Hi, y'all,
Update on the condition of the Main Man in our house - since
his
treatment started he has improved by leaps and bounds. His appetite, which
was always robust, has receded from gluttony to a respectable level. He
has
reduced his water intake but still 'tanks up' prior to a walk around the
park. I feel this is for the normal process of leaving his autograph around.
His panting has subsided, although he now uses it as an attention getter
at
night when he wants down off the bench on which he sleeps most of the night
at the foot of the bed. I thought that it was a return of his previous
signs, but he did it last night, stopping when I put him down on the carpet
close to the window where he could get some cool draught.
I took him to the vet yesterday and, though I can't quote all
the mystifying formulae that the pseudo-vets can, he is OK! He gets his
maintenance medication twice a day and shows steady progress. One feature
that we are pleased about is the return of his hair color. He had faded
away
from black and tan to a champagne and silver. Though this was attractive
in
itself, it wasn't the coloring he was born with by any means and both
Eileen and I began to be a little defensive when people referred to him
as a
"lovely old dog".
There is a progressive darkening of his hair from the nape of
the neck downwards and outwards. His skin pigmentation, which had lightened
to resemble Babe (the piglet from the film of the same name) is now a rich
dark gray.
There has also been a significant improvement in his activity
level. Although the cruciate ligament in his right back leg prevents him
from behaving as he formally did, he is able to run at a sustained pace
for
a reasonable distance and is increasing the length of his walks daily. We
allow him to go as far as he wants and he is now showing more interest in
other dogs and in striding out briskly.
When we read of other people's pets condition we are thankful
that Ted has responded to treatment so well. We wish that for everyone else.
Regards to all,
Dave, Eileen and Terrible Ted.