Naughty George isn't very well

So. On Monday this week, there I was minding my own business, cleaning the liquid cucumber out of my fridge's salad tray, when Naughty George started making funny noises.

Nothing new there then. One of his favourite hobbies is jumping 3 feet up into the compost bin, feasting on decomposing food, and then promptly barfing. And barfing with amazing accuracy to boot. Yep, he always manages to honk up in an area that has underfloor heating, thus ensuring the house is filled with the aroma, and that I need to painstakingly scrape the mess up with a blunt knife.

So, at first I ignored his new funny noises (half puke / half wheeze), until I gradually realised that they didn't result in him being sick. It was though something was stuck in his throat, which is a bit worrying considering that the mutt is knocking on for 16 years old.

There was only one thing for it.......... A trip to the vet............ and man alive, does Naughty George hate the vet?

Upon arriving at the aforementioned vet, a regular routine commenced:

1. NG locks his legs into a straight, but slightly forward-facing position, in order to resist attempts to get him through the entrance

2. NG is dragged to the reception desk without taking a single step

3. NG tries to start a fight with neighbouring spaniel in the waiting room

4. Vet calls NG in, laughing at the fact that he is called Naughty George

5. Vet's humour quickly vanishes as he realises that NG has gargantuan strength when it comes to resisting any attempt at examination

6. Vet requests the assistance of owner in trying to pin down writhing mutt

7. With restricted access to mutt (i.e. owner has dog in a headlock), vet finally completes his examination.

And the verdict? Well Naughty George's vital organs are all in tip-top condition for his age (with 'another good few years left in him' according to the vet), so the cause of the funny noises was most likely to be a throat infection caused by a rotten tooth.

Anti-biotics were prescribed and a repeat appointment was made for 9 days time, when he would be reassessed, then put under anaesthetic for a tooth job to restore his California smile.

Pic.No.1 Naughty George was not a happy bunny after coming back from the vets

I must admit, I do worry about the trauma it causes him when he goes to the vets. Purely because (even though he doesn't look, or act like it), he is really quite old at 15.

Pic.No.2. Naughty George wallows in the 'sympathy strokes'

The poor chap curled himself into a ball on the sofa and slept himself out of the trauma. But you will be pleased to hear that four hours later, he was back in the garden, scoffing decomposing food from the compost bin........ hang on, is this deja vu?