Talked to the vet's office today. Vince's vet wasn't there but she must have had stuff all over his file because the girl answering the phone simply said... it looks like she wants him back on prednisone if the neurological issues start to resurface, like the weakness you've described. I'll have a vet contact the pharmacy, did you want to use the same one and what number can we contact you at. Worked for me.

She called back, said the prescription was in and the vet just wanted to make sure he hadn't any meloxicam. I assured her he hadn't and she said if I didn't have any questions, to call on Friday when Vince's vet will be in.

The prescription is for five days, 1/2 a tablet, twice a day. So the beginning dose she gave him the first time.

I got off a couple hours early and we all went for a nice leash walk, (restriction for today - I really like that, one day at a time). He's pretty calm but I think he's also pretty sore again. I should have called sooner.

Belly full of food, 1/2 a tablet of prednisone and resting by the wood stove.

And Lisabet, that's interesting you mention the journal. This thread is 16 pages long. The other night I went back and read my first post. I remembered how scared and confused I was. And everything people contributed. Some stuff had new meaning and really sunk in because I was able to read it thinking much clearer.

Can't believe how much I've learned through all of this and just how different I feel today.

And Vince is better. We've gone thru a couple of setbacks but I know more now and I'm going to do my best to keep it uphill from here.

Glad to hear that Vince is still moving forward, even with a little bit of set back.

 Quote: CJ Barrett

Can't believe how much I've learned through all of this and just how different I feel today.

That's amazing!!! It's hard to keep one's spirits up in a situation like this which is taking a while so you do have to reward yourself and Vince for each step forward!

Thanks guys, so glad you're hanging in there with me. Long process, this one.

Vince's vet called and left a message yesterday. I just got off the phone with her. She's going to extend the prednisone at the high dose for an additional 5 days on top of what was already prescribed, then down to half a tablet a day for 10 days and then down to half a tablet every other day for the next 10 days.

I told her about my short comings in the exercise department and she basically said he's to be crated. 5 to 10 minute walks only. I told her that's going to be nearly impossible, he's going to go insane. She said maybe a little more, depending on how he's presenting but no off leash. His movements MUST be controlled.

She's going to call in two weeks and see how we're doing. If this course doesn't do the trick though, she says we’re going to have to do the CT and most likely look at the surgical route. He's far too young to be on prednisone for any length of time. Of course I agreed.

She asked how he was doing on it...thirsty, peeing more, wanting out in the middle of the night. Told her that the thirst didn't seem out of the ordinary, and it hasn't come back that strongly yet, but his hunger was thru the roof last time. She said... do not feed him any more than he's getting. He's at a perfect weight and we don't want any weight gain. That would present additional problems.

Oh my...one day at a time. At least its winter and the weather isn't the best. Another huge dump of snow last night and it's been snowing all day so they're happy inside, right now, at this moment. May have to look at this one minute at time as the month drudges on.

Geeze...all these highs and lows. I’m starting to feel bi-polar. Not really, but what a roller coaster ride.

Trust your GUT on the exercise, craziness from being pent up can cause injuries too...I wonder if a treadmill would be ok (I know only helps if you had one). Poor guy, he'll get through it. I know a girl with a cattle dog who had to crate her dog forever after knee surgery, but they made it. Good luck staying steady through all of this!

Can you do some mental games with him. Maybe some nosework games. Part of his food stuffed into a kong to keep him busy for a while.
It's hard to keep them crated for extended periods. But will be well worth it in the long run.

Hang in there.

Yeah, I hear you there Tresa. He's the kind of guy, if he's laying in front of say the fridge or by the door and he's not exercised, you go for the handle and he's up and flipped around in no time.

And not that he's not under control - he whips off commands immediately, sit, down, in your bed when told, he just always seems to be in some sort of drive. I can see where these antsy type movements could get him in trouble.

He's wearing a tag line now so I can guide him up rather than him popping to attention in his ways.

And it's not that we can't do this, he really is an obedient boy and has the ability to settle nicely, it just seems so unfair to him. I guess I just wish I had a way to tell him that it's not how life is going to be from now on, only until he gets better.

So we walked to the end of the road and back and it was seven minutes. He looked a bit curious when we turned around but he's nice and relaxed right now. And it got me thinking, she said 5 - 10 minute walks but she didn't say how many.

And he loves his kong, loves to chase it that is. I haven't frozen one for him for well over a year. Good idea Anne. Anyone ever put tripe in it? That’s fairly low cal, I think. And he's got his everlasting treat ball but with the decreased exercise, I don't want to be filling that up very often, and he can actually get that thing really moving.

And yes, he loves his nose games. I've made him work for a few of his meals this week. He seems to really like that too.

Oh, and I meant to mention the natural medication/herb/vitamin discussion with the vet. I guess I kind of forgot because it was pretty non-existent. I mentioned a few of the big names, the MSM, Chondrotin, Glucosamine, so she'd know what I was talking about and she simply said she wouldn't recommend a thing. Good quality food, rest and the prednisone.

I didn't press, it was obvious these aren't part of her practices but I did ask if there would be any reaction with the prednisone. Again, she simply said I wouldn’t recommend them. Okay. End of that discussion.

I guess if she doesn't know for sure it won't interact, she is being "safe".

Oh and LOL @ him being up and flipped around in no time. Logan looks almost peaceful at times and all I do is look at him and he flips up and runs towards me. Crazy.

Did she elaborate on why she didn't recommend the Chon/Msm/Gluc CJ, or was it a 'Because I say so' type of conversation??

I haven't heard of any contra-indications of using it along side pred, we supply it to dogs and horses via vets recommendations for similar issues to Vince's, be interested to hear what Betty and/or Connie think...

Some vets don't like supps in any form, so just wondered if that is the case here??

You are doing a great job with Vince, keep the faith, this too will pass, thinking of you both, and I know how strong your bond with him is, but in a perverse sort of way, this experience will just strengthen that bond thinking of you both

Supplements, that's the word I was looking for. I said it just the way I wrote it there too, herbs, vitamins, natural medication - fumbling for words trying to open that conversation. Maybe she thought I was trying to concoct up some magic potion. I did mention the big names though, so hopefully she just thought my grasp of the English language needed some polishing.

And yeah, they were just pretty matter of fact statements. She would not recommend them and I didn't press. She said it twice and you usually don't have to tell me twice, I get it. She didn't want to go there, or didn't feel comfortable going there, but didn't elaborate on why.

And if she wasn't comfortable recommending something, tells me she either doesn't have experience with them, has not had good results or just prefers traditional medicine. Either way, she didn't seem like the person to be talking to about them.

I'd really like to talk to Vince's more holistic vet but I don't want to undermine this one either. I think this is where it really pays to have a vet you trust. But that trust is earned thru time. Hopefully we'll get there. He did recommend these guys and I do trust that.

She knows he's on a "natural" diet and said good quality food. I wonder if there's any particular foods that may be higher in these supplements. He gets a good variety of almost all types of meat bone - deer, moose, beef, pork, lots of chicken, sheep and others, anything we can get our hands on. Emu is the only hold back in case there's some food related issue where they need an available meat that’s never been introduced to their diet.