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.

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!