Matilda Mai Nippet

Let me tell you a story about my furry best friend.

I bought her on a whim travelling home from my Mum’s funeral.

Looking back there’s a strong possibility it wasn’t a reputable breeder, but I wasn’t in a sound state of mind.

She was supposed to be a male West Highland Terrier, but ended up being a female Westie cross Lhasa Apso (there was my first clue!) The seller gave me some spiel about being high on tooth pain medication (her not the pet). I didn’t care, I loved her at first sight (the pet, not her!)

She had been named before I even got into the car! Matilda Mai Nippet. Matilda from Leon (one of my favourite movies), Mai (also my Mums middle name), Nippet (a baby female Ewok, plus she liked to nibble, a lot!)

I cuddled Tilly the whole way home, stopping on the way at a Pets at Home for supplies and dog breathe freshener (it was bad! Through her cuteness it still turned my stomach)

Tilly was my ride or die. We went everywhere together. In the early years she would curl up on my lap when I was driving anywhere, naughty I know, but no longer a problem as to fit her behind the steering wheel I’d have to push my seat so far back I might not reach the pedals. Plus I’m a responsible adult now thanks to having pesky children!

I was slightly concerned about one of her nipples, bet you weren’t expecting me to say that! Not a sentence you hear every day. I kept pestering the vet, but they made me feel like I was making a fuss. Long story short, at the age of 4 we found out she had aggressive cancer, needed surgery, meds, the works, it was horrific, but she came out the other side. A MASSIVE vets bill later, thank goodness for pet insurance! (Argos pet insurance were incredible! They couldn’t have done more!) Thanks also to Dad who encouraged me to “keep making a fuss”.

Anyway she was soon back to her Ladyship ways! By that I mean she doesn’t do carbs, she likes king prawns and smoke salmon, she will not go out in the rain and she will not poop in her own garden and when she’s had enough you will carry her and you will stroke her for hours, but on her terms!

My friend to this day swears Tilly winked at her for a bit of sausage.

Tilly has reached the grand old age of 12 years and 6 months. I know this because her birthday is the same day as my Mums.

The last two Christmas’s I have believed she wouldn’t make it through to see the next year but now I think she might just suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder. She sure likes the sun and the heat. Princess Fluffypants will happily lie out in the sunshine and I’ve literally had to turn her over to the other side just in case. When Lee makes her a fire (he pretends he’s doing it for us, but I know where his heart is at) we have to pull her back as she sleeps with her head on the hearth. Also she gets a shampoo and a condition on a Sunday, she only complains when the water temporarily strays from being anything but hot.

This last few months though she had lost her va va voom, sleeping a lot and most happy in her lounge dog bed in the corner on her own. She has quite a few lumps and gets itchy ears and a bad belly but I’m not taking her back to the vets, not unless she seems uncomfortable.

Dad brought over some jars of honey he had bought from a neighbour who has his own bees. It’s delicious, really good stuff!

I saw on TikTok that giving a dog a teaspoon of honey a day was good for them in many ways (Google it) so I started giving Tilly and Holly a teaspoon of honey wrapped up in a slice of ham every morning after breakfast, the opposite of an appetiser.

Well blow me down with a feather if it hasn’t gone and worked! Her ears have cleared up, she has lost her bloat, her digestion is good, she’s scooting less and she has an abundance of energy. She has even started chasing seagulls on the beach and playing with dog toys, something I don’t remember her ever doing. She has got her sassy back.

The other day Harry’s glands were protruding from his neck so much he almost reminded me of Herman Munster. A possible case of tonsillitis so I gave him a teaspoon of the honey then and there, some more during the night and some more the next day and he was back to himself within two days. I’m not saying it cleared it up, but it certainly eased the pain for him.

Well I just Googled it and I was surprised to find these twelve uses!

• Useful in weight Management

• Strengthens Immune system

• Nourishes your skin and face

• Boosts your memory

• Home Remedy for Cough

• Natural home remedy for Dandruff

• Used for Healing Wounds and burns

• Acts as a Natural Sleeping Aid

• Eases sinus issues

• Helps with gum disease

• Natural Energy Drink

• Prevents and helps control Eczema

Right, I best be off to hide the honey before Dad asks for it back!

Love and hugs, kisses and wishes xxx