Latest news from Bev Farmer about Podenca Blanca.

‘Handed into a perrera 2 days before Christmas along with Pinto eight years old, her owner signed over which cancels the need to wait 21days before they can euthanise. Both are older podencos and often passed over for adoption, after all those years of loyal service this was is how they were repaid.

Blanca arrived at the finca on Christmas Eve very scared and I noticed her ankle was swollen and she was holding her leg up . So got her on some pain meds and anti-inflammatories and basically left them to rest. The swelling on her wrist went down but she was still lame. At her check up at our vets took x-rays and saw the reason why, her left elbow has very severe arthritis. This was not recent, it is a chronic condition and most likely from an old injury, she has suffered for a number of years. Her owner never put his hand in pocket to get her treated and their solution just dump her, no longer their problem.

In the past we have done some very complicated orthopedic surgery on the Podencos with great success but this is the first time my vets have advised that surgery would not help. Her case was referred to a specialist and confirmed it would not help her. One thing to get good functionality but the priority she is pain free. Blanca will use her leg and she can run but afterwards she is holding it up and lame on it, even with pain meds. Our only option is to amputate her leg and we took xrays of her other legs to check they are are sound. She tested positive for leishmania so its not ideal whilst active to put her through such a major surgery . It also gave me some time for her to become more comfortable with me has she will need a lot of aftercare. Blanca has completed her course of treatment so will retest her depending on the test results we can schedule her surgery. This is first time I have had to amputate a leg .Always in the past we have found a solution it saddens me we have to, but she will adapt and most importantly be pain free.

Blanca is Pintos daughter that I am sure. They have the same face shape and eyes and the dimple down the middle of their face. Its very endearing to see them together they give each other little gentle nudges and kisses. When she first arrived she was a very scared dog. She still is timid but now I can stroke and give her a cuddle and now longer does she run away from me in the paddock she comes up when called.

It’s too late to save her leg and its a person with a back heart that would do this to two senior dogs, but the positive they got out of the pererra quickly and are getting the treatment they need. The senior podencos will always have special place in my heart, no matter how old they are they should get a chance to have a good life how ever how long that will be.’

For help with vet fees, paypal podencofriends@hotmail.co.uk