The news on Barty is that his cruciate and hock ligaments are fine, he has simply (!) put his disc out again. Vet thinks there is a possibility that he may have damaged the hock ligament at the same time which is why it was slightly swollen, but two weeks total rest has sorted that.

So it is good news that there is nothing else damaged, not so good news that his back has gone out again. Hey ho life goes on

Blooming Heck What a Week

I don't know whether to be happy or sad that Barty's back isn't the problem that is causing his limp. He has hurt his leg, probably a ligament and it could be cruciate.

Seeing as I don't know the vets that would anaesthetize him down in France to xray him we have decided to wait until we get back to England to do further investigations. He is going in on Monday for assessment and xrays and we will know further then.

Sometimes I wonder whether he will ever be fit again.

August Update

Well, a lot has happened since I posted in early July. We have returned to France for our annual 3 week holiday as a family (me, Nick and the dogs) and Barty has had a relapse prior to our leaving.

Finally we consulted a trained homeopath, as my efforts really haven't been good enough. The boy has been prescribed Phosphorus and Syphilinum twice a week combined with a better combination vitamin supplement that contains more minerals. So far so good on the back front - of course, Barty being Barty has hurt something else jumping out of the car. So he is still limping and not weight bearing on his back left leg but it is nothing to do with his back !!!!!!!!!!

So email communication with his vet in the UK and he got grounded for a few days, hasn't made any difference so that will be another trip to Adam when we get back.

Still apart from that we are all enjoying our holiday, weather has been lovely and sunny which has made a nice change from dreary old England. Back again soon so will make the most of it while we can.

Finally

Well it has been 3 and a half months since Barty hurt his back. I thought the homeopathic Hypericum was working but after 3 days he went backwards. Since then my father died and my mother had a mini stroke which has precluded any further research. Poor wee soul has been on Tramadol and PLT for about 5 weeks and I think we are finally getting to the point where I think the disc has gone back in.

He didn't limp yesterday for the first time and this morning daft b*****r went off after rabbits with dear Chloe and didn't return for 30 minutes. He still isn't limping so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

There are times when my decision years ago that he would enjoy life to the full as a lurcher should is sorely tested and I want to wrap him up in cotton wool and ban him from doing anything remotely dangerous.

Still, to hear him joyously yodelling in the morning when I come downstairs still makes my heart sing and he is back yodelling in fine voice.

Something's working

Well, 11 days later and we have gone up to 1m in homeopathic potencies and it seems to finally be working. The PLT weren't helping the limp so I stopped giving them to my dear boy and this morning he is definitely improving. He is also getting symphytum to try and knit the vetebrae back together - bit of a long shot but it has been shown to help when cancer and chemo have destroyed bone so it has to be worth a try.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that this time it works

Physical Problems again

Well, today is my birthday and since yesterday poor Barty has been struggling with his bulging disc again. So I visited the local Pharmacie and with my best french collected a bunch of homeopathic remedies and have been dosing him with Hypericum, Bryonia and Arnica and this evening he is not limping.

Hopefully by tomorrow night I should see even more of an improvement. At least he is cheerful again today and wanting to play with favourite pink flamingo toy.

Just as you think he is an Adult

Well, there you go just as you think he has reached 6 and is an adult now, he goes and blows it all. I was downstairs sorting out the laundry yesterday and Barty obviously decided that he wasn't getting enough attention, so he completely shredded a ball of wool that I was using to knit myself a jumper.

I don't know whether anyone has seen the mess that plum red merino wool makes on a creamy coloured carpet but let me assure you that it makes very pretty patterns.

Then last night I was sitting watching tv and I could hear some snuffly noises coming from the room next door that is currently being used for storing stuff. When I went in to investigate there was the terrible twosome with Barty with his head almost stuck in the bag of Orijen having unrolled the top to get in it. You have to admire his ingenuity but Lord help me!!!!!