Please note: graphic images

Lagertha developed canine influenza around the same time and after 5 days in hospital, did recover, praise the Lord.

Recently we endured an episode of some sort of necrotizing disease process with our matriarch Heathview Sophie Tucker.  The effect resulted in two very large necrotic areas on either side of her left rear leg.  With the help of our vet the process was arrested and we are now into a very long healing phase that will take weeks with daily dressing changes.  Sophie has proven to be very strong through this whole ordeal.

Within 5 days after Sophie’s ordeal, our bitch Mamma Mia went lame.  We rushed her to the vet as the disease process was very similar to Sophie – her leg swelled and a small necrotic wound appeared over her left hock that started to drain purulent fluid.  With Mamma things progressed much quicker and we became very worried when her rear leg swelled became hot and reddened and started to break down, draining Sero-sanguineous fluid.  We started to see involvement of her right front paw which swelled up within 4 hours of arrival at the vet.  Her heart developed a murmur and her blood work showed early stages of DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation).  Emergency vet care could only do so much.  We were devastated by the loss of Mamma in the early hours of December 28th.

To date we are unsure what hit our kennel.  The swab for C&S on Sophie was inconclusive showing “no growth”.  We are awaiting results on Mamma Mia’s wound.

Both lived in the kennel building for short periods.  So had Eachna, Lagertha and Rosie and for a lot longer.  We researched spiders on the intranet thinking perhaps it might be the brown recluse spider, but they are not typical in our area and after cleaning the garage there was no evidence of spiders.  Our vet isn’t convinced it was spiders either but more likely some necrotizing disease process.  We also thought  about snakes (it’s possible I suppose) but again, we saw no evidence in the garage.  The only other possible thing is the kennel doors that are firm and potentially could cause blunt force injury as the dogs pass through if they swing back.  Perhaps a break in the skin could get infected??

We have no one in the garage at the moment.  We are playing things very safe.  The kennel building has been cleaned, vacuumed and will be disinfected before it is used again.

We are still staggering with the loss of our dear Mamma.  The stress of loosing one of the family without the “why” being answered is overwhelming.

We hope 2017 is a much better year for one and all