You may remember that Thor was ill last year.... we eventually (in November) got a diagnosis of an auto-immune disease (poly arthritis) , and he was prescribed prednisolone at the rate of 25mg x 2 daily.

Well, here we are, end July and we've just taken Thor back to see Lizzie, his vet, before getting some more prednisolone.    He is still needing 15mg x 2 per day to keep him on an even keel - but he IS on an even keel - going for walks, bouncing around and generally enjoying life - most of the time.   Some days he does feel uncomfortable - and lets us know (by choosing to sleep in the middle of the kitchen floor where everyone HAS to step over him and refusing to go for walks - but other days he acts life a 3 year old - bouncing around the place, causing mayhem - if he so chooses - and generally enjoying life.

He does (or does not, according to how he feels) walk a couple of miles - at least - a day.   He eats well (Landywoods' minced chicken & veg with mixer, or fish, or the occasional lump of liver, supplemented at times with the contents of the rubbish bin :rolleyes:) drinks well, pees and poops sufficiently - and generally gives the appearance of a healthy nearly 10 year old dog.

Lizzie has suggested that we could check out his liver function, bearing in mind the high dosage of preds he is still on (we've experimented with cutting the dosage down, but he "flattens out" too much below 15 mg x 2 per day) but we have decided against these tests at the moment.   After all - what can we do if they show decreased liver function, apart from increasing our anxiety quotio?   We are making sure that his diet is relatively low in fat, his heart and lung functions are good - and we are just delighted to enjoy our boy (who we think is still enjoying his life) as he is.

Are we doing the right thing?

Margot

Yes :)

Of course you are.

We used to have a dog who was on medication that could have serious side-effects, and yet made her life worth living. Our then vet said that in theory we should have regular blood tests to check the side-effects weren't happening, but then asked us what we'd do if she was being given longterm problems. Would we stop the meds and cause immediate, life-threatening problems? No, of course we wouldn't. We'd stick with the staus quo and deal with the serious result when/if it became necessary.

IMO you're doing exactly the right thing. Hope this helps. :)

Pah! Now Isabel and Brainless have cut to the chase while I'm the one who's gone waffling on! :rolleyes: :D

Waffle? Pah!! What do you know about waffle? :D :D

admittedly, I've had an awful lot of Sauvignon Blanc tonight so I can't manage anything else BUT waffle :rolleyes: :D

Oh Margot :( I remember so vividly your posts when Thor was diagnosed with this.  It was almost exactly the same time that Shay was diagnosed with arthritis in his knee and needed surgery.

Like Thor, Shay has good days and bad days.  Thankfully, the good still far outnumber the bad by some considerable margin :)  I'm all about quality of life over quantity so, should this situation change in future, we will look at the alternatives but, until then, we allow Shay to dictate the pace. Some days that means chasing squirrels, swimming against the current and rolling in dead hedgehog :rolleyes:  Others, it means a gentle stroll round the block and kipping on our memory foam bed (bought more with the dog's needs in mind than our own ;) )

FWIW, I'd be doing what you're doing.  No point worrying about what you can't change.  Better to focus on making every day count :)

{{{HUGS}}} to you and to Thor :)

Jules xx

It's much the same that I'm doing, Margot. I have a cat (my favourite :( ) with an autoimmune problem (affects his mouth) and steroids is not recommended for his condition, but is the ONLY thing that makes him feel better. I'm not doing tests because it won't achieve anything. Likewise the dog on epilepsy medication, that will damage his liver eventually, but again, knowing won't help. I'm just taking each day as it comes and welcome every day when they're both feeling okay.

We too had a siamese cat on long term steroids.
I am with you all , quality of life is foremost.
I do just have a query. Does steroid affect skin ie;thins it considerably, as it does on humans?
Karen :-)

I'll add another yes :)

>supplemented at times with the contents of the rubbish bin<

                                   :D

Im quite sure His "Thorship" will 'retire to the Billiards room with a cigar and a brandy' when he's good and ready...
doesnt sound like he's good and ready for a long while yet, the old Trooper.. ;)

Its a tick in the 'yes' box for me too :)

Just to say I have also benefitted from this post.  We have a cat on prednisone for the rest of her life and Jet is on Dextabs.  Liver function, and kidney too I think, can be compromised by these drugs but we are at the point with both where quality of life NOW (and with the cat, life itself) is more important than long term consequences.  Jet has her annual checkup on Tuesday and even though the Dextabs make her pant terribly I think we may have to UP her dosage.