Just a short update on our visit to the new vet (Sue Armstrong) in Wetherby. I have never seen Heidi look so relaxed or sparkly in the eye department as she was discussed & as she went around from person to person for strokes & tickles. Within minutes of arriving 2 nurses appeared to take some blood & Heidi was very sweet; she made a slight sound but she didn’t tighten up at all & looked quite calm. The nurses were lovely & were happy with the suggestion to allow HRH to drop her head down a little (her neck gets quite tight / stiff sometimes).
The timing was great as she then had an hour to mooch around the room & explore who was going to give her the best attention & was utterly delighted at the end when Sue gave her 2 more liver treats. I think she’ll be happy to return!
I was very glad that Demetri was there; he was able to gently hold Heidi while Sue checked her heart, etc. & filled in the gaps of information which I had forgotten. It’s also good to have another dimension added to her life – someone who is really observant of how she is, how she responds & other facets of her personality.
I commented last night how supported I felt, but it’s more than that. I feel that the responsibility of observing her, being mindful of her or maybe just an awareness of how she’s feeling is now shared. I was fairly emotional when I realised this last night – truth can sometimes feel overwhelming. Heidi’s care has never been. She is a truly special little dog who is growing into her skin daily & I can see her achieving the potential that she has had within her all this time but has maybe been a little reluctant to explore it. It is a joy to feel that the fire-fighting stage has ended & we can now help her peel away the layers from her past, of her health & her daily expectations to reveal this shining light that we have been getting glimpses of.
Shine on little one.
R