Crusoes Lucky Escape

Crusoe Playing In The Garden This Morning

I would like to thank you all for your kind comments and concern regarding Crusoes illness. Turns out he has had a very lucky escape. The illness he was inflicted with was 'Piraplasmosis' a potentially fatal parasitic disease that attacks the dogs internal organs, the vet told us all dogs react differently to the disease depending on the age and the dogs immune system. Contracted via a brown tick bite, brown ticks are the dangerous one's and they are prolific in South West France, hardly found in Northern France and the UK (all ticks, potentially carry parasitic diseases). There is a vaccine for this illness although it is very expensive and not totally effective, apparently scientists are still working on an effective vaccine for this disease.

Crusoe appears to be fully recovered, his amazing appetite has certainly returned and he has responded to treatment well, although we are still monitoring him closely, we are hoping that there will be no repercussions.

I stress once again if you are in South West France and have a dog, be very vigilant, even if your dog has a tick collar and has been protected, (which I still strongly recommend) it is the first bite from the tick that gets the parasite into the dogs system, before the chemicals from frontline or tick collars kill the tick. And remember if your dog suddenly goes off food or appears listless go to the vets immediately.

Sheep On The Move, 'Tick Magnets' In The Lane Just Outside Our House, Yesterday Afternoon

I cannot wrap Crusoe in cotton wool, he would be miserable if he was not free to run, he is a true terrier always running through the fields, digging in the earth, rolling in long grass and chasing deer in the woods. The ticks are everywhere at the moment, not helped by all the livestock and wild animals in this area, sheep and deer being the worst tick magnets!  All I can do is protect him with anti tick products and fingertip search him after every walk.