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Old dogs

Like old men old dogs seem to get a bit grumpy. In Franklin's case his always been a little bit tetchy especially when it comes to touching his feet or if his woken up, turfed off the settee or not allowed on the bed. Milo is the least grumpy, most of the time he bumbles along without a care in the world or a care for anyone else. Tyser, who found us nearly six years ago now is getting to be the grumpiest giving a growl as both dogs pass him (he won't growl at Fizz, who puts a fear in him) this is becoming a bit of a problem as both Milo who is totally blind and Franklin now with cataract's cant see a big old dog in the dark. Franklin is no angel as he maybe winds Tyser up by barking to get him to move out of the way, who knows what goes through a dogs head, but something went through Tysers thats for sure.

The problem came to ahead Saturday evening a week ago. Taking Tyser, off lead as he listens to me and Franklin, on a retractable lead (he would run a mile given the chance) for a quick walk up the road as the light was fading and my tummy was rumbling. Franklin stopped for a interesting sniff when Tyser 100 meters up the road came running along to Franklin when he just pounced on him. Franklin was down the ditch on his back not being able to do anything as Tyser went bonkers biting him, at which point I was screaming at Tyser while kicking him for he was not going to back off. Two dogs fighting is very scary, I knew I should not get in between as the chances of me getting bitten were pretty high. Finally I managed to pull Tyser's collar and separate him.

I now had the dilemma of a devil dog off lead and still trying to get poor Franklin and a hurt dog on a lead who may do a runner if I let him off but as Tyser was not giving up I had to free Franklin and put Tyser on a very short lead to get them home. Franklin wasn't running off but hobbling in a state of shock.

Once checked over there was a surprising lack of blood on Franklin, so no rushing to the vets to be sewn up at least. He did however have lots of bites on his leg, shoulder and sides, which were cleaned up with iodine and sprayed with a bacterial spray as best could be with a wussy dog that he is. Rescue remedy for the shock and arnica for the bruising and dogs separated for the night.

Franklin had a badly swollen paw which he couldn't put down come Sunday. A trip to the vets turned out his bites were deep down to the bone and already infected. He spent the day at the vets being put under and cleaned up, with the bonus of his toe nails being trimmed at the same time. His leg had been mauled so badly Huggie the vet thought she may have to amputate it as the chances of  gangrene setting in were really high along with his temperature.  Anti inflammetories and antibiotics administered we revisited Monday where his back was stappled (along with a bit of grim dead skin picking). He still has a tempreture and inflammed leg so antibiotics are hidden in a bit of meat (not touching the sides like all of Franklin's meals) with a appointment for areassesment on Friday.

So what to do with Tyser, his the only one that has not been castrated so this will be needed in the hope it will calm him if he is fighting for top dog status.

It was a little scary how an attack started, no food, other dog or cause for a fight. Tyser knows he has been very naughty. It's a bit like treading on egg shells at the moment, it may happen again it may not but being sensible it may well so a day at the vets for Tyser along with being seperated while we are not around is the only way we can work round having three dogs. Only hoping he will be able to sleep back with the others as his a terrible night walker padding along the hall where he is put at night at the moment. He so wants to be back in his usual sleeping quaters the dinning room end of the kitchen on his mat with Franklin on my chair and Milo on farmer J's. Creatures of comfort (if only the log burner was on as well)

It just goes to show you should never trust an animal, however much you think you know them even if they are a calm, gentle scaredy cat of a dog.

 
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