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.