Just a short (yeah, ha ha) update on Carbon. He's been on prednisone for five days now and had his second monthly spot on moxidectrin treatment yesterday. He stinks of chemicals but otherwise he doesn't seem to have any adverse reaction. He's a tough pup!
The prednisone makes him wee like a race horse and seem even more desperate for food than normal, both usual side effects of steroids. I'm happy to say that he's had no behavioural changes. I'd always heard that some dogs become more aggressive on prednisone, so was watching for that in his on lead reactivity. He's been just fine, however, even having some really positive on lead reactions to dogs that normally would get him going.
A funny side effect of the prednisone has been that his recall is PRISTINE. I've been able to whistle call him away from situations that he would have ignored me in last week. Two pips and he turns on a dime. I guess that's the positive side to "I'M STARVING!!!!". I don't expect it to last, however, and in fact will be relieved to see him go back to his usual more distractible self as it will mean the prednisone is out of his system.
Two more weeks of doxycycline before he gets his first three week 'drug break'. It's no bother at all to give him the drugs - he eats them down like treats - but I'll be happy to know his body gets a break from all the antibiotics.
How much to let him exercise is still a source of stress and self-doubt for me. All I can do is hope I'm getting it right and hope it's the right balance between physical and mental health. For the moment he's a happy boy and looks shiny, sleek and healthy...so far,so good!
