19 January 2012

Some beautiful obedience pictures

Shamyla Gascogne took some beautiful pictures of Flash and I doing obedience in training early last year. Doesn't he just look stunning.













4 January 2012

Doing well

I am looking at Flash now and he is the same dog again he was before he had his back pain. He runs a lot again in the park, loves playing lots, he trots fine again and his facial expressions are much happier again than in a long time. He is also gradually getting better with other dogs again and has been known greeting some nicely over the last few months, something he hasn't done in quite a long time.
He still hops occasionally, but Noel Fitzpatrick did say that will remain due to the damaged disk, but it isn't as pronounced and frequent now as it was and certainly isn't getting any worse.

One or all or some of the remedies I am giving him for his pain is obviously working. It is so good to see Flash well again - finally.

Stuff I am giving him to help:

Vegan glucosamine (seems to help a lot)
Turmeric (only just started)
Devil's Claw (really good as well)
Magnetic Collar (I think this helps too)
Chiropractor every 4 months to keep him straight
He had acupuncture, but not for a while now as it isn't necessary at the moment

I have also given him the CSJ herbs: Steady! to help him mentally as he was getting quite depressed again after Troy dying, Skye arriving and with his back pain. I think this supplement made a huge difference to him! He is certainly much happier again since being on it and I am gradually reducing the dosage now for him.

21 October 2011

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.

19 September 2011

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.

2 September 2011

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.

30 August 2011

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.

25 August 2011

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.