Strange incident yesterday

Yesterday morning when I got up and the dogs left the bedroom, Flash didn't want to get up. I asked him to come and he did, but he looked pretty stiff on his back end. He didn't really want to come for a walk, but I took him (couldn't leave him behind on his own) but kept him on lead. He was lagging most of the walk, not really interested and visibly uncomfortable. Once back home, he lay down and didn't move.

However, when I got the food ready, he was up and running again, looking much more comfortable. He ate his breakfast ok and has been fine since.

I suspect that he got too cold over night as he was sleeping in the bed under the window, which then made him stiff and uncomfortable in his back. So until it is considerably warmer at night, he will be wearing a night coat/jammie too like Dylan to hopefully stop that happening again.

Obedience Match

I took Flash and Jesse to the annual obedience match at Culverston today. Flash was pretty good and I was pleased to see him say hi nicely to quite a few dogs (whilst having a grumble at others).

He came 5th out of 8 dogs, so did ok - especially as that was a run-off for 4th and 5th place... But he wasn't very enthusiastic about the heelwork and I am now wondering whether he actually feels uncomfortable doing heelwork due to the position which hyperextends his back a bit of course. So he will be doing no more obedience stuff as I don't think he is entirely comfortable with it anymore.

(Picture by Vanda Fitter, 2012)

Never mind, we do stuff at home that he enjoys and he gets his daily run about on walks which is what he lives for really!

After the match, we went to Karen and David, where Dylan and Skye had been staying all morning. All the dogs are happy there and really feel at home there now. :-)

A major, major breakthrough - Flash was nice to a malamute!

This morning I took the guys out for the morning walk in the Country Park as usual. There was no-one around and at one point, I was watching Jesse and calling him. As I turned round, I saw the other three mingling with the two dogs that I met a couple of days ago and that Dylan and Flash shouted at (on lead!). I was really worried about these two dogs as Flash and Dylan didn't respond well to them two days ago they passed us (though Dylan and Flash were on the lead) and because Flash doesn't usually like malamutes being large and upright dogs. I haven't seen this chap with these two dogs before this week, but it meant I had to be on high alert again always expecting to call Flash back.

But this morning I didn't see them approaching as I was watching Jesse lagging behind and I couldn't believe it when Flash was just standing there, not much tension at all, just mingling as if it was the most normal thing in the world...

I told the owner that I was really pleased and told him about Flash's back problem and how he became aggressive etc. and we had a little chat. Then we went our separate ways.

I may have shed a tear or two afterwards - and I still can't believe what happened! We've had a few good experiences over the last few weeks, but this is BIG! I'm so chuffed, I bought some cake to celebrate. LOL

Flash also just looks overall so much happier, is regularly running off to go hunting again (not much fun for me, but a sign that he is feeling well) and finally is enjoying life again! And so am I! Magic!

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.

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.

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.