Update on frankfurther hoggity doggity! 11/12/2014
‘He’s really young – only seven months, poor baby.
On Wednesday, Pepino said he’d be fine without an operation.
However, yesterday, he was less bouncy and didn’t want to go for such a long walk, so I’m afraid that his leg may be hurting, perhaps because the vet didn’t have any of those stiff bandages (she’s so useless) and when I went to buy one, the shops were closed for a long weekend for the Annunciación.
I still hope he won’t need an operation.
However, I’d really like to get him to Morón to be seen by the special podenco vet.
I’ll ask Pepino to feel his leg and give an opinion, but if either he or I are doubtful, I’ll ask a hunter (a nice one) with a trailer or a rough old pick-up to take us to Morón, but of course I’d have to pay, as it’s 35km and they’re all busy people.
I still have 40€, but have to buy a new set of bandages today – 11€.
Still have plenty of food for him, thanks to everyone’s generous support.
I’m managing, but it’s getting harder as winter draws in. I will manage, though – needs must when the devil flies south © (invented saying by me.)
Pepino and Fernando (both very experienced and Pepino is quite well-known, both adore their dogs, though of course they don’t show it in the soppy way we do, and are completely trustworthy (more than the vet!)’
Further update.
‘he may not need an operation, but I wish I could get him seen by a proper vet and, if necessary, x-rayed. Pepino says that he’ll probably be fine without an operation. Certainly his bones will join up and heal, as he’s so young, but the problem is that if they weren’t set just right, they’ll heal slightly wrong and I can’t tell whether they were set just right or whether they’ve moved with his bouncing about, so I’d really like to take him to a proper vet and have him x-rayed.
Pepino agrees that the vet who comes here knows nothing, but he says it’s not worth going to the Olvera one, either. He takes his dogs to a vet in Morón de la Frontera, who is a specialist in dogs and especially pods and galgos. He’s just operated to remove three tumours from one of Pepino’s favourite bitches – ten years old, I think, but he’s determined to save her and he says she’s already much better.
The trouble is, finding someone to take us – no taxi to Morón and it’s 35 km and I can’t ask someone to take us in a smart car, as he might be afraid and shit or wee in it. I think tomorrow, after the pumber’s been, I’ll go to the kennels and ask Pepino to come and feel doggie’s leg and give me some advice.
Yesterday (or perhaps it was the day before) he said not o bother, the leg’ll be fine, and I could easily believe it, but today doggie looks a bit less jolly and I wonder whether hs leg’s not all right. He should have had one of those very stiff bandages right at the start. I don’t want to leave him and then find he has arthritis or that his leg needs to be re-broken and re-set. An xray would make sure, but Pepino’s very experienced, so I’ll ask him first. (When they aren’t the cruel, neglectful kind, they’re just the opposite.)
Yes, in answer to Fiona, I’d rather not have had to cope, but of course I will, somehow. Anothe rman wanted him yesterday and today he called me over and tried again to presuade me to give doggi etohim straight away, offering many bribes, tempotations and promises, but I didn’t trust him, as why would nyone be that keen? He’d probably sell him to a hunter or use him to sire more dogs – as if there weren’t already enough.
The dog is so handsome – tall, long and with the head and regard of a hunter, as well as his sweetness to humans. Pepino says he may have been afraid of the gunfire and run off, then got lost, broken his leg and been attracted by the smells of food and limpedy-hopped into the pueblo; he’s not from around here, anyway, but is a much sought-after type for hunting and attracts much admiration. It’s be a pity to ruin him for lack of a vet’s attention, but I’ll ask Pepino tomorrow and, if he (the dog, not Pepino) needs to go, I’ll pay someone to take us with a dog-trailer,, someone who has hounds. But I would need financial help to do that.
Must stop now, worn out, please thank all the kind people again.’
You can email his rescuer here if you wish, but don’t send any money to this email address. She is keeping careful account of what she spends so she can confirm to you all where your kind donations have been spent.
Comments
23 responses to “Injured podenco near Cadiz – update”
thanks for the up date beryl so we will send donations via you still see what I can do this coming week for this beautiful boy
if he is feeling more poorly, there is the possibility of infection – if so, if it gets into the bone, it will take a lot more treatment and be very costly, and painful. He should also have a splint, ideally, depending of course where the break is. My greyhound was so frustrated at being kept crated when she broke her leg in four places, that she even broke her splint breaking out the crate, and disrupted the healing, so it all took even longer. I will try to send more donation soon.
Fiona hang on to donation trying to get him to rescue then me and my friend and you can donate towards the x ray and later the op if need be I have explained the situation of leg and infection to rescuer as you have explained above but she as no money and is in not so good health I am trying for to get him to a rescue she wouldn’t be able to cope with after care of an op will get bk to you re this
Fiona I have got some funds together and I am doing a car boot on xmas eve what ever rescue takes him will benefit from the majority of the money for him hope I get a lot a got a lot of things well my husband will be there to start with and I will be biking up later and selling my bike aswell there
Good news! I’m taking him to see the expert vet in Morón tomorrow. I’ve found someone who does an informal taxi service and has a dog-trailer and, I think, a crate. The vet’s is a proper clinic, where they do xrays and operations and everything and specialise in podencos and galgos. I don’t know the exact prices, but it’ll be about 20-25€ for the consultation, 40€ for the x-ray and I don’t know about the transport -I should think it’ll depend on how long it takes. I still have 29€ of what you’ve donated – I’ll write it all for you, so that you’ll know I haven’t cheated or wasted any.
He eats ordinary dog food now, which is easier and cheaper, too. I think he must have had a sore mouth before and that was why he didn’t want it – too crunchy.
I can let him in the house now and he’s very good, so that’ll make it easier keeping him for as long as is necessary. He hasn’t weed in the house again or tried to chase the cat or stolen food – he’s been as good as gold and very sweet, an excellent dog he is.
Beryl has emailed some refuges, Jen has too and of course so have I, but of course they’re all over-flowing – I knew they would be.
Don’t worry – I’ll stick to him now I’ve got him and will do all he needs, but I can’t pay for the x-rays, etc. as I simply have no money except my 520€ a month – barely enough to live on – so I hope you will be able to help. I’ve never asked before and have spent at least 7,000€ on rescuing dogs, cats and two chickens since I was in Spain, even when i was homeless myself; also I belong to animal ONGs and pay monthly, so I don’t feel bad about asking – it’s for the dog, not for me.
Yesterday I was just so worn out, could hardly move, just went downstairs and shove him a plate of food twice, but stayed in bed all day. I didn’t think I could cope. But am much better today and am pleased to have arranged the vet visit. Dead tired, but not desperate and will manage. I’ll manage looking after him until he’s rehomed, including if he has to have an operaton – just haven’t got any money to pay for his medical care.
Thank you all so much and I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow.
Kate, this is really good news. I’m not bothered about it being written out or anything like that. Thank you for rescuing and looking after this dog, most people would have turned away. I can’t put anything more through this week but I can put another donation through next week (pay day!) just before Christmas. I will donate via paypal to Beryl. I really hope that a refuge will be able to help you but understand that they must be overflowing.
Hallo everyone – hot news – he doesn’t need an operation! Am so pleased and relieved. Will tell everything tomorrow, just got home, 9.41 p.m.,splitting hadache. All good news- not perfect but very good. Thank you all somuch and thank you Beryl, of course, yet again!
Oh, the relief!
The vet was heaven and has a pet ferret.
God, I’m tired! And still dizzy from travelling in a motor car round all those bends; three or four times in the night I woke up with my head, or the house, swooshing from side to side and this morning it’s worse – like being on a roller-coaster! Beautiful country we drove through, though, and wonderful vet.
First the bad news:vet and x-rays cost 68€ but really worth it.
Transport cost 46€, but it’s a long way and we were delayed.
I’ll pjhotograph the vet’s receipt and the x-rays in a day or two, when I recover from this dizziness, and send them to you, Beryl, but I haven’t got a receipt for the transport because it’sn ot a licensed, declared taxi, just a neighbour working ‘black’. He has Podencos, though (happy ones) and agood dog-trailer, which we padded for Frank-dog or whatever his name is. They all came – man, wife and grand-daughter, and were very helpful and supportive, as I was in a right old state of dizziness, dementia and worry!
The vet has this huge, modern barn-thin g on an industrial estate and has everything you can imagine for sale and a b ig veterinary suite above, guarded by his white ferret. At first I thought it was stuffed or a statue, it was completely immobile but watching, watching. Then it moved and I realised! Apparently it’ll bite any starnger who tries to go in that way.
Fiona, dogerty wotsit does have two splints, one on the front of his leg that stops above the toes and one on the back that goes right down to the floor. I broke them off a fruit crate when the first vet came. They haven’t moved. I wouldn’t have let him walk or run with just bandages. He didn’t even use that leg at first, just held it stuck out, but when he started to use it, it was the back splint that took his weight. Only I was afraid that he’d used it too much and that I’d harmed him.
Here’s the report:
A beautiful young male podenco, of excellent conformation, colour and character, apparently in good health, very much a hunter but gentle and confiding with humans and children.
His two front leg bones, radius and ulna, were fractured, a clean break, about 4-5cm above the ankle.
They may have moved a bit, but if so that could have happened just when he got up or lay down, or moved at all; what is far more likely is that the first vet, not having the benefit of long experience or of an x-ray machine, didn’t set it right. In fact, thinking about what she did and how she did it, I’m not surprised it’s not quite straight, but it’s too late to change that now.
That’s the bad news, or less good anyway: because he’s young and otherwise healthy and perhaps because I’ve given him real meat and sardines (not any more, just at first) and grass – podencos love to graze, like sheep, and will pick the plants they need as well as grass – the bones are already well fused, witgh a slightly wider bit to strengthen that part, BUT not quite straight – you’ll see on the x-rays, the bones go straight down, then there’s a slight angle, then straight again. But the angle is in the same direction as the ankle and is only very slight; when I saw it I was upset, but the vet and the podenco-man who took us both said it’s nothing, won’t cause him any pain or future problems, wil just give him a slight limp. I thought that meant he’d be a bit disabled, but the vet said no, he’ll be able to live just the same as he could before. I said, “But not hunt7again?” (Not that I want to hunt, obviously, but because it’s a measure of capabvility in such a dog) and he said, “Goodness, yes, he’ll be able to hunt with best of them. He’ll have a very slight limp, but because he’s young, that may rectify itself over time.” I asked whether limping could hurt his shoulders in the future or have any other sequel and he said no – he’ll be absolutely fine. He said I hadn’t done wrong to let him take me for walks and runs – he said that with such a dog, forcing him to stay immobile and bored could do more harm than good and that it was important for his health to use his muscles and brain. He said I needn’t blame myself for anything – the one to blame is his preveous owner. (No microchip, of course. You’d think that, with such a splendid dog, the owner woyuld have taken more trouble, but perhaps he wanted to try him out as hunter first and perhaps dog took fright at the guns and ran off, I don’t know. Anywasy, he’s lost a good dog and serves hgim right!)
The first vet was stupid – she said, “Really he should have an operation, but if not then just leave him like this. What she should have said was, “There’s an excellent vet at Morón, with an x-ray machine; if possible go there and get it set properly.” Then his bones would be straight. I’m rather sad about that, but I didn’t know and the rest of the report is perfect – and perhaps his bones will starighten and at least the limp may go.
The vet said don’t worry that dog soemtimes just dangles his leg – he’s resting it, that’s all.
He said he’d never recommend operating in such a case, either immediately or once the bones are set and would need re-breaking. He said they can end up worse off and that just bandaging and splinting is fine. Podencos aren’t like galgos, who are made of spun glass – pods are fine-boned, but really tough. I do wish I’d known about this vet and known to ask the people who took me, then his legwould be straight and he wouldn’t have a limp – it’s a real shame – but I haven’t lived in this pueblo for long (or had a dog with broekn leg) so I didn’t know what to do – I thought it was a choice between operating or nothing. That first vet really is useless. Well, fingers crossed that he’ll grow out of the limp. Pod man says there’s a pod who lives up in the arroyo behind his kennels who was on three legs with one broken, healed by himself and comes down – on four legs – every night for food. That was two years ago and he still comes each night and is fine. I hope this boy won’t limp much, as he’s so beautiful – all the men admire him (and some covet him!)
I have a bit more to say, but that’s the urgent part. Must rest, dizzy as a diver.
Well done, Kate, it must have taken a great deal out of you to make this trip, but now you can rest easy with the diagnosis. So what next? Will you be able to keep him a bit longer till the splints come off, or do we need to find him another foster home from which to get him adopted? Are you at risk of him being stolen? Bless you for once again not turning your back on a podenco – even over your poor health. You are their guardian anger.
here here you have given frank a second chance bril bril bril take a breath now kate you have done what you can do its all going fwd now for you both so pleased if you need out in the future as in donation for food for him and I know you will need some more funds to go towards the transport let us know in good time
Thank you for the update Kate – I am very sorry if you think I was blaming or criticising you, which I did not intend at all, because it is just so very kind of you to take this dog and help him when so many people in a better place than you right now would have walked past and ignored his plight. I was trying to offer well-meaning advice based on my own previosu experiences and knowledge, not of pods in particular but dogs and bone physiology. I can only admire people like you who do their utmost to help these poor dogs 🙂 I am glad things are not so bad now for doggity and that he is healing well.
Oh, Fiona, I didn’t at all at all think you were criticising – I was and am really grateful for your and everyone’s advice.
I’ve been very very busy all day, mostly with Doggerty – have changed his splints and outer bandages and I think I may have found him an adopter, but certainly a fosterer, will tell all tomorrow and will answer all your emils too, must have a rest first, too tired to write it al. What a great dog he is – he just adapts to everything so easily and sensibly. He’s a champ!
Lotsa thanks,
Kate
I’ve posted one comment, but Beryl hasn’t yet ahd time to approve it, so this is the second:
Fiona, in case my previous comment gets lost and doesn’t appear – no, I didn’t in the least think you were being critical. I was an remain very grateful for your and everyone’s advice.
God I’m tired! Can hardly manage to type this.
I do need more money – Jen and her friend were going to send more, but I said not to until I’0d done the sums; now I have done the sums, I’m about 40€ short, but I’ll write it all carefully a nd prcisely.
I did eventually hear from Wendy, two days ago, asking for my ‘phone nujmber and giving me hers – but I’ve sent or told her my number five times and rung her twice and emaiked her three times! Two or three times she’s said she thinks she has someone to take him, but then I her nothing – I think she’s overwhelmed, trying to do too much and not managing most of it.
My friends Yolanda and Fernando have a farm – I told you, he has lots of podencos (it was twenty at one times, but that was when he had his brother’s – it’s fewer now, I think.) He’s offered to foster this dog from next week and if dog is happy there and if his leg is O.K., so that he can run and play and live normally, then he’ll keepo him and adopt him. If it isn’t working out well – if dog isn’t happy or isn’t physically up to it, then he’ll bring him back to me. He says he can promise good care for dog, but he wouldn’t 100% trust any of the other pod men he knows, would guarantee good care from him, but wouldn’t want to guarantee it with anyone else, so either he’ll adopt doggie or he’ll bring him back to me.
I think this is great idea and a great opportunity, b ecause you don’t often get a chance to try out an adoption like that. Fernando liked dog as soon as he saw him and dog likes back – he’s only met him twice, but leans against his leg in that confiding way. He says that, if he has a dog and it gets ill or hurt (but his never do) he’ll do wahtever it needs, but he can’t take on a dog that’s already disabled and wouldn’t be well or happy on the farm.
His dogs live at night and in the mornings in a big, modern barn; each has his own kennel in his own very large pen – they can see each other and touch noses, but not get into trouble when there’s no-one there. In the afternoons, he lets them out to run about for a while and takes out two or three at a time in the sierra. His dogs are never chained up. In summer, he and his wife and children live there full-time and then the dogs are outside all day.
I know this isn’t the absolutely ideal life that you or I would plan for him, because it doesn’t include being cuddled on a sofa, for instance; however, it does include life in the country with other dogs and an owner who can be trusted. If all the pods and galgos could live with Beryl in France, or something like that, that’d be lovely for them, but one must be realistic and I think this is a really good opportunity and probably will suit, but best of all, it’s not definitive .- if he’s not happy or doesn’t cope well, he can come back – and it’s only a few km away. If he stays there, I can go next summer and visit him.
The good vet said, after he’d taken the x-ray and checked dog and when he was admiring him, “If you’re hoping to keep him as a pet, you’ll h ave trouble. That’s a dog who wants to hunt, wants to be in the campo, wants to run for hours and live in a pack. He’ll never be truly happy in a house in a village.” Which is what I’d already thuought, what piod-taxi-man had said, what Fernando said as soon as he saw him – it’s in his conformation, his stance and his regard. He’s sweet, loving, gentle, kind and patient with children, but he’s not like the other podencos I’ve had or known well.
I actually feel very confident, I trust Fernando and his wife completely, they’re already friends, have helped me lots of times in various ways and are very correct, law-abiding people, too, but am nervous about telling you people, because I know you’ve only seen the bad side and will find it hard to believe that i this is a great chance and probably best for the dog. I’m not sedning him off to some asociation where he’ll be shunted from one fosterer to another or left ina refuge for months or years and possibly not have a perfect life ever. I was persuaded to let Fifine and her pups go to an associatrion that pressurised me and made me feel I was wrong to want to give her to a local chap, that he’d use her ill – but she’s had a foul time, looks utterly miserable in their grotty refuge and they won’t let me have her back, while the man who offered to have her is still surrounded by his happy pets. She clung to me when I handed her over, put her little arms round my neck and hung on, and I wanted to say No and then it was too late. One of the things I’ll always regret (and boy are there a lot!)
Yesterday, I re-splinted and bandgaed his leg. I cut the splints shorter, too. I wish I’d known to take him to Morón and to ask that tax-man, then his leg would be straight and he wouldn’t limp. Such a shame.
Oh yes – I showed the x-rays to Fernando and he tutted that the leg had been set badly and should have had an x-ray, but he said the same as the others – as dog is young, his leg may grow straight and the limp may go. However, dog must eat lots of real meat and Fernando can give him that, too.
I’ll write out the accounts later. (Thank you, Kathryn, for saying you’re not bothered, but I will anyway.) I’m about 35-40€ short, i think.
That’s another thing – I have no money, but Fernando will get him micro-chipped, passported, etc. and will pay, even if he then returns the dog – we’d just change the name and address, but he wouldn’t ask me to pay for the original cost, so that’s 35€ saved. It seems to me that dog is being offered a convalescence, a holiday and an education. I think he’ll be very happy as long as his leg’s O.K., and if it’s not O.K. he’ll come back here.
Well, I needn’t have bothered telling you about fernando, as poor dog won’t be going there. He’s taken a turn for the worse and at the moment I’m too upset to write about it or to think what’s best to do next, apart from writing a furious letter to first vet, telling her exactly what i think of her careless incompetence. He could have been completely healed and whole, but he’d probably have been better off with no vet at all than with her bad work and bad advice. Now he’s back on three legs, with a lump of bone where she set it badly and his foot swollen from her bandaging and advice about bandaging. I’ve removed all the bandages and he’s licked and licked, had a huge suppoer and is fast asleep. I hope i’ll sleep, too, but I’m so upset to see him like that -and all the m noney we’ve all spent, for worse than nothing. I didn’t much like that vet, but now I really hate her. But hating her won’t put him right – I don’t know whether anything will. She houldn’t be allowed to treat animals if she’s so incompetent.
This is the situation: When the first vet (a young woman called Elvira) came, she said that ,ideally, dog should have an operation to mend his bones, but that it’d cost so much that the best way would be via an association. She also said that, if I couldn’t find an asso to take him, he’d be fine just with her splinting andbandaging, but that I shuuld also buy and put on a thick adhesive bandage – those ones that are quite stiff and very sticky. Well, those were stupid things to say and it was stupid of me to just accept what she said andnot question it – for a start she couldnn’t know he needed an operation as she hadn’t seen an x-ray; secondly, if he did need an operation then he wouldn’t be fine just with her settng andi f he’d be fine with just her setting he didn’t need an operation. – it was contradictory and didn’t make sense. I think she imagined that, being English, I could just call an English-run association and they’d collect him and treat him.
I did go to the pharmacy for the stiff bandage, but five days later and it cost €10,60 and I couldn’t see why he’d need that as well as splints, so I left it, but I kept worrying that oerhaps I shuld have added it. Mind you, anotherclue that hse’s an idiot is that she can’t spell the Spanish for “bandage” ad another is that she told me i must buy Sparadrap tape, although the adhesive bandage is far too sticky to need any extra tape.
Youknow the story up until Thursday afternoon. That was when I noticed that the front splint had slipped down and was pressing slightly on his foot. In fact, the whole bandage had slipped a bit, but I didn’t realise at first. I thought itmight be my fault for not havng used the stiff adhesive bandage, so i bought it after all, for 10.60. I took off the outer tape, cut the splints shorter and used the new, a¡stifg bandage over it all.. I didn’t stretch it very tight, honestly. Yesterday I was so exhausted that I just managed to write that long andnow pointless post about Fernando and I didn’ymmanage to get u until 1.30. Dog came bouncing in, but on three legs and his toes were swollen and his leg above the bandage was puffy, too. I cut iff all the bandages, unwraoed the thick layers (far too much) of puffy stuff – forgotten what it’s called, the stuff they use in bed quilts instead of feathers and he lay down and licked his leg and foot a lot. The swelling went down slightly, but not much, and felt hot.
The lump of bone that’s gyrown to compenstae fr her having set it wrong is much bigger than I realised and is very notceable and spoils his appearance and now I’ve cut off his blood supply by following her instructions. I haven’t got a fridge, but will beg some ice from someone and will put arnice on it and give him a dose of rhus tox and ruta. If I can, I’ll buy some amoxicillin from the pharmacy – I think they’ll let me have it without a prescription if I explain – but I won’t use it unless he runs a temperature. Apart from that, i can’t see that there’s anything i can do – I should have just fed him the franfurters and left him to fend for himself, as this is costinga fortune and all for nothing, or worse than nothing.
I can’t keep him for long and no-one will want him now. So far, he’s cost €181,30 and I’ve received €98 in donations, so I’ve lost 83,30 and he’s no better than he would have been without any of it except the food. Also, I can’t just abandon him again (obviously) and now you see why people “dump” dogs. The 83,30€ would have paid my electricity bill, but now Ill have to ask to pay in instalments and even then it’ll be hard, his leg’s not cured and he won’t stand on it, no-one will want him, the shelters are full and anyway most aren’t very pleasant, the vet was happy to mess up is chances but she won’t agree to put him down now she’s wrecked him – not that I want to put him down, but I can’t see a future for him – and I couldn’t possibly send him to the perrera. No wonder people just tie them to the gate of a shelter and hope for the best – what else can one do? I slet for an hour tonight, but have been awake and miserable for the rest of the night, as i can’t see what to do or any hope for him now. I wish I’d just fed him the frankfurters and let him go off on his own. I’ll never take in another dog, that’s for sure, and Elvira should be struck off – he could havebeen fine with a different vet. I’m cross with myself for listening to her, but she’s the one really to blame anda nyway i don’t now what I can do for the dog – probably nothing.Iwent down at 3.30 a.m. and he was till not using that leg.
Legally, I have to either microchip him, etc. (35€ and I suppose I’d have to use Elvira) or send him to the perrera or a shelter. I’m absolutely stumped. I’ll try to sleep for an hour now and try to get the amoxicillin and ice later this morning. I’m sorry all your kind help has been wasted, but I’ve been doing my very best and wouldn’t have hurt him for the world.
Kate please don’t panic, there will be someone somewhere for this poor dog. Its sad that his foot swelled, but a bandaged leg should always be checked at regular intervals to ensure good blood supply – if the blood supply is poor, the foot tends to be colder than the unbandaged feet. It does sound like you are just too ill to be able to cope with Doggity’s condition, and especially being unable to get to a decent vet – but of course if you hadn’t taken him in, he would probably be dead by now. It is so so sad that no one close to you is willing to help even just to take some of the burden of his care from you, which is probably even more important that donations right now. If the swelling on the bone is simply the healing process, which does result in large swelling often, then it will eventually reduce as the bone remoulds itself. This can be many months, but is no big deal. The big concern must be infection. I would advise not going too far with ice, but rather to use gentle massage upwards from toes to knee/shoulder to encourage the movement of the fluid in the leg which makes it swell. You can use a skin cream to help with this. It doesnt need to be hard work, but better to do ti little and often. I am sure that Jenny and I and others can help to some extent with the money for now. It is important now for you to have faith that things will work out fine, you must get your rest and sleep and stop worrying, there is a worldwide network of people who do their best to help these dogs. Panic/anxiety will not help doggity, and panic/anxiety comes from being too tired to think properly. Sending positive thoughts to you both xxx
I’ve approached another association – bit of a distance away from Kate…she is out shopping at the moment, so am staying on line for when she gets home and we can chat. Keep your fingers crossed. Very experienced podenco rescuers/fosterers….
God, I was miserable! I had visions of gangrene setting in and his foot falling off!
I was massaging his toes and as much of his foot as wasn’t covered by bandages, several times a day and checking above the bandages and he was fine. Only on Thursday afternoon the splints and bandages slipped downwards onto his foot; with hindsight that that was a sign that I should remove them complpetely – the good vet said they could come off in a week, but they were slipping because he was using his leg and flexing it and had no inflammation. But I was wprried because I’d disobeyed Elvira and not used the heavy self-adhesive bandage, so I bougt it and put it on and at bedtime he was fne, but the next day he had this fat foot and was dangling it and hopping. The wife of dog-taximan helped me to cut off the layers and layers and by last night at bedtime it was less dramatic, but he still just dangled it.
Thankk God, this morning it was a lot less swollen. I stroked it with an ice cube for a few minutes, which he liked, and i got some Amoxycillin at teh pharmacy and dog-taximan’s wife gave me some Ibuprofen and he had those. He was longing to go for a walk and after 200 metres he started to use his bad leg and soon he was using it all the time! He limped a lot, as one would expect, but his foot’s back to normal. He’d have gone a lot further, but we went about a km and back again and he was a bit tired, but not as tired as I am! I just ache and ache all over and can hardly think.
The bandage that caused the trouble is the kind that’s very sticky indeed and very stiff once applied and is almost like having the limb in plaster. The weather’s hot and he had layers af padding and that stuff doesn’t breathe. I should have stuck to my own judgement and ignored hers, but thank goodness it wasn’t too late when I realised.
He had another dose of Amoxi and Ibuprofen this evening – the pharmacist said use the antibiotic for three days and the NSAID for two or three. She knows far more than the vet!
You’re right, Fiona, I am utterly exhausted and the trouble is, one can’t take a day off. I devote hours to him every day, one way and another, but it’s not enough.
If he goes on like he was today, he could go to Fernando. The trouble is, if he weren’t happy there, Fernando would bring him back and I don’t want him back!
Thank you all for being so encouraging and helpful. Yes, I am panicky and worried and you’re rigyht that it comes form being worn out.
He’s very well indeed! Yesterday when he took me out he kept laughing in that panting way they do when they’re excited, with his tongue out at the side, he was so happy. He wanted to run and run.
just got bk on line oh dear oh dear oh dear it will work out in the end the funds are available here but I think the most important thing is to get frank to a rescue then he can be monitored there on so I will speak to kate and see whats the next step and of course beryl bless her for contacting a rescue if frank needs more better food my friend will put through to kate for him but the big donation will have to hang on to it to donate to the rescue who helps him because poor kate wouldn’t be able to cope with after care with frank if an op is needed she as done wounders for frank up to now and I as all of you will agree she is franks hero thank you for helping him kate whaen there was no one else there for him its not your fault its not franks fault its the sod that abandoned him and that’s putting it polite my poor husband at boot sale as we speak fingers x he does well to raise funds I am biking up later on my bike to sell it and some hand knitted clothes I will take with me dolls clothes and jewellery what was so kindly donated to me well what I have left of it cause some went at previous table tops then I have to run to town centre later to give a branch some crimbo treats well the grayhounds and a cuddle the ones I walk when I can in a village not far from me mine are tucked up in bed with their heater blowing cold a—- my lot
And now he’s been lying indoors in front of the gas heater but is whining for me to go down and play. Too bad – I can’t move.I do hope he can go to Alicante and soon, as am worn out. Dogs are such needy creatures.
aww bless frank you are a lovely pod dog wish I had of had the room and the money I would have took you sweetheart
Woof!