Christmas and another Update

Over the days from Wednesday, 22nd, to Christmas Day, Troy got worse and could hardly get up or even walk sometimes. He wouldn't eat properly either.

I started putting him on three meals rather than just two and I started adding raw mince again. From Christmas Day he finally started eating properly again.

He was also on Samylin (food supplement for liver) since Friday and of course antibiotics (last tablet was this morning).

On Boxing Day, we all went to Karen's (me and all the dogs) and Troy was very keen on the chicken and turkey that Karen gave him as a treat. He struggled a lot with the stairs and steps there, but otherwise was very good.

Since then, Troy has rallied round again and is feeling much better. He is still weak on his back legs and sometimes walks on his knuckled hind paws, but he can get up fine again, is eating well and looks happy and content. His gums are a little bit pinker again as well.

As Mark said this morning, we are taking it day by day! Love you so much, Troy.

Update

This morning, Troy looked a bit brighter and he ate his breakfast too! He was ok getting up, though I had to give him more help into the car than usually (with me doing most of the lifting).

I told Mark about all the developments and he checked Troy over. He noted that Troy has lost a little weight again and also that his gums are quite pale. He couldn't find any sore areas as such. Troy is still weaker on his back than he has been before.

Mark's given Troy antibiotics (and I got synolux to start on Friday) and he has also taken some blood of which we should have the results back this evening!

I am very, very worried, though hope desperately of course that it's perhaps the weather making Troy worse or just a temporary blip...

Not eating

Troy's not eaten tonight... didn't even want to touch it. I got him to take the Prednisolone via a treat, but he wouldn't eat his food...

Troy in the Snow

We have snow again and I took Troy to the small park around the corner! I got some beautiful pictures of my big boy. Didn't they just come out beautiful - Christmas card material!

Troy's losing his night vision

Mark confirmed today that Troy's nuclear sclerosis has got a lot worse and that this would affect Troy's night vision. After some research I also find that loss of night vision is often the first part of losing vision alltogether... poor Troy! But for now, he is still ok.

Mark said to keep Troy on 2 tablets of prednisolone for now as he is doing well on it. He seems less stiff and generally brighter.

Troy fine again

When I came home on Friday, there was no mess at all and his poos were perfect again! Very interesting.

I have for now taken him off the raw food and am only giving him kibble as I am worrying whether maybe the bacteria in the raw food are too hard on his digestive system considering that he is on steroids.

He is also still on 2 Prednisolone at the moment and I will keep him on that until I see Mark on Wednesday.

Troy is very happy in himself at the moment, he came for walks every single day since Friday and is really enjoying himself in the park.
However, I do think that his eye sight is going more, or perhaps it is just his night vision. We had a fox passing in front and by the side of us no more than 6 yards away and Troy didn't react at all in any shape or form! He only reacted when we were well passed it when he picked up the scent. His eyes are more clowdy now as well, not just the blue tint anymore.

Diarrhea again

Last night I came home from work and found the sitting room and kitchen covered in Troy's diarrhea. I have no idea what caused it this time as he has not had anything out of the ordinary. I wonder whether he has been drinking from the wheel barrow and gave himself an upset tummy...

We'll see how Emily gets on with him today and how he is when I get home tonight! I hate having to go to work in these situations, but unfortunately I have run out of holidays so can't take any time off, otherwise I would have done... :-(

Get better quickly, Troy! He is actually quite bright and alert, so the steroids (still 10 mg) are making him feel better at least.

Feeling much better

When I came home last night, Troy seemed to feel a lot better. He also wanted to go for a walk, so we did and he enjoyed it.

He ate all of his dinner as well as his breakfast this morning. I have put him back up to 2 tablets (10 mg) of Prednisolone again for a few days just to perhaps give them a chance to clear whatever it is that causes the stomach problems.

I think the main reason of Troy not being well is usually stomach pain. His joints may be a bit more painful and he may be a bit more wobbly, but that doesn't seem to worry him too much, but the stomach pain knocks him out completely.

Well, we'll see how he goes and as we are on weekly injections again, I think that's just how we have to stay - for now anyway.

Verdict from Mark

Troy and I went to see Mark this morning. Mark agrees to put Troy back on weekly vitamin B injections and also said to put him back onto 2 tablets of prednisolone. That's what I'll do.

Mark also asked whether he was drinking more and I mentioned that just yesterday I thought he was going to the water bowl more than normal, so I will be monitoring him a bit more till next week to see whether that is the case.

I so hope that returning to the weekly injections and bringing up the steroids a bit again is going to help him. Although he isn't unhappy or in pain, he definitely hasn't got the energy or ompf he should have.

Troy not so well

Over the last two weeks or so, Troy hasn't been so well. His is much more wobbly on his back legs, has had some tummy problems and just doesn't seem very energetic. He also hasn't wanted to go for walks other than once or twice. I have upped his Prednisolone to two tablets for a couple of days and am now down to one tablet; he is eating ok, but not 100% yet! So I'll leave him at this dosage.

I will be seeing Mark tomorrow. I don't know whether the two-weekly vitamin B is to blame or not, but I will be going back to weekly injections and hopefully that will make a difference!

Lump in abdomen

Troy and I were off to see Mark today for Troy's vitamin B injection. Mark was again very pleased about how well Troy looks.
Troy's been slighly more wobbly on his back legs over the last couple of days, but I have decided to give the two-week gap another go and see how he gets on with that. If he gets wobbly again, we go back to weekly injections.

I asked Mark to check the lump I found in Troy's abdomen. But Mark said that it was just a fatty lump, so nothing to worry about! Phew.

HAPPY 11TH BIRTHDAY, TROY!

It's Troy's 11th birthday today... I am so glad I get to celebrate it with him - something that wasn't so sure just a few months ago! Troy is feeling great at the moment, loves his walks and is alert and happy!

He enjoyed his chiro session this morning and got an extra treat to mark the occasion!

I love you very much, my big fluffy polar bear of a dog.

Troy's feeling better again

Last night when I came home, Troy wasn't feeling well at all and he didn't eat his dinner. I thought I'd see how he goes today and take him back to the vet tomorrow if necessary.

However, he is much brighter today and has eaten all his breakfast (bar a few kibbles...)! Yay! So happy that he's feeling better again.

Throwing up

On Thursday, I decided to give Troy some echinacea to help his immune system as the hotspot is just not healing properly. Whether it is linked to that or not, but he stopped eating after that and hasn't picked up properly since. On Saturday, I gave him Wainrights Trays (hoping he'd like them better and also he has been licking his front legs more again, something he only does when he is on dry food) together with the usual raw meat... and yesterday, he threw the lot up in the afternoon!

He also didn't look so well and quite weak on his back end. On Saturday evening, I also gave him 2 tablets of Prednisolone (instead of half) to see whether that would kick start his appetite again, and it did. He is eating again, though not particularly enthusiastically... I put him back on kibble and raw meat, and he ate half of his breakfast at least this morning.

Troy did come for a little walk this morning, but he wasn't particularly keen really. I hate it when he doesn't feel well.

We'll see how Troy goes this week; if he doesn't pick up, it's back to see Mark sooner than I hoped!

Vitamin B injections every TWO weeks from now on

Troy and I went off to see Mark today as always on Wednesday mornings. Mark was very pleased about how well Troy is looking - which made my day! And indeed, Troy is feeling very well, not stressed (not panting), happy and walking pretty well; his backend is not getting worse at the moment.

So Mark decided it was time that we dropped the injections to every two weeks instead of weekly and will see how Troy gets on with that! Yay!

I have also ordered Devil's Claw for Troy as well as Green Lipped Mussel again, hopefully that will help him with the discomfort in his joints.

My graduation week-end in Yorkshire

Yesterday, I had my BSc (Canine Behaviour and Training) Graduation at Beverly Minster. Karen, David and I drove up there in two cars as we took all our dogs with us! I thought it was going to be quite stressful, but in actual fact, the boys were all so good and well behaved, it was no problem at all!


Here's a picture of all the boys ready to go in the Travelodge room.

Troy was relaxed throughout the whole week-end, however, he found it very tiring! His old bones were exhausted by Saturday and he collapsed in a heap to sleep at home...

Eating again

We saw Ian today for the vitamin B injection as Mark was on holiday. Troy didn't eat his food this morning either, so after I picked up the Prednisolone this morning, I gave Troy a whole tablet at around 9 am.

And luckily Troy was eating his dinner tonight (where I added another half tablet).

So 2.5 mg Prednisolone a day it is for the rest of his life. It keeps him eating, it keeps him happy with no side effects; so I am happy too.

Stop the steroids, Troy stops eating

Last week, I forgot to pick up the Prednisolone for Troy, so I thought I'd give it another go to take Troy off of them. Saturday he was still eating fine, Sunday too, though slightly more hesitant... But this morning he refused alltogether (after he threw up some bile before the meal). So I guess we are back to half a Prednisolone a day! Bugger... I thought it would work this time! He also seems a bit more uncomfortable on his hind legs now, standing quite wide at the front and close together at the back end at times!

Just as well we are off to see Mark again tomorrow morning.

Weekly check-up

All went well on Wednesday at Mark's. Mark said he couldn't believe how well Troy was doing. He got his usual vitamin B injection.

Troy's hotspot however has flared up again. This is the first time that I haven't used anything on a hotspot other than hibiscrub, and it isn't clearing properly now. Mark has given me some Fuciderm cream which seems to be helping already.

A lovely walk in the park today

And I took some pictures and a couple of videos.

And the video clip here:

Normal poo

Since Tuesday night, Troy's poos have been solid, though still a bit mucuousy. He hasn't messed indoors since.

Today, he had the first perfectly normal poo! Yay! He is now also back on CSJ18 with fresh meat.

He is now happy again, waiting at the door when I come home, and feeling much brighter again. I've got my old boy back.

Troy getting better

On Monday and Tuesday, Emily and I cleaned the carpets furiously after Troy messed indoors several times a day. Troy was so stressed about it, eventhough I kept telling him it didn't matter and wasn't a problem. (My carpets have never been cleaner LOL).

Last night he had the first solid poo! And when Emily went in today in the morning and after lunch, there was no poo either. So hopefully we have finally turned the corner now.

As Troy had a solid poo last night, Mark didn't give Troy anything for it this morning and he just got his vitamin B injection as usual.

I also shaved a patch of fur off Troy's back again yesterday as he has a hotspot again in the same place. It's not too bad yet, so it should heal fairly quickly.

Poor man, he really is going through the mills! I'll be able to start walking him a little again now as I haven't taken him out since Sunday.

Troy collapsed again

This morning, I went for a little walk before the chiro session. Troy has had diarrhea since yesterday and at the end of the 20-minute walk, he tried to go to toilet (though nothing came out). She strained so hard, that in the end, his hind legs collapsed. Luckily it wasn't far from Susan's front door.
I managed to somehow walk him in there by supporting him. After Susan did the treatment and by the time we had finished all of us, he was much better, looked happier again and walked steady again.
He did however not right his hind foot when he waited outside the door... so the neurological control for his hind legs is getting worse. Up to now, he would always eventually correct the back paws, but he has now stopped doing that by the looks of it.

I hope that his diarrhea will clear up quickly. I tried to use up the CSJ Lamb Lite/Senior with lots of mince meat, but it doesn't seem to suit neither Troy nor Dylan, so I am taking them off of it again straight away and will put them back onto either CSJ CP18 or possibly Acana... not sure yet.

Progress report and some pictures

Troy is now going to the vet's every Wednesday to get his vitamin B injection. It is really helping him well.

However, sometimes he doesn't seem to feel so great, and he is also pooing indoors more often now. But he still loves his walks, is not confused or anything and is not overly stressed - though sometimes he can get a bit stressed, I guess when he is not feeling too well.

Here are some pictures taken on 3rd October

Lymphnode

Mark checked the lump out on Troy's hind leg; it is a lymphnode. He is not sure why as there does not appear to be an infection in his paw/leg. But all the other lymphnodes are ok which rules out lymph cancer! So happy!

Update

Oh dear, I forgot to update...

I took Troy to see Mark on Wednesday. We discussed the various symptoms, what supplements he is already on etc. Mark prescribed the Aktivait, and he also gave Troy a vitamin B injection to strengthen his muscles a bit.

I feel that Troy has benefitted from the vitamin B. It seems to have sort of given him the last push... though I am not sure whether I am just imagining things, but he seems taller to me again and standing straighter on his back legs. Also, I have seen him trotting this week, and walking back, neither of which he has done for a good while.

Today, we went to see Susan, our chiropractor. She went over him as usual, but she also pointed out to me that there was a lump in Troy's muscle in his back leg! I had never noticed this. Susan said she had noticed it before, but she thought it was just a knot in the muscle and nothing to worry about. But it has now grown. It feels quite hard. So this is something that I will get Mark to check on Wednesday when we are due back to see him. I don't like the feel of that lump at all, it doesn't feel like the other fatty lump he has on his front leg... but then I am no expert. We'll see what Mark says on Wednesday.

Faecal incontinence

Troy is starting to mess indoors more often. He has done it twice this week already. It's another thing to discuss with Mark on Wednesday.

Troy didn't want to go for a walk

Yesterday, Troy didn't want to go for a walk. I asked him and he didn't move... :-( I am not sure whether it is the car, or the actual walking. He does look a bit less comfortable again now.

He is due to see Mark next week regarding the dementia, so I will see whether we can sort out some pain killers for him as well.

Tail wheeled

Yesterday whilst walking in the park (and wow, does Troy walk fast again in the park, like someone has put a rocket up his bum) I noticed Troy wheeling his tail over his back... something that I haven't seen for a while. I'm so pleased about his progress and now in fact feel that I don't need to see the vet as he has improved so much. Way to go, Troy.

Troy's much better

I have been taking Troy out for walks going to the park by car. This seems to suit him well and he now walks much faster again. He is also doing well with his shoes and Troy's nails have healed up nicely again.

He also seems much brighter in general, doesn't seem to have gone into his own world anymore and is responding again when I call him. So I think the Aktivait capsules are doing a really good job... eventhough they are not meant to work for several weeks. But Troy is definitely feeling much better.

Chiropractor

Troy and I went to the chiropractor yesterday. I certainly am feeling a lot better, I hope Troy does too. I think he does, he seems quite happy and cheerful at the moment. I think also that the Aktivait supplement is working well for him. I haven't seen him having any strange episodes at all over the last few days.

Backlegs

Yesterday, Troy started bleeding from his nails because he had worn them down to the quick on his back legs as he now drags them quite a lot. So I got him some boots which he wore today for his walk and they worked really well. No more blood.

However, I have to start cutting his walks down even more now. He collapsed into a sit near the swimming pool on the way back, and then again in my front garden. He could hardly walk into the house, though he is ok again now (an hour later).

I will start taking him to the park in the car, so he doesn't have to do the road walk, and then we'll see how it goes.

I am really, really scared... the deterioration of his backlegs is happening too fast for my liking! I am wondering whether we are looking at something like CDRM, it's definitely a nerve deterioration of some sort! I hate seeing him like this.

Here's a little picture to cheer us up I took this week-end.

Aktivait

I have given Troy the first dose of Aktivait last night, so we'll see how he is getting on with that.

Troy's getting older

I will need to take Troy back to see Mark at some point (need to get Dylan sorted out first). He is starting to have cognitive problems I think, sometimes he won't respond when I call him, he sometimes stares into space or at a certain area, and he also poos indoors at times. It isn't very often yet, but more frequently lately.
Last night, I let him out at 5 am because he asked. He went for a wee, then came back in, and pood in the sitting room! Luckily it is dry and well formed, so easy to clean up and not a problem, but Troy doesn't like it; he was always so clean! I think he just forgot what to do outside, or wasn't quick enough to go back out... I think that's the problem really. He can't hold it very well anymore and by the time I get to him (or when I am not at home), it is sometimes too late.

I have just bought some Aktivait, many people report that this really helped their old dog. I'll see how we'll get on... If it makes no difference, then we are probably looking at Vivitonin from the vet's.

I hate seeing him getting old, but I guess it catches up with us all.

Hotspot on his back

A couple of days ago, I noticed some yellow fur on Troy's back and felt what I thought was a scab.

Today I had a look at started cutting the fur away a bit to be able to see better. I soon found a weeping sore and ended up shaving a large square out of Troy's fur on his back which revealed a very sore and red hot spot.

I cleaned it all very thoroughly with hibiscrub and will see how it goes. If it doesn't improve within a few days, then we will have to go to the vet to pick up some antibiotics.

Barking, Acupuncture and Steroids

My neighbour John told me yesterday (very nicely I need to add) that the dogs are barking almost constantly when I am out! I suspected that it was mainly Troy. So I set up the camcorder this morning when I went out and although Troy wasn't barking when I left and when I came home, he was indeed barking almost constantly when I was out with the others... not a good idea at 5 am!!!

I also taped the other three whilst I went out with Troy and they were fine, just sleeping as expected.

So I have now ordered a DAP diffuser again and I will tape the dogs a few times this week to see when Troy barks and when he doesn't. I might have to take him to classes with me and to obedience shows and agility if necessary! I can't have him bark all the time. The neighbours are very tolerant and nice, but there is only so much barking that anyone can handle.

I will in any case take all four dogs out at 4.30 am now in the mornings. This way they can all have a run, I can play ball with the younger ones and everyone gets enough exercise without Troy barking at home and waking everyone up!

I am also looking into the Bachflower Remedies again as they helped last time too.


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Troy has now had two acupuncture sessions and is having his third tomorrow. I don't know whether it made lots of difference for his legs, but his appetite is really good and he is panting less.

I have now been able to drop Troy's steroids (Prednisolone) to half a tablet per day, from 3 a day originally. I am hoping to phase them out completely within a week or so. He is doing really well and Andrea, the acupuncture vet, said he is in very good condition for a giant breed of his age.

Steroids and titre test

Troy has been doing really well on the steroids. I have dropped the dosage to one tablet twice a day as he was panting a lot. He is still panting a little more than normal, but not too bad.
He is eating well, and I have put him on CSJ CP21 and he is doing fine on this.

Troy also had the lepto vaccination on 8th June as well as a titre test. Unfortunately the titre has come back as not protected for Distemper... but I won't revaccinate him for that as this is a live-vaccine and since he is on immune system surpressing drugs, I don't fancy him getting the disease. So we will have to juggle it for the kennels.

Update

I went to see Mark again with Troy today. The corticosteroid has worked well and Troy has been eating well (and is also feeling much more comfortable with his joints too) over the last few days.

We discussed the options for Troy now, which are either continuing the steroids for Troy more or less permanently or to have him referred to do further diagnostict tests to find out what the underlying problem is. As Troy is 10 years old and the findings would most likely not be treatable, we have decided to go with the steroids. We will see in time whether we can reduce the dosage (though it's not a high dosage he is on anway 15mg/day) or whether he will need to stay on it permanently.

For now, Troy is doing really well and if we can give him another couple of years like this, then I am prepared to accept that deal.

Blood tests

I just talked to Ian, blood tests are little different from the previous ones. White blood cells still lower, exactely the same as before though. Ian said to take another faecal sample as Troy's poos are currently very liquid and mucousy again.

Vet Visit again

Went to see Mark this morning. He took more bloods to re-run the test Troy had a month ago to see what his white blood cells and liver enzymes are doing. Mark also gave him another corticosteroid injection (he apparently only had an anabolic steroid on Saturday), which is what made him eat again the last couple of times. Let's hope it has the same effect again.

Update

On Friday, I talked to vet Mary who confirmed that faecal test came back clear too. We did agree to bring Troy in again this week for further treatment/diagnosis, though it isn't clear at all what the problem is.

On Saturday morning I was pleased that Troy ate a whole block of tripe... but got worried when he threw it all up again in the afternoon. So I booked him into the vets again and Ian saw us. We are still as puzzled as ever, but Troy is now also on ulcer medication just in case it is that.

Troy isn't really eating better eventhough he had a steroid injection again in addition to everything else. He occasionally eats a whole meal, but 9 times out of 10 he takes a couple of mouth full and then walks away! So it looks like we will be going back to the vets fairly swiftly again this week.

This morning, we went to Sue where Troy enjoyed his chiro session very much.

Bloods

Just heard back from Mark. The bloods are ok, apart from the white blood cells being low. Haven't received the faecal results back yet.

Troy is still not overenthusiastic with eating. He is eating at every meal, but sometimes just half of it. Something isn't right still.

Fussy again

Troy started becoming fussy and picky again this week. He went back to the vet's on Friday and we decided to do a blood and faecal test. I should get all the results on Monday.

Until this week Troy was actually doing really well and I was pleased. He can now eat most stuff without getting the runs, though the poos are still a bit soft at times and usually mucousy.

Yay

This morning, I picked up the first proper solid poo! It looks like things are improving. I hope it is not just a temporary thing whilst under the influence of all the drugs.

Troy is eating well, he now gets rice and egg in the morning and rice and prize choice chicken (with ground bone) in the evening. He eats all I give and is enjoying it.

He is booked in again on Friday for a check up and to weigh, together with Dylan who needs another thyroid test. I will then also want to talk about his heart arrhythmia again.

No better

I am giving Troy just rice and egg. Troy's diarrhea is no better! He is eating well (feeding him three times at the moment), but his rear end is dire! Just orange liquid - not good. I wonder whether potatoe would be better? I'll see what Karen thinks.

Vet

I took Troy to the vet this morning and saw Ian. Troy got lots of meds for tummy, Ian couldn't feel anything nasty in his belly though, so that's good. Ian isn't sure about the cause of it, so we will see how Troy gets on over a week (I continue feeding him rice and eggs) and then reassess the situation. Troy is now just 53kg... that's another 5 kg down from the last visit! Not good!

Ian also had a look at Troy's eye that is wet again on the side. He isn't sure what's causing this, but it is definitely not a hot spot, but the eye leaking. So we will just keep it dry and keep an eye on it.

Still fussy

When Troy didn't eat properly over the week-end either, I decided to give him fresh cooked chicken and sweet potatoe on Monday night and Tuesday morning and he loved it. The result was more mucousy poo and in the end the runs... great!

So I put him back on his own food last night and this morning, which he has eaten some (1 tray each meal... he should have at least 1.5)... I think I am going to book him into the vets for Friday morning though, I am just not happy with his progress.

Troy not eating properly again

Troy has started to be fussy again and is not eating too well. He has started to lose weight again and is now too skinny. He ate well last night though and ok this morning, so I'll see what he is doing over the week-end, if he doesn't improve then he is off to the vets again.

Another hot spot

I took Troy to the vet today as it appeared to be leaking from the outside of his left eye. Turns out that it has nothing to do with the eye, but is in fact another hot spot. I caught it early this time and it isn't painful at all yet. So it was no problem this time to shave the area (he was brilliant eventhough it was right next to his eye), clean it and apply cream.

I will apply Aloe Vera gel or neem seed oil until it's better.