Another win for outstanding BSD Cloud  Awarded – Best of Breed. North Lincolnshire Show Easter Saturday

From Richard (with Baxter)

Dogs owners have been warned to keep their pets away from mud as deadly Alabama Rot sweeps the UK. There are fears dogs could contract the devastating disease from mud picked up on their paws and legs during walks.

Owners should wash any mud off their dogs when they return home and watch out for signs of the illness known as CRGV. 

The cause of Alabama Rot, or 'dog's black death', is unknown and it affects all breeds. If it's not spotted early enough it could lead to potentially fatal kidney failure, with 80 per cent of all cases leading to death as it's often too late by the time it's diagnosed. A number of deaths have been reported in the UK and dog owners have been urged to keep a close watch over their pets. More than 135 cases have been reported since 2012, but there are fears that 2018 could see a surge in cases due to recent bad weather. There have been at least 29 deaths this year after a record 37 were reported in 2017. Alamaba Rot is believed to thrive in cold, wet soil.The Dogs Trust said: "Where possible, stick to dry paths and keep dogs out of muddy or wet areas. "Wash off any mud after your walk so you can check for any lesions or wounds and if you spot any, go to your vet."

The first sign of Alabama Rot is usually a skin sore or lesion not caused by any known injury, said Vets4Pets. It said: "Most commonly, these sores are found below the elbow or knee and appear as a distinct swelling, a patch of red skin, or are open and ulcer-like. "Within approximately two to seven days, the affected dogs develop outward signs of sudden kidney failure which can include vomiting, reduced hunger, and an unusual tiredness.

"Skin sores and sudden kidney failure are not unique to this disease alone, and are actually more likely to be caused by some other disease. Your vet will run a number of tests to determine the underlying cause."

How common is lungworm?

from the Kennel Club

Lungworm is what we call an 'emerging' disease: it's gradually becoming more common. Until recently it only appeared in select 'hot spots' in the south of the UK, but over the last few years, it's been successfully identified in various parts of the country. It's unclear exactly what's caused this spread (and that of other parasites, including ticks), but increased movement of pets around the country, and abroad, as well as greater contact between wildlife and the urban environment are all thought to be very influential factors.

Not every snail or slug carries the disease and lungworm's geographical limitations means infection is currently relatively uncommon, but it does rear its head from time to time; and in extreme cases, causes death of infected patients, so it is potentially extremely serious.

see other hearth concerns on the Disney Diaries Page....

Microchip Scanner

We now have a Microchip Scanner.... testing we discovered one dog that had been chipped didn't register on the scanner...the chip had 'gone' or stopped working. So after a visit to the vet (who also couldn't find it) a new chip was inserted.
So, if you would like your dog's chip checked please ask.

When using it one  weekend we found most dogs showed concern having the scanner placed near their neck... So, Pat suggested we do this as a training class exercise.... so we will do this by passing the scanner round to a difference class each week.

“Dogs’ lives are short, too short, but you know that going in. You know the pain is coming, you’re going to lose a dog, and there’s going to be great anguish, so you live fully in the moment with her, never fail to share her joy or delight in her innocence, because you can’t support the illusion that a dog can be your lifelong companion. There’s such beauty in the hard honesty of that, in accepting and giving love while always aware it comes with an unbearable price. Maybe loving dogs is a way we do penance for all the other illusions we allow ourselves and for the mistakes we make because of those illusions.”
Dean Koontz,