Less Prednisone

For a couple of days, we've had Jack on a 1/4 tab of prednisone (1.25mg) twice a day.  I've been noticing some thin spots in his coat, and I'm sure that's from the pred.  So far, so good on that dosage.
We did a full pack walk up the hill this morning in preparation for a couple of little backpacking trips I'm planning.  He did just great.  He started out a little 'skitty', but his confidence returned as we climbed.  Of course, my mind was thinking there might be some correlation between 'skitty' and the pred. dosage.  We'll see.

Stable..but expensive.

Jack's electrolytes are really stable on this 28 day program.  I had the 'lytes tested at day 25 again, and find:
Sodium: 148, +1.5 from midpoint, Potassium: 4.3, -.25 from midpoint, Ratio: 34, +1.5 from midpoint.
I suspect we can ease his dosage down, as DOCP is supposed to be given when K is up above midpoint, and Sodium slightly below.  But his 'lytes results have never looked like that, they've always looked pretty close to healthy.
Clinically, he's healthy, a touch overweight (52.6lbs) active, still a little 'skitty', especially this morning, just before his DOCP injection.
We had his vaccines updated Friday, when they did his 'lytes, so the bill today was a steamin' $427.
If I can do the DOCP myself, I can save $40/bottle (2 injections) on that, $35/injection, and $61 on the electrolytes test.

Jack's Electrolytes		Sodium	Rel to Midpt	Potassium	Rel To Midpt	Ratio	Rel to midpt
Date		midpoint=	146.5	midpoint=	4.55	midpoint=	32.5
4/13/12- midterm		149	2.5	4.3	-0.25	35	2.5
4/24/12-25days		149	2.5	4.3	-0.25	35	2.5
5/8/12- midterm		152	5.5	4.6	0.05	32.5	0
5/21/12-25 day		148	1.5	4.8	0.25	31	-1.5
6/16/12- 25 day		151	4.5	5	0.45	30	-2.5
7/13/12- 25 day		148	1.5	4.3	-0.25	34	1.5

Since my last post, Jack has been getting better all the time.  At least, everything is stable.

We got out of town for a few days at Inn at Schoolhouse Creek near Mendocino.  A very nice road trip that allowed SA to get a long and well deserved massage, and Jack and I to go walk on Big River Beach.  It's now all 'on leash' unfortunately, and the town of Mendocino isn't near as dog-friendly as it used to be.  Probably due to a large influx of drifters, homeless, crazies and their dogs.
Jack got pretty comfy with the idea of just hanging out on the beach... after a while...

I say, if you're going to be a California Dog, you'd better get comfy with hanging out on a beach!

For the 4th of July, we went to Half Moon Bay, where they have a "Dog Parade" within their old fashioned all-community parade.  Jack did really well with this, marching along, distracted by everything from 300 or so dogs to horses, ponies, pigs, chickens, treats, kids throwing candy, food dropped on the ground... Shoo! If that didn't stress him to the breaking point, nothing will.  He's having a pretty good time here:

Sue Ann puttin' on the dog.... 

We met a number of nice poodles, including Ella posing here with Cleo on the lawn before the parade.

I suspect that 28 days is the right amount of time on Jack's DOCP.  I also suspect we can start reducing the dosage, but I need to talk to Dr. Doe about that, and do another electrolytes test.