2 replies to this topic

[Alasdair]

We have for the last six years travelled south to my house in the south of spain for the winter months, Our 4 terrier dogs have always come with us and spent the winter here. We have always had them innoculated and been meticulous in making sure we have all the frontline flea and tick treatment etc up to date. We always followed the vets advice regarding the likes of the Scalibor collars to protect against sandflys and when the local vet here said that we now need to have them for the dogs all year round we bought them and the dogs have worn them ever since, that is for the last four years. previously the sandflys were only a problem when the night time tempeture exceeded 16 degrees and the dogs were walked after dark.
This winter shortly after arriving here in spain I noticed that the hair on the tail of my 7 year old border  terrier started to get a bit thin I tried extra vitamins for about 2 weeks then called the vet to the house to examine him. I had noticed that the dog was drinking a bit more than usual but paid little attention thinking maybe the spanish dog food was saltier or something.
The vet took blood and tested for Lieshmania I thought "how could he possibly have caught this disease" he had his collar was never out at night and was never here in the hot weather, anyway the test showed that he had a low level of the disease.
He was treated from last november with tablets everyday and twice weekly injections, he seemed to be getting better but wasnt.
The end result was that I had to watch a magnificent little companion get weaker and thinner by the day all the while having him treated and kidding myself that he would get better. His fight was finaly lost last saturday when after another blood test proved the disease was winning, I had to take him to meet the vet and have him put to sleep.
The main point of this long winded saga is to try and emphasise the importance of taking care when traveling with dogs in these hot climates , never walk the animal after dark avoid sandfly friendly places (anywhere with damp soil) and mostly make sure the dog has a scalibor collar. although mine had them for the last four years the incubation period can be up to seven years and he may well have been bitten before he had the collar.
Watching a young fun loving loyal little companion decline the way mine did is heartbreaking.

[chatterdog]

So sorry to hear of your loss Alasdair. It is a terrible thing to watch this illness knowing that all you do doesnt help, happened to my sisters dog 3 years ago. she has lived out there the last 20yrs.

[Alasdair]

So sorry to hear of your loss Alasdair. It is a terrible thing to watch this illness knowing that all you do doesnt help, happened to my sisters dog 3 years ago. she has lived out there the last 20yrs.

Thanks for that Maggie