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| Bella |
Bella is our 'little old lady', a female miniature daschund aged 12 years.
She has a lipoma (as you will see in the photo) on her left lower neck which has not caused her any major problems so far.
She's a very lively,fun little dog and loves to run around with Satchel, her best friend!
She gets particularly excited when we squeeze a squeaky dog toy/ball and goes mad!
She likes to sleep right under her blankets so that's she's completely covered and snuggled.
She gets very scared during thunderstorms or heavy rain.
She is used to eating twice a day - Hill's canine senior science diet biscuits for small dogs and she also really likes whiskas cat biscuits! She does not always eat up her food and has to be encouraged (she will often leave it until later but then there is the risk of Satchel stealing it - which can mean that she misses out on her food completely!).
We often add in a very tiny amount of gravy/juice from the cats' tinned food and mix it into her biscuits.
If we find she's not eating we often squeeze a squeaky toy and say "eat Bella!" and this gets her excited so that she runs back and forth to her bowl, eating a few biscuits each time! (Yes, we are mad!!)
(If Satchel's having a playtime with a squeaky toy she often likes to eat her biscuits then, in between running out to see him and then back for more biscuits!)
(If Satchel's having a playtime with a squeaky toy she often likes to eat her biscuits then, in between running out to see him and then back for more biscuits!)
Bella has had quite a few teeth removed over recent years and only has about twelve teeth left.
She does have a few pockets under her teeth, in her gums,where food can collect.
I try to brush her teeth and clean her mouth about four times a week and use Hexarinse which seems to work pretty well.
Bella loves a cuddle and a little 'tummy rub' and responds very well to ladies in particular.
Our routine has been to settle the dogs in their beds at 'bedtime' with a small 'bedtime biscuit'.
Bella does not usually wear a collar or walk on a lead as it has not been necessary in Zambia, so she will be most comfortable without a collar on.
Bella does not usually wear a collar or walk on a lead as it has not been necessary in Zambia, so she will be most comfortable without a collar on.
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| Satchel |
Satchel is a male golden labrador aged 9 years - the baby of the family!
He's a large dog and probably overweight I'm afraid.....
He does get stiff hind legs and sometimes struggles to get up easily if he's been lying down for a long time (he may well be very stiff after the flight?). A nice rub of his back legs helps a bit.
Satchel thinks he's still a puppy and loves to run around, chase a ball and play 'football', etc (sometimes overdoing it a bit and ending up with leg strain) and he absolutely adores Bella!
Satchel is used to eating twice a day - Hill's canine senior low fat science diet biscuits.
(again, we often mix the spoon around the biscuits after feeding the cats so he gets a little 'taste' of something extra)
He likes to have his toys with him (Tigger is his favourite!) and carry them around in his mouth as well as sleep with them in his bed!
He loves a 'tummy rub' - all day long if he gets his way!
He's mad about squeaky toys/balls and gets very excited!
He's also used to his 'bedtime routine' of a biscuit in his bed at 'bedtime'.
Satchel does not usually wear a collar or walk on a lead as it has not been necessary, so again, he will be most comfortable without a collar on if possible.
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| Ziggy |
Ziggy is our 'old man' at the age of 15 years!
He's a real 'softy' and enjoys a good stroke, sometimes giving the 'stroker' the odd gentle 'love bite'! (purely playful and gentle!)
He's quite a 'talker' and loves to be greeted and to greet us.
He is used to a selection of Hill's feline senior science diet biscuits and whiskas biscuits so that he can have a nibble of either throughout the day.
We also give him a very small amount of tinned cat food for 'breakfast' and again at 'dinnertime'.
He likes most tinned food, particularly if it has a nice gravy and his absolute favourite food is pilchards in tomato sauce!
He often loves a stroke when he eats.
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| Gypsy |
Gypsy is our 'beautiful little girl'. She is 13 years old and likes nothing more than to be with us all the time, following us around and settling on our laps whenever she gets the chance.
She's the most active of the cats and likes to climb!
She is also used to a selection of Hill's feline senior science diet biscuits and whiskas biscuits so that she can have a nibble of either throughout the day.
We also give her a very small amount of tinned cat food for 'breakfast' and again at 'dinnertime'.
She likes most tinned food, particularly if it has a nice gravy.
Gypsy is sometimes rather timid to begin with and perhaps more likely to relax with a lady.
She's full of affection but may take a while to feel trusting of people.
Gypsy generally prefers to sleep in an 'igloo' or something that she can get inside.
She's full of affection but may take a while to feel trusting of people.
Gypsy generally prefers to sleep in an 'igloo' or something that she can get inside.
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Clyde |
Clyde is our 'biggest baby', totally soft and hardly ever stops purring! He is 10 years old.
He's not very active (as you can probably tell from his photo!) and likes to sprawl out on a blanket or cushion (he doesn't sleep in a little snug bed as he is large and definitely likes to 'spread out'!)
He's a real chatterbox and likes to talk to us every time we walk past him!
He loves being picked up and carried around - he's a bit like a 'pick him up and he purrs' toy!
He is also used to a selection of Hill's feline senior science diet biscuits and whiskas biscuits so that he can have a nibble of either throughout the day.
We also give him a very small amount of tinned cat food for 'breakfast' and again at 'dinnertime'.
Clyde definitely prefers something 'fishy' out of a tin although he does eat other tinned foods depending on his mood!
He's a bit mischievious and likes to have a 'bat' at our legs when we walk past him.
Clyde is generally very laid back, but occasionally a bit nervous and we have found that he doesn't travel well and will therefore have sedation for his flight.
