Grace is growing... growing fast!

Hi!

It's been a while since we've updated this page, so here we are...
First of all some bad news: most of our puppies suffer from kneeproblems; some of them have already had surgery, others are already put down...
Grace also has that same kneeproblem, but at only one of her knees, not both. Most likely she will undergo surgery when she's over 18 months old, that way she will be fully recovered from her kidneysurgery and bladderproblems. The most important thing is get her through that first and than we'll start thinking about the other surgery, because she isn't really in pain with that knee. After she gets of antibiotics for her kidney and bladder, we'll start giving her some meloxicam tablets. Thanks for this tip to our dear friend and breeder of Viggo, Iwonna!

Okay, enough with the bad news!
As I hear from my brother and mum, Grace is still the little pig she's always been. She wrecks everything she finds and teases her mum and stepdad. She's also copying everything Viggo does. Viggo's still the overprotective stepdad and Mona... Mona looks great, she's finally gotten over her pregnancy and motherhood. For a while she really suffered hormone swings with becoming incredibly thin and without any joy for life, she really looked horrible for some time and when she stopped eating, we were afraid to lose her. But now she's all over that stuff and found back how to be a great Newfoundland! She's not being the 'teaching' mum, because she allows everything little Gracie does, but she sure as hell is a very loving mum!

So to sum up, I really don't have to be afraid to come home to totally different dogs (I'm living in Italy for 6 months to go to school there):
Viggo is still the great, big dog he always was. Loving and carrying for Grace and Mona.
Mona is back her joyous self she always was. Playing and being completely crazy.
Grace is a playful, curious and 'love-to-learn-something-new' puppy.
Shaggy became a beautiful cat, he'll be celebrating his 2nd birthday soon. Also still loving and carrying for Grace and playing with her.

Some pics my mum sent me:

Sleepy Shaggy

Runnnnn!!!! Viggo - Grace - Mona

Like mother like daughter
Viggo - Mona - Grace

"Runnnnn, Mummyyyy!!! Dad's right behind you!!!" 

Beautiful Grace

Grace's bladder infection

Grace's bladderinfection was more severe than we had thought, white bloodcells were over 10 000 and they are normally not allowed to go over 25... 
BUT: She's doing great on the antibiotics the vet gave her! Now we have to have her checked every onces in a while to make sure she won't get an infection on her healthy kidney! 

Grace in de lappenmand

Grace got sick overnight... Yesterday we already saw she had difficulties to hold her pee and when she peed, it took a long time...
But tonight she couldn't hold it anymore, 5 pees!
We have a veterinaryappointment at 12:30! Probably some antibiotics and rest, we already know the drill!
I hope she gets out of this alright! It's not good for her to have a bladderinfection, seen that she has only one kidney left.
She still eats good and still has a lot of energy, but we know from her mum that those things can turn in just a matter of time. But she's a thoughy, she's a fighter, she has proven that already!

"I'm back"

"I'm back home!!!! Although I had a great time teasing the nurses back at the hospital (I loooovvveee to bark all night long when I'm locked in a cage), I'm very happy to be back home with my mum, stepdad and best friends! Apparently they took away my sick kidney, but they gave me a very long scar (from my ribs down to the bottom of my belly) and this nice collar instead... Man, that thing really bugs me! The very nice vets say that everything will be alright with me now. Next Monday I have to go for a first check-up!"

*****

"Ik ben terug thuis!!!! Hoewel ik het erg leuk vond om de dierenartsassistentes een beetje te plagen - in een kooi doe ik niets liever dan de hele nacht blaffen-, ben ik blij terug thuis te zijn bij mijn mams, papsie en mijn beste vrienden! Ze hebben mijn zieke niertje eruit gehaald, maar ze hebben me wel een mooi litteken (van net onder mijn ribben tot helemaal onderaan mijn buik) en een toffe lampenkap gegeven... Dat ding zit me soms wel echt in de weg! De dokters zeggen dat nu alles wel goed komt. Volgende maandag eerste check-up!"

Update surgery

Grace's surgery went well, better than the vet had thought! The urethra on her right kidney was better attached to the bladder than expected. She woke up and everything seems fine. She has to stay until monday but maybe she can come home a little bit sooner.