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A happy and healthy Zephyr one year after getting encephalitis.

It's been 1 year since Zephyr came down with immune mediated encephalitis.  If your not familiar with what happened see March 2011 in the blog archive and lots of posts throughout the past year.  I'm so happy to say that Zephyr is doing awesome!!  We have not seen any signs of the encephalitis and it's been over 4 months since a seizure (and I think the last one might have been because I missed a dose of Keppra soon after he started it, so maybe a withdrawal effect).  Luckily, Zephyr's brain was able to recover from all the inflammation and he has no signs of permanent brain damage, except that he might still have seizures if he wasn't on Keppra.  I've waited to give an update on how he's been doing partly because I didn't want to jump the gun.  He's been off all procarbazine for almost 2 months and he's now down to only 2.5mg of predisone once a day, a tiny amount for his size.  I've been worried about how things would go and if the encephalitis would return as we removed his meds.  To say that I watch the boy like a hawk is an understatement.  :-)  The only thing that I can say I've noticed is that he continues to feel even better.  He is one happy, goofy, healthy boy!

Fur starting to return in December.

 When Zephyr started the chemotherapy treatment to suppress his immune system and to control (hopefully get rid of) the encephalitis I read that dogs don't loose their fur like people loose their hair.  Not so for Zephyr.  I think he lost about half of his fur, he was basically bald from about his shoulder down and his skin became very thin and dry.  I think some of this could have been caused by the prednisone too.  Once he switched to the procarbazine, especially to every other day in November, I really noticed his fur starting to return and he started to have a lot more energy.  The picture above was taken at Christmas when his fur was starting to grow in and the first picture was taken in early February.  Hopefully you can tell that his fur is filling in and the color is a little richer.  His skin is also less thin and dry.  This makes me so happy because I think it means that Zephyr's body and immune system is returning to normal and working well.  I'm also so thankful for all the support that I've had from you all.  It's wonderful how a few words from someone you've never really met can help so much.

Super soft shiny fur!

Zephyr had a spinal tap in mid-July and they shaved a rectangle from about the top of his ears to the bottom of his ear lobes.  Back then I asked if anyone wanted to make bets on how long it would take to grow back.  Well, it's been 8 months and it's almost filled in 100%.  You can still see the slight outline of the shaved rectangle.  

I also have great news about Zephyr's blood work, which I had checked back in February.  His liver enzymes have all returned to just about normal as we have continued to remove his meds.  The only one that wasn't normal was the alkaline phosphate, it was about 190 and normal is 150 or below, way down from the 1,300 it was at in September.  It's probably still a little high because he was still taking 5mg of prednisone a day then, but now it's 2.5mg so I expect this to continue to improve.

"Mom, I feel so good and I love you so much!"

It's amazing to me to think about how much Zephyr went through and that he remained his strong happy self through it all.  I'll never forget those days at the neurology center when I didn't know if he'd make it and when I told him that it was okay for him to go if the fight was too hard. Ugh, that was hard to write.  Luckily he would have none of that.  I'll also never forget bringing Astro in with me to see him and all three of us laying together in a room for hours.  And then, at the first sign of improvement, Dr. Knowles and the Vet Techs lifting and carrying him outside, Astro and I running in front of him when he could barely see shadows and couldn't walk, with them moving him along just above the grass while Zephyr moved his legs in the air trying to run after us while everyone clapped and yelled to encourage him.  What an awesome boy!

"Hee, Hee, Hee, Hee!"

Zephyr wants me to tell you that, luckily, there are a few advantages to being sick.  One is that even a year later Mom often cooks some beef or chicken to add to meals.  Best is that you get to learn bad habits like begging and you don't even get in trouble for it, even if you do it in the kitchen, in fact you often succeed.  Mom will also let you do things like lick plates, and then you come to expect it and of course you get it.  You also get to perfect your thievery skills.  For example Mom thinks it's great when you walk by the fridge, stick your nose in the gap between the wall, grab a plastic bag, and run off all giddy like and proceed to tear it up.  You also get lots more bed privileges.  Like it's often okay to get under the covers at 2:00 in the morning and of course your little brother can come too.  We have all learned to appreciate life and every day a little more too, because unfortunately it can be gone in a flash.  I am so fortunate and happy to still have Zephyr, he is my heart.  Hug and kiss your hounds!!

Valentine Play

Astro looking hunky a few days before Valentine's.

Zephyr and Astro received puppy baskets for Valentine's Day from Friday and Linus.  The baskets were full of treats and toys.  The new toys combined with some fresh snow made for some great play.  You'll notice Zephyr's hock is wrapped.  That's because the week before he cut it while flying through the forest.  I'm keeping it covered while it heals.  

"Astro, do you want to play in the snow?"

"Come On Astro, LET'S PLAAAY!!!!"

"All right already, Lets GO!"

"You're toast, Zephyr!"

"My Toy!"  "No, It's My Toy!"  "My Toy!"  "No, It's My Toy!"

Zephyr was feeling the love and was full of spunk.  After running around with Astro and bad mouthing with the crows he and I had one of our best play sessions in a long time.  He was running and playing with me and we had a great tug session with my hand.  Don't worry, I had thick gloves on and he was very gentle.  Of course he eventually won and bounced around the yard tossing my glove in the air.

Astro's 1st Rally Trial

Love This Boy!

 Last weekend Astro and I were in our first AKC Rally trial at the Sahuaro State and Lost Dutchmans shows in Phoenix.  The shows are held indoors at the Arizona State Fair grounds.  As this was our first trial I didn't really know what to expect as far as how our performance would go.  We'd been doing well in practice, but things are different at a show.  I'd made my goals to keep Astro happy and enjoying the show experience, to get him to play with me in the show environment, to keep myself happy and control my nervousness, and to do our best in the ring.  Of course I hoped we might qualify too, but for our first trial I wanted to focus more on the other things.  Plus, I think that helps me stay calm.  I can get very nervous at these types of things and Astro really picks up on this and it causes him to get nervous and upset.  This can really affect our teamwork and success.  He is very sensitive and even if I get a little upset, nervous, or frustrated about anything he usually notices it and it worries him.  Zephyr is the same, but I do think Astro is more bothered by it.  One thing I've figured out is that the best way for me to relax and get him to connect with me when we need to "work" is to play.  We play tug, chase, especially effective is when I sit on the ground and we wrestle, it's great!

Walking into the ring on Saturday.  I think the ring steward was pretty amused at my nervousness.   As I fiddled with Astro's collar and leash twice he said, "Don't take it off."

The weekend was so awesome and we achieved all our goals plus more!  I'm not saying I didn't get nervous, and Astro probably noticed, but it didn't keep him from being happy and wanting to play, which helps us both.  We were entered in the Novice A class, which is for teams with a handler that has never gotten a Rally or Obedience title on a dog before and dogs that haven't earned any previous obedience titles.  

Our first time in the Rally ring.  It was so nice to hear everyone clapping at the end.

Astro did an excellent job and in our first trial on Saturday we qualified and got 1st Place with a score of 95!  To say I was surprised, thrilled, and so proud of Astro is an understatement.  I was just thrilled that the judge announced that all three teams qualified and called everyone back in the ring for ribbons.  She asked everyone what leg of the title they were on, I raised my hand when she asked who was getting their first.  I was already beaming at that point.  When she announced that Team 37 was 1st place with a score of 95 I had to check my armband to make sure it was really us.  After we walked up for the ribbons and went back to our spot I had to lean down and give Astro a huge hug and kiss.  I admit, I had to hold back a few tears of happiness.

You'll see in the video that towards the end we turn around and come back.  That was to redo the fast pace going back to a normal pace.  The first time Astro got ahead and didn't slow back down.  I thought that would be a big deduction and you can redo a sign once for a reduction of 3 points, which I thought would be better.  She said I was smart to do that.  I was really using my hands a lot to guide him through the course because I was nervous and wanted to do my best at keeping him focused.  I just love how Astro's tail is wagging away and how he looks up to check in with me.  And Holy Cow, that cute plop that he does into a down, who can resist that.

With our judge, Nancy Craig. 

To top it off when we got back to my parents' house and Astro was heading toward the yard a bunny took off right in front of him, and of course he took off after the bunny.  It escaped, and then another one took off.  Bunny chasing, a perfect way to celebrate!

Doing the Call Front 1, 2, 3 steps back on Sunday.  His sits were cattywampus (a great word) on the steps back so we lost a few points.  

Sunday was another excellent day.  Astro did it again, earning 1st Place with another score of 95!  At this point I was over the moon.  I felt like we had done a good job and I think we were smoother on Sunday, but I knew we had a few bumps too, so I wasn't sure what to expect.

Cruising Along with a Swishy Tail.

The judges both commented on what a nice job Astro did and that he's a good worker.  I know they don't see many greyhounds in the shows.

Working Hard.

 Astro was really happy and playful both days even though I know he was a little tired on Sunday.  We were all exhausted when we got home Sunday.

Let's Go!

It's such a great feeling to be doing something with your dog as a team.  I loved that they called us Team 37.

Give us a plop, I'll walk around, and we're done!  WOOHOO!!

Sunday's judge even said she loved how Astro does his downs.  On Sunday when we walked up to get our ribbons I had him "Take a Bow", so cute.

With our judge, Ruthann McCaulley.  Thanks to our friend Chris for encouraging us and taking the video and pictures!  

I never expected that we would do so well in our first shows.  It was such a wonderful surprise.  I'm especially happy that Astro stayed so happy and was able to do such an excellent job in the show environment.  What a sweet boy!

Chicken

Are you gonna give us any of that chicken?

We don't need no stinkin' chicken!