On the morning of September 29th 2006, 5 days after attending the Society Champ show at The Sports Connexion, Ryton-on-Dunsmore Bo´sun (Ballyphelan Boatswain) had runny eyes and a nasal discharge. By lunchtime his temperature was 104 degrees and his right leg and his neck were very stiff and sore. He was given a rimadyl tablet. At seven pm his temperature was down to 102,5 degrees, he was given another rimadyl tablet and we decided to see how he was next morning as regard to veternary treatment.

The next morning he was screaming with pain when he tried to get up. The pain seemed to be in both legs and shoulders. He had a purulent nasal discharge and was sneezing a lot. We rang the vet who told us to come to the surgery immediately. On examination she found his chest normal. Lympfh nodes slightly enlarged, eyes congested, nose discharging and pain and tension in both shoulders but none now evident in neck. She prescribed Rimadyl and Baytril and said to bring him in again on Tuesday or get in touch anytime if we were worried.

By Sunday teatime the pain in his shoulders had eased and he was breathing better, his movement was better and he seemed a little brighter. He didn´t want his evening feed and vomited after drinking water, so we just let him have water little and often.

Monday 2nd – Much same as yesterday, still wants to go outside to see what´s going on and to keep the girls in order. Tuesday morning he went downhill during the night, his temperature was now sub-normal. Very miseable. He couldn´t urinate and the nasal discharge was stinking and copious. Rushed him into the vets. He was put on a drip and a urinary catheder was inserted. He was given antibiotics and bloods taken to sent to the Lab.

Tuesday 4th October – Hinds legs very stiff, back hunched. By the afternoon weakness in his hind leg was becoming worse and his renal parameters were elevated. Our vets referred him to Liverpool University Veternary Hospital. A drip was fixed up in our car so John could take him. By this time he was extremely ill and almost unconscious. I desperately wanted to go with him, as it was very busy at the kennels I couldn´t. I really didn´t think he would survive the night.

Wednesday 5th October – Liverpool rang to say Bo´sun had made it through the night but they were not too hopeful of his survival. Their examination found he was in excellent bodily condition but very depressed, mildly tachicardic. Orthopaedic examination was normal, neurological examination was unremarkable. Haematology mild neatrophilia, biochemistry showed marked azotaemia. Urine analysis – mild haematuria, ophtalmologic low tear production. Put onto drip, urinary catheder inserted. A blood sample was submitted to test for Leptospira.

Wednesday 11th October – The blood sample for Leptospira showed a high antibody titre for L Copenhageni and L. Bratislava. At last they know what they are fighting and he is diagnosed with Leptospirosis.

Friday 13th October – Bo´suns kidneys continue to improve, they are now optimistic about his recovery.

Sunday 14th October – Liverpool rang to confirm Bo´sun has L Bratislava. It is quite a rare form of Leptospira so we presume that he sniffed infected urine when we took him out for a pee at the Sports Connexion.

Monday 16th October. Bo´sun came home today. He almost looked normal apart from the shaved areas where he had his scans and tests etc. His kidney parameters were back to normal. The medicationhe was given was Ronaxan (doxycycline), Antepsin, Zantac and visco tears for his eyes. As he was still infectious we could only give him a token hug but all he wanted to do was get out of the torture chamber and into the car! I don´t think he noticed how mean we were with the hugs. Poor lad he had to go into isolation when we returned home. He was so upset when we put him into the isolation pen. As the L. bacteria is Zoonotic we had to be careful and wear waterproofs and rubber gloves to clean his pen out. Bleach or Jeyes fluid kills the bacteria and at least he could be hugged and made a fuss of when we had our protective clothing on.

Tuesday 24th October – Blood tests for the other 13 wolfhounds, as they were all fit and well we thought the test would be negative.

Tuesday 31st October – Oh HELL!!! Test results show that Liquorice has L. Bratislava. She must have picked it up from Bo´sun before he went to Liverpool. All the other tests are negative. Tested all the others again.

Monday 6th November – Oh God!!! Gilly and Moon now tested as positive.

Tuesday 7th November – All Wolfhounds on Doxycycline as it kills the carrier stage. Sick to death of the desinfection procedure. It seemed to never end.

30th November – ALL CLEAR. The dogs were overjoyed to be allowed to run free at last! But the smel of Jeyes fluid has permeated the house and even tainted the food in the cupboard but a smell price to have paid to have Bo´sun and the others fit and well again. As to the cost of it all, over £ 4.500,00. So that was a very expensive pee Bo´sun!!!