Last week I was emailing you about sweet vet experiences I'd stumbled across online and now, in a twist of irony, I'm emailing you about my less-than-sweet visit to the vet with Winston on Tuesday.
It was for a regular, annual check-up and to collect our next batch of flea tablets.
All was going well, Winston was receiving lots of treats, and the vet even commented on how lovely and white his teeth are! Great to know the regular tooth-brushing is paying off...
And then the vet paused. Checked his back right molar. Then his left.
Both are fractured π© one so much so that the "pulp" is exposed.
I asked the vet how this happens and she said it can happen as a result of Yak chews, calf hooves, antlers - things like that. Now I've always been aware of the risks of giving dogs tough things to chew, but Winston doesn't get these items often. Maybe 3-4x per year?
But of course, it only takes one wrong bite to chip the tooth and here we are... two fractured molars.
I also asked the vet if Winston is in pain. She said he could be experiencing some low-level discomfort, but the bigger risk is infection. If that happens, we could have an emergency on our hands, which I absolutely do not want.
The vet is speaking to a specialist to find out whether removing the teeth or getting fillings/caps would be the best course of action. She mentioned it costing Β£2-Β£3,000, so I'm going to get a second opinion (and quote) and take it from there as unfortunately most insurance (including ours) doesn't include dental work like this.
Have you ever experienced this before?
Any tips or insight you have to share would be hugely welcome!
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Snoot boops and bunny hops,
Winston & Bella x
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They really do need all that sleep π΄
Adult dogs need between 12 and 14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour cycle, according to the Sleep Foundation. Puppies and seniors need closer to 18. Corgis are polyphasic sleepers β they don't do it in one block. They'll bank six to eight hours overnight, then nap four to eight more across the day.
This matters because a lot of owners assume a corgi snoozing at 3pm is bored, lazy, or under-exercised. Usually they're just meeting a biological requirement.
If your corgi is sleeping their normal amount, greeting you at the door, isn't overweight, is eating well, and happy on walks β no cause for alarm. Sudden changes in sleep, not sleep itself, are the thing to watch.
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How "sploot" became a real word π
If your corgi has ever collapsed onto the floor with both back legs stretched behind them β you've witnessed a sploot. The pose has a name. And that name is now in the Merriam-Webster slang dictionary.
The word started appearing online in the early 2010s, mostly on Tumblr, and mostly attached to photos of corgis. Lexicographer Grant Barrett traces it back to "splat" β a nod to the flat, spread-out shape.
A decade later, four major dictionaries recognize it. Corgis did that! A breed so specifically shaped to look ridiculous when tired that they added a word to the English language.
Though I will say... Winston rarely sploots! Devastating, I know. Is your corgi a regular splooter?
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT:
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We recommend...
A stuffed toy with a battery-powered heartbeat and a warm insert β designed to mimic a littermate for anxious rescues, new adoptees, and dogs who don't do well alone. Under $40, and one of the few anxiety products with great results reported by owners.
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RESCUE DOGS AVAILABLE:
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Beautiful Betty
βBetty is one of six girls (see the rest here) who have been rescued from the meat trade in China and are waiting to find their forever homes in Europe/the UK. Sybil will need to be the only dog in the household and can't live with children under 8 years old. She will fly fully vaccinated and spayed. If you can offer this beautiful lady a home, please email corgis.savingharbindogs@gmail.com.
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In case you missed it...
Since we're on splooting β this one's a catalogue of the corgi behaviors you'll find yourself Googling in year one. The Corgi loaf, the disappearing-into-a-couch-cushion trick, the zoomies at 10pm sharp... how many does yours do? All of them? Thought so.
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Corgi of the day
We're going international for this week's Corgi of the day! Well, technically Olive and Joseph are. Here is Olive, pictured last summer, when she flew from the US to France to check out the sights! Her owner, Joseph, says the one thing he finds most unusual is her appetite. She constantly acts like she is starving π€£ No idea what you're talking about Joseph. Noooooo idea...
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Catch up on Corgi Companion here ποΈ
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