The old oak trees in the garden, planted at the time of the revolution and not touched since, have broad low hanging branches. At this time of the year the boughs weighed down to the ground with acorns. Perfect shelter from the scorching summer sun for both dogs and owners . Unfortunately, the low branches are at the perfect height for passing deer to leave 'ticks' on the leaves. Mid-morning 'The Font' notices an annoying small insect bite. '' I must have been bitten by a spider ". By dinner time the small bite has turned into an angry red circle. Time for a rushed trip to the hospital for a mega dose of antibiotics. Lyme disease is alive and well in deepest SW France. The emergency room are completely unperturbed. '' We see a dozen cases a week ". It used to be restricted to spring and autumn but this year the seasons been extended by the damp weather. The trick is diagnosing it early enough .
This morning Bob and Sophie are firmly on guard. They may not know what's wrong but they know that herders vigilance is required. Wherever 'The Font' goes two joined at the hip sheepdogs follow. The famous stereophonic PON stare.
A touch of mid-summer excitement.
16 comments:
So grateful 'The Font' sought medical treatment quickly. Know her support team will be following and watching her every move.
Gosh, I do hope "The Font" responds quickly, and doesn't react to the antibiotics. Her guardians will be keeping an appropriately close eye on her progress. Glad you caught it fast.
Sending best wishes to 'The Font' and hoping the antibiotics do the trick.
It must be a challenge checking the PONs for ticks - or have you found an anti-tick agent that is 100% effective?
Cheers, Gail.
The Scalibor collars together with the tick tablet are pretty effective.
So sorry to hear that 'The Font' has been bitten by a tick - perhaps she should have a Scalibor collar too !
Lovely photos of the PON's.
Hari OM
Joining the good wishes for this to have been nipped out early... YAM xx
Ticks seem very scary. We hope that the Font is cured.
Those are awesome photos of the Pons in the French sunshine.
Oak trees and ticks seem to go together. I'm glad you got treatment right away, it's a nasty disease.
Best wishes for a swift recovery to "The Font." And thank you for the heads-up about Lyme disease. Had no idea it was in France.
The oak is beautiful. Who knew one would require intense guarding while reclining in that lounge chair. So glad The Font caught the bite early.
I'm so sorry to hear the Font was bitten by a tick and so glad it could be treated quickly. The stereophonic PON stare is quite reassuring!!! Best wishes to all.
Glad The Font caught it quickly and that you have a good ER close by. The manufacturers of anti-tick meds may soon have to make it for humans, too, it seems.
More best wishes for The Font's full recovery!
The oak trees are quite beautiful. It would be most tempting to rest beneath their shade.
Hope the Font's bite was caught in time. As a child in Virginia, summer was tick season. Heads were checked at bedtime, ticks pulled out. They used to be benign little bugs.
So grateful she caught it immediately. We have a friend in Maine who was not so lucky and has endured two rather crummy years as a result. xx
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