Podenco Post

Category: Advice

  • Hypothyroidism in dogs

    Recently our galgo Bracken has been off his breakfast, losing hair on his tail and feeling the cold weather more. So a trip to the vet was booked. After an examination and a blood test, he was discovered to have a low thyroid problem. He’s now on medication, Forthyron, probably for life. He’s 11. Read about hypoththyroidism on this weblink

  • Tribute to animal rescuers

    To Love a Rescuer 400
    To love a rescuer you must love all of her. You must love the scars covering her body from panicked and hurt animals she was trying to help. You must love her fractured heart, that has been broken so many times she no longer even takes the time to mend the pieces.

    To love a rescuer, you must embrace her grit and determination, and know that although she fights a war she can never win, she can and does win a few battles. You must love the tears she will shed over those she lost. You must give her comfort that she refuses to accept, as she blames herself for things she could have never foreseen.

    To love a rescuer you must acknowledge the rage she feels towards the world at times, and know that anger is driven by a love of life too few have. You must give her space and room to cry and mourn for the losses that others have caused out of carelessness or cruelty.

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  • Overfeeding podencos – don’t do it!

    Ibizan Hound Conformation 400 American Kennel Club
    From Mo Swatek of Future4Podencos, now living in the USA.

    ‘Today a friend showed me a picture of a terribly fat podenca adopted in the US. I felt so sorry for the poor dog because I could see it was not a happy healthy dog.

    Podencos and galgos are light weight dogs, their bones are not built to carry lots of extra weight. Podencos and Galgos need to show at least 2 ribs, should not have any fat bellies and a slim waist line. If you want to show them love, don’t do it with food, take them for long hikes or play with your hounds at the dog park etc.

    You don’t do your dog a favor by overfeeding it. He will have soon very very painful arthritis, diabetes, heart issues etc and we all know that obese dogs have a much shorter life span. Keep your dogs slim and healthy by giving them as a treat a nice walk instead of a cookie.

    FAT DOGS CAUSE FAT VETERINAY BILLS’

    #SighthoundsAreSlimDogs
    #DontOverfeedYourDogs

    Photo copyright of the American Kennel Club

  • Whole Dog Journal – things to consider on fostering a dog

    In the 13 years I’ve been involved in the plight of the Spanish galgos and podencos, I’ve fostered several dogs which I’ve brought back with L’Europe des Levriers from Spain for rehoming. Only 3 of them didn’t go on to forever homes elsewhere. Podenca Bebe, galga Carmela and galgo Bracken remained with us. Why? Well, Bebe was my nickname at school and she was rescued by a wonderful young Spanish girl called Marisa – which is my daughter’s name. So you see, I couldn’t let her go! Carmela came as a foster with serious behaviour problems and by the time over 2 years had passed and she had become what I would term a ‘normal’ dog, I could not break her trust by homing her elsewhere. And Bracken? He was already reserved by a couple in the UK and we took him and handed him over ourselves. Sadly a few months later due to unforeseen very serious health problems with the couple, their hounds had to be rehomed. As soon as my husband knew, he hopped in the car and drove back to the UK to bring Bracken home!

    Fostering a dog is very rewarding and it helps the shelters insofar as when one dog is fostered, it leaves room for another needy dog to be rescued. Unfortunately at the moment, our household is not suitable for fostering. Bracken and Polar would not tolerate another male dog introduced and Bebe is such a dominant bitch she would not tolerate another female.

    So here are some other points to consider about fostering.

    Read the full article on this weblink.

  • Dental care for your Podenco’s teeth

    My little podenca Bebe was about 5 when she was rescued injured from a Seville road, very thin and petrified. Her teeth were already in a poor state. In the 12 years she has been with me, she has had her 4 front teeth removed because they were bad, and also a couple of back teeth. Despite being given chews regularly.

    The Blue Cross charity has the following advice on dental care for canines. Click on this link.

  • To neuter or not.

    So many unwanted puppies, born because people can’t be bothered to neuter their dogs. Or breeders who are after the ‘perfect’ one which will win Crufts! Or galgueros who want the champion. Thoughtless selfish people who don’t really care about the dogs.

    Most of the animals I have had in my 70 years have been neutered, dogs, cats, horses. Not the ducks, hens and geese of course!!

    Here’s an article raising the question ‘to neuter or not?’.

  • France – dogs trained to sniff out Covid-19 virus

    Not podencos but dogs trained in France to sniff out the covid-19 virus. Read the full article in The Connexion here.

  • Podencos in History

    Podencos in history
    From Bev Farmer of Podenco Friends.

    ‘I was sent this photo a couple of years ago from a Spanish friend and at the time posted it and thought an interesting piece of history to share of a Podenco.. Doing some research its possible it is from the late 1800´s .. There is very little to be found about the history of the podencos and I talk to Spanish friends who can recall from 2 or 3 generations back family members had them .. Even then they were just dogs kept on the land not family pets and often know has campo dogs . Historically Podencos were the dogs for the poorer people and their skills to catch rabbits literally put food on the table. This possibly could explain why today to some this breed is not respected and undervalued.

    Yet you maybe surprised to hear that here in Spain the Podenco Ibicenco , Canario are a recognised breed under the group primitive type. The Podenco Andaluz, Maneto and the Valenciano under the group Spanish breeds . These are for showing and have a breed standard with traceable bloodlines and pedigrees .. These you will never find abandoned.

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  • No sew face mask

    Video on this weblink

  • Keeping your dog’s teeth healthy

    My little podenca Bebe came with very bad teeth and now my aged galga Carmela is showing signs of teeth deterioration. Not surprising when they are 17 and 15 years respectively! I use dentastix when they have had their meals but here’s an article with some other suggestions. It mentions raw bones – marrow bones. For decades we always gave our dogs marrow bones until some years ago my Swedish Valhund Pepsi broke a piece off and got it stuck in her throat. So no more marrow bones! Besides, I am sure the two male galgos would fight!

    What do any of you use for keeping your dog’s teeth healthy?