Polish Lowland Sheepdog Information:
Special Environmental Problems for PONs in Florida.... From the experience of some of some of the rescues I have had lately I have found some special problems for PONs in Florida that are not as much so in the other states. Florida is over run with golf courses and some PON owners live on a fairway and let their PONs play on the course or walk them on the course at times. Regardless of what the clubhouse staff tells you - there is no such thing as a "pet safe" spray that is used on the golf courses - think about it - the sprays are designed to kill everything that walks or crawls in the grass - the PONs walk there then lick their feet or it could even be absorbed through their foot pads and bingo - you have a serious health problem. I had two rescues with severe liver and pancreas damage from these toxins and the blood work showed that they were so toxic that they could glow in the dark. The pancreas damage led to their becoming diabetic but since it was environmental there is a chance it can over come it and one is showing great progress today. He may never beat the problem totally but is down to a very low level of insulin as of today. (from 26 units twice daily to now only 6 units twice daily) and the liver is coming back and almost normal since he is out of the toxic environment. (The other one was overdosed by his vet and did not make it.) So some Florida vets are a local danger also! Now, closer to home - Boris ate a dead tropical lizard after the cold spell we had here in South Florida killed them by the thousands. He became quite sick and it took about two weeks to get back to normal but now tests show that he had liver and pancreas damage from the toxic dead lizard - bacteria from the decay. He is not diabetic but is on lots of meds to cure the damage from his after dinner snack in the yard and believe me - dinner in Paris would be cheaper. (we won't talk about the cost of his eating his toy he got for his 10th birthday present.) My vet just got a new M. Benz.... The moral of this story is that there are many things out there that are a danger to our guys and need to be put on the top of your list for the best of your PONs. PONs will be PONs and we have to be their watchdog for a change. Our next activity will be our Florida Specialty Show in Orlando in June - details will be posted here as time nears - see you there. All the best. Bill