Dave Wilks and Lisa McAnelly are owners of thriving web design business Team MARVEL, based in Dalton, Northumberland.
Being proud owners of a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy, they noticed something wasn’t quite right with their usually bouncing and playful pet. The first signs that something was off was that their dog was unusually stiff. Unfortunately, this was only the beginning of an agonising journey for the couple.
The couple made a number of visits to vets and specialists around the region. Soon, their suspicions became true, and their dog was issued with a diagnosis of Polyarthritis.
Dave mentions that the vets were very good at explaining the physical effects of their pups condition. However, what they failed to describe well were the psychological effects of the medication, Prednisolone. Watching their dog decline mentally was tough for the pair, who admit they were completely unprepared for any change in behaviour.
“Our previously bright, playful and energetic animal that loved being around people was now withdrawn, sedentary and spaced out,” comments Dave. “After taking the medication, he was only encouraged and interested by being offered food, with reduced motivation to go out for walks”. Dave admits that other changes he witnessed in behaviour were depression, anxiousness and vacancy, with only a few short periods of happiness being shown.
In moments of desperation, and with a keenness to get to the bottom of the issue, Dave and Lisa turned to Google. They both wanted to research their dog’s condition further. They explain that there was very little information available. Apart from one white paper they found which was by an American vet, known as Alex. This in its self had drawbacks because it was based on research done on Labradors, not Ridgebacks.
This got Dave thinking. Wouldn’t it be great to help out other pet owners in a similar position to ourselves? No one should have to deal with the emotional distress that these unwanted psychological effects cause from medication. Hence, where this post was born.
Choosing the right type of insurance is another thing the pair wanted to express. “Cheapest isn’t always the best,” says Dave.
They are pleased to say that their pup is slowly getting better with the help of the right medication.
Witnessing Stiffness in their Rhodesian Ridgeback, a Swift Vet Visit Led to Polyarthritis Diagnosis
The first signs that something was wrong was when the couple witnessed their previously bright and energetic Rhodesian Ridgeback become unusually stiff. Assuming that this could be the onset of arthritis, they were keen to get to the bottom of the problem. They tracked down a specialist in Darlington. Once an appointment had been booked over the phone, the pair made the journey. Their worst fears became a reality on witnessing their once healthy dog on a drip the whole night.
“What we didn’t realise was that this was only the start of multiple trips to vets and specialists around the North East,” says Dave. “We were keen for a second opinion and headed to another vet in Gosforth. Although our puppy was able to walk, we knew deep down that something wasn’t quite right”.
The second vet took a number of blood samples, which involved shaving the dog’s knees, which were later covered with bandages. After more tests were conducted, the diagnosis was confirmed as Polyarthritis, a condition where a dog’s immune system attacks its joints and muscles. After other scans were performed, it was decided that their animal would need to be kept in for two nights. More shaving, blood tests, general anaesthetic, and most worryingly, risks. The only advice that was offered upon leaving was to give the pup pain killers and steroids. We were also encouraged to take him to yet another vet for a final opinion.
Poly arthritis was the final diagnosis made, and they were told to up the dose of steroids to 14 per day. Unfortunately, this also came with a number of physical side effects such as thirst, frequently passing urine and fatigue. At this point, what became clear was that Polyarthritis was an unusual condition. Knowing how it starts in relatively unknown, and it can happen to any breed of dog. All that is known is that it can worsen pretty rapidly.
Anger, Frustration and Upset. Just Some of the Emotions Experienced by Dave and Lisa
The couple says that the psychological effects they witnessed after their dog started taking medication was distressing to deal with.
Dave and Lisa both say that “Only a fortnight before, we had a healthy puppy which loved being around others. Since taking medication to treat his illness, his personality has changed dramatically, and we’d even say he is now a completely different dog”.
Their once playful pet no longer wanted to be around other people, was anxious, and sometimes stared into space as if completely vacant. No longer would he play around, but instead sit on the settee as he dealt with the side effects of his medication. Increasingly depressed and uninterested in anything or anyone, the only real signs of life witnessed where when he was presented with food.
Dave says that “Deep down, we know our puppy wasn’t himself. He takes fourteen tablets a day and is no longer interested in toys, people, or virtually anything. We do see a glimmer of our dogs once lively personality now and again, but this is short lived. Seeing your dog zoned out and staring at the wall is difficult to deal with”.
Dave only attributes this behaviour to the medication, saying that his dog takes eight tablets a day. Four on a morning and the rest on an evening. After forty minutes, this is where his personality starts to change. On rare occasions, he can be happy and lively for as much as twenty-four hours. But most the time, he is depressed, zoned out and disinterested.
The couple admits that the vets did warn them about some of the side effects their dog could face. However these were largely the physical ones. As such, when their dog became anxious and on edge due to things like noise, this caused them considerable distress and confusion. What made matters worse was that they also run a busy web design business. Therefore, if they had a client visiting, or needed to speak to someone over the phone, it could be difficult to maintain composure. Admittedly, Dave says that he has tried to remain professional, but sometimes, anger, frustration and being upset took over entirely.
Distressed by their Dog’s Behaviour, they Turned to Google for Advice, with Little Luck
Dave and Lisa admit that the change in their Ridgeback puppy’s behaviour was also having a negative impact on their own emotional state. In an attempt to shed some light on the situation, they turned to the internet for help and support. The outcome was disappointing. They could only find two or three relevant sites. Even then, the information was not specific to Rhodesians but geared to other breeds. However, not all hope was lost.
Dave says that “Although we didn’t manage to find much relevant information out there, we did come across a white paper. This was by a vet over in America called Alex. However, this in its self had limitations as the breed it looked at was Labradors rather than Ridgebacks”.
Ultimately, Dave was frustrated by the lack of information online about how the medication affected his dog.
Unsatisfied with Information Online, Dave and Lisa Create Regular Blog to Help Others
The pair say that nothing could have prepared them for the psychological side effects they witnessed on their Rhodesian Ridgeback dog. They did not want anybody else to experience the same emotional distress they have had to go through.
“We left the vets with a good understanding of some of the physical side effects of the medication. However we felt left in the dark regarding the psychological ones,” says Dave.
This prompted both Dave and Lisa to set up their own blog. With the aim of posting regularly about Ridgebacks and Cockapoos, and talk about some of the problems they can experience.
However, they admit that eventually, it’s not just dogs they want to write about, but all different types of animals. “We want to offer all types of pet owners reassurance and advice when things to wrong. If we could help reduce some of the psychological stress that a pet’s illness can cause, this would bring us at least some comfort”.
The Lowdown on Pet Insurance. Choosing the Right Policy at the Right Price
One thing that Dave and Lisa would really like to emphasise is the importance of choosing good pet insurance. You never know when something could go wrong with your animal. Touchwood that your pet will always be healthy. But if something did go wrong and it required emergency treatment, would your policy provide enough cover for the costs?
“We spent in excess of £4000 for our puppies treatment. Realising that costs were going to build up pretty quickly, we got cracking on researching other policies. We were eventually able to find one that had everything we needed for a mere £42 a month. This was a massive saving on another policy we took out when we first got our dog, which was costing £300” Dave says.
Dave admits that there was a cheaper option available at £8 per month. However, it wasn’t sufficient to cover everything needed for seven days. The policy that was chosen in the end contained everything that their Rhodesian Ridgeback needed. The pair were even able to claim back petrol expenses when travelling to and from Darlington to visit the specialist.
The final word? Be careful about which insurer you choose. Although cheap insurance may be tempting, it can sting you long term if there are large excesses to fork out. They both admit that one policy they viewed had an extortionate excess of £6000. A sum that even the most flush of individuals probably wouldn’t be capable of scraping together.
Although Still on Medication, Things are Looking Positive as Health Improves
Dave and Lisa say that their pup is getting better slowly. They have even been able to lower his steroids a little. However, a recent blood test revealed that his bloods are lower than normal, and this still needs to be tapered. Steroids that their dog is taking do help his immune system. But as a side effect, he has become more susceptible to disease. Which means that he still needs to take the same amount of steroids every day. He might even need to stay on the same amount of steroids for the rest of his life. Sometime in the future, he will need to swap over to anti-inflammatory steroids, which will eventually be lowered.
