A great walk up The Hill this morning. Jack's enthusiasm was almost back to...if not pre-crash levels, at least early post-crash levels. He dragged going up the hill a bit, but once we got to the second landing, he had some water, and seemed much more comfortable in his skin than he has lately. He was still a little 'skiddy' about the people we encountered, but we went off leash on the last pitch, and he chased off looking for rabbits for the first time in a long while. Better still, he returned when I asked him to!
We'll keep watching to see how he does, but I feel pretty good about his medication level and timing.
Jack
Jack Sparrowe, trail companion Jan 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Day 28 DOCP
It seems the lower amount of prednisone (5mg/ day) is the right amount at this point. It doesn't make Jack any less crazy, or less 'skiddy', but it keeps him together without the prednisone side effects. Might be able to go lower still.
Throughout the pred increase, and subsequent decrease, his behavior didn't really change. That is, his reticence to going up the hill, or anxiety about reaching a certain point and wanting to turn back. He still does it.
Our hike this weekend was very like the rest. He got up the trail a few hundred yards, and I had to put him on leash to make him continue. Once he got into it 3 miles, or so, he was fine.
I decided to wait to his day 25 to get his electrolytes this time. Very glad I did. It came back:
NA151 (4.5 above range midpoint)
K 5.0 (.45 above range midpoint)
Ratio: 30 (2.5 below range midpoint).
DOCP dosage is constant at 2ml/50mg Percortin-V on day 28 this time.
Trending this data, it looks like both the Na and K numbers are increasing over the three months. Sodium is consistently above the range midpoint, and K moving from below to above the range midpoint.
Na/K ratio is consistently declining.
Um... does this mean he's getting too much of a good thing, or that we're doing it right, and can just go to 28 days between injections? I'm inclined to think we can back his dosage down 10%, and give them on day 28.
It seems a part of my brain is now permanently committed to assessing Jacks biochemical situation relative to behavior and what little analysis we have.
Throughout the pred increase, and subsequent decrease, his behavior didn't really change. That is, his reticence to going up the hill, or anxiety about reaching a certain point and wanting to turn back. He still does it.
Our hike this weekend was very like the rest. He got up the trail a few hundred yards, and I had to put him on leash to make him continue. Once he got into it 3 miles, or so, he was fine.
I decided to wait to his day 25 to get his electrolytes this time. Very glad I did. It came back:
NA151 (4.5 above range midpoint)
K 5.0 (.45 above range midpoint)
Ratio: 30 (2.5 below range midpoint).
DOCP dosage is constant at 2ml/50mg Percortin-V on day 28 this time.
Trending this data, it looks like both the Na and K numbers are increasing over the three months. Sodium is consistently above the range midpoint, and K moving from below to above the range midpoint.
Na/K ratio is consistently declining.
Um... does this mean he's getting too much of a good thing, or that we're doing it right, and can just go to 28 days between injections? I'm inclined to think we can back his dosage down 10%, and give them on day 28.
It seems a part of my brain is now permanently committed to assessing Jacks biochemical situation relative to behavior and what little analysis we have.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Well, it doesn't seem like MORE prednisone is the answer. After a conversation with the vet, we took his pred back up to 5mg in the AM, and 2.5 in the PM. Not good. WAY too much water/pee/food/runny poop. In addition, he was panting in his crate. Back down to 2.5mg AM 2.5PM.
After a couple of days at that level, we'll try The Hill again tomorrow early.
After a couple of days at that level, we'll try The Hill again tomorrow early.
Monday, June 4, 2012
A tiny 'ah-ha!'
Jack has been on 3/4 of a prednisone tab in the morning, and 1/2 in the afternoon since just before his last DOCP. It occurred to me on a walk up by Lake Chabot this weekend, that this dosing might be the reason for his anxiety at the onset of our walks.
Once again, Jack was anxious going up the hill from Chabot Park, and almost had to be dragged. We got just about to Bass Cove, and I gave him another quarter tablet (1.25mg) of prednisone. Within 10 minutes, he was trotting down the trail, just like he and I used to do.
Understanding prednisone dosing is tricky. It doesn't last all day in the system, like I've been expecting. I'm thinking now that smaller 'regular' doses, say with breakfast and lunch, accompanied by micro doses, when going out for adventures might be the better way to give it.
We saw a Bald Eagle circling the lake, too! Great day for wildlife. Huge roaring bullfrogs, a bird I've never seen before (perhaps a Green Heron? Wild looking, with a cry to match). Turkeys up by the campground.
Once again, Jack was anxious going up the hill from Chabot Park, and almost had to be dragged. We got just about to Bass Cove, and I gave him another quarter tablet (1.25mg) of prednisone. Within 10 minutes, he was trotting down the trail, just like he and I used to do.
Understanding prednisone dosing is tricky. It doesn't last all day in the system, like I've been expecting. I'm thinking now that smaller 'regular' doses, say with breakfast and lunch, accompanied by micro doses, when going out for adventures might be the better way to give it.
We saw a Bald Eagle circling the lake, too! Great day for wildlife. Huge roaring bullfrogs, a bird I've never seen before (perhaps a Green Heron? Wild looking, with a cry to match). Turkeys up by the campground.
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