Well, I did my best.

F didn’t like my solution to stop Dino licking the lump on Rufus’ back. It was a plaster taped all round with tape. OK, it didn’t look so pretty but it was effective. But he tried to use an elastic, self-sticking bandage – wrapped all round his trunk.

As this was on his back, just behind his shoulders, it meant that it moved when he moved and so the lump was exposed and so Dino licked it. Until it bled, of course.

I tried again last night. Wrapping the bandage so that it went between his front legs. Apart from the fact that it was a tad uncomfortable for him, within an hour, it had slipped off the lump, making it a waste of time.

So, I have decided, tonight it will be a trip to the vet.

Well, maybe. First I make an excuse to go to the vets without him – just to check when they’re open. Really, of course, it’s to check if the good vet or the bad vet is there. If the good vet, I go back home and get Rufus. If the bad vet, I go tomorrow morning when, hopefully, the good vet will be on.

I am hoping that some penicillin or something will cure them – or at least help them heal. If not, I’m not sure what to do. I definitely don’t want him to try and take them away. After all, as with the one on his neck, within a few months they will be back.

On the plus side, we now seem to have the diarrhoea sorted out. Although now I do have to hold him to stop him falling back into the shit he’s just shatted. Poor thing. Still, he seems quite OK apart from the lumps constantly bleeding and not healing – if you see what I mean.