It's WINNIE - not Whinnie, thank you very much.

I've been having a few 'health challenges' - but as you can see, I now have my paws crossed that I'm out of the woods and doing OK again.

It started when the Lady Of The House noticed a tiny hard bump on my head. We trotted off to the vet and they gave me some antibiotics at first, but they didn't help and the little hard lump got bigger.

Then the eye that I've had that other problem with before began to itch and I was rubbing it a lot with my paw and winking so we went back again. They gave me some new drops and also stuck a needle in my little head bump (TWICE!!!) to get some cell samples to test.

While we were waiting for the results my other eye started itching and I was now spending a lot of time with both eyes squeezed shut, a semi-permanent frown, and doing a lot of eye rubbing.

We went back straight away and got some different drops to try.

The good news is the test results show the lump is either a cyst or a non-malignant tumour - and my eyes have now stopped itching.

For now we're seeing if the lump gets bigger or changes before we make a decision about removing it. The LOTH isn't keen for me to have a general anaesthetic unless it's really necessary.

Anyway. I think I was JOLLY BRAVE through all these vets trips (although I have now got a new technique of digging my claws in to the vet's door mat to try and stop them getting me into the consulting room).

So you can IMAGINE how unimpressed I was when I saw (even through my itchy eyes) that the vet had given me a new name on one of my medications.

WHINNIE PRITCHARD!

How VERY dare she!!

On the PLUS side I was very excited and honoured today to be featured as the first home working greyhound on a great blog the LOTH found recently called How To Work From Home.

Feel free to pop over to How To Work From Home and leave a comment on my interview so that UK home workers find out how many great pet bloggers there are besides me!

Belated award thanks and an update

A BIG belated thanks to Sue and Song at Graceful Greyhounds for sharing with us this Pawsome Award that they received.

We are very pleased and proud. Thank you so much.

I would like to pass it on to one blog that I found today written by the RSPCA in Manchester and Salford.

I was really impressed by the long but thoughtful and information-packed post the author has written about 'bull breeds' and the failings of the UK's current Breed Specific Legislation.

The RSPCA and other rescue kennels in the UK have lots of lovely dogs waiting in vain for a forever home because they are seen as 'dangerous' bull breeds. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, for instance, is one of the loveliest breeds with a fearsome reputation it just doesn't deserve.

The Lady Of The House had a good cry last week when she watched a documentary on the BBC called Death Row Dogs which showed a lovely dog called Tyson being put to sleep because he was classed as a "Pit Bull Type" and although everyone agreed he was a lovely dog and had never shown aggression, because he was a banned type he could not even be offered for re-homing.

We hope the Dangerous Dogs Act in the UK is soon replaced with more fair legislation that penalises the deed not the breed and places the emphasis on making irresponsible owners face the consequences of their actions. In the hands of the wrong owner any dog can be a loaded gun waiting to go off.

I also know that Manchester and Salford RSPCA has been helping look after more than 100 animals rescued from a fire at a garden centre in Oldham last week. So a big PAWS UP to them.

Anyway, more about me!

My second lot of blood tests came back fine, but after a chat with the eye specialist the Lady Of The House has now decided not to go ahead with surgery for the time being. My eye seems slightly better again and it's not causing me pain or discomfort and the eye doctor is SURE it's "nothing sinister" so we're carrying on with the steroid drops and cream and we'll review it again in about five weeks.

Phew!

Thanks for all your good wishes.

Anyone know a dog with this eye condition?

There's been V.E.T visiting since I blogged last.

I've managed to put a few quick updates on my Facebook page - but for blog followers, the story so far goes like this.....

The Lady Of The House rang the vets on Thursday because she and the MOTH thought the eye thingy (which I've had since September) looked a bit bigger again. They thought the 'eye vet' would just say to do a few more drops again (because she'd told us to cut down at Christmas when it had got smaller). But she said she wanted to see me and  I should go straight over.

The 'eye vet' had a good look and said she thought the time had come to 'surgically decluster' it because it wasn't really responding to the steroid drops and cream. So she did some blood tests to check my health ahead of a possible general anaesthetic.

Then she rang back Saturday night to say some of the test results looked a bit odd and she wanted them re-done. When I mentioned this on Facebook one of my 'likers' sent me a link to this really helpful info about what greyhound blood tests are sometimes not like other dogs. (I always KNEW we were special).

So tonight we went to the vets in Stapenhill (nearer where we live) to re-do some blood tests - but THIS time they said I couldn't have anything to eat after breakfast!!! How awful!!! The LOTH made my breakfast an hour later than usual but it didn't help much.

I was very confused this afternoon when it got to dinner time and there was no dinner. I roo-ed a bit (quite a lot if I'm honest) and the LOTH said she thought it was the longest afternoon EVER (and so did I!!).

Anyway, we wait now for the re-done test results to see if they think they should go ahead with the op....but the LOTH is feeling a bit confused about whether we should have it or not and probably needs another long talk to the 'eye vet'. She did talk to them about the article on greyhound blood tests so she is very pleased we had that information thanks to Denise.

This condition (which the 'eye vet' is virtually sure I've got) is called Nodular Granulomatous Episcleritis. It looks like this on me:

It doesn't hurt or affect my vision.

You were all very helpful  and supportive when I blogged about it back in October, but if anyone who's started following me since then has any experience of this NGE eye condition - we'd love to hear from you.

On the PLUS side I got to try 'Sea Jerky' for the first time tonight, They bought some at the vets so I could have a treat as soon as I got out. It's crunchy pieces of dried fish skin and it's GORGEOUS!!

An eye update - and the 'joys' of ageing

Thank you to everyone who's been wishing me well with my current eye problems.

I was back at the Pride Veterinary Centre on Friday where my eye specialist was very pleased with how my eye was improving - slowly - but I have to keep on with the eye drops and ointment for another three weeks and then go back and see her again.

What I have got - deep breath - is called Nodular Granulomatous Episcleritis. According to what I've read on the Internet, Cocker Spaniels and Collies get it a lot. And me, apparently.

It's in my left eye - which by coincidence the Man Of The House took this charming picture of before the trouble started.

It can be a long term condition and my eye doctor says no-one really knows what causes it - although UV rays are one possible factor.

Anyway, on this visit to the Pride Centre I met a really nice Yorkshire Terrier called Lizzie in the waiting area. She was 14 and with her folks who told the LOTH that she had quite a lot of heart problems and other issues. She was really nice and we got on well and sitting with her helped to calm me down and stop me shaking so much. I hope she was OK.

It got me thinking about getting older, and that made me think about this book - Living With An Older Dog - that was published recently by Hubble & Hattie.

You may recognise the name of the publishers as they are the same people who have published our friend Peggy Frezon's great book - Dieting With My Dog - recently.

I would urge you to check out Hubble & Hattie's website as they only publish animal books and you will find some GREAT books there.

Anyway, Living With An Older Dog is a really useful book, and me and the LOTH are really pleased that Hubble & Hattie sent us a copy to review recently.

It's packed full of useful facts about the changes that dogs go through - mentally and physically - as they get older. It's really not a depressing read because there are lots and lots of positive things about getting older (whether you are a dog OR a person!) and we should never forget that.

I love living in retirement with my family as I have my own space where I can go when I want to be alone and sleep and I can be with the family when I want some company and hugs and fuss. I still really enjoy a game in the garden - and I LOVE my walks and trips in the car - but I also like having peace and quiet.

The LOTH says we'll be keeping this book close to hand as it has lots of useful information and it's very reassuring. It's written by David Alderton - a trained vet - and Derek Hall - an experienced pet writer who has owned and trained lots of dogs himself. They know their stuff. There's lots of practical advice about travelling and holidaying with older dogs and diet and special care that might be needed.

I know we all rely on our vets for lots of advice and support, but me and the LOTH think this book is a nice addition to have at home as well.

I have got a little bit fed up of the eye drops - but for now I am down to just four eye drops a day (from six) and two lots of ointment and I am getting little bits of cheese as a treat for being a good girl about it all.

If any of my blogging friends out there have any experience of this NGE eye problem I'd love to hear from you to compare notes!

Tasty Tuesday - Treats that cheer

Do any of you have owners who give you a little treat when they've had to do something to you like put in eye drops or something not too nice? I think it's a guilt thing - but guilt is good in my books if it gets me something tasty.

At the moment I've got a problem with my left eye. It started to get a bit red and then a lump came up and three trips to the vets in the village, and two lots of eye drops and a set of tablets haven't helped (in fact although the swelling went down the red lumpy bit on the white of my eye seemed bigger). So this week I've had to go to a big new state-of-the-art dog hospital in Derby. 

The Lady Of The House thought that because it was a big and light and airy building that looked more like a big shopping place than a vets I wouldn't know where I was. Huh!!! I'm not THAT daft.

There was a happy little Shih Tzu dog bouncing about in the waiting area. His folks told the LOTH that he hadn't realised it was a vets or he'd have been shaking like I was. I think he got the message as before I got called in to see the special eye doctor he was lying very quietly and glumly under his chair.

The eye doctor was very nice and did lots and lots of tests and she thinks I've got an eye disease that she says is quite common in sighthounds and it should respond to steroids.

Anyway (finally) we get on to the Tasty Tuesday bit.

The Man Of The House decided to reward me for being SO good about having my eye drops in when I was on three a day. Since my trip to the hospital I am now on six lots of eye drops a day PLUS two applications of ointment. The LOTH thinks that as a result my treats have to be rationalised. She says eight treats a day is a bit too much.

But I am STILL being good abut my eye drops. The LOTH has a list to remind her when to do them throughout the day. And I only have very small healthy treats of just a little bit of chicken or cheese - so don't worry Kol and Kelly, and Sugar. I'm still eating my two balanced meals a day (even though my nose is a bit long for my bowl sometimes in my eagerness to eat) lots of good walks and garden playtime and just small snacks....some of the time.