Hi Margot - I've been away and only just caught up with this :(   Poor Thor and poor you!

I'm glad to read that he's improving - please God he's on the road to recovery and you'll get a definite diagnosis as to cause etc.

Sending hugs to you and tummy tickles to Thor :) :) :)
Teri xxx

Just arrived back from the vet specialists - its been an all-day things and I'm absolutely exhausted!

Well - the good news (if it is good news) - is that we're not going for surgery at the moment.    Richard Whitelock has done joint taps on knees, elbows and shoulders - and the results show inflammation in all these joints and he has diagnosed Polyarthritis - which is immune-mediated.

We've come home with massive steriod prescription - 25mg prednisolone x 2 daily for a month, then hopefully bringing it down gradually and then tapering off - might take up to 4-6 months for this.   This dosage is very high - he said its on chemotherapy level - and could cause excessive appetite/thirst/urination - could also have some weakness/lethargy - but this will stop when medication stops.   We can cope with this though!

As to what has caused it - heavens only knows......I haven't yet done a websearch.

But as usual, Thor was an absolutely angel - a real gent :D

Margot

Margot, lots and lots of crossed fingers here that this will work for Thor :) :) Glad that other alternatives are not imminent :) Must be worth a try, so will look forward to hearing that he's progressing well :)

Daisy

Hi Margot,
             Glad that he seems to be doing well so far...... I will keep my fingers crossed for him.......
Emma had the large doses of Prednisolone and was constantly hungry and thirsty.....but her appetite did decrease when we lowered the dose......
Maybe Jacqui O'Brien could use all the information you have collected so far towards her breed research and she might also be able to give you some help and support for whichever road you may go down next ?? :)
Just a thought........ :)
You know where I am if you need anything..
(((Hugs))),
Gabrielle xxx

Good news that there's an alternative to surgery, Margot :)

Continued positive thoughts and best wishes for you and Thor :)

You know, I'd forgotten that Jacqui is collating health information....... 

How's Thor doing? Hope all's well and no news is good news :)

Glad Gentleman Thor doesn't have to have surgery. Big hugs to him for being such a brave angel.

Good news that there's a possibility of avoiding surgery, and you have a prospect of a good outlook, even if it takes time. :)