Not licking anymore and diet

Troy is still off all the painkillers and is doing ok. Over the last few days, I had noticed that his legs' fur is white again and that he wasn't licking anymore. I was really pleased and thought it had to do with the fact that he was more comfortable again.

On Friday night, Troy ate kibble again for the first time, and I gave him some more on Saturday morning (though he wasn't keen on eating it that time round). On Sunday, I realised that he was licking again... I am wondering now whether his licking is down to the diet... and if so, WHY? I shall try again a little later with him, to see whether it has the same effect again.

Eating lots

Troy is eating really well now and I am pleased. He seems to have more energy again, but still isn't limping. So I will leave him be for now! I shall however see whether I can find an acupuncture vet soon to hopefully make him eve more comfortable.

Update

Well, things have been happening!

The blood test showed as nothing to worry about. The liver is back to perfectly normal, the kidney values and white blood cells only very slightly low.

However, Troy still wasn't eating. He's actually only lost about 4 kg (compared to last year when he was 62kg), so not as much as I thought. But nonetheless he wasn't eating properly. So on Friday, he was give an anabolic steroid and an appetite stimulant injection. And touch wood, he has been eating properly since Saturday morning. In fact, yesterday and today (Wednesday and Friday) he has eaten the whole amount (two trays each meal time) without problem! I hope it stays that way and once he is back into a good eating routine, I will slowly swap him back to kibble - the wet food is extremely expensive and I will pay it of course if that's what keeps him eating, but if I can get him back to kibble, that'll be a bonus.

He also seems to have more energy again, probably due to consuming an adequate amount of calories again now.

Another blood test - still not eating

Troy is still not eating properly! I took him to see Mark again this morning and Troy had another blood test to see whether anything has changed so it can be compared to the results of the first test.

Troy's lost a lot of weight, and it can't continue like this.

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY!

I can't believe that Troy is already 10 years old! And looking at him and watching him on walks, you'd never know! There's to many more years together, Troy!

I've taken some pictures of him today, so will post them later.

Digestions working properly again, but...

Troy's diarrhea cleared up immediately when I put him back on Wainwrights Trays. So it was the Natures's Menu pouches that caused the problem!

Anyway, he is always eating at dinner times now, but not always the whole amount! I am not sure whether he is eating enough or not, but will watch him for another week. (He is due to another blood test soon anyway, so will ask Mark or Ian then).

Kidney test and diarrhea

Troy's urine sample showed that his kidneys are working perfectly, so no problem there. We will watch his liver though.

To put weight back on Troy I have put him on wet food now which is likes. He has been eating well, though since yesterday has diarrhea... This morning he wasn't eating! I'll see how it goes tonight and if he still has diarrhea I will put him back on Nature's Harvest which is the first wet food I gave him and he was doing fine on that. I then tried Nature's Menu which gives him diarrhea... or perhaps it was just coincidence. We'll see.

Not such great news

I just talked to Ian, the vet. He gave me the results of Troy's blood test. The liver values are slightly elevated, but nothing to worry about just yet - but still good that we stopped the Previcox.

However, the kidney values are elevated too, and enough to warrant further testing. So Ian has asked me to bring in a urine sample tomorrow so they can do further testing!

I hope it is nothing serious!

Luckily, Troy has been fine without Previcox and isn't limping at all at the moment! He has been very picky with food over the last couple of days, but I think that's just because he expected to get other stuff than kibble, because he always ate all the wet food or other additions and just left the kibble (whereas before he'd leave wet food etc as well). So I stayed strong and didn't give him anything else other than one dollop of Natures Harvest on his kibble, and this morning he has finally eaten all the kibble! Hopefully that'll do the job now. Of course, if there is a kidney problem, then we will have to look at the diet again!

Blood test at vet's

I took Troy to see Mark this morning to have his blood test. Troy isn't a problem luckily (unlike some other little dog I know), so it went quick, though Mark did have a problem finding the blood vessel in Troy's big legs.. LOL Every vet always seems to struggle to find Troy's blood! So we are now waiting for the results.

Troy also seemed to feel much better after yesterday's chiro session as he was quite bouncy this morning! I am feeling much better too, but still a very slight headache.

Blood test

As Troy just hasn't been eating properly on Previcox, I have taken him off of it this week-end and touch wood, apart from this morning, he has been eating ok!

I just talked to my vet Mark and he suggested to do a blood test first of all to make sure there isn't anything else going on with liver etc, and then try a new drug! I'll book Troy in now.

Early morning walks

As I have decided to take Dylan, Flash and Jesse out earlier in the morning (5.15 am) due to that little terrier, I now have time to take Troy out in the morning too! So now he gets a walk every single day even when I am out in the evenings! Cornel only walks him rarely now, so this is an excellent solution and I think Troy is enjoying it too.

I have now put him on Previcox on a daily basis as he does limp quite badly otherwise. He used to stop eating properly, but so far seems fine. I will now also try giving him one tablet in the morning and one in the evening, perhaps that is more gentle on the tummy as well so he will continue to eat well.

Bioflow Collar

Karen brought a magnetic bioflow collar round yesterday. I put it straight on Troy. I have not give him any painkillers yesterday or today to see the effect and so far, Troy is no limping. It would be great if it worked.

Holiday in Wales - 25th April - 2nd May

Yet again, we went on holiday with all four boys to Swallows Dance in Pembrokeshire! We had a fabulous time and really enjoyed ourselves.

I have set up a separate blog for the pictures... Here is the link:

http://walesholiday9.blogspot.com

I will update gradually as I have over 200 pictures and another well over 300 from Sandra that took fab pictures at Freshwater West.

Vaccinations

Troy got his booster today. Mark was happy with him and said that he is looking great for his age! Makes you always proud when a vet says that... :-)

7th Gotcha Day

I can't believe that it's already 7 years since we have adopted Troy! It was 6th April all those years ago that we went to see this giant dog, and he came home with us.

Troy was not always easy, and I have put in a lot of work with him to sort out the dog aggression! But he is so much better now and it was all worth it!

HAPPY GOTCHA DAY, big boy!

SNOW!

Snow, snow, nothing but snow. What a beautiful day! (Can't go to work as no public transport, cars etc.). Love it... and so do the dogs.