Bryn has enjoyed better health over the last week, his appetite has been good and he hasn't been picking over his food and hampering after everyone elses.

His blood results came in today and there is a teeny weeny increase in the nutriphils at 1.4 when the last test showed 1.2. He is however borderline aneamic so that probably accounts for his collapse and loss of co-ordination last weekend. We have to continue to treat him as if he was a lukeamia sufferer, although we are no nearer the truth behind this mystery illness. Sadly that probably means continueing with the antibiotics because he is at real risk of dying from infection if caught.

I think it will be a case of adding some live yoghurt to his diet to help settle his tum down a bit and also adding spinach and brocolli to up his iron levels, or give a supplement.

In the meantime, Bryn doesn't 'look' sick and continues to be bright and shiney with a gorgeous healthy coat. He's a very happy chap and loving life so we have to continue to take one day at a time and keep hoping that his bone marrow may recover enough to support him.

I had Bonnie bird in the car this morning and the whole journey to work was spent with Bryn and Bonnie trying to bit each other through the bars!

Little bit disappointed to learn today that Bryns blood tests were void. Firstly the lab sent the results to the wrong vet and now when they did come through it appears the blood was coagulated so it wasn't viable. poor chap now has to go again to have his leg shaved and more bloods taken, what a shame.

I'm going away tomorrow until Sunday night and the hardest part is leaving him for 3 days. I haven't left him at all since he's been ill and I'm going to miss him so much...

Just rushing out the door and wanted to post that Bryn seems no worse for wear after his exhausting walk on Sunday. He has been happily gallavanting round the shop and yard today as usual, nosing in to everything he shouldn't be and putting his best 'stroke me lots' face on for Amy who's a sucker for fussing him.

Bryn has not been so great over the last week, his back is obviously troubling him and he has had to lie down after just a short time on his feet. The last couple of days he seems a bit livelier and more mobile so we took him with us today on a mini toller meet here in Wales. Jan & Ken from the IOW were staying in Crickhowel for a holiday with 2 of their 4 dogs and Judith came across from Hereford with 3 of her dogs and off we went with the gang to Mynydd Mawr country park for a walk and game of ball.

Bryn started off well, running round and even having a dip in the water, I put him on the lead when the balls came out as i didn't want him to get too tired or get knocked over. He seemed to be doing quite well until the walk back when his legs gave way and he kept collapsing. We stopped to give him a little rest and continued along the shorter route back to the car. Bless him, he tottered along slowly but eventually kept tripping over his legs so Rob carried him back the last bit. I felt awful for taking him and wearing him out, but he so wanted to go and seemed to have a lot of energy today. It brought back to me just how precious his life is at the moment and that despite the brave face he's putting on everything he is still a very sick dog.

I sat with him on the sofa for a while this afternoon in front of the fire, fed him a banana and kept him warm, once he'd had his dinner and a rest he seems back to his old self again bless him. I think he just got exhausted. The photo shows him laying in the back of the car at the end of the walk.

Not much to report today, Bryn slept on my bed last night (well, it was a cold night and my electric blanket has broke...) he seems well rested and relaxed with life at the moment, although he wasn't too keen on having his leg shaved yesterday and he's getting fussy about his food! Cheeky bugger wouldn't eat his breakfast this morning as he was too pre-occupied about whinging and squinying with anticipation to go to work with me, couldn't get him to focu on anything. I took his breakfast in to work and he still refused to eat it until lunchtime when he got a whiff of my tuna baked potato, OK so I gave in and added a spoonful of fish to his food - he ate the lot straight away....

Bryn's energy levels continue to be good, definitely nothing wrong with his brain as he doesn't miss a trick. If I had let him out of the car dinner time when I made a house call I think he would have shifted the bantams pretty quick.

Bryn continues to thrive despite the vets prognosis just 2 weeks ago that we were looking at short term palliative care. His energy levels have increased ten fold and he is just like the old Bryn we used to have. The only exception is the pain from his back which is causing some nerve type problems in his back legs but he has been managing 2 good sessions of racey chasey games a day. His eyes are sparkling and he has that altogether more 'with it' look about him, bright and alert and listening and watching my every move. He spends the days in the shop office until he knocks down the dog gate and escapes to come and find me up the shop!

He did get bowled over on Saturday during a game but it hasn't put him off although he is obviously a little sore on his back. I felt really guilty for letting him join in the game with the gang but he so obviously wants to play and is raring to go, if I pull him out of the game for a little rest he stands there trembling and squeaking with excitement, then nips at the nearest set of paws that come thundering past!

It's 2 weeks since he started his treatment with Liz Sanders the herbalist and also the healing with Liz & Margaret. Liz calls him 'Bryn Dog' which makes me smile. The treatment has been from afar and the healing has been 'distance' healing so Liz & Margaret have not actually met Bryn yet but I know in their hearts and minds he is as close as I am to touching him physically now. I can't thank Liz enough for the time and effort she has put in to helping my dog. I'm not sure what the future holds but Bryns quality of life has bounced back in to full on normality which is a far cry from what it has been over recent weeks and months.

Our vet took blood samples today so we are all waiting anxiously to see if there is any change in his bloods.......

Bryn seems to be back to his normal self right now, strong and alert and bossy. I can't tell you how pleased I am with his progress in such a short time because I honestly thought on a few occasions that I would put him to bed at night and not see him the next morning, I can't thank Liz (herbalist & healer) and Margaret (also a healer) enough for all the time and effort they have lavished on him over the last fortnight. I pray that he continues to thrive and enjoy life to the max.

The only thing I can say is that he has always been a smelly dog and today he is particularly stinky! I threatened to give him a bath but I will wait for some warmer weather first as I don't want him to get a chill.

Bryn has had another good day today and seems pretty strong, I had a job holding him back on the lead! He really wants to play with the other dogs and was up to his old tricks nipping ankles and tug'o'waring it with Toby and the rubber ring. I stopped him after a while for a rest as he was a bit puffed out but he was still trembling with excitement.

Tonight he has Rat firmly pinned down and is giving her a thorough washing against her will! Laddie just arrived next to him and got a face wash too.

Not much to report today except that Bryn has enjoyed a short game with the gang today, he's a bit tired and was limping a bit again today, but never the less his brain is in full fettle and his 'nipping' skills haven't dwindled! He still seems bright and less inclined to sleep so much but I don't think he likes the cold weather so much since he's been poorly.

Touch of Snow

I got up at 6.30 this morning to find the garden white with snow so went back to bed for another hour or so.....by 9.30 it had almost all gone but it didn't stop the dogs having a jolly round the garden.

Bryn has been quite high spirited today and has even played with dottie for a short while. This afternoon I allowed him to run with the pack and have a short game of ball which satisfied his need to round up the others. I am cautious not to let him over do things so about 10 minutes was the limit and he started to limp a little so I called him in. His appetite is really good but he really doesn't like the injections at all, a right battle of wits to get him jabbed twice a day!

he's fast asleep now in his bed surrounded by other hairy hounds

Friday 5th April Progress

I'm really pleased to say that the change in Bryn since Monday is quite profound.

Bryn has been given healing every day all week. he started on an intensive course of herbal medicines Tuesday combined with a natural diet and he is BOUNCING!

2 days ago he almost pulled me over! and a sight I haven't seen in a good couple of months was bryn sprinting to keep on Laddies tail and also joining in with a game of ball AND keeping up the pace! His gums are noticeably pinker and he has got a much more altogether sparkly look about him.

Our vet saw him mid week and was amazed at the change in him, she had never seen his gums a good colour and called the other vet to come in and see the 'dog that is defying medical science'.

If Bryn carries on like he has been then we are actually quite optimistic that his bone marrow may kick start again. It's my birthday at the end of the month and the best present I could ask for is to see blood tests results returning to normal. I'm praying......

Bryns Treatment Diary

1/4/08
Bryn had a lot of healing yesterday which was quite remarkable. So it led me to thinking I would set up this blog space just for Bryn to diary his health on a daily basis, that way I can keep track of time and what's going on while also hopefully helping anyone else out there facing a similar dilema to decide if the information I give is helpful to them. Will put that on my long list of jobs to do.

So, yesterday on bryns 3rd birthday he received his first distance healing session from 2 very active experienced healers. He was with me all day at work and after lunch, around 1.15pm he climbed in to his bed in the office and slept so deeply he never moved a muscle for almost 2 hours. An email popped up from one of the healers Margaret saying she had been sending healing for the last 2 hours and 'where Bryn was sleeping he was way way down and he needed to come up'. I thought she meant his bed was too low on the floor. Apparently not, what she actually meant was that hi energy was too low down and she was trying to lift him. The afternoon gave me a chance to catch up on paperwork in the office, and there was a lot of noise from the workman banging and crashing on the roof etc, Bryn would normally be barking and woofing at anything or anyone unfamiliar but he just lay in his bed. At 4.40pm I turned round to find Bryn staring at me wide eyed as if he was in a trance, in fact hypnotised would be a good description. I've never seen a dog actually stare in to my eyes like that before, and this went on for some time. He was acting very strange and Trudy kept hiding under the desk when usually she would be in the bed with Bryn. Off I went home and started Bryn on his new food regime of chicken, rice and steamed vegetables which he scoffed with great gusto. I later found out that Liz the other healer and also the herbalist who has agreed to treat Bryn was due to start her healing session at 4.30 but got delayed so started about 10 minutes late, just at the time bryn went in to a trance like state!

So, this morning I was very pleased to be greeted by a waggly bright Bryn because he has been too tired to get out of bed and greet me for a few weeks now! All day he has had bags of energy, been mountaineering all over the car crates and sprinted up and down the yard chasing Laddie first thing this morning. His face doesn't look so drained and his eyes are bright and sparkly. Carol was like me, couldn't quite get over the transformation since yesterday. I took Bryn to the vet today to get the little lump looked at, turns out it is a tiny sebacious cyst (basically a zit). I told the vet about his healing session and invited her to look at his colour, a lovely pink set of gums and healthy looking tongue! She even called the other vet in to see 'the dog that is defying medical science'. She said she has never seen Bryn with colour that good......so I feel very positive that he may respond to the natural care approach if today and yesterday is anything to go by.

Today his herbal medicine arrived (along with the bill which I guess the insurers won't cover so I have to work a bit harder to fund this - small price to pay to help my hairy little mate) I pursuaded the vet to let me have some liquid vit B12 so i can inject him each day, no objection there which is good. bryn wasn't too chuffed about the tincture mixed in his food but the capsules were sprinkled on no problem. I have to try and get a banana a day down him too which is difficult because he really doesn't like bananas (unlike Laddie who enjoys them by the bunch, skin and all). He is really enjoying his new diet of chicken, rice and steamed vegetable, the other dogs look pretty jealous at dinner time though. Let's just see what the next week brings and take things a day at a time. At least I'm doing something rather than throwing in the towel and admitting defeat.