I posted on twitter a couple of days ago about Kim trotting – or limping, actually! – off to the vets. I didn’t have chance to post a proper update, but since people have asked, here we go!

Kim has always had a slightly dodgy toe on her right front paw. I’ve had a few off-hand conversations with various people over the years about it; my feeling was always that she’d injured it as a puppy, maybe a dislocation, and as she’d grown it had become slightly lopsided. The webbing between her toes there sometimes gets a little red and sore, but nothing to really get worried about. It’s always been a bit of a niggle in my mind, but nothing ever worth bringing up.

On Monday, she grew a little lump, about the size of a small pea, just at the point where her foot becomes toes, if that makes sense! Quite hard, not sore, but clearly irritating her. I think the “lump” part got some people a bit worried, considering her previous lump-ectomy, but actually my first thought was that it was a foriegn body of some kind that had worked it’s way under her skin.

Vet trip on Tuesday confirmed foreign body, although the lump had vanished by this point (naturally. Kim will do anything to avoid a vet trip!) We agreed that getting it out was the best option, and booked Kim in for a day trip on Wednesday.

Incidentally, whilst at the vets, we asked (as always!) that they check out her heart. Report was good; strong, clear and steady heartbeat. The murmur is distinctly there, but her heart sounds healthy and strong. Also asked about the toe (see above!) and Andy said it was an old injury, and that he felt it was probably a stretched tendon that had healed lopsided.

Kim toodled off for her day trip; light anesthetic expected as it was really just to keep her still. First anesthetic didn’t quite go to plan, since Kim drifted off to sleep and then proceeded to sprint around in her dreams, with much paw flailing. Second, slightly heavier anesthetic required! At least she made everyone laugh, she does love being the centre of attention.

They took out what can only be described (apparently!) as a “lump of gristle”, that was much bigger than expected. FB had probably been there for 11-12months (coincidentally the same time as her previous lump appeared. Connection or no? Genuinely have no idea). So Kim has 10 stitches in her paw and a giant bandage on it, and is sprinting around like an idiot until she thinks someone is watching, at which point it’s heavy limping all the way.

She’d like to point out she definitely wasn’t playing with Alfie the Giant Greyhound on Thursday, she just had to jump in the air to show him her paw.

Let’s gloss over Dylan’s first run, except to say that if you are queuing, have your damn dog with you, especially if the queue is only three people long and you are two of those people. Congrats to Julie and Winnie for winning it though, go the Beardie/Lurchers!

The Graded 1-3 Agility was a really nasty little course. It was the same for the 1-4 Small/Medium classes, and included two contact call-offs and a horrible box push-out and around. Not my kind of thing at all, but Dylan did a nice run, not really flat out at all but he did a really lovely dogwalk. He did get marked on the down contact and I genuinely don’t know whether he hit it or not; I tried to front cross at the bottom and pushed him sideways, and although he did his 2o2o stop, I’m not sure he had any paws in the yellow. Not his fault anyway, and it was almost-fast and was confident.

Lady Jane made an appearance too, because Myerscough is light, clean and airy, and she likes the crowds and the noise. The classes were 5-7 but the gamble partly paid off, and we had a cracking smooth Jumping course, just offset by the painfully difficult Agility. She was really happy to be there, so I still happy with the semi-retirement thing.

Kim and I watched everyone getting E’d or faulted on the Jumping, and Kim showed those whippersnappers what an old lady can do. Shame her handler is spacially challenged! We got a big 5R as I pulled her off a jump way too early, so we looped back around and then came 2nd, with a time that would have comfortably put us 2nd in the Grade 6, and with the second knocked off for the loop, we’d have been in the G7 placings too. This really makes me smile, because Kim runs at cruising speed these days, just chilling in middle gear and laughing at me the whole way around, and still clocks up faster times than dogs running flat out at half her age. For a long time it bothered me that I had failed her with regards to training, and that she never got the Grade 7 label I knew she deserved. I guess I’m just happy to take her line on things these days; she knows she’s more awesome than everyone, and I know she is too.

All the other three rings had packed up by the time came for Kim’s agility, but I guess we can’t be first to leave all the time! The agility involved a little bit of coaxing on the call-offs, but Kim raced through all the straights and made up more than enough time. I promptly forgot the ending, had to make it up and wasted what felt like hours improvising slowly and wildly. We got around though, clear and easy, and Kim came 2nd again. I’m more than happy with that! Staying in Grade 5 means I can stay away from 5-7 or 6-7 classes, and let her have a blast in 3-5s.

Kim also had an interesting end to her Agility run. The big white horse barriers (double bar, about 4-5ft high) were marking out the edge of the run. I’d seen a couple of dogs over the course of the day jump the last jump and then continue to jump through the center of the two bars to leave the ring, mainly when the walkway area was clear of dogs and people. Kim jumped the last jump, and then tried to jump the whole thing. She nearly made it, bailed at the last second and somehow pinged back through the centre hole as it was tipping. It landed on her head … she is such a drama queen, with the screaming and the hobbling and the “much sympathy required” signs.

Within two minutes she was being gobby and muscling in on Pippa’s snapshot moment – Kim was originally stood three foot to the left, until she saw the shutter going down …

This was the best way to spend Valentine’s Day. I drove the dogs up to Castle Hill and we ranged all over the footpaths; Mollie interrupted all the snuggling teenagers and Dylan tried to knock people over as he raced past. Kim was on her own mission, which involved digging up as many moles as she could find. She didn’t find any, but it’s always worth a shot.

Mollie did try and adopt herself out to several families who were out for a Sunday stroll, but none of them would take her home. Poor Mol, she’s stuck with us! I did have to send my dad to go and fetch her back after she latched on to a certain couple who were throwing a ball for their own dog, a very patient Collie/Staffie cross. Dad returned carrying her, because she wouldn’t actually leave them alone. She was looking plaintively over his shoulder, but as soon as her paws hit the floor she was off, racing Kim down the banks.

The fitness regime is kicking in, and all the gang are starting to get their streamlined figures back. Dyl has lost almost everything he gained, and his ribs are almost back to touch. Mollie still looks like a bit of a bear, but it’s her fluffy winter coat, and “Fat Rolls Kim” has her waistline back, although her belly is still clinging. It’s hard to get the old ladies to shift their fat.

We did two lazy circuits of the hill, and the dogs did at least six mad laps of the hill. We all stood and watched a bit of the rugby going on below, and then wandered up to the castle for a nosy. It wasn’t open today, otherwise I’d have got some photos from the top. The lovely sunshine had all gone and the clouds were rolling in, so we came home a bit early and didn’t let the dogs blast over the kite field. I don’t think they minded so much.

I think Dylan wishes every day could be Valentine’s Day.

A whatnow?

Mollie takes her pick …

Dylan’s takes his …

And Kim gets what’s left.