I took a big sigh as once again my cream walls and kitchen floor were splattered in a fresh layer of mud, shook from a soggy but satisfied spaniel. This weather is playing havoc with my OCD (obsessive ‘cleaning’ disorder). The months of snow, sleet, slush and showers have left the nearby fields, footpaths and forests like a mud rink. Every walk leaves us with paws and wellies caked in clay.
It feels as though we’ve been living in a swamp for months – I’m one walk away from trench foot! My washing machine is constantly full with dirty dog towels and bedding, my car upholstery is a mess and I’m tired of sweeping and mopping my floors at least twice a day. However, in the life of a spaniel, mud is the most fun.
We recently visited our favourite walk in the village of Debden, Essex. A circular walk which starts at St Mary’s Church and takes you through fields and forest with plenty of water along the way. Fletcher had a great time running through tractor tracks full of muddy water because obviously the footpath just wasn’t muddy enough. Much to my horror he jumped in the fast flowing stream and was swept away with the current. I was ready to jump in to the rescue (technically I was going to push my husband in), but my scuba spaniel handled it like a pro, using a stick to push himself against the current and climb out. Phew!
After a week of rain and boggy conditions restricting us to lead walks, when the spring sun broke through the clouds on a Thursday afternoon, I wasted no time in taking Fletcher to the field for a nice long run. The skies were blue, the birds were singing and the mud had begun to dry; it was a perfect spring day. The local wildlife were enjoying the weather too, hares and pheasants were out in force and Fletcher was having the best time chasing them across the field. Actually, he was having a little too much fun, as he disappeared long enough to get my heart pounding. And then it happened…again!
I saw a trail of bloody paw prints and on closer inspection he had slit his paw pad in half, just three months after his last brush with the flint in the field. Thankfully this time around, the injury wasn’t quite so dramatic and he didn’t even notice until I started cleaning it at home.
A trip to the vets resulted in a sedation, five stitches and £375 bill – I’m certainly getting our money’s worth with the insurance this year! Annoyingly, the vet said paw pads harder to heal – good one Fletch – but he is sporting a snazzy bandage and is having lots of TLC, so I’m hoping he’ll be up and running in no time. One thing is for sure though, I’m definitely changing our daily walk!
