Little update

Flash seems overall pretty happy and well. I have run out of "Get over" herbs and am giving him "Ake" instead, which is pure Devil's Claw. He seems even better on this, so will continue with it.

On Tuesday I noticed that Flash's eye was a bit red and had a sticky discharge. I used herbal eye drops to clean it. However, on Wednesday, the eye much much worse, he kept wiping it with his paws and only opening it half. So I used some drops I got from vet Ian for Jesse and they worked very quickly. The eye looked much better yesterday and is pretty much back to normal today. I will continue for another couple of days, but am happy with the result.

I will book another acupuncture session shortly to make sure that Flash's back remains good.

Much better and chiropractor

Since that incident, there haven't been any further incidents with Flash. He is in fact doing much better, and overall seems pretty happy now.

Susan Sargeant had a look at him today as Ian said Flash needed to see a chiropractor. She said that his neck, upper and middle back were tight, but the lower back was good. Flash wasn't worried about the treatment either which is a good sign.

Flash screamed - much better now though

Yesterday night at midnight, I suddenly heard Flash screaming and screaming (and then Jesse barking at him). I ran downstairs to see what's happened and Flash was just standing there behind the table, he then went upstairs still screaming. Only after about a minute, he stopped and was rigid and shaking like a leaf. I couldn't calm him down for a while, though he eventually settled and we went to bed.

In the morning, he yelped when he came downstairs and I had to really coax him down. He eventually went for a wee in the garden, but then settled on the floor by the sofa, which he never does! I was really worried, but decided to go to work (we were short staffed - how I hate leaving my dogs in a situation like this) and get feedback from Emily.

At lunch time, he wasn't any better (Emily couldn't get near him)and he yelped when trying to come down the stairs (so he stayed put), but he wasn't any worse either, so I decided to wait for Emily's next feedback. At 4, he was slightly improved (she managed to coax him down and into the garden for a wee) but he then refused going upstairs again and still wasn't happy.

So I went home early from work and took him straight to the vet's. Ian had a good look over from top to bottom and took his temperature. Flash didn't show any sign of pain (but then he never does!!!) and his temperature was normal.
Ian said that the most likely diagnosis is that he put his back out and hurt himself somehow especially with his history. So he put him on Rymadil.

Ian gave him a tablet straight away and by the time we were back home, he was already so much better and looking happier. By 8 pm, he was back to pretty much normal. He isn't allowed to use the stairs (so baby gate is closed) and no exercise again, but I am just glad that he feels better. This experience really, really scared me.

On a better note: both Mark and Ian are absolutely amazed how well Flash's toe is healing. They didn't expect it to work, Ian has done a fabulous job stitching it all back together and perhaps the homeopathic remedies I have been giving Flash have done the rest. He is back to see Ian on Monday for another check up.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FLASH - 7 years old!

I can't believe that my scatty boy is already 7 years old! Happy Birthday, my beautiful boy!

Flash had another check on his toe at Mark's this morning and it is looking very good. So Mark was happy to leave the bandage off now and we'll see how it goes. Back for another check up on Thursday.

Flash had an accident - paw injury

This morning, Dylan and Flash chased after a fox in the country park. When Flash came back, he had a bleeding paw. It didn't look too bad, we walked home, I washed it off and cleaned and disinfected it. As Flash had a nail bed infection before that wouldn't clear, I thought it best to pop him into Mark's to get some antibiotics.

Mark said that he needed a stitch in there as the wound was quite deep and that he wanted to do an x-ray to check whether there was any damage to the bone.

Well, when I called, I was informed that the wound was much more serious than first expected. Flash somehow managed to cut right in, through ligaments and the nerve. It is so bad that he might lose the toe if it doesn't heal properly.

Poor old Flash! I came home from work early to pick him up from the vets and Flash has been sleeping since then. He did however eat his dinner just now and looks more comfortable. He is due back at the vet's on Saturday to change the dressing.

Flash playing nicely

Today, I watched Flash and Skye play nicely together for the first time. Flash didn't dive bomb and mostly lay down playing with Skye and even when standing, he was very nice and gentle with her.

Also, Skye was holding a toy today whilst laying on the sofa. Flash took the very end of it and tugged it gently. After a while Skye let go and Flash walked off with it. It was all so cute and gentle, that I let him get away with it as Skye doesn't seem to mind much either. LOL

I think things are finally falling into place here, especially with Flash. He seems so much happier again, I think his pain is now under control with the CSJ herbs and he is mentally feeling a lot better too! Now where are those herbs for me. :-)

A bit of TTouch with Jacqui and then relaxing

Flash is improving!

I gave Flash some CSJ Herbs (Get Over! and Calm Down!) to help with his pain and to lift his spirits a bit. And it has really been helping him. When Andrea came to do his acupuncture and massage on Sunday, she commented how much better and happier he looked.

So for now, I shall keep him on the herbs and pain killers aren't necessary. Instead of Calm Down!, I am giving him Steady! as this is more balancing rather than calming down.

We have also met a few dogs (on lead) which Flash first growled at, but then said hello calmly. A couple I had to walk him away from. I think it's just a matter of giving him lots of good experiences with other dogs, so he can learn to say hello nicely again.

For now, Flash is doing much better and I am feeling happier because of it too.

101 things to do with a box

Flash having some training fun last night

Flash is still not happy

Flash has had two sessions of Bowen therapy and acupuncture and one of chiropractic. Although they definitely make him feel better, it appears that they only release the muscle tension but don't actually address the underlying pain. Releasing the muscle tension is of course important (I know that from myself), but it's not enough for him as he is still uncomfortable, has shortened his stride again (so is more tense again) and just isn't as happy as he should be.

So I am booking him in for another trip to the vet to a) discuss painkilling/anti-inflammatory medication (e.g Tramadol) and b) to re-run his thyroid test as he was borderline last time.

If he has to go on pain medication permanently, then so be it. I want him to be comfortable and enjoy life, not be tense all the time because he is hurting.

More acupuncture and Bowen

Andrea was here again for Bowen therapy and acupuncture. Flash looked a little worried through the whole thing today... I am not sure why. Hopefully it will help though to relax him a little more.

Flash at the vet's with major nose bleed

I took Flash for a walk in the Country Park yesterday when he suddenly had a major sneezing fit. I called him to me and he arrived with a muzzle full of blood, his legs bloodied and sneezing more blood. I turned round to take him to the vet's, but then he stopped sneezing and seemed fine so I finished the walk. But at home he had a couple more fits so I called the emergency clinic who told me to watch him overnight and take him in in the morning if it doesn't stop.

This morning, all seemed fine and I was relieved, but then he had another two sneezing fits. My house looks like an axe murderer had a go.

Flash is at my vet's right now where they are knocking him out to see what is going on.

***

Flash is home! He had indeed a grass seed up his nose - and a very big seed too, which took Mark apparently a very long time to find. But Flash though a bit wobbly seems very happy, licked my face when he woke up at the vet's and looked at Mark a lot as if to say thank you. :-) I'm so glad that he is fine and I hope this never happens again.

He has recovered very quickly indeed, has had a play with a toy and with Skye and seems very happy indeed. However, Emily is coming over to keep an eye on him when I am at the airport to pick up Marzia just in case.

Some pictures of this afternoon when he came home and later with Marzia. Flash is definitely feeling a lot better. He's been bleeding a little more, but nothing drastic and he is not sneezing anymore. I am so glad this episode is over. Whilst I went to pick up Marzia from City Airport, Emily kept an eye on him to make sure he was ok.

Dylan's birthday party

On Saturday, 25th June, Dylan and I celebrated our birthday! Here are some pictures:

The birthday boy

First off-lead run

Last night was the first time that Flash was allowed off lead again! And did he enjoy it! He did a few laps of honour just to celebrate it. LOL

His trot is much softer and smoother and the stride longer. He only hopped once, eventhough Noel said the hopping would stay. So perhaps I can use that as a gauge after all to see how he is doing re pain.

And here's a couple of pictures I took in the last few days of Flash in the garden

Acupuncture and Bowen

Tonight (well, last night really), Andrea, my acupunture vet, came in to do acupuncture and Bowen therapy on Flash. Flash wasn't too keen on it to start off with, but soon relaxed into it and when Andrea had finished, he settled on the sofa rather than retreat upstairs - which I was really pleased about. In fact, he hasn't moved from the sofa since then and actually slept rather than just settled with eyes open like he has done for the last few weeks.

I think it is going to help him lots. Andrea said that he was extremely tense all over his body especially his neck and tummy, which won't help him with the pain. Hopefully it will also help him destress a bit.

He has been on lead for nearly a month now and will be able to go off lead again next week. He will be over the moon and it will help lots with his mental state too! He gets so depressed when he can't run...

I also took him and Skye to Pets at Home today and then for a nice walk in a new park for a while. They both enjoyed it and it made a change for them.

Here's also some pictures I took last week.

Finally an answer

We went to Fitzpatricks Referral today where Noel Fitzpatrick had a good look at him and I'm happy to say that all went well with Flash. He had an MRI as expected. We have good news and bad news. The good news is I finally know now what the problem is and it is not a serious problem (yet), the bad news is it's not treatable (and surgery is not necessary) but only manageable!

Flash simply has back pain like many people have; one of his disks is dry and it bulges when he moves in certain ways so causes him pain as it pushes on his nerves. He also has constant slightly throbing pain, which those of us (like me and... like his vet Noel) with back pains only know too well! He will be on medication for a while (a month) to settle the nerve pain, he will be onlead only for a month (he'll hate that... sorry, Flash) and he won't be able to do full agility anymore only light stuff and NO A-FRAME!!!!! He will also get acupuncture as recommended by Noel too. He will then be on medication only as and when. Hopefully this will make him more comfy and less grumpy. The condition will deteriorate but very slowly and over many years. So it's not brilliant news, but it's much better news than I expected! So I am actually really happy with this and feel a lot better about it. No surgery, no serious unsurmountable problem...

Oh, and Flash has normal thyroid function too, so that's great as well (though still haven't got general test back, but don't expect any problems with that).

So now I can finally go about sorting Flash out with meds first, then acupuncture and probably also chiro every so often to keep his muscles soft and more comfortable.

Update

Flash had his blood taken last Thursday, but something happened with the general blood test and we had to go in again this morning - not a problem as Flash is good with giving blood (unlike Jesse). Mark said that the T4 is a little on the low side, TSH is fine, we are now waiting for the rest of the thyroid results as well. So hopefully by tomorrow we have everything.

The appointment with Noel Fitzpatrick had to be moved again (due to my work) and is now next Tuesday, 17th May.

Bloods and thyroid test booked

I have booked Flash in for full bloods and a comprehensive thyroid test tomorrow at Mark's! And the appointment with Noel Fitzpatrick is then next week on Thursday.

Another incident

Flash went for a rottie this morning, again totally unprovoked! Flash was off lead (which was my fault, I should have kept him on lead until I was fully around the corner like I normally do), walked up to the dog and went for him. As always, Flash was of course muzzled so no damage done, but this is not good. I can't wait to get him checked at Fitzpatrick's and if that shows nothing significant, then I will get Mark to do full blood works and a comprehensive thyroid test... In fact, I will probably get that done either way. Something is wrong with Flash and I need to find out what it is!

Fitzpatrick Referral, lump and aggression

I got the lump results on Thursday and it is a lipoma! I am so glad that it's nothing nasty.

I have also booked an appointment at Fitzpatrick's for Friday to check Flash out. I am going to ask them to do a fairly comprehensive check as Flash's aggression is getting worse. He went for two dogs this week that he knew well and that he had no reason to attack at all. So I know that something is wrong!

T-shirt

I've put a t-shirt on Flash to stop him from scratching the wound as it seems to be a little itchy now. I also took the plaster off today and the wound looks very clean and tidy.

Lump removed and x-rays done

Today was the day when Flash's lump was removed and he had his x-rays done.

Ian thinks that it was a fatty lump, but it was under the muscle so in a bit of strange place. He sent it off for analysis.

The X-rays showed yet again nothing. Ian was kind enough to show and explain them to me. As there is definitely a problem, he will send them to Noel Fitzpatrick to see whether he can see anything more and I guess to decide what to do next.

Flash came through it all well, he is sleeping it all off now, but seems pretty bright and ok.

Flash hopping and lump

Today, I took Flash to see Mark since he is still hopping on his right hind at times and I have also discovered a lump on his chest. Mark checked the lump and thinks it is a fatty lump, however, isn't 100% sure as it is a little bit too much attached. So he wants to remove it.

He also can't feel anything worrying about Flash's legs, so wants to take x-rays again and see whether anything has changed since last July's x-rays, then we'll go from there.

I am trying not to worry to much, but it's hard... lumps are always worrying and the leg issue could also be a major issue.