Manly Monday - Sore Hoof and Such

Vidock: I get to go first today to tell you about my sore hoof. On Saturday morning, #1 noticed that I seemed really quiet and then she saw me stumbling, and then limping badly. She wanted me brought right back in to figure out what was wrong but my teacher insisted on making me go round and round for more than 10 minutes so he  "could see the problem." #1 was fuming. We eventually came back in and saw that I had a problem with one of my frogs. You didn't know I had a frog? Actually, I have four! They are the tender parts in the centre of my hooves. The French called them "forks". Anyway, my left hind frog had overgrown and was making it really painful for me to walk. My teacher fancies himself a bit of a farrier and he tried to address the problem a little but it was clear I needed a farrier. Not an easy proposition at noon on a Saturday! Fortunately, #1 remembered that Mr. N who used to be my farrier when I lived with Mr. E and Ms. S was going to be there that day. She called and Mr. N agreed to come out immediately to take care of me. Mr. E came with him too. It was just like old times!

What the farrier did was to trim the frog. In fact, the tool he used is pretty much like a big peeler.

This is what the bits he removed look like:

This may gross you out but you know what happened to them? My little woofie bro, Tommy, ate them! He says they are the most delicious treat ever! #1 says I have really smelly feet!

I said a big thank you to Mr. N afterwards!

They also discovered that I have a little bit of something called mud fever at the back of my pasterns. It's caused by nasty little beasties so Ms. S, who is experienced in treating this, told #1 that she needed to clean out the area well every day and then spray a special product, and that I needed to stay indoors because it should not get wet. My teacher (who tends to think he is the only who knows anything, or rather everything) disagreed and there ended up being a huge fight as he wanted me to be treated with bleach and put back out in my wet field. #1 stood her ground so I am indeed in my box and she is bringing my treats there for me!

There was quite a shouting match between my teacher and #1 so we're not sure where all that is going, but #1 says the most important thing is ME!

TOM: I have to tell you, those "frogs" are really DELISH!!!

The weather has been pretty horrible so our time outdoors with #1 has been limited. Here is a muddy photo from the end of last week, when Fernant was still with us:

I had great fun also when #1 and I went over to care for Ms. L's two cats, including my good buddy Marcel! He loves a good chat:

And #1 did manage to get one really nice sunpuddle portrait of me!

Da Beebs: Huh? What?

I'm busy floofilating your bed, #1!

And I miss Houbibi-ing!

That was taken in our cat run a  few days ago when we had a brief sunny interlude!

Genji: DO I look cute or what?

And here I am in a leadership role, trying to encourage Da Beebs and Sei-Chan to steal #1's lunch…

And looking manly in the cat run:

Have a great week, everyone!