Lucy is poorly, so back to Rugeley in a hurry..

Taft Bridge (69) to close Colwich Lock, Trent and Mersey Canal, 1.5 miles 0 locks

We needed to get Lucy to the vet as quickly as possible.. she had been very poorly yesterday evening, and I stayed awake ‘till gone three this morning worrying about her. 

It hadn’t helped that I had been in an area where everyone was talking about Weils Disease (leptospirosi),  a rat urine related virus which can be picked up from canal water.  Yes, dogs can catch it!  I checked the symptoms on the internet.. no not quite how I saw Lucy, but everytime she went to drink some water, up it would come again within 10 minutes.  She was very lethargic and really was not interested in moving at all.

She is, of course, vaccinated against this awful disease, but it didn’t stop me from thinking she had it..

There was no turning point ahead of us until Great Haywood Junction, which was at least two miles and two locks away.. so I found the bus route to take her back to Rugeley, the nearest Vets, from a bridge just up from where we were moored this morning..

The vet was absolutely certain she didn’t have leptospirosi, just a very nasty infection of some kind or other, more than likely picked up sometime in the last seven days.  She had a high temperature, but had not dehydrated despite the fact that she had not been able to keep any water down for well over 24 hours, and yes I could take her home!

She is dosed with antibiotics now, and is quietly resting in her basket.  More antibiotics to give her this week too, but I am expecting a big improvement by tomorrow morning.. Phewwwww..

I am absolutely shattered now.. I was just so worried.  I think I thought the worst with leptospirosi still on my mind.. I was just so happy that she was alive this morning when I woke up, thats how daft I had got!

Anyway.. we just moved away from the main road bridge this evening to a quieter mooring close to Little Haywood..

We should have been at Great Haywood tonight, but hey so what… our little mutt comes before any timetables!