Not all lumps and skin lesions on your dog are cancerous. Unfortunately the ones on our blind podenco were and he now has inoperable stomach cancer. So we are just making the most of the time we have left with him before we have to make the ultimate decision.
Read this article on the subject.
We are lucky in that we have never owned an aggressive dog. However, we have owned three who have been the victims of dog attacks. 2 of my galgos, Carmela and Bracken were both victims of the same dog – but at different times – when we lived in France. Luckily neither of them were seriously injured but it certainly scared the life out of us! Our blind podenco Bo bears the scars and marks from being attacked, over his face and pieces missing from his ears. As he spent his first years on the end of a chain it’s not hard to guess when the attack(s) happened.
This PDSA article discusses the subject of dog attacks.
This petition is demanding the setting up of an independent regulatory authority to curb the diabolical vet fees in the UK. You need a UK postcode to sign and share.
Last year the Competition and Markets Authority undertook a look at vet clinics not being upfront about charges etc. This weblink give extensive details of their report, last March. Not that it will do anything to stop vets selling out to speculative companies which demand their share of vet charges.
In nearly 80 years of having dogs as pets – as well as horses and cats – apart from one occasion the time has come in their lives for us to make the ultimate decision. Apart from young dog Shandy who got on the scent of a bitch on heat, crossed a road, was hit and killed – all our animals have lived long and happy lives, much loved. Sometimes the ultimate decision has been taken out of our hands – our old border collie got dementia, Molly the greyhound got collapsed lungs at 14 years old, galga Carmela had a stroke and a brain haemorrage, Ben a lab x, galgos Sahara, Polar and Bracken developed inoperable cancers – see photo above – podenca Bebe died at 17 of old age).
Living with a stomach tumour
This is our blind podenco Bo (Bocelli) who we adopted in 2022. In 2023 he had a small tumour removed from his stomach. We were warned it could return. He is the third of our Spanish hounds to suffer from stomach cancer. Galga Sahara had an inoperable one many years ago and galgo Bracken had one in 2021, not long after our return to the UK after living in France for 19 years.
In February 2025, 2 years later after diagnosis. Bo’s stomach started to swell again. A scan at the vets confirmed our worst fears – the tumour had returned and this time it was judged inoperable, as it could be attached to either the spleen or the liver.
In himself, Bo was his usual happy cheeky self, eating normally, playing with our other podenco. But as his stomach swelled, he hadn’t the energy to go on the long walks of previous years.
PACMA – we want to tell you that on 5th March 2025 we have presented a proposal for an urgent modification of the terrible Royal Decree 666/2023 of the Government, which has generated enormous discomfort among veterinarians and animal guardians. There are many inconsistencies to correct.
Why is this decree a problem?
It requires notification of each veterinary prescription through the PRESVET system, including animals considered companion animals, when the European Regulation excludes them.
It requires pathogen identification tests for certain antibiotics, which delays treatments and is costing animal lives.
It imposes mandatory identification of animals for the administration of medications, making it difficult to treat community cats and abandoned animals. Such as where cats in a feral community are caught, neutered and returned to their community.
From Plataforma NAC
There are fewer and fewer hunters… but Spain is still a great hunting ground!
The number of hunters in Spain has dropped staggering: 45% down in the last 50 years and almost without generational relief. Meanwhile, 85% of Spanish territory is still destined for hunting, a multimillion dollar business in the hands of a few.
The cost of this activity?
30 million animals killed every year.
Lead ammunition polluting the environment.
Dozens of dead and injured in hunting accidents.
Dogs used and abandoned after the season.
Hunting is not necessary or ethical! Most of society rejects this cruel practice, but kinetic lobbies continue to impose their interests.
Read the full article on this weblink.
When I’ve had a problem like this on one of my dogs, I use Vet bandage and make a bootee from leather with a tape tie.
Brexit has a lot to answer for, not thought out and making an unholy mess of countless things linking the UK to the rest of Europe. Travelling from the UK to Europe with your dog gets ever more complicated. You need to get a certificate a minimum of 10 days before you travel, and a certificate for every time you do!!
This weblink takes you to information about an Animal Health Certificate.
