I know that many of you have already heard on the wire that I've been a bit under the weather recently. It seems I had a mild stroke and temporarily lost the use of my back legs. The world went a bit lop-sided for a while but never fear, I'm on the mend now!
Thanks to all my pals, old and new, for your good wishes and messages of support. I hope to be able to visit all your blogs soon, but until then, here's a recent photo of me lounging on the Js bed.
Handsome, eh?
Look at my red beard. Guess what I had for my tea...
Sorry pals. I know it's been an age since my last post and some of you have been concerned about me. The truth is, I've been really slowing down and the Js have been trying to find out if it's old age (hey, I'm still in my prime!) or something else.
After lots of vet visits and stuff it seems I have an extremely rare neuromuscular disorder called pseudomyotonia. This is usually associated with Cushing's Disease and is progressive with symptoms including muscle stiffness, weakness and wastage. It can be rather painful and means that I can no longer take walks longer than 10 minutes maximum or I really begin to stiffen up. Of course, the Js will just have to take me for 50 short walks a day instead of 3 longer ones. Sounds fine by me!
But all is not lost. Remember my dog pram? (Newer pals can read about it here). It means that I'll still be able to get to all my favourite haunts such as the beach or the park without having to walk too far (the Js are useless and don't have a car).
I'm sorry I don't have as much time to visit all your blogs as I once did but don't think I've forgotten you. Of course I miss you all heaps; hope you've missed me too!
Hey pals, some of you know that I've been back and forth at the vet again this week. I've been a bit under the weather and the vets are trying to figure it all out. I like to keep them on their toes. I've had the usual poking and prodding tests and on Thursday I had chest and bladder x-rays again. Trouble is, they were "inconclusive" so have been sent off to the specialists. I'll keep you posted as soon as I hear anything.
In the meantime, I thought I'd show you my latest feature film. Remember Eric's recent video with the solitaire game? He gave an oscar-winning performance. But you know me. Not one to play by the rules. Eric made it look too easy, so I thought I'd show you my approach. J1 calls it "Bull in a Chinashop". Make sure you turn up your volume for maximum enjoyment and carrot- crunching sound effects. Enjoy...
I had to go back to the hospital last week for them to look at my eyes. Yawn. The cataracts in my left eye are very pronounced. That sort of explains why I keep walking into things. My right eye is doing OK though. The ophthalmologist had lots of spooky equipment and kept turning the lights out to look into my eyes with ginormous goggley things and bright lights, but I didn't mind cos I'm used to J1 poking about with them all the time. Some of you may remember my photos from last year of the Schirmer's eye test, which measures tear production.
I know it looks gruesome, but it's really not that bad. I hope that if any of you pups need to have this test you'll remember these photos and be as brave as me!
Anyway, my eyes have to be checked every 3 months to monitor the level of deterioration but surgery would be a last resort cos I've had more than enough operations to last a lifetime!
Watering the tomato and chilli plants
Here is yet more lovely barkday and get well stuff. I know that lots of you put cards and messages on your blogs about me so I'm really sorry if I've missed anyone out here:
From Koobuss:
From Georgeous:
Yea, I'm finally back home! I can't tell you how good it feels to be back in my own bed. I didn't want the pawparazzi taking pix today as I'm a little tired and my hair is a bit askew. Hope you can wait until tomorrow...
Let me start with the science stuff first. I found out today that my tumour was a low grade pulmonary bronchiolo-alveolar adenocarcinoma. That's a bit of a mouthful, isn't it? It's a kinda bad tumour as it's malignant, but the good news is that it doesn't seem to have spread elsewhere and from now on I'm scheduled to have chest x-rays every 3 months to check that it doesn't try and sneak back. They just can't get enough of my handsome old self at that hospital! They also discovered that I have early cataracts in both eyes so I've got to see the ophthalmologist every 6 months to check for inflammation. My eyes are a little bit dry, probably because of the medication I've been taking so the Js are having to add artificial tears to my eyes 6 TIMES A DAY, plus an ointment at night...hope it doesn't mess with my eyebrows too much.
Thank you for all your messages; I'm going to post about my barkday tomorrow and show you my pawsome cards, but for the moment I think it's time for a nap. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Today has been a very difficult day for us all. We have been anxiously waiting for the vet to ring with my CAT Scan results.
The scan showed that the mass is a solitary tumour and it doesn't seem to have affected the nearest lymph nodes, which is good news. This means it is operable so I will go into hospital on Monday and have surgery to remove it on Tuesday morning, all being well.
We are very nervous about the operation but feel this is the only way forward as the prognosis without it is 6 months. Please continue to cross your paws for me and the Js, I think we'll need it to get through the next week.
Now to cheer us all up, here's a photo of me from happier times on the beach with Seamus & Molly...
It is with a heavy heart that we have to tell you that x-rays revealed Jackson has a large mass in his chest, most likely a tumour. He will have a CAT scan next Wednesday which will show whether the lesion is solitary or has spread elsewhere. It may be operable, but we won't know for certain until then.
Jackson will be coming home later today to rest after his latest bout of tests.
Thank you so much for your continued kind messages, comments and cards, they really do mean the world to us.
Please keep us in your thoughts during this difficult time.
The Js.
Some of the test results from last week are back and have confirmed the presence of calcium oxalate crystals in my urine. These can be quite painful and may go towards explaining my general lethargy. The other results are inconclusive which means I have to go back to the specialist veterinary hospital tomorrow for even more tests. One of the first things they will do is measure my ionized calcium level which could indicate whether the primary hyperparathyroidism and tumour have returned. I might also have to have another ultrasound to see if there are any more kidney stones rolling around inside me. Yada yada yada, I know this makes for pretty boring and gloomy reading. To cheer you all up, here's a nice slightly-out-of-focus-looming-close-up of me (pre-ear scar) with a bit of a tomatoey beard.
Mwah!
29th July 2009
Quick update: Jackson is staying overnight in the hospital for further tests, including an ultrasound and chest x-rays. Results back tomorrow. Thanks for your continued good wishes. J1
Yesterday I decided to take the Js for a walk down to the beach. On the way we saw a lovely Airedale and I thought I should go over and say hello. I sniffed her undercarriage politely but then she got slightly cross and bit me on the ear! I was quite taken aback and there was LOADS of blood. Luckily we were quite near the vet and so I was rushed straight there for stitches. So that's another scar to add to my collection. I hope it doesn't ruin my good looks.
Since then my ear has gone all sticky-uppy, but I think it's just because it's a bit sore. Want to take a look?
You can't see the wound from the front, so here's a view from behind...
I'm back! Did you miss me?
I'm hiding in my bed cos as well as poodle legs AND a shaved neck, I've now got a shaved undercarriage! It's pretty draughty so I'm wearing my stylish green jumper to cover my nekkid-ness. J1 says I look like Val Doonican *. What a cheek!
Hey pals, Barnaby here.
Remember me? Yes, I'm the responsible member of the "dog on wheels" toy gang.
Jackson is staying overnight at the vet hospital and he asked me to let you all know that he's doing OK. He's having loads of nasty tests today and tomorrow and we probably won't get the results back until next week. He knows that you're all rooting for him. I'll let you know as soon as we have any news. In the meantime, I'm off to check up on my pal Seymour cos I think he's raising hell over at Scruffy and Lacie's place.
Hello pals, I'm back home and in my own bed again. What a relief! Thank you all so much for your kind messages and good wishes. I'm feeling OK and I've got lots of stitches which I might show you in the next day or two.
I thought you might like to see what the hospital was like. It wasn't too bad. Here I am with one of the nurses...cute eh?
I'm not allowed to do anything much while I'm recuperating so J1 & J2 have got to carry me up and down the stairs and generally wait on me hand and paw. I could get used to this!
Jackson: "Fetch me my dinner, there's a good chap!"
You may remember that I suspected my vet of being a vampire. Well, I've finally managed to get PROOF! I went to the vet for my usual blood tests and this time they went straight for the jugular. If you look closely you can even see the bite marks on my neck!
The vet also shaved my legs but I think this might have been a front to cover his tracks. I hope I've managed to convince you with this startling new evidence!
