Update:
Daisy has now completed 4 weeks of steroids, anti inflammatories and anti biotics. After the first course of anti biotics ceased, she got a chest infection because the steriods were doing something to her immune system - awful. Anyway....
She has been a poor old mess, but she is MUCH, MUCH better. HURRAH!
My heart can sing again. Her personality is coming back and she is initiating play once more.
The downside is that she is BLOATED beyond belief from the steriods.
Dear me, what a porker.
Poor old Daisy - no walks or anything for 4 weeks has clearly left its mark.
So, we are now building up the walks again, and to begin with it was like taking a really old dog out. Quite alarming actually. We are up to two good walks a day, off lead and across fields. Inbetween that we have two or three bouts of 10-15 minutes of training - but not easy without training treats!
Now that she is entirely drug free, my OH and I are obsessive about her yawns, bite control, and games with balls, tuggy ropes, etc. Anything that involves using her mouth/jaw and that doesn't look remotely normal is discussed in minute detail....! We just don't want her to slip back at all.
It is a JOY to have her back to her (almost - waistline excluded) old self again. It sounds bizarre, but it's as if your whole life goes on "hold" when you have a sick puppy. I would not wish to go through that again in a hurry..... no sirreeee !
Thank you to you all, for all your concerns, help and advice. Let's hope this chapter is now closed....
Lots of cocker cuddles from
Kay and Daisy
-x- -x-
