Sadly today - 15th December 2009 - young Freddie, the family’s 16 month old blenheim Cavalier King Charles, was peacefully put to sleep and out of his misery, after being ill througout the best part of his short life.

As a young puppy his eyes were never as they should be, and it was diagnosed that he had a dry eye. But now it appears that this was the first sign of poor Freddie suffering from autoimmune deficiency.

The vets did a good job trying to figure out what was wrong - firstly thinking it was lungworm, then cancer, and lastly deciding on autoimmune disease - but unfortunately, after months of trying to make him better, nothing could be done to cure him that was satisfactory, or that would allow him to lead a normal dog’s life.

Little Fredstar: August 2008 - December 2009