Dylan's been playing

For the first time in days, Dylan's felt well enough to play last night. He had a bit of a tug-of-war with me... and the same again this morning. He is definitely feeling a lot better, which makes me so happy.
However, he didn't eat all of his breakfast this morning, which is very unusual. But perhaps I have added too much water (as his urine is still darkish yellow)... We'll see how he eats tonight.

Dylan's home!

I was so happy to get the phone call from Ian to pick Dylan up at 3 pm today. Dylan is finally back home after spending the whole week-end at the vet's on a drip. After abdomen and chest x-rays and blood tests we are still none the wiser as to what is going on (though he doesn't cough much anymore now luckily). His urine is now back to yellow - still darker than should be, but not red anymor.

He is on three different antibiotic tablets and metacam.

A urine sample was sent off to the lab to do all imaginable tests on it hopefully shedding some light on all this... If things get worse again, he will need an ultrasound scan.

Dylan is feeling a lot better, he is brighter and looks comfortable. He even managed to "con" two breakfasts out of the vet and the nurse this morning apparently... (The vet gave him one and the nurse, who didn't know that, gave him another by mistake and Dylan of course didn't complain...). That's my boy...

The strange thing about all this is that his kidney parameters that were elevated a few weeks ago, are all back to normal... we are not sure why and how as kidney disease is meant to be irreversable... I don't know whether it's the diet that has done this or whether it would have happened anyway!

So Dylan is back home, we (dogs and hoomans) are happy again after a very stressful week-end... I am shattered though. Dylan is due to go back to the vet on about Thursday for a check up to see how things are going with him!

Dylan had to stay at the vet's...

I took Dylan to see the vet this afternoon. It was Ian we saw. Ian was shocked to see how dark his urine was when he extracted some from his bladder. He kept Dylan in to do some x-rays on his abdoment and chest, as well as blood tests and flush his kidneys through.

At around 4 pm, Ian called me. All the tests came back clear... very strangely even the kidney parameters, which were previously a concern, were fine. The x-rays showed nothing.

He now wants to do a biopsy and a scan on Monday. Dylan is still at the vet's now and is on a drip. Unfortunately we could not take him home tonight.

To take my mind off things, Karen, David and I took our dogs for a lovely walk on Purley Way. It was really nice for me, Flash and Jesse and all the dogs enjoyed themselves. We then had a cup of tea afterwards.

I will hear back from Ian in the morning around 10 am; I miss Dylan so much and don't find this easy to cope.

Blood

Dylan seemed a bit brighter this morning after a good night's sleep with me on the sofa next to him. He got up to go toilet and did a big wee... great I thought, but immediately realised that it was dark red, almost black. I wasn't quick enough to get a container to get some, but I used a tissue afterwards to soak some up to show the vet... Why is there so much blood in his urine? I am of course taking him back to the vet's this afternoon when they open...this really has me worried.

Dylan at the emergency vets

On Thursday night, Dylan's breathing got really bad and he couldn't settle, he was so uncomfortable. We got so worried that we took him to the Streatham Emergency Clinic. The vet there said that he could hear a heart murmur... that really worried me. Dylan got an anti-inflamatory injection as well as further antibiotics. Dylan also had a very high temperature. The vet suggested to have him x-rayed and having a scan down of his chest.
We got back at 2 am and stayed up with Dylan until almost 5 am. Then I made myself a bed up on the sofa and got up again at 7 am ready for the morning vet appointment.

On Friday morning, I took Dylan with me to Jesse's appointment at 8am. Paul listened to Dylan's chest and said that he couldn't hear a heart murmur. Dylan's temperature had come down a bit, but was still high. Paul suggested to wait with an x-ray and scan and only do it if he is still no better after the week-end. I agreed with him, particularly also as anaesthetics are now an issue due to Dylan's kidney disease.

Dylan has been ok today, certainly not comfortable and still pretty lethargic, but he has eaten well and is alert. His breathing got a bit heavier again tonight, but he is comfortable. Jacqui came round to do some TTouch on all the dogs, and she also agrees with me that his chest is bloated/extended.

I have provisionally booked an appointment on Monday, but will keep it to do another check up on Dylan.

Karen and I were supposed to go to college this week-end, but of course there is no way I could leave Dylan; so we didn't go.

Not much better

Dylan is not feeling much better yet. He felt much better after Tuesday, I think it was the anti-inflamatory injection. But now, he is feeling very sorry for himself again. But I guess it takes some time to get over the infection, there are still quite a few days of antibiotics left to go through!

Dylan has bronchitis

Last week, Dylan started coughing. I thought it was kennel cough and just kept him away from other dogs. None of the other dogs were coughing. It was strange though that he didn't cough when exercising, but mainly when laying down...

Yesterday morning, when I got up, Dylan got up too and stood there a bit hunched and shivering. But he still wanted to come for his walk... He seemed better after that. In the evening, he seemed in pain, again hunched up and a little reluctant to leave. I decided that I would watch him over night and see how he was in the morning... Same again this morning, so off we went to see Mark. He diagnosed bronchitis. So it wasn't kennel cough at all... Dylan is now on antibiotics and also got an anti-inflamatory injection (which hurt him a bit, very unusual as he normally has no problem with injection... so his skin/muscles seem a bit sensitive too). Hopefully this will sort him out quickly.

Our holiday in Wales 12th - 19th April

We drove to West Wales on Saturday, 19th April. It was a smooth ride, the dogs were fine and we arrived at around 3.30 pm.

First of all a few pictures of the cottage Swallow's Dance, where we stayed

The front of the cottage

The back of the cottage

The huge garden which we all loved

The living area downstairs

The sitting area downstairs looking out into the garden


Saturday, 12th April - ARRIVAL

On the day of arrival, we just settled in and relaxed. The dogs had a good inspection of the house and garden and then started to play and run around in the lovely garden.

Dylan, Flash and Jesse playing


Yay, I can run here... Dylan going mad!

Troy patrolling the perimeter

I like it here, mummy!

Troy's favourite spot just outside the back door from where he could see all of the garden and observe the house too

What? - say Flash and Jesse

Wow, that's worth a shake...


Sunday, 13th April - WISEMAN'S BRIDGE BEACH

All of them together observing things first thing on our second day

Dylan having a walk around

King of the Castle... sorry, Cottage...




Monday, 14th April - NEWBALD BEACH



Tuesday, 15th April - FRESHWATER WEST BEACH



Wednesday, 16th April - PEMBROKE CASTLE and FRESHWATER WEST BEACH



Thursday, 17th April - A DAY OFF TO RELAX



Friday, 18th April - TENBY



Saturday, 19th April - TIME TO GO HOME

Things are looking up

On Friday, I got Dylan's new food on Friday. It is Timberwolf Ocean Blue. He really likes it, so no problems there.

Gradually, Dylan's general energy levels and mood seem to have improved - and this morning, he was so full of happy energy, it was great. He seems to feel a lot better again, he is not walking wide on his back legs anymore and he is much perkier. he also didn't slow down anymore in the second half of the walk either...

I don't know whether this is already the diet working, but I am so happy to have my happy go lucky boy back!

Talked to Mark

When I took Troy and Jesse in today to have their vaccinations, I talked to Mark regarding Dylan's blood results. Mark said that the results were stable (even slightly lower) and it is therefore only a mild form of kidney disease at the moment. He advised me to put him on a lower protein diet which I will do as 42% he is currently on, is quite a lot. Lower protein will reduce urea levels in the blood which could make him feel nausius etc if not kept as low as possible. I have also sourced a diet with lower phosphorus as well, which is apparently important too. It is Timberwolf Ocean Blue. It costs a bomb, but if it helps Dylan to remain healthy longer, then that'll do me. It also contains Salmon Oil, which is supposed to be good for kidney function too.

Mark wants to monitor him of course, but he won't need another blood test until in six months time.