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!