It’s been a long time since I had to say goodbye to a pet, but having to put down a dog in his prime has been by far the most traumatic.
Maximus – our beloved German Shorthaired Pointer – was the latest victim of Spirocerca lupi (S. lupi), a parasitic worm that has been a plague on the North Coast.
Max was our first puppy and was such a character.
Getting a puppy together feels like a rite of passage for a newly married couple.
We were such doting parents too, attending every puppy class and fussing over chew toys.
At 8, Max was over 30kgs and still tried to climb into your lap given half a chance.
As a rather energetic puppy, for the first few years he had some rather spectacular fails.
The time he decided to wrestle the pool’s kreepy krauly to death and dragged the entire contraption out of the pool and ‘killed’ it, comes to mind.
Also the time it looked to have snowed in our front yard – he had ripped his bed to shreds and the stuffing c-o-v-e-r-e-d the ground.
In the last year of his life he suddenly developed a fear of thunder and more than once I woke up stiff as a plank after falling asleep on his cushion while calming him.
Dogs have a way of converting you.
At first we were pet owners, now we are ‘Pointer people’.
ALSO READ: Silent killer – S.lupi – has seen dramatic increase in North Coast dogs
We will likely only own Pointers from now on.
They are extremely high energy animals (born to run) and they have such gentle temperaments.
Google has clearly been listening in on our conversations again (so creepy) because my husband’s newsfeed is full of adverts for Pointer puppies, but it’s just too soon.
Last November we reported on this dreadful parasite, shortly after discovering our own dogs were infected.
Ballito vet, Dr Louis Gouws, said then that the number of dogs diagnosed with S.lupi had risen over the past 12 months.
Both our Pointers were treated (6 weeks of doramectin injections) but only the female recovered.
Ballito vet Kevin Stevens said they diagnose at least one new case a week, which considering how difficult it is to diagnose, is quite alarming.
Normal deworming tablets don’t help either.
Kevin says dogs need a product like Milbemax at least 4 times a year to protect them.
If you are a dog owner, my advice would be to act sooner than later to ensure they don’t succumb to this horrendous parasite.
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I climbed into the trenches this weekend, selling raffle tickets for The North Coast Courier Orphan Fund down in the Ballito Village and I was so blessed by how generous residents are.
Taking people’s money for a good cause is actually great fun, as long as you can handle rejection.
I must especially thank Concha Cafe and Taso’s Bar & Grill for allowing us to sell to their patrons.
99% of the people I ambushed during their meal where more than happy to contribute.
Lockdown has prevented us from holding most of our annual fundraisers and we are looking for every opportunity to fundraise.
The Orphan Fund works as a conduit for us to collect money for charities (that we vet) that look after orphans and vulnerable children within the North Coast.
We make sure the money is being used properly and this gives you, our donors, peace of mind.
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