Page 19 - Autumn 2023 Newsletter

MY LIFE AND OTHER DOGS

We spent time exploring and then it was take a look when we in the surgery.
time to go back on the lead. Merlin’s Unfortunately, she could feel a lump inside
owners had been having problems with him and it was bleeding so there was no doubt
refusing to come back, he hadn't run away it was a tumour and it had to come out. At
he just wouldn't come back to go on the this point mine and Merlin’s timelines run
lead. I was given my recall whistle and at different speeds, so as this is Merlin's
came back, Merlin followed and stood next story I will concentrate on him for now.
to me while he was put on the lead. Rescue dogs don't come with insurance and

We walked back to the car and when Mum vets are not the NHS, so the cost of Merlin’s
opened the door Merlin jumped in, curled operation came in at £1500 but there was
up and went to sleep. To be honest that was no question of not having it done and as
that! Paperwork was completed and half an difficult as it was, the money was found,
hour later we were on the way home with and the operation went ahead. The tumour
Merlin snoring in the back. was removed and sent for testing, the
results were inconclusive which meant they
That was the start of a new chapter - I got a
new job and Merlin got a big brother to couldn't tell if it was cancerous or not.

look after him and show him the ropes. On the plus side it had good margins of
healthy tissue around it, so had probably
Merlin and I have been together for a few
years now, and we are the best of mates. not spread elsewhere and hopefully wasn't
The little fella follows me everywhere, I love going to come back. Merlin was very ill after
to lead, and he loves to follow, together we the operation, it took him quite a long time
make a great team. to get over it. We started having joint
appointments at the vets, it was just easier
One evening not long ago when we were to see us both together!
about to be fed, I had a seizure and
collapsed. When I came around mum was Eventually Merlin started to recover, and he
holding me in her arms and Merlin was with has had no recurrence of the tumour, so
me, he was very worried. I couldn't stand fingers crossed it’s all behind him.

up on my own and kept falling over and my During one of our joint appointments, we
head was tilted to one side. When I tried to received the devastating news that all the
walk towards something I kept staggering to tests I had undergone although not
one side. Half an hour later I was with conclusive, and without the benefit of a
Dr Faye in the veterinary surgery. There are brain scan, pointed to either a massive
several conditions that could have caused neurological event or more likely an
my symptoms, it could have been inoperable brain tumour.
something simple like an ear infection or It was decided we would treat for a brain
something more sinister like a tumour. The tumour but there wasn't a cure. I was very
only way to know for definite was to have a unwell and put on very powerful
CT scan. Dr Faye however advised against a medication to help slow my deterioration
brain scan because she felt at my age, I may down. My prognosis was very poor, for a
not survive the anaesthetic if they should dog of my age with my symptoms the
have to operate on me. It was decided we average life expectancy was approximately
would try some other less drastic tests to 4 to 8 weeks.
get an idea of what was going on.
And so, we head to the final chapter of my
I was seeing Dr Faye every few days to have story! ...
my condition assessed. It was at this time
that Mum and Dad noticed Merlin was
passing a little blood so asked Dr Faye to

info@bedlingtonrescue.co.uk www.bedlingtonrescue.co.uk