Grey is really ill for his second birthday

Not the way I'd hoped we would spend Grey's second birthday tomorrow. He's been realy ill for the last three days. Started on Thursday night when he yelped suddenly when I touched his shoulder. This quickly progressed to him yelping when he moved to him being unable to lie down or get up on his own. He spent the night whining lightly and twitching. It was awful. Friday I took him to the vet and they said he has an enlarged lymph node on his right shoulder at the base of his neck. They said they couldn't find any evidence of injury or strain. Worryingly they said that in an older dog this could be linked to cancer, but given Grey's young age this would be really rare. But still, scary that the 'C' word was brought up.

I spoke with the vets again on Saturday as he wasn't getting better and was still crying. We added paracetamol in every 6 hours. By Sunday it was clear he needed some stronger pain killers. We went to see the other practice. Grey arrived full of adrenalin going into the vets. Had to be carried in because of the tiled floor. The vet said again that it's strange his condition in such a young dog. He gave him a morphone injection and we came home with stronger pain killers which he has needed to take. We're taking him back in to the vets first thing for xrays and a biopsy.

I'm totally worried about him and what's going on. Wondering if it is at all linked to the condition his brother Gunner had (diskospondilitis). It's just awful seeing my once full of life dog, just lying around either out of it on drugs or crying in pain. Hopefully will know more tomorrow.

In other news, Gunner is now having collapses every two weeks. How awful is that. Hope both these brothers get well soon.

Walk in East Blean Woods

We had a lovely time exploring East Blean Woods on our own over the weekend. The sun was out. Really nice to get some time away from work after a really busy easter weekend. Grey sticks very close in the woods.

Aren't you ready yet, mum?

Canix aka running with your dog!

We've started running! Yes, us, running! I had the thought the other day when I was out in my wellies as usual, that it's hard to run and keep pace with a slovak while wearing wellies and jeans. So while I was on my one and only day off in weeks at Bluewater yesterday, I bought a pair of trainers to add to the wardrobe of wellies and flipflops. Since having Grey I've found it hard to take him out for 2 hours, run the business and do some aerobic exercise myself.

I've noticed for a good while that he loves running with me if I run. So I had a flick through the Canix UK site and also saw that they say it can also improve leadwalking when not training as the dogs really know the difference. There I was sold. Another big reason I'm thinking of it is that the picnickers and daytrippers are back on my favourite beach stomping grounds, so having hold of Grey on some kind of line and occuppied probably is a good thing.

We've been out twice today. It went really well. This morning was mosty free running with me with no lead attached and he stayed with me loads and ran the whole time. Only jumped up at me once in excitement that his mum was, well, running! We passed the jogging guy who Grey usually has a half hearted little chase after and the guy is very good about it. I think he probably couldn't get over the irony of me then also being out with the mad hound and also jogging!

This evening I went out to Minnis where we often see packs of huskies training on carts. Have to watch his pads on the seawall walkway. But there is a rough grassy path (also very muddy) that was can run on too. But that's if we start getting really serious! I rigged up the Ezydog harness, his long training lead and the Ezydog bungee lead. I do need to sort out something nice to carry keys, phone etc. The treat bumbag was horribly annoying and bouncy. I think one of the specific hands free waist belts will sort this out. Thinking of ordering the Euro harness kit from here:

Interesting thing was that when I stopped running and had a breather, he was much much calmer and 'with me' if you know what I mean. So we shall see how long I can keep it up.

In the media - UK vet still worried re KC guidelines on inbreeding

Interesting article by UK vet Pete Wedderburn in the Telegraph. Someone has posted concerns re the UK Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer breeding programme in the comments section below.

"No relief being sighed here I am afraid Pete. Just more questions begging of Dr Sampson.

Point 4. Has the KC really taken this matter seriously in regard to for instance the Slovakian rough haired Pointer? I was told at DD that there are about 300 in the UK all with mostly common ancestors. Yet in Slovakia they are still crossing the breed with weims etc as they feel the gene pool is so small.
Point 8 – we need guidance NOW – half brother half sister matings are already happening on Yogi for instance.

Point 9. Jeff needs to take another look at the KC web site. I cannot find anything of any substance on diversity or inbreeding and nothing on the dangers of popular sires.

Yogi’s win yesterday tells me all I need to know about the KC’s attitude to such issues. They keep on rewarding them. Dr Sampson says one thing but the KC’s actions or rather lack of them speak louder."

You only have to look at the photographs of the Slovakian Slovaks to see how much more varied they are than the UK Slovaks. They have a wide variation in coat in terms of colour. Some are bi-coloured, white and brown etc.

Take a look at the UK pedigrees and you can count more or less three main active UK stud dogs (mostly two until recently) and a handful of bitches. And this is in pedigrees that were already said by slovakian contacts to be very closely related. They all seem to be mostly solid weimaraner grey too.

I'm still curious to see why Grey's dental treatment hasn't been added to the UK health stats for the breed. Grey's treatment was extensive (4 ops and the wearing of an acrylic plate for months throughout his adolescence).

An eminent UK dental vet stated that it is far easier to breed out such problems now while the UK breed has such small numbers than leave it. Prevention is better than cure. Grey was so badly overshot that the vets that treated him said they hadn't seen a mouth like his for years. He never had and never will have a correct scissor bite. His treatment was lengthy and costly as it was not covered by insurance.

Sad face with the fluffy hairdo

Been brushing him tonight. Comes up a bit fluffy. Doesn't look amused!

Pictures from our trip to visit the gang of 6

We had a lovely time with P and her beautiful gang of 6 in Surrey. Spent a wonderful afternoon on a long walk and Grey was really really good. He stuck with us, did lovely recalls and was nice and polite with everyone. We finished off the walk with a trip to the pub. Grey lay down and slept while we had ice cream and also was really good when a man came to fuss him.

Look what a good time we had!