Hello Fellow skinny dog keepers,

Had a bit of an interesting one this weekend.  Got back to the flat yesterday with a stinking hangover to find that our wee mutt Jacky had not only got into our bedroom but he'd rummaged in the cupboards and found our Christmas chocolates.  He'd eaten his way through a box and a half of Thorntons dark chocolate - each box was 745g.  He was a bit whinny and belching (makes a change it's normally the other end) and was very sheepish.  I had hoped this  was the guilt and as a result of my "you've been a bad doggy" glare but I wasn't convinced.

I knew from reading my dummies guide to adopting a retired racer (my bible) that chocolate was pretty dangerous so I started phoning a few dog knowledgable people to suss out if this was an emergency or not.  Luckily I spoke to Souxie  who recommnded calling the emergency vets.

The emergency vet told me that Jacky had eaten a lethal dose and that I should get him there straight away so I sped across town trying not to knock down Christmas shopppers who kept getting in the way.  The vet gave Jacky a type of morphine which made him puke and there was lots of it (I won't be thinking about eating chocolate for a while).  His heartbeat was around 150/160 and the vet was worried that he may have a seizure so she said she'd keep him in and we'd have to wait and call in.

The good news is he's back tonight and he's settled down to the old Jacky we know - enjoying lounging around being a laid back dog.  The vet said he was pretty hyper last night and barking his head off (these days he's doesn't bark at much at all unless he's really excited or stressed). He was still a bit hyper when we got him from the vet but he seemed to calm down really fast when we got him home and settled onto his beanbag and gave out a reasuring sigh.  Maybe part of Jacky thought he was going back to kennels again? Either that or he could smell cats in the vet surgery.

I didn't get a big welcome from Jacky when I picked him up as he was still buzzing and bouncing of walls however we did get the bill £225 - ouch - just before Christmas as well.  Luckily we have dog insurance.

A bit of a fright but I guess it's now just another tale to add to Jacky's list.  I don't know how parents cope - this dog business is stressful enough! Great to have him home now.

A Happy Christmas to all at Gal.  And thanks for to all who helped with the rodeo - we had a great time despite turning up to late top actually enter anything.  It was lovely to see so many greyhounds and owners.