 20 minutes and then had a very blustery, bitterly cold walk. Very enjoyable though with good company. Ania walked all the way, gasping of course but would not stop for a drink.
We had a stop at the local cafe for coffee and a rest and then we came home where Ania slept quite peacefully.
There is no way that Ania is ready to die yet. Her mind is alert and she misses nothing. It is just her body that is letting her down. We are hoping this intense acupuncture session will see a great improvement in her and we will have a few more weeks yet.
The forecast is not set to improve for the next few days so no sign of any hot weather which may not be good for us but will be good for her.
I hesitate to take any photos of Ania with her ears shaved off but a few people have said how nice she looks so in a day or so I will do so.

Day 248 of Ania's Diary

We have just come back from the vets once again and Ania has had her acupuncture and it went well. It is now a waiting game and we will see how she goes over the next few days.

Although Ania's body is not responding her mind is so alert and she wants to go out, see her friends and in all of this her tail is still wagging. We are not ready to leave her go and even this afternoon the vet had to agree that her mind is still alert.
Now her eyes run a lot but this is all part of this horrible disease.
We have to try and remain positive. Ania picks up on our moods and if we are sad then so is she.
Tomorrow will be the testing time when we go on our dog walk. Last week  she barely made it down the road so it will be good to see. If only she would stay behind but she has no intention of doing that.
The other dogs will not settle without Ania either and they are now fast asleep , one either side of me.
It is pouring with rain and is like winter out there so the heating will go on very soon.

Day 247 of Ania's Diary

Am not feeling like writing much today. We have just come back from the vets and Ania is a lot worse. Tomorrow she will have an intense acupuncture session and if this does not get her back to where we were before it will be the last and we have to take the decision to part with her. She still loves life and had the very busy surgery tonight all making a fuss of her. Attention she loves and does not stop wagging her tail. The thought of parting with her breaks my heart and my husband refuses to believe that we will lose her very soon. Not a good day for us.