Lol - OK, it'll be our little secret

Thanks. The teeth were going to need to be taken out at some stage so we decided might as well get them fixed while he was having his leg sorted. Glad your girl is doing fine too.

Wow how odd, I was taking about Hungarian vizslas today! Hadn't seen one before, but had 2 in today! Now you pop up,, obviously it's a vizsla day!

Beautiful dog, she can be an honorary pointy dog.

Not a sighthound but she is a stunner! I love Vislas, we have a gorgeous one in the village - their ears are like velvet.

Lazy morning cooried up on the couch. Love my boy.

Aww. My little sod has discovered how to jump on the trampoline now, but only likes to do so when the kids are trying to play, thus upsetting everyone still digging (but in one place now fortunatley) and charging round at a great speed!

His recalls good IF he hears me, which often only happens when I whistle so am training him on the dog whistle now.

Good news for our lurchers at work - our long term boy left for a new home this week, another is on hold for a new family, pending a few more visits.

Aww. He looks like my big man.

soo mad!! took my boy (now 18.5kg :O) to the vet to be snipped yesterday. Had to use a vet I'm not familiar with because the rescue were paying, they are a good reputation branch though.

All went fine when he went in, then I got a call to say he was out and all ok, I could pick him up at 5 (about 4 hours time), 20 mins later I have a call to say he's come round quicker than expected and was fretting so to go get him then. When I got there I asked why he'd come round quick, they didn't know. So I'd questioned whether they'd taken into consideration the fact that he was a suluki cross and therefore KNOWN to have a faster recovery time due to high metabolisims and also the issues that all lurchers can face during anaesthesia - three blank faces looked at me. They didn't know! what scares me is that he could of come round on the table, or maybe the next dog will.

I get him home and he's a little sleepy, I take a look at the wound, not only is it really badly internally stitched (I see lots of good stitches at work, this is bludging in places and stretched in others, no clean line) but they've ripped him all over where they've shaved him, again obviously unaware of the special needs of lurchers and how thin thier skin is. Poor mite not only has a load of painful stitches he also has numerous tears in his skin around there and shaving rash Since coming home he's cried none stop, won't leave my side and is generally miserable. My other lad who was done by my vets last year never batted an eyelid, which suggests to me that these vets have really put him thru the ringer.

I've had him to my own vets this morning, they've given me a different pain killer as the one the others gave me was pretty weak (think paracetamol vs codine) and a cream for his shaving rash - the vet was shocked at the stitches too.

No advice needed really, just wanted to rant about shitty vets and their ignorance.

The poor lad!!

Its bloody worrying that they had no idea about the anaesthesia issues, that could have ended very very badly

Speak to the rescue and tell them your concerns with this vet, they may have a good reptation but they clearly dont know about hounds and how different they are from "normal" dogs. Maybe the rescue will change vets.

I think he deserves a really nice tea tonight to help him recover from the trauma of today!!

Hope the stitches hold up and the tears and rash dont cause him too much grief.

Give him a stroke from me.

Did speak to the rescue but they've not had any problems suggested they use someone else but I doubt they'll change.

Noticed they have pulled a load of hair out from around his eyes too, must be the tape.

All in all he's a bloody mess (it was yesterday) and has spent the night crying, a real miserable whine (he is a bit of a baby too!) redness has gone down around the shaved bits and he's eating well (no shock there, they suggested a light tea, he'd not be happy with that!)

I am sorry to hear that, that was always my worry with any of my Lurchers if they needed an op.
I did lose a Lurcher girl once when she was spayed, got a call saying the op went ok, but when they checked her later she had died. Such a shock, So since then I always talk to the Vets and ask them if they are aware before any operation.

Hope your boy will be ok soon.

Christ, it sounds like they have just ripped the tape off

Hope the boy is on the mend today, when they go off their food its really time to worry

Thats really sad. Did they know why she died? I know hounds and anaesthesia can be very dodgy. God, that must have been an awful shock for you.

It was, she was only 1 yr old and we had her brother from the same litter too.(who was pining for her for 6 mth until we got another Lurcher from a rescue) The worst was telling my then 12 yr old son.
They never said, but my guess was, they given too much anaesthesia. It was over 30 yrs ago, and I dont think they were quite as much aware that these type of dogs dont have as much flesh as for instance a German shepherd with the same weight.

Thats heartbreaking As you say things have progressed a lot since then, saying that I made sure my dad asked our vet if he was up to speed on hound issues and he is. Better to be a nagging client than the alternative.

Yes, I always ask now before any op on my dogs. It does not stop me worrying mind.

Ok so figured I'd update my lurcher-ness.

Brat face is 8 months now and grey hound size -whippet x saluki my arse! - he's an almighty sod, but lovely. My back yard is full of holes, and giant poos. He's completley destroyed my sofa, so much so that I'm down to one seat cushion stolen from another chair! He's also just eaten £50 that I left out for the dog walker. £who of which has yet to reappear (if you get my meaning!)

He is a master counter surfer and a beast when it comes to anything that is out of bounds!

On the plus side, he gives awesome cuddles, toilet trained like a dream (although wouldn't go out in the storm!) and has brilliant recall (except when there's a pretty white husky bitch about-she was too good to resist!), the jr and he get on well, and keep each other busy. He's still crated during he day when I'm out, and at night - mainly because of the destruction he causes! He gets 3 long walks a day and goes to doggy day care once a week (which wears him out) yet still manages to find that burst of energy the moment I go out of the room! Little shit....

Hee! Cheeky teenager! Tux kept nicking my tree ornaments and has a thing for coathangers... We've had nearly a month of stormy weather and Tux is not impressed.

Got any recent pics?