Both Frankie and Beryl have been in the wars this week.  Sunday afternoon Beryl and I were waiting in the car at the beach for Frankie when I heard him screaming.  I’m sure he’s got a bit of Greyhound in him because he’s got the GSOD down pat.  I started running as fast as I could in the soft sand towards the noise.  The thoughts that go through your head at times like that!  I headed into the dunes around where I thought he was and saw him out of the corner of my eye.  He was making his way back to the beach on 3 legs and looking very sorry for himself.

I ran over to him and checked the leg.  Nothing seemed broken, no blood and I have no idea what he did to himself.  He couldn’t/wouldn’t use the leg so I picked him up and carried him.  We weren’t far from the beach or car but he’s about 23 kgs, not a light weight.  I put him down when I got onto the beach and told him I was going to get the car which wasn’t far away.  He got lots of love and sympathy at home.  I didn’t go to bed til midnight and he was still on 3 legs and whimpered if he lay on that side. He’s hurt this leg/shoulder before (left front) and was lame on it for 3 or 4 months once.  I had it X-rayed then which didn’t show anything, rested him which didn’t bring any improvement and it eventually came right overnight.  But this time he was on 3 legs and I was fully expecting to have to take him to the vet for x-rays, although I was going to wait for a day or so.  In true Frankie style he was barely sore the next morning, I couldn’t believe it, lol.  By the afternoon he was back to normal.  Whew.

Then it was Beryl’s turn.  On Wednesday morning she managed to rip just about all the skin off the top of her left hind foot.  It’s called a ‘partial de-gloving’, so I found out at the vets.  I’d hate to see a total de-gloving, this was gruesome enough.  I did take one photo on my phone but it vanished, which is probably just as well.  I doubt I could look at it myself!  Oh my poor girl.  I so hate either of them not being 100% but this was way worse than Frankie being on 3 legs.  I knew this wouldn’t come right over night:(  We spent 45 minutes at the vets having the foot cleaned, skin snipped off, a couple of staples put in at the top where there was enough skin to join up.  Bandages put on, injections, temperature taken etc etc.  There was quite a bit of whimpering and I was wishing I’d asked the vet nurse to hold her and waited outside!  But I knew she’d rather I was there … although she might have been tougher if I wasn’t!

When I stopped to see if there was any mail on the way home there was a present for Beryl in the letterbox!  It was her Hope For Hounds collar that I’d ordered a few weeks ago.  Some of the proceeds from the sale of these collars go to the Greyhound Health and Wellness Program at the Ohio State University and I was happy to help a good cause and buy Beryl a new collar.  Perfect timing, I hoped it would cheer her up but

you can tell by the look in her eyes

she wasn’t impressed that her bandage didn’t match:(  She’s been doing a lot of sleeping but hasn’t lost her appetite.  We both hate her being like this.  This morning we went back to the vet to have the bandage changed.  Her foot looks better than it did on Wednesday, thank goodness.  I was interested that the vet put Manuka honey on the dressing.  She said it’s been fully accredited now and they’re using it a lot.  I bought some on the way home to use when the bandage comes off … and I’ll probably have some on toast for breakfast:)  And it was good that the new bandage matches her new collar this time …

but Beryl still looks pensive

and sad … I think there’s a bit of stink eye in there too:(

Beryl would like me to thank our friends on Facebook who have wished her a speedy recovery, and her sweetheart, Deccy, who sent her flowers on Facebook xxx

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Amidst all the dramas of the past week we did get some exciting news.  Beryl is honoured to have a photo in a lovely book that has just been published by Retired From Racing, Not From Life.  

Many of our Greyhound friends are in there too:)  It’s available at a special price for a limited time and if you check out this link you’ll see all the details plus you can preview the whole book:)  Again, proceeds are donated to the Greyhound Health and Wellness Program at Ohio State University.  We’ve ordered our copy, roll on August 16th, when it will arrive.   

Maybe you’d love a copy but funds are a bit tight right now?  Well Bunny at Tales and Tails has been given three copies to give away so keep an eye on her blog as she will be revealing details of how you can possibly win one soon:)

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A big thank you to everyone for your suggestions as to things I can try to get my blog feeds back on track.  It’s going to take a while.  I was actually surprised at how many people use a Mac and knew what I was talking about:)

Time to put the plastic bag on Beryl’s leg and take her outside before we go to bed.  Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.