Galgo News

Hypothyroidism in dogs

Recently our galgo Bracken has been off his breakfast, losing hair on his tail and feeling the cold weather more. So a trip to the vet was booked. After an examination and a blood test, he was discovered to have a low thyroid problem. He's now on medication, Forthyron, probably for life. He's 11. Read about hypoththyroidism on this weblink.

Tribute to animal rescuers

To Love a Rescuer:

To love a rescuer you must love all of her. You must love the scars covering her body from panicked and hurt animals she was trying to help. You must love her fractured heart, that has been broken so many times she no longer even takes the time to mend the pieces.

To love a rescuer, you must embrace her grit and determination, and know that although she fights a war she can never win, she can and does win a few battles. You must love the tears she will shed over those she lost. You must give her comfort that she refuses to accept, as she blames herself for things she could have never foreseen.

To love a rescuer you must acknowledge the rage she feels towards the world at times, and know that anger is driven by a love of life too few have. You must give her space and room to cry and mourn for the losses that others have caused out of carelessness or cruelty.

Whole Dog Journal - things to consider on fostering a dog

In the 13 years I've been involved in the plight of the Spanish galgos and podencos, I've fostered several dogs which I've brought back with L'Europe des Levriers from Spain for rehoming. Only 3 of them didn't go on to forever homes elsewhere. Podenca Bebe, galga Carmela and galgo Bracken remained with us. Why? Well, Bebe was my nickname at school and she was rescued by a wonderful young Spanish girl called Marisa - which is my daughter's name. So you see, I couldn't let her go! Carmela came as a foster with serious behaviour problems and by the time over 2 years had passed and she had become what I would term a 'normal' dog, I could not break her trust by homing her elsewhere. And Bracken? He was already reserved by a couple in the UK and we took him and handed him over ourselves. Sadly a few months later due to unforeseen very serious health problems with the couple, their hounds had to be rehomed. As soon as my husband knew, he hopped in the car and drove back to the UK to bring Bracken home!

Fostering a dog is very rewarding and it helps the shelters insofar as when one dog is fostered, it leaves room for another needy dog to be rescued. Unfortunately at the moment, our household is not suitable for fostering. Bracken and Polar would not tolerate another male dog introduced and Bebe is such a dominant bitch she would not tolerate another female.

So here are some other points to consider about fostering.

Read the full article on this weblink.

Dental care for your Galgo's teeth

All my galgos have luckily arrived with fairly good teeth but my little podenca Bebe was about 5 when she was rescued injured from a Seville road, very thin and petrified. Her teeth were already in a poor state. In the 12 years she has been with me, she has had her 4 front teeth removed because they were bad, and also a couple of back teeth. Despite being given chews regularly.

The Blue Cross charity has the following advice on dental care for canines. Click on this link.

Sign the Petitions and share

Not about galgos but greyhounds, who also suffer terrible abuse. Hundreds of British, Irish and Australian greyhounds end up in China, where they eat dogs, as you know! Belle Vue, Manchester, and Peterborough Stadiums are two recent closures in England, Florida is a recent closure in the US, and now Kansas. Grey2K USA has launched a 'Help End Greyhound Racing' action pack of petitions.

'Big news is that a Kansas dog track will be sold to create greenspace and a new business center offering 1,000 jobs, we know that the trend is with the greyhounds. That's why we have just launched our brand new action center! That’s right, greyhound advocates can now sign multiple petitions to decision makers around the world, send emails with a click of the mouse to every governor in every US racing state, and share special memes and messages on social media to help greyhounds far and wide.'

Click on this weblink to the petitions to sign, and share please.

Don't forget galgos are also raced, Medina del Campo being the racing centre in Spain. I've written to ask them to include that in their International Petitions link.

To neuter or not?

So many unwanted puppies, born because people can't be bothered to neuter their dogs. Or breeders who are after the 'perfect' one which will win Crufts! Or galgueros who want the champion. Thoughtless selfish people who don't really care about the dogs.

Most of the animals I have had in my 70 years have been neutered, dogs, cats, horses. Not the ducks, hens and geese of course!!

Here's an article raising the question 'to neuter or not?'.

France - dogs trained to sniff out Covid-19 virus

Not galgos, but yet another amazing use for dogs. Read the full article here.

No sew face mask

Video on this link

Keeping your dog's teeth clean

My little podenca Bebe came with very bad teeth and now my aged galga Carmela is showing signs of teeth deterioration. Not surprising when they are 17 and 15 years respectively! I use dentastix when they have had their meals but here's an article with some other suggestions. It mentions raw bones - marrow bones. For decades we always gave our dogs marrow bones until some years ago my Swedish Valhund Pepsi broke a piece off and got it stuck in her throat. So no more marrow bones! Besides, I am sure the two male galgos would fight!

What do any of you use for keeping your dog's teeth healthy?

Fern’s Law: Compulsory to scan & check microchips to reunite stolen dogs, cats

Many missing microchipped pets are never reunited as it’s optional to scan & check microchip registration. It’s time veterinary professionals, authorities and rescues checked pet & keeper match on the original database at a pets 1st consultation or yearly checkup. It’s their only chance to get home

Vets can play a valuable role in reuniting missing microchipped pets. We have microchipped our pets with the expectation to be reunited if the worst happens and they are lost or stolen. If just one organisation is not committed to scan and check microchip registration the whole system fails and is not fit for purpose. Legislation is needed to replace half hearted ‘strengthened, best practice recommendations’ VetsGetScanning.co.uk

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/300010