Soloxine

I haven't heard back from Mark yet regarding Dylan's medication. So I have made the calculation myself for now as Dylan really isn't feeling great. Jean Dodds said that sighthounds need 0.1 mg/20 pounds (sighthounds apparently need only half the dose of a normal dog). Dylan is 23kg/50lbs, so he would need the exact same dosage as Jesse is on, which is 0.25 mg twice a day. So I have decided to start Dylan on Soloxine using Jesse's tablets last night. And I hope that Mark will get back to me tomorrow on whether that is correct.

Jean Dodds does say to also do a free T4 test, however, looking at all the symptoms that Dylan is showing, I doubt it is necessary. He gets tired on walks, moulting excessively, ear infections, not feeling 100%... all points towards thyroid, so I am happy to just treat him without further tests.

Hypothyroidism

Well, I took Dylan to see Mark on Thursday. The urine didn't show anything exciting, so a comprehensive "senior" blood test was done. The results came back today and Dylan has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. His result was 5.7 when the normal range is 18.0 - 58.0, so well below! It's not good news, but on the other hand, it is perfectly manageable and Dylan will be able to lead a perfectly normal life with a normal life span.

At least I know now what the problem is now and Dylan will feel a lot better again once on medication.

Chiro session

I took Dylan and Troy to see Sue, the chiropractor, today. Sue couldn't find anything major that was a problem, but Dylan kept looking round and moving way when Sue went over his middle/lower back. She said that the slight manipulation that was necessary didn't warrant his reaction around that area.

That would tie in with the fact as well that Dylan was fine at agility... He was much better after TTouch too, however, has been funny again during the last couple of walks.

Off to the vet we go again... it might well be a problem with the kidneys or something else going on in there. Something definitely isn't right.

I have also seen him drinking again a couple of times, and he seems to wee a bit more... Not good.

TTouch

Jacqui came round last Tuesday and gave all the boys some TTouch. Dylan has been pretty much back to normal since then. I do still think he doesn't always walk 100%... But having said that he was fine at agility.

The chiro appointment is now next Monday, 8th February, as I had to move it. We'll see what Sue has to say.

Dylan is certainly running lots again on walks and is nowhere near as wingy as he was before Jacqui came.

Something is not quite right...

Over the last couple of weeks, Dylan has not been 100% right... I can't quite put my finger on it, but it is similar to how he was in the months running up to his kidney problem! Just not quite as energetic, he growled at Flash the other day when he tread on him accidently, something he hasn't done for a long time, and sometimes I think he doesn't walk evenly, he also seems a little bit more whingy in general.

I have booked him in with Sue on 1st February for chiro treatment. I am wondering whether the lump on his back foot is unbalancing things, or perhaps causing some kind of discomfort. If I don't see an improvement after chiro, I will get Mark to have a look at him! I just know something isn't quite right...

Fox in the park

This morning, Dylan and Flash disappeared into the distance on the playing field. As it was of course dark, I couldn't see what they were after, but after a while I could hear fox noises. I went up to where they were and sure enough, there was a terrified fox being "attacked" by Dylan and Flash. Of course, Dylan and Flash are muzzled, so couldn't physically hurt the fox, but the fox was exhausted by the time I got to them. I pulled the boys away from the fox and I hope he is ok. He looked quite young...

Lump

On Tuesday, 8th December, I took Dylan to see Mark. Mark thinks it is just a lump that developped around a foreign body. He says it should disappear again over time.
For now, we are just watching it. It hasn't got any bigger so far, but no smaller either.

Lump (abscess?) on hind foot

On Saturday evening, I suddenly noticed a lump on Dylan's left back foot! It is big pea size and doesn't seem to bother him at all. I have booked him in to see Mark tomorrow morning... I wonder whether it is an abcess again as he had an abscess on his hock a couple of years ago. But that was quite umcomfortable, so I am not sure... better getting it checked out.

Lump and ear infection

I took Dylan in for his lump on his chest which seems to have grown a little over the last few weeks. But Mark still thinks it is just a fatty lump, so we won't be doing anything about that for now.

I also asked Mark to check Dylan's ear as he seems to get irritated by it at time. And indeed, there is an ear infection there. So Dylan is on Canaural twice a day for a while. Once cleared up, I shall include him in my Thornit regime that Jesse and Troy are already on.

KCGC GOLD AWARD!

We had the KCGC Silver and Gold test yesterday with Pat Burford judging it! Cate, my class helper, worked Dylan... and he passed... by the skin of his teeth (the stop the dog exercise wasn't perfect, but he did stop eventually...), but he passed! I am so proud of Dylan!

Dylan with Cate and below the whole group