So Tara's many health issues have been building up for a while, and it seems they may now be taking their toll on my girl she's dropped a lot of weight over the past few months despite eating well and is becoming more and more 'wobbly' and weak on her legs.

For those of you who don't know her story, Tara came to me between christmas and new year 2008 when her current owner wanted to euthanise her. To cut a long story short she was signed over to the practice where I was working at the time, and came home to live with me over new year until the rehoming kennels could take her. Obviously she never quite made it to those kennels

She was approximately 12 and a half when I got her and had a few issues when we got her, various lumps and bumps, an injured leg, terrible dental issues and liver disease. But we got through all of that, leg was stitched up, teeth got sorted, lumps tested and a couple removed and put on supplements to support her liver function. She was also a nervous wreck when I got her, terrified of sudden movements, raised voices and if you caught her by surprise she would scream and run for the hills My thoughts when I took her in were if I could just give her a good 6 - 12 months, I would be happy.

Slowly she learnt to trust again and almost 4 years later here we are Following a head trauma a couple of years back when playing with Max in the garden she has been left partially blind and been plagued with vestibular episodes, one of those horrible accidents that leaves you thinking 'if only' several times over

She is now looking very skinny, her face is starting to hollow with the weight she is dropping. Bloods are all normal, even her liver is back to normal. She has as mentioned lots and lots of lumps, and our best suspicion is that one or more of those are nasty. However with her current issues and her age, I wouldn't put her through any major treatments or surgeries, so finding out exactly what / where it is would make no difference. She is on supportive treatment and as long as she is still eating and able to get herself up and around and out for the toilet then that is good enough for me. She still plods out on her walks and loves being in the fresh air. I know we are living on borrowed time, and she will tell me when she's had enough, and I can't help but think this time will soon come

So today I have made a tribute for my girl made up of a few photos we have taken over the past 4 happy years. From the frightened shell of a dog she came to me as, to the happy and contented dog I see before me ... this is my girl, my angel, my forever dog, Tara



I love you baby girl, more than you will ever know