Same Old Thing

Just lately we've pretty much just got on with being happy. Trying to put the seizures to one side and just focus on doing what I do best, sleeping, eating and slobbering.

It came around to the time when I was due another trip to the vets to get my quarterly prescription, and it also came around that dad was taking some more time off work. But this was just a bluff and so a few days before the vet visit and his time off I had some random seizures. Totally unexpected and no announcement or signs. Just on Wednesday night lying there sleeping  then boom into a full on seizure. Then nothing for another 24 hours. Then the same again a one of seizure.

The trip to the vets was a sad day on Friday. I tried not to notice a few pets went into the room with their humans and the humans came out alone and crying. Such a sad time to see peoples left alone.

At least we managed to get out of having a blood test at the vets. The vet said it's been a while since we had one and maybe should do one to be sure. But they seem to just ramp up their bill and not once have they actually given us the results of the tests without dad having to phone them and ask. So really does seem pointless if they aren't going to do anything with them.

They also never ask about or record my weight - dad makes a point of asking to use the scales each time to see if I've put any weight on or lost too much. But I'm fairly good these days 47.6kgs this visit. So usually up and down by a few kilos depending on the seasons. Mum feeds me up in the winter.

Dad ratted me out to everyone in the reception area too, how embarrassing. The receptionist came into the room and gagged, then with her eyes watering from the smell asked which one was responsible - dad immediately pointed to me.

Time to Splash the Cash

Turns out it's that time again. Time to go pay for the vets Audi again.

This month we'll need another prescription drawing up and that means a trip to the vets. Because they won't do repeat prescriptions without seeing me and getting a consultancy fee. So dad makes the booking and we arrange to go in.

The good thing about it is that I get a day out. Dad takes me to work and I get to stay with him all day. Dad's got a new boss who's moved into the offices with him and this is the first time I'll have met him. I got in and did my usual sniff around then just lay down behind dad. It was probably an hour later before dad's boss even realised there was a big dog in the office. Well it didn't cause a scene or anything. I was as well behaved as usual and kept myself to myself all day until dad took me to the vets.

We got there and the first thing dad did was weigh me - 48.3kgs, so I've lost a kilo and a bit. Which dad thinks is good. I'm a bit trimmer and could probably do with losing another one really. This wouldn't have been so bad, but right after I got off the scales they bought another dog in who'd gained a bit. Right away there was a new member of staff who piped up that she was the vets new nutritional expert. Not bad, but I felt bad for the lady owner. The nutritionist was very condescending and the lady was really embarrassed. Good job she didn't start on dad - I think they might have refused to see me if he'd got fired up!

So we get our compulsory £1 per minute, 20 minute consultation. Thankfully the vet decided it's not necessary for a blood test. I've had a few now where they don't even bother giving us the results. We just go in and let them do it to get the prescription. The prescription is our only goal in this. A blood test just means more cash and times are tight.

After the consultation we get the bill for £20 and then another £20 for the prescription. I think the vet should really be wearing a black and white stripey top, an eye mask and have a bag marked swag. It's day light robbery to charge for time and then for signing / writing something that was done within that chargeable time.

Blood Test

Well it's come around to renew my prescription. This means the vet wants to take their pound of flesh, well blood tests at least. So dad took me into work with him for the day.

The weather today was too warm for me. I panted a lot as we walked down to the vets. As dad had given me my tablets at 7am they had to fit me in earlier than they wanted. The blood needs to be taken within 6 hours of taking them apparently.

The vet decided to call another nurse in to help with me. Dad doesn't really mind as they should take whatever precautions they feel needed to jab a big scary Rottie like me with a needle. But what makes it funny is when the nurse grabs me by the head and the vet jabs me in the neck, I go for the attention. I melted onto the floor so I was lying down waiting for a fuss. The vet and the nurse couldn't then take the blood from my neck, so I've now got a shaved patch on my forepaw where they had to take it from.

If they just let dad hold me then there wouldn't have been any fuss. But then they wouldn't have had anything to laugh about either.

Good news with my weight though. It's down to 49.85kg (109.9lbs). That's a huge drop of about 3kg in 3 months. Even though mum and dad have cut my food back it still gets bulked up with kibble, I still get treats - but tonight I also raided the grill and ate four sausages that Blaine had left so I could get at them. That means I get the other four for breakfast now, my slobber wins every time!

At the Doctors

Dad took me into work today. That's a sure sign that I'm gonna be poked and prodded by the vet later. Especially as I didn't get any breakfast before we left for work.

On the way in the car I got sick. Dad said it looked like whipped egg whites as I'd not had any thing to eat. I managed to slip over in it and got it all over me before we got into the office. Dad wasn't too impressed as it made me very smelly through the day, bleurgh! He tried to clean me up as best you can with a paper towel and water, but the smell stayed behind.

We went out into the town centre at lunchtime. Thursdays are market days and the town is full of people. I was on my very best behaviour and walked good as gold by dad's side. I think dad likes taking me into town on Thursdays. He thinks it's much easier to walk through the crowd as they seem more eager to move out of the way when I'm with him. It must be the smell?

At the vets I got a good going over, ears, eyes and gums etc. It's all very confusing as they try to make me stand where they want. I wish they'd make up their minds - so I just lie down here and let them get on with it.

The vet couldn't find anything wrong - and the "bobble head" didn't show itself, so we're going to have to try to catch it on camera. The vet's going to talk with a specialist, even if we can't afford to go see them ourselves, just to get some additional advice.

They took some blood to send off for a liver function test, so we should get some results next week. They also asked about vaccinations... dad politely skipped the issue for now. No doubt he'll be talking with them about it later though.

I also got weighed again. I tried all the lady like tricks of one foot on the floor and leaning on the wall, but didn't get away with it. I weighed in at just over 45kgs, which is an improvement, and more like what I should be.

Dad treated me with his leftover chicken tonight, just as a way of praising me for being so good all day.

KBr Bloodtest Day

Today's the day I got to visit the vet again and get a blood test to check the serum level of the KBr (Potassium Bromide) in my system.

11:00 We saw a lady vet that hadn't met me before. She was nice and friendly, but as most are when they first meet me, a little wary of my size. I can't blame her, it must be quite regular they get a nip from those a little more scared than me, and with my jaws and teeth a nip would be a serious offence.

She went to take me off into another room away from dad to take some blood, probably to put me in a restraining cage to do so. Dad just laughed and said it shouldn't be a problem that mostly when I get blood taken he just holds onto me, just in case.

So off she went to get the clippers, vial and syringe (the only word that "does" rhyme with orange). When she came back dad held me and she shaved a patch on my leg. Dad put some pressure on the inside of my elbow and she stuck in the needle and took some blood. Not a whimper, twitch or so much as a reaction what so ever. I could tell dad was impressed.

We'd also had to get some of those pesky things that wind dad up so much... prescriptions. This time we needed three so £12 for the first, then £6 each for the other two. Once we get balanced on the serum levels I'm hoping we can get to the point where we can get a 3 month prescription as this is proving costly each month. Even though we'd phoned them in and ordered the prescription the day before they weren't ready. So dad had to go back after work to collect them.

But... there was some good news. They'd over charged us. Turns out that the Epiphen prescription, whilst there are two of them - one for 60mg tablets and one for 30mg tablets - they consider this one prescription. So now we're £6 in credit with the vet. Can anyone guess just how long that will last?

We'll have to wait until next week for the results of the test.

Whilst in the waiting room there was a cat in a bag! I was trying hard to get it to say hello - I've never been so close to one before. It kind of ignored me as it was very sleepy - I suspect that had something to do with the vet.

I also got weighed and whilst I'm a lady and would never disclose my weight, dad will no doubt tell you I'm now 47kgs, up from 43kgs last time the vet weighed me. I guess the barbecue sent me over. Dad's now put me down to half a tin of food in the morning and evening, from half in the morning and a full one (1200g) at night. He'd like me down to 44-45kgs. Not at all fat, in fact mum and dad like the way I look, but dad would like me a bit leaner to stay healthy.

Back to see the Vet

Well following the seizures over the past few days dad took me to see the Doctor today.

As usual I was on my best behaviour. There were plenty of other dogs there this time and one strange white fluffy thing that reminded me of a fluffy Christmas star. It was very odd because it smelled like a dog and when it turned round it had eyes and a nose! Strangest dog I've ever seen.

Dad put me on the scales which now I know what they are makes them not scary at all. I just hopped right on and sat down with no fuss. That was until dad called me a fat dog... I'd put on a kilo and was nearly 42kgs today - I put it down to my winter coat. Dad says it might be the tablets (but not sure which ones) as I've certainly got an appetite these days. I eat all my breakfast and dinner usually in one sitting which isn't like me.

The vet did the usual stuff checking my eyes and listening to my heart - and the thermometer bit which I'd rather not talk about.

With nothing else to do for it the dosage of the Epiphen was raised to 90mg in the morning and 120mg in the evening to see if this provides better control. This effectivley increases by half a tablet in the evening.

Blood Test Day

Well today dad took me back to the vets so the Doctor could take some blood. They need to figure out if the daily dose at 90mg of Epiphen is remaining in my bloodstream sufficiently to keep the seizures at bay.

The Doctor trusted me without a muzzle and got dad to hold me whilst he stuck the needle in to take the blood, and I didn't struggle or even make a sound. After all it's not as bad as having my temperature taken!!!

So far it's been 29 days since my last seizure, which is a very good thing.

Dad asked the Doctor about my legs which give me some discomfort after running about a bit. So he took a look see and felt around my hips and knees and it looks like my discomfort may be more related to my knees than my hips.

The Doctor signed me up for a treatment of Previcox (firocoxib) at 227mg per day (5mg per kg of weight, I'm 40kgs right now). The Doctor said to keep an eye out for side effects such as vomiting or diarrhoea.

After shopping around it looks as if Previcox is available far more cheaply online (I got dad to do this bit) than it is at the vets. It also seems it can have some quite severe side affects as with some other NAIDS (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), so we're going to have to ask some questions on the next visit.

Without insurance the Epiphen and Previcox work out at £57 per month! So any saving to be made here is very useful.

UPDATE: Attached is the clinical trial report for Previcox (firocoxib, Merial) [Click here for PDF]