Finding a BVA eye testing day is pretty hard at the moment due to covid a lot of vets have back logs going back and some still wont run. But thanks to Oxborough ring craft club I was pleased to find they would run a BVA eye testing clinic today and they needed help to run it. The BVA vet was professor Bedford and I went along to help. By giving up our valuable time it gives the opportunity for other fellow show folk to come along and get their dogs eyes tested. Supporting each other in difficult times to get our dogs health tested fully. It ran perfectly with running now with covid guidelines we all adhered to masks, hand sanitiser, and social distancing and limiting people with time slots rather than everyone turning up at once. Thanks to Angie and Jacky for hosting it.

I took my French bulldog cookie who had the yearly bva eye test where they are looking for Cateracts and all sorts and she was given a clear. She will not need another test now as she will only have one more litter before we retire her.
I took 4 Vizsla for Glaucoma testing. This used to be just a clear reading. But now the eyes are graded. I was thrilled with the results.
Chilli who is 11 1/2 had a zero score. I almost wondered if he being old would in fact have such good eyes, but he sure did.
Maisie who is 1 year old had a zero score.
Roux who is 2 years old had a zero score.
Ripley who is 2 years next March had a score of one.
All excellent scores which means all these dogs can be in our breeding program.

Another day will be held at club possibly December time, but this date has not been set yet. I have offered yet again to go along to help. If people dont get the help these events can not run, and will end up being run from vets premises which then will be a much higher fee.
In 2021 I have more dogs which previous glaucoma tests will of run out. The Glaucoma test is 3 yearly. Glaucoma is now a required Kennel club test for Assured breeders.

Again vets vets vet, but if you want some friendly advice and you can wait a day then read below.

The interdigital cyst is a strange one as they come and go in a day.  You may notice your dog is limping slightly and when you look between the toes is a swollen area.  The very best treatment for these is Epsom salts in nice hot water.  Not hot to scold the foot but hot to soak the skin.  Do a daily bath or twice daily after walking in muddy ground.

These can be seen on any dog breed and cross breeds.  I have read articles where they think (and I use the word think as no-one really knows), it could be down to a weakened immune system.  I have a male Pug who is healthy as can be, but if he trots around in muddy conditions he will get a swollen interdigital cyst.  So I wash his foot, Do not squeeze it, and I know its tempting but leave alone.  Then dip in dissolved epsom salts in hot water.  Its gone by the next day.  Feet are great places for yeast growth, bacteria and I always say smell the feet to know whats going on.  If they don't smell then the foot is healthy.  If the foot smells of biscuits then its probably yeast. 

If the swelling has not gone down in a day even after using epsom salts, then ring your vets for a consultation to make sure its nothing more than an interdigital cysts. Sometimes it can be a grass seed which needs surgical removing.  Grasses can go into the skin and then work their way up into the skin.   Also checking the dog doesn't have a small tumour.

Yeasty feet is something completely different which I will talk about on another day.  Most commonly yeasty feet is to do with food allergy or even allergy in the home environment. 

​Rachel xx

I have recently had someone contact me to ask how to treat their dogs cut pad.  On a legal point of view I am not a vet there fore I can not tell you what to do.  I have to say go to a vet regardless of what I think. 

But heres some friendly advice for all.

The Hungarian vizsla is an active dog, and jumps and propels itself off the floor with great force, and can catch a pad on a flint, and especially if you are in Norfolk. Flints were used back in the day when hunter gathers were needing weapons to kill animals to survive. The Norfolk flint was excellent as its sharp and can cut.  Different areas of the UK have different stone.  Then the Hungarian Vizsla will suddenly come to an abrupt holt for no reason and again can damage pads on glass, stone.  Nails are another which can really get broken or even torn out.

With all this in mind when you go out with your dog in the car its a very good idea to have a first aid kit with you, enough to treat the dog until your home and can get to your veterinary surgeon. 

It is very difficult to predict what a veterinary surgeon will do because all are different.  
I have learned that if a toe nail gets ripped right out, it will heal on its own, but you must clean it daily with salt water, not let dirt get into the nail bed, so use a dog boot when out.  A vet can check it to make sure its not infected, and they usually do not operate to remove any further as the nail will regrow back. 

For a torn  nail it depends on how badly its torn, because sometimes you can just trim the nail yourself and keep clean and it heals fine. But then some rip off the outer shell of the nail leaving exposed internal nail and thats really painful, so in these cases the vet may suggest cutting it right back, then bandage until its healed.  The problem with bandages is they sweat and often cause an infection, so dont allow it to get dirty.

With cracked pads, if the pad is cracked but not through to the underneath skin it will heal fine. Ive only seen one in my lifetime which was a real vet job as the dog had cut through with glass, so it was carefully checked to make sure no glass was in it, then recut and sewed together.  Thankfully not one of my dogs.  
Small injuries can be self treated with plaster spray and salt water.  I have used also germoline liquid skin on occasion, skin disinfectants and when I was stuck up a mountain I actually used superglue to hold the nail together.  But not if it had of been internal part exposed this was a dry split on the nail.

A helpful tip is do not let your dogs nails get long like cats claws, as these claws are then far more likely to get torn out.  A nice short trimmed nail is what you should have.  If you are going to walk in a flinty area, then sometimes a dog boot is advisable. 

First aid kits information will be added to my hidden pages for our pet owners with advice on what to have in the first aid kit.  This may take a few weeks for me to think of everything. 

Just remember if unsure vet vet vet.  Rachel xx