Video: Balthazar and owner Vinnie Monte-Irvine on Notts Tonight on Monday (October 2)
A dog from Gedling which is the biggest dog in the UK is getting even larger, according to his owner.
Balthazar, a Great Dane, weighs 16 stone and measures at more than seven feet long from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail.
And he’s getting even bigger because of an ulcer on his leg.
Balthazar needs his medication with protein which is making him gain more muscle, according to his owner Vinnie Monte-Irvine.
Speaking on Notts Tonight, he said: “He’s not a fat dog but he’s got an ulcer on his leg which he licks and licks – he’s had the biggest buster collars you can get with a doughnut ring round it but even with those, he can still reach it and lick it.
“It’s the constant licking of that which has caused the ulcer to stick around and not heal so he’s on antibiotics long term and something to stop the irritation along with a steroid.
“Because we have to give it to him with chicken or sausages, I think it’s causing his muscle to bulk out a little bit but it has to be done otherwise he won’t take the tablets.”
Balthazar has turned into a celebrity with a number of people asking for photos with him.
Vinnie said: “Mostly people want to have their photographs and that’s the usual reaction but sometimes you get people who are absolutely terrified of him.
“Some have run across the road and shouted ‘get that thing away from me’ before.”
Vinnie says Balthazar is not keen on walking on any surface that doesn’t have a good level of grip.
He said: “Balthazar slipped on the ice once about five years ago and torn a medial meniscus in his knee and since then he’s had a phobia of any surface that isn’t grippy.
“He avoids stairs unless they’re concrete because they’re quite grippy.
“He doesn’t like slippy wooden floors and shiny slate floors and our kitchen is tiled but we put rugs all over it so he isn’t afraid.”
