Health
THE ERROL FLYNN STORY
Thumbnail
I started in afghans having rescues for many years, I took them racing, I had one puppy who didn't like showing, and I wasn’t bothered, anyway along came Errol, typical naughty puppy, thought I’d have a go at showing again, he started to do well, and I was enjoying it as well, I made lots of new friends, but he was never what I call full of energy, he would tire easily. 2001 went to LKA, Errol wasn’t his normal self the next day, then he started being sick and very sleepy, took him along to the vet who said he’d picked up a virus, his temperature was quite high, after a course of antibiotics he started to pick up, but he was never the same, I just felt something wasn’t right, then he started putting on weight for no reason, he was at that time about 34k and his coat went really dry and brittle and he became very lethargic. His 2 litter brothers had already been diagnosed with thyroid problems, so I had Errol tested and it came back with a low count, he was put onto Soloxine and I didn't think anything of it, time past , he had his monthly bloods done and medication altered accordingly, it was also noted he had a very slow heart rate, which is why he tired easily.
After about a year he started to loose weight, quite rapidly, at one stage he was 22k
He had lots of tests done, vet couldn't find any reason, she was more concerned with his weight than his thyroid, she suggested we take him off his medication, in the meantime I had spoken to Sylvia Evans, who sent all Errols blood results and the amount of medication he was on to Jean Dodds in America, Sylvia got an urgent e-mail back saying this dog had overdosed on Soloxine, by now he looked emaciated, he’d lost his coat, He’d been off his medication for about 2 months, so he had another blood test to see what was going on, his count still came back low, my vet agreed to send it off to Jean Dodds, what she suggested was to put him on a booster tablet, which was Tertroxin for a month, which was quite expensive and had to be got from boots the chemist, so we tried this.
This is why it is important to get the right dosage, and also watch for changes in your dog, and if you think something is not right, challenge it with your vet, you know your dog not the vet, he only treats him.
His coat was now like straw, so with the help of Jackie Buttle we used a lot of plush puppy products, you name it we tried it, I still use them now, and people can’t believe how his coat has come on.
Well we finished his course of tablets, whether they made a difference I don’t know, he was looking a lot better, I had put him on a more natural diet, even a tub of fit and fertile, 3 meals a day just to try to get the weight on him, he still has 2 a day now, but I always feed mine twice daily anyway.
Luckily all through this his temperament remained impeccable, that’s one thing , I have never put him back on any medication, maybe he should be on a low maintenance dose, which I used to give him if I thought he needed it, but I don’t give it anymore, and I expect if I had his blood tested now it would be low, I don’t know but he is fine now, he still gets lethargic from time to time, especially in the hot weather, he gets what I call that hung dog look, and very often puts his head on one side when he’s walking along, but if he is not over exercised he is fine, twice round a big ring and he’s had enough, and I’ve noticed just lately that his tongue just gets a blue tinge if he’s done too much running around, he knows when he’s had enough and he has to rest, he hates the sun and is a lot better when its freezing cold, (Update. Errol is now back on a low dose of soloxine 06-05-05)
I’ve always noticed that he is always warm to touch, other people when they have made a fuss of him have commented on this too, his nose and ears are always hot.
Another thing I’ve noticed whether its connected, around May time he gets a bad allergic reaction to something, his skin gets red and itchy and he can lick himself raw, lasts for about 2 weeks, then it disappears,
He has done really well in the ring this last year, I think he has been at his best, and has also done some charity work and the patients on the rehab ward that I work on are always interested in what he’s doing, I do take him into the grounds of the hospital where I work for the patients to meet him.
He has fatty deposits on both eyes; which I know other dogs with a thyroid problem have as well, don’t really know if it’s connected.
But one thing I still do not understand is why he became overdosed and his brothers didn't, as they were on a much higher dose than Errol, so it is critical to get the dose right, and to watch out for any other signs which you think are not right, I now know you look at every dog differently, no two dogs are the same even if they are littermates, my vet still follows Errol’s career with interest, and any articles that are written on the immune system she likes to read them.
I also have Errol's half brother hector, who I had tested a couple of years ago, and that came back with a low count, but because he has never shown the typical symptoms, I have never put him on medication, he has never gained weight, his coat is ok, his temperament has got better over the years, but he is fine. He’s just hector. Aged 6
Out of all the dogs I’ve had over the years, this is the first with this problem; I had a rescue who developed laryngeal paralysis, which was operated on and lived for a further 5 years. I still have a 9 year old Tianze dog who has had no health problems at all.
I would like to thank everyone for their help in helping me understand this condition, and to people who want to talk about it.
And a big thank you to Tracy who brings out the best of him in the ring
I would finally like to thank all the judges who have thought so highly of Errol.
Lyn Gray
© Lyn Gray-2005-2007 -2008 all rights reserved