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!