Just as I was going to bed last night, I noticed Charlie’s coat on his back looked a little bit strange. I suppose I should introduce Charlie. He is the most loved and spoilt Golden Retriever ‘in the world’ and even he would agree with that, although he might say that there was a Golden Retriever down in Timbuktu that had just had an extra cuddle and really to redress the balance he might need a cuddle or two more.

Charlie had been poorly sick earlier, but I had just put that down to him being a pig. The dogs had some left over veggies after Sunday lunch and Charlie does like to make sure he gets his fair share. On closer examination of his coat it became evident that Charlie had wet excema, otherwise known as Acute Moist Dermatitis. He has had it before many years ago. So at getting on for 1 a.m., I’m clipping the area around the wound, applying iodine solution and clearing up more dog sick. He was sick three more times! On reading my trusty Dog Veterinary Handbook, I find that many dogs need sedating or anesthetising for any initial treatment as its simply so painful. Charlie completely trusts me and stands still whilst I attend to his wound as gently as I can. I can see it is painful, but he knows I’m just trying to help. The trouble with this condition is you never see how bad things have got until you have clipped the hair from the area. Fortunately its only a two inch square that is affected. Then at 5.30 a.m. an eighty pound Golden Retriever lands upon my bed, waking me up with a thud, yet at the same time nearly knocking me unconscious! because A) he’s had a very bad night and really needs a cuddle and B) There is a fly in the room!

He’s settled at my feet now, fast asleep of course, whilst I wait for the clock to tick around until such time that I can ring the vets to make an appointment, as he will need a course of antibiotics to clear this up.

This, we suspect might be the culprit. As often this skin condition just starts with a nick or a scratch and Pip has been known to play just a little bit rough.

And this is a lovely puppy picture of him and our two other dogs who are rather old ladies now.

And this piccie just because its mostly ladies of a certain age that read my blog.