Supervet

[Beshlie]

Yes, we couldn't so we will never have another dog.
We had a mongrel for 17 years, the only vets bills were for vaccinations and castration.

We had 'Fauve de Bretagne' for just over two years. He was a lovely dog , a bit lively and a bit of an escapologist.( it's a hunting breed and he managed to 'hunt' some of our neighbours chickens.(French neighbour was typical farmer, it was what dogs did, we paid him for the chickens)

Other than that he had a lovely character, good with the grandchildren and we have pictures of him 'mothering' some kittens.

Hugo developed epilepsy ( I've since found that it is known in this breed in France) . We were spending a lot of money that we couldn't afford. The dog was suffering with one fit after another It was also distressing for us to see him thrashing around and then staggering and falling into things in the aftermath.(He had 12 fits one afternoon before we could actually manage to get him to the vet. We very sadly we agreed with the vet that it was best to have him 'put down' . French rural vets are not the same as UK small animal vets, they treat mostly large farm animals and hunting dogs so have a more pragmatic attitude.
I'll never have a dog again because of the 'guilt' feelings. I feel guilty because I don't really know how much the cost and the fact it happened at the same time I was diagnosed influenced us to accept the vet's suggestion .

Phoenix, never feel guilty that you had to have Hugo put to sleep. With his condition you gave him the last act of love and kindness that you could, to set him free and not to suffer anymore. I have faced that decision many times but know in my heart I have been able to give the gift of freedom to any of my ill dogs, even though I have missed them all terribly.

Since 1980 I have had Cavalier King Charles spaniels who carry the risk of Mitral Valve Disease, caused by early interbreeding, so, with my last puppy I searched for breeders who were concentrating on breeding MVD out of their lines, and where the pup's parents and grand parents and great grandparents were MVD and SM free at 5 years old, and my two Muffin and Leo are still heart murmur free at 7yrs and 6yrs old. This is why I am against Puppy farms/mills and any indiscriminate breeders who just breed for money with no thought for anything but their own pockets.

 

[noblehead]

Back on tonight, C4 8pm