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.