Hole in the leg

Last night, I suddenly saw that Flash had actually been injured by the fox yesterday. He has a gap in the skin of the size a little smaller than a 5-penny coin! I was in two minds of whether to take Flash to the vet for stitches, but have decided against it hoping it will heal on its own. I am watching it very closely though just in case an infection sets in.

Fox in the park

This morning, Dylan and Flash disappeared into the distance on the playing field. As it was of course dark, I couldn't see what they were after, but after a while I could hear fox noises. I went up to where they were and sure enough, there was a terrified fox being "attacked" by Dylan and Flash. Of course, Dylan and Flash are muzzled, so couldn't physically hurt the fox, but the fox was exhausted by the time I got to them. I pulled the boys away from the fox and I hope he is ok. He looked quite young...

Oh, and here's a picture of Flash not hunting, on 22nd November.

Stitches out

I took Flash's stitches out on Tuesday morning as all has healed well. The scar actually looks better than before and he seems fine now. Let's hope it stays this way.

Healing well

Flash has about four stitches this time round, but the wound is only about half the length of the original one which is good. I change the bandage once a day after the walk (as it gets wet) and it is looking good.

I can't believe this... scar split!

This morning I came home from Troy's walk, when Flash - as usual - jumped a few steps up the stairs to turn round and howl at me. Only this time he didn't howl but screamed and screamed! When I looked he had blook dripping from his foot. He'd somehow managed to split the wound from the dewclaw removal!

So off we went to see Mark first thing in the morning... who also wondered how it happened particularly as it looked fine before and Flash had been doing agility and daily walks in the grass and woods. I appologised to Mark to drop in so unexpectedly, and that I just don't seem to be able to keep away! Ha ha...

Cornel is picking Flash up this afternoon (luckily it is Wednesday when he is on the early shift). So another two weeks of being really careful now! What a disaster. Poor Flash.

All fine now

Everything is healed fine now, no more redness, no more licking, it's looking good! The hair is growing back too.

Bandages off

Yesterday, I took the bandages off. It is looking good. There is one side though that Flash keeps licking, so this morning I put a bandage on that one to stop him doing that. The other side looks perfect. Hopefully within a couple of days, the bandage can stay off for good.

Mark just smiled yesterday when I told him that I took the stitches out on Sunday... you're not supposed to take them out yourself, but it wasn't a problem, so I did it! LOL

Here's some pictures taken on 8th October with his pink bandages on. LOL

Stitches out

Yesterday, I took the stitches out. One side looks perfect, the other side (where the infected claw was) is still weeping a bit. If it's still like that, I will take him to the vet on Wednesday when Jesse is due anyway for another shot of antibiotics.

Flash wasn't too pleased that he didn't have a walk over the last couple of days because I wanted to keep the wound dry and no stretching from running etc. I'll see what it looks like tonight and might then take them out tomorrow morning. (I haven't walked the others either as I didn't want to upset Flash even more watching them going out and he can't).

Flash doing well

On Friday, we went back to see vet Ian who checked the wounds and was very happy with the healing progress.

I kept Flash (and the others) in since Thursday so the wound could heal well. Flash doesn't worry the bandages at all so doesn't seem in pain or even discomfort. So this morning, they were good for a walk. Everyone loved it, Flash did a lot of running and was fine afterwards.

I will be taking the bandages off tonight to check and rebandage. I hope all is well. Flash keeps taking the antibiotics and the homeopathic remedies!

From this Thursday, I will also take Flash to obedience again as it is his turn soon to do a couple of shows over the winter.

No more dewclaws

Flash had surgery today and is now without his dewclaws. All went well and so far he is leaving them alone too. He also had his teeth cleaned and now has lovely white biters again!

Flash needs op

Yesterday, Flash went to see Mark yet again! Things haven't really changed since the last visit and it is not getting any better. So we have decided to take the dew claw off to sort the problem out. At the same time, they will take the other one off and will give Flash a dental too.

I am not looking forward to the op, but it's got to be done. I have taken next Wednesday off so I am there for him all day when he comes home!

Poos finally ok again

On Monday, I picked up the new antibiotics for Flash! He still had blood/mucous in his poo eventhough he had been off antibiotics for 4 days. However, yesterday was the first day that his poo was fine again... no blood, no mucuous and good consistency! I am glad, I was getting so worried!

We are booked in to see Mark again next Tuesday.

Flash to be on new antibiotics

I called Mark again yesterday as Flash's poo is still laced with some blood (though less mucus). So Mark has decided to take him of the antirobe antibiotis and put him on some different ones. I will pick them up tomorrow.

Blood and mucus

I called Mark today as Flash has had tiny amounts of blood and mucus in his poos for the last few days. Mark says that it is a side effect of the antibiotics (which I suspected). I will give Flash some probiotics over the next couple of days (got to pick some up today from Boots or Holland & Barrat) and if it doesn't improve, Flash will have to go onto different antibiotics.

Follow up with Flash

Mark thinks (and I agree) that the swelling of the bone has gone down slightly. So Flash will remain on the antibiotics and we will see Mark again in two weeks time.

Nail bed infection

Flash and I went to see Mark today. And Flash has a nail bed infection caused by the damaged dew claw a few weeks ago. He is now on antibiotics, though Mark said that it will take a good while to heal up. We need to go back next Wednesday for a check up.

I asked Mark whether there was any link to his vegan diet that would make him more prone to infections and whether there was anything I could supplement him with. Mark said that this is not the case, particularly as Flash is sound and healthy otherwise.

Dewclaw

A few days ago, Flash suddenly yelped when he played with Jesse and then limped for a minute or two, then was fine again.

The same happened again a couple of days ago. I got a bit worried then, because it happening twice seems a bit more than just a simple accident. I checked the leg over, but couldn't see or feel anything.

This morning, he was playing with a toy and yet again yelped. This time, I immediately thought I'll take him to the vet to get him checked out properly. I then looked at his leg again... and noticed this time that the tissue around the dewclaw was very swollen and tender.

I think that this is the dewclaw that Flash ripped a few weeks ago, I wonder whether an abscess developped because of that. I will call the vet today for an appointment so it can be checked out properly.

Happy 4th Gotcha Day

I can't believe that it is already 4 years since we adopted Flash! He has made such a journey from a worried doglet to the confident chap he is these days! He has made a lot of my hair go grey, but I wouldn't want to be without him!

Yet again, thanks Kaye, for letting us adopt this beautiful, beautiful boy!

They really hurt my back

On Saturday morning, I went out for a walk before classes. As usual I had Dylan, Flash and Jesse with me. All was fine until we were on our way home, when an ex-client came up the stairs with her dalmation. All my dogs went balistic. I calmed them down immediately and made them all sit, which they did nicely! I then had a chat with the lady (who ironically said that my training was extremely helpful for her).

Just as we finished and I turned round, another guy came up the stairs with a GSD and a ball... and mine went balistic AGAIN! I pulled them back, twice... then went home! (Not in a very good mood).

Throughout the day, my back got worse and worse, until by the evening, every move hurt. Things improved a little on Sunday, but my lower back/bum are still very painful, so I didn't go to agility yesterday!

I can't believe this has happened. Last week really wasn't much fun with this lot!

I have now started taking them out at 5.15 in the morning, mainly to avoid that little dog. The park was nice and empty. And it also gave me the opportunity to walk Troy as well before going to work as he hasn't been out since Friday... (Cornel is hardly walking him at all now, maybe once a week... and he hasn't walked him at all since Thursday, 11th June...).

New dog in park and new bad habit

Being summer and it being light in the early mornings, there are sometimes new dogs in the park that we haven't seen before. One of them is a small terrier, that from a distance looks like a little fox... and I think that's what the dogs think too!

Anyway, yesterday, I was walking across the field in the country park when suddenly this little dog appeared on the field not far from us walking towards us. Dylan and Flash took off to say hello to him, but he got frightened and started to run... with Dylan and Flash in hot pursuit. In his fear, the other dog squealed... He wasn't hurt as my boys are of course muzzled all the time when off lead, but it was still scary for him.

Shortly after that, we came across Monzi, which is a friend's dobermann. He is very timid and frightened of my dogs, and I therefore normally put mine on lead as soon as I spot him. This time however Flash was quicker than I was (Dylan I did manage to grab) and Flash was his usual bully with him. Again, he couldn't hurt Monzi as he is muzzled, but still... It wasn't nice! And I felt like a really bad dog owner (and certainly a useless dog trainer) after yesterday's walk.

So this morning, when I went out, I was super careful, looked around me all the time, called the dogs back before going around corners just to make sure that nothing like yesterday could happen. When we were on the straight path from the field towards the pond, everything was clear and I let Dylan and Flash go. I then had to pick up a poo that Dylan did... and when I looked up, I saw the little dog from yesterday again, and so did Dylan and Flash. They took off at top speed (something they never do with other dogs, only foxes or rabbits etc.), realised shortly before they got to the dog that it was a dog and not a fox, but by that time, the little dog had started to run again - and of course that kept Dylan and Flash going.

Yet again, I appologised to the owner who was of course not amused at all (though didn't say anything other than "It's all right"...).

I then continued on my walk, called Dylan and Flash back on the path that joined the main path again and led them out on lead! Luckily so... as there was that little dog again. Jesse went after him to say hello, but of course the little dog was running again not knowing what Jesse was going to do (and Jesse genuinely only wanted to say hello, he doesn't chase dogs). But Dylan and Flash didn't bat an eyelid and the little dog went past ok. At the same time, the doby Monzi was also approaching and luckily, Dylan and Flash still on lead and Jesse with me!

So that second part of the walk was ok. But I now will have to be so much more careful in the mornings knowing that this little dog is about and will have to get Dylan and Flash back on lead a lot more often than before! I will of course also start working on the recall a bit more again! It isn't acceptable for them to take off after a dog like that! But... roll on, winter... when there is no-one else in the park other than a handful of people/dogs that I know!

Flash much better

Yesterday was the first day that Flash was virtually back to normal. He was eating normally, running quite a bit on walks (though still had slow periods as well) and fine indoors. I am so glad that he is getting back to normal now. He gave me such a scare.

Flash is feeling so much better. He is not completely himself yet, but he was eating his dinner and looking much brighter in general. I didn't go training tonight so I could keep an eye on him. I am so glad that he is getting better.

Flash not well

Last night when I went to bed, all was well! This morning I go downstairs to take the dogs out for a walk and Flash really didn't want to get up from the bed. He did in the end, but was very lethargic on the whole walk. He also felt quite hot to me.
He also didn't want any breakfast.

I took him to the vet straight away to check him out. Ian thinks that a scratch/bite he got from a cat yesterday morning (he slipped the lead and ran after a cat just outside our house, but when they parted after about 5 or 10 seconds, both seemed find with no injuries, though I did find a very small scabbed wound this morning on his head) may have caused the fever. Flash's temperature was 39.9, so pretty high.

He got an antibiotic and antiinflamatory injection and Synolux to take home, I already have got metacam at home. He should feel much better within 24 hours... I really hope so! It really scared me to see him like this!

Holiday in Wales - 25th April - 2nd May

Yet again, we went on holiday with all four boys to Swallows Dance in Pembrokeshire! We had a fabulous time and really enjoyed ourselves.

I have set up a separate blog for the pictures... Here is the link:

http://walesholiday9.blogspot.com

I will update gradually as I have over 200 pictures and another well over 300 from Sandra that took fab pictures at Freshwater West

Titre test

The titre test we did last week came back fine, Flash has for the third year running enough immunity. So just the lepto vaccination this year as always.

Some new pictures

I got a new camera on Friday, so had to test it of course!

Flash started agility

Yesterday, I took Flash with me to Dylan's agility class to see how he got on. Flash was fab. He hadn't forgotten anything. After doing the course slowly on lead to get him used to all the obstacles again, we joined in fully and Flash did extremely well! I am so pleased. So from now on, he can join Dylan and me on Sundays and have some fun. (He only took off twice during the whole session, so that wasn't too bad... LOL).

Snow, snow, snow...

Lots and lots of snow today... and did the boys have fun in the park!

An obedience workshop with Kay Raven

Flash and I went to an obedience workshop with Kay Raven on Sunday afternoon. We absolutely loved it and it was great! Flash did me very proud and did everything very well (it was me that needed sorting out... LOL).

Good boy, much Flash is.

It's so nice to see all the dogs happy and keen with all this clicker training... It is an absolute pleasure now to go training again since the obedience group has been training with Kay!

Flash came training with me

I took Flash with me tonight to my training class so he could demonstrate some exercises like the retrieve, distance control and recall... He did so well bless him. He concentrated beautifully and did me proud. It is good to see that he concentrated so well amongst all these dogs he didn't know and with a bit of extra work on the retrieve he will be just perfect in the Culverstone Limit Show at the end of this month!

Flash has come such a long way last year and I am very proud of my beautiful boy.