Saturday 28 July 2018

Some Good Archie News

We took Archie to see the vet before we went on holiday, primarily for his booster injection but also for a six month health check. It's quite important that the vet sees him on a regular basis now that he's been diagnosed with a heart murmur, and especially so since he was put on medication to slow down the onset of heart failure.


I'm always apprehensive when taking Archie to see the vet these days, it's concerning to think that there may be more bad news on the way, so imagine my relief when the vet told us that not only is he doing really well but she said that if it wasn't for the heart murmur, which is quite deafening, she'd consider him a really healthy dog.


She was surprised that his heart rate was that of a dog without a heart problem and his lungs were clear. We haven't seen any difference in Archie ourselves so it was good to be told that we're not missing anything.


Of course, he's been struggling a bit in the heat we've been experiencing, as have most of us, but I could feel that weight lift from my shoulders as we left the surgery. I know it will come one day but for now, our little doggy is fighting fit.

46 comments:

  1. Long live Archie! I'm hankering after a cavalier myself and it's good to read about him.

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    1. They're such a lovely breed. When I knew we were going to get a dog I did a lot of research into breeds which would fit in best with our family and Cavaliers came top every time. I wouldn't swap him for the world.

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  2. Brilliant news, they may be pets, but they are our babies. He is a han chap.

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    1. Our pets are definitely part of the family. It's such a relief to know that he's still doing well at the moment.

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  3. Great news Jo. Glad to hear he's doing well. Give him a big from down under. Enjoy the weekend, keep cool and take care.

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    1. I'd been dreading seeing the vet but it was a much happier visit than it could have been, such a relief.

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  4. Tivvy has been struggling with the heat too and she also has a heart problem and is on medication for high blood pressure.

    She has also been on steroids so has piled on weight

    About a year ago she has an MRI which showed some swelling in her brain which was thought to be a tumour and she was given between 2-4 months. When she seemed to show no signs of worsening the very recommended a second MRI which revealed that whatever it was had gone but that she probably was having some bleeds in her brain which would require sorting out so she had been booked in for blood tests etc on Monday. One good thing is that she can now n=b weaned off steroids.

    One consequence of all this is that the insurance company have more than doubled the monthly premium to £375 a month. They're not called More Than for nothing!

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    1. How much??? Our insurance renewal is coming up in September and I'm not looking forward to hearing how much it's gone up by this year now that Archie's started on tablets that we know he'll be on for life. It sounds like Tivvy has been in the wars over the last year but some good news from the second MRI. What a worrying time it must have been for you, they're one of the family and it's terrible when there's anything wrong with them. Fingers crossed that the bleeds can be sorted out and she can get back to full health.

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    2. It was awful to be told she had only a couple of months to live. Tivvy is on tablets for life too. Who are you insured with? We are cancelling the More Than insurance which will give us a £4,500 head start for vet’s bill and a new insurance for any new conditions. They also had a £150 excess plus 20% of vets bills. We have found another company where we can insure any new conditions for under £100 a month and a lower excess. Tivvy is 13 so lots of companies won’t insure her due to her age.

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    3. I can imagine how awful it was to hear such devastating news. We insured Archie as soon as we got him with Axa but they no longer do pet insurance and all the policies were taken over by NCI. We pay around £60 per month at the moment but we'd only ever made one claim for about £300 which was for Archie's cardiac ultrasound. I dread to think what it'll go up to this time now that he's started on medication. We have a £90 excess and once Archie's 10 (he's 8 now) we'll have to pay 15% of treatment costs. My friend had to have her dog put to sleep recently, he was insured with Pet Plan and she was paying less than we are now, yet he'd had problems with his pancreas for years, was on medication and a special diet and had been kept at the vets for weeks at a time for treatment, which had all been claimed for. He was older than Archie too. It's really hard to know what to do for the best where insurance is concerned as they seem to rip you off left, right and centre.

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  5. It's good to read that he's doing so well. Lovely pictures. xx

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    1. I should have given Eleanor the credit for the photos, she took them for me yesterday in between the storms. It's a big relief to know his health hasn't got any worse.

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  6. I am thrilled for you, they are a big part of the family.

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    1. They really are and as much as they bring us a lot of happiness, they also cause us great worry when they're not well so it's a weight off my shoulders until he's due for his next check up.

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  7. Glad he's doing well. He's such a precious looking little guy.

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    1. He's such a good dog, never a minute's trouble so it's sad that he has these issues, but at least he's doing well at the moment.

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  8. Such wonderful news! No doubt the wonderful care and all the love she receives play no small part in how well she is doing.

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    1. He does get pampered but he deserves it, he's such a good boy.

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  9. Glad to hear you are doing so well Archie! Keep it up little fellow!!

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    1. I've been a bit worried about him struggling in the heat but I suppose it's to be expected if you're wearing a woolly coat. The vet was very happy with him.

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  10. That's great news, and a relief for you Jo. Archie is very cute. Xx

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    1. He's such a cutie. It was a huge relief, the best news we could have expected.

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  11. Oh I'm so glad Archie is doing so well. Clever Archie! Give him a hug from me, Jo! :o)

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    1. I was dreading seeing the vet with him but a weight lifted from my shoulders on the way out, he's such a worry but I wouldn't swap him for the world.

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  12. Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! I am so happy for you. And for him.

    And what a dolllllll he is!!!! Just precious...

    Hugs to Archie...

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    1. That's just how I felt when I walked out of the vet's. I can relax a little now until his next health check is due.

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  13. That’s good news. What a beautiful face, Archie has.

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    1. He's very photogenic, when he sits still!

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  14. That's great news Jo! I can imagine the relief you felt after the visit to the vet. He's a lovely looking doggie. Will you take him to have his fur trimmed again? Our son and family have a King Charles Spaniel. Rupert has a sweet nature, but he's getting old and there have been times when it has been touch and go with his life. He spends a lot of time sleeping. He can't see very well, but he appreciates lots of stroking and attention when we visit.

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    1. It was a big relief to get some good news. He's had his fur cut really short on two occasions now and it's been good for him in this hot weather. I think he definitely feels more comfortable with it short so we'll definitely get it cut short again. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have such a lovely temperament. It's sad when our pet's health starts to decline but it sounds as though Rupert gets lots of fuss and attention which I'm sure he appreciates.

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  15. Archie is adorable.
    Lovely photographs Jo … and more importantly good news :)

    All the best Jan

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    1. He's such a lovely dog, it was such a relief to hear some good news.

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  16. That's wonderful news. He's such a cute dog, let's hope he continues to thrive.

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    1. I hope so. The medication he's on at the moment should delay the onset of heart failure but it's sad to think that it's coming at some point.

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  17. Best news. Always such a worry when the furries are unwell, once the heat has gone I´m sure he will feel even better xcx

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    1. I think you're right. He's not fond of the hot weather, he doesn't know where to put himself for the best.

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  18. I've enjoyed a catch up read with you Jo. Your holiday snaps area lovely, so pleased you had a nice rest and I hope Eleanor is more relaxed to after the sunshine break.
    Lovely socks - pretty pattern.
    Good news Archie is doing well, I hope you have the cooler temps like we have had this weekend, some much needed rain too.
    take care xx

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    1. I think the break did us all good, it was lovely to get away from things for a while and recharge the batteries. I shall have a few new pairs of socks in my sock drawer this winter, I'm looking forward to wearing them all, but not too soon of course. Archie's enjoyed the cooler temperatures this weekend but hasn't enjoyed getting caught in the rain on his walks. It's warm here again today.

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  19. Replies
    1. Each vet visit is such a worry these days so it was nice to get some good news for a change.

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  20. Ahhhhhh, that is just brilliant news Jo. I'm so glad he is such a loved family friend!xxx

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    1. I know we won't get such good news on every vet visit but I'm just glad that things haven't progressed as quickly as they might.

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  21. So very happy for you and of course for the Gorgeous Archie,may he have a Long and Happy Life.Love the photos of your Precious boy.

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    1. It was lovely to get some good news, I just hope we continue to do so.

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