Penny had to go to the vet this evening. Her right elbow has swollen up like a balloon. The vet reckons it may just be a hair follicle that has become infected, so she's now on a course of antibiotics for the next week while we monitor it.

Shame that. It means she can't join me in a cider! ;) Seriously, though, she doesn't seem to be in any great discomfort, but the golf ball sized lump on her leg doesn't look very nice. I'd noticed a bit of a patch there over the last couple of weeks, but I just put it down to one of those pressure spots that older dogs tend to get at their joints, particularly their elbows. But this one flared up in less than 24 hours since I last noticed it so she had a little trip to the "dogtor's" surgery.

I'm sure she'll be fine, and maybe the treatment for that lump might also cure the abscess on her jaw as well.

These things are sent to try us, but you have to remember that she's not a puppy any more. She'll be nine at the end of next month.