Polar continues to give us lots of pleasure and wins the affection of everyone he meets.
He’s well into the household routine and starting to learn a few manners! He has to be fed first, otherwise he has his head in everyone else’s bowl and they stupidly let him. His big buddy is Bracken – they play together and often share a bed. Bracken has earned a lot of gold stars, he has endless patience. His ears get pinched, his jowl, his leg – come on, mate, I want to play – and only once has he snapped back that he’s had enough of playing for the time being!
Polar’s a little tea-leaf (thief) for any food – he will put paws up to the worktop to lick a plate, pull a packet to him…nose into shopping bags, handbags!
We were told he liked Alan’s socks. David had a drawer full of old socks, enough to make 3 long sausages which he delights in carrying around to anyone who will play tug o war!
Occasionally I find an old shoe missing but so far he hasn’t chewed them, just taken them to bed.
And he loves playing in the wet part of the garden, with Bracken – this is the result before having a bath!
He still copes well with his bad leg but it is starting to concern us. As he is growing, so the leg is not and he carrying it more and the knee is swollen. The foot is no longer on the ground, just the tip of his toes. I have found a supplier of MSM and the other supplements suggested – Yumove and Syno-vital – and have ordered a couple of jars of the former. Hopefully it will arrive soon.
Polar’s fan club gained a huge additional membership at the weekend when we introduced him to our friends and supporters at our fundraising bbq/quiz. His tail never stopped wagging!
If you would like to adopt a galgo, Pepis Refuge, Pedrera, have several beauties desperately needing forever homes.
And don’t forget to sponsor David who is doing a parachute jump to raise 6,000 euros for fencing for Pepis Refuge and a new electricity generator.
Comments
9 responses to “Galgo pup Polar – enjoying life in France”
hello Beryl,have a look at http://www.orthopets.co.uk,if Polar needs to have his leg amputated ,it might be easier for him to have a prosthesis fitted when he is fully grown.They are made in Denver USA and the cost is £1413 GBP,e.mail address info@orthopets.co.uk.
Good luck,Elaine
oh i hope it dont come to him having his leg amputated thinking of you all will put something through for david on friday for pepis
What about comfrey? (Boneset, knitbone – consoude in French.) It’s been famed for thousands of years for growing and mending bones and tendons. It might help. You can use it externally (root and leaf) or internally (leaf only) and it is sold as oil, ointment, tablets, tea, dried herb (for poultics.) It helped my joints when I was quintoxicatd. You’d need to use it externally, every day for 6 months and I have no idea whetehr it’d help in his case.
Thanks, Kate, about the comfrey. I have some comfrey cream which I used in the past on the horses, will get it out and rub on his joint – he’ll be a skwebald galgo! Thanks also about the prothesis – I will make a note of the information for future reference in his file. The first amputee we brought out of Spain was Carmelo – I think I said above – and he coped well on 3 legs. Many podencos are amputees because they get trapped in the vicious metal snares which people put on their private land, especially in woods. Again, we brought at least 2 out of Spain to homes in France. Until Polar is fully grown, we won’t make any decision, but it’s looking that way – tripod. Writing that word – I have a feeling there is a Tripod club for canines!
He looks like he has grown lots already, I had forgotten how fast puppies grow! He is lovely and I bet he will cope really well as a tripod, dogs are so adaptable. It cheers me up every time I see more pictures of him. I hope he isn’t in too much pain because of his leg.
I have a spare pot or two of ointment, but it’s cheap, so you might as well buy it.
Here are some possible homeopathic remedies:
Bryonia Alba. – Pain with inflammation which, is aggravated by movement and relieved by moderate pressure and rest.
Ledum pal. – Excellent remedy for gout and rheumatism which is of ascending nature, better by cold application.
Rhus Tox. – Pain aggravated by first movement and by damp weather and better by continuous motion.
Hypericum. – Remarkable remedy for rheumatoid arthritis, knee contracted, has outstanding action over nerve pain.
Lachesis. – Rheumatic pain in knee along with swelling.
I’d order them from Ainsworths and would use 6c or 9c, but you’d do better to consult a homeopath. (You can ask advice briefly if you ring Ainsworths, especially if you choose a quiet day.)
Oh, and of course arnica.
Thanks for all these, Kate, will print off. But have to say I dont deal with homeopathic. Years ago I organised a talk by a homeopathic vet and simply couldnt accept the x100 plus water x100 diluted….and my doctor once suggested a homeopathic prescription for myself and they were a waste of money. But will look at the other products. Have looked on the prosthecis website and it is really interesting and might – for the long term benefit of Polar – be the way to go, once his skeleton has finished growing. Thank you to everyone for your input, it is all really helpful. xx
Bon Soir, yes he has grown a lot. I have looked at the prosthecis website and it is fascinating and I think this could be the way we will go for Polar, when his skeleton finishes growing. Being such a young dog, it could be worth it for his quality of life and long term health benefit. Go on the website link details in the comments above, and then go on their facebook page and look at the videos. Incredible! xx