Bob’s health update
It seems a while ago now but our thoughts at the start of 2021 focused on our Norfolk terrier Bob - we couldn’t believe he was still with us and we couldn’t have been happier about it.
In the early days when Bob became ill, I started to post about him on Reg&Bob’s Instagram account. But when things got rough I shut down and couldn’t talk about his illness despite all the lovely messages wishing him well. So perhaps now is the time to tell you what happened.
Bob has always been an unusual character - I’ve written blogs about his funny terrier traits and quirky behaviour. I’ve gently mocked his often weird idiosyncrasies on Instagram with the hashtag #bobbeingbob. But sometimes #bobbeingbob was niggling and worrying. Flagging up vague behavioural issues with the vet and having him tested for anything I could think of, always came back with a negative So we accepted Bob was just a rather gorgeous, mysterious but aloof and insular character.
So when we took a family holiday in the Summer, Reg and Bob went on their usual vacation to their sisters. After a few days when we didn't receive the usual flurry of photos we felt things weren't going well. In fact Bob wasn't doing well - refusing to walk and drinking loads of water.
He was rushed to the vet and on to a referral centre where after three days of tests and scans they found he had a portosystemic liver shunt. I’m no medic but basically it meant he had a vessel that diverted all the fluids and toxins that should have been sent to the liver to be filtered and removed, around his body. No wonder Bob was like he was - the toxins in his bloodstream were having such an impact on his behaviour. It was congenital (but an unusually late diagnosis) therefore operable but he had to wait six weeks before the operation. He came home in an awful state - weak and barely able to walk - a severe reaction to the anaesthetic (for the scans) which is common in dogs with this condition.
After 6 weeks and with some trepidation I took a much happier Bob for the operation. We don't have insurance so it was doubly unnerving when the surgeon drew me diagrams of everything that could go wrong - they never mention what a happy outcome would be and just as well as there wasn’t one for us.
Four days after the operation he came home and we were delighted to have our very sad, weak boy back. The first night I slept with him knowing I would be up at 4am to take my husband to the airport. But I woke to him having a seizure - a truly unnerving and horrible sight. My son helped me get him to the referral centre. I’ve never seen a teenager move so quickly at that time of the morning - our beloved Bob sat for an hour fitting on his lap while I drove to the specialists. When we got there and despite not being able to stand, Bob was truly excited about being back - something that really upset us but perhaps he knew he was in far safer hands.
There was an 8% chance of seizures occurring after the operation. They continued for over two (or even three - I lost count) long, painful tearful days and each drug option was unsuccessful. The last hope was to put him into an ‘induced coma’ to rest his brain, then slowly, slowly wake him. It was the final option and we wanted to try it. We’d been given so many opportunities to ‘call it a day’ and the costs were racking up unbelievably - but he was having the best care and we couldn't say no.
Facing death is a frightening thing - I have lost both my parents. My mother at 84 after a short cancer battle and my father at 100 years old having lived an incredibly active life. It’s comforting knowing a happy, fulfilling life has been led but little Bob was only five and not had the life he should have had - the thought of losing him was devastating.
So we waited for the outcome, desperately trying not to give up hope but terrified of having hope - dreading every call from the vets. And he did come round and very slowly got stronger and stronger and each day was seizure free. Eventually we were able to collect him and he never left our sight. His complicated medication schedule involved dosing all hours of the day and night but he got stronger and stronger and eventually we started building up his exercise.
Twelve weeks ago we stopped giving him one of his anti seizure drugs and two weeks later the second. Four weeks ago we stopped the antibiotics - which has been the most worrying drug to stop but he’s not looked back. The last medication to go was a very sugary and totally addictive laxative which he was keen to remind me about every morning and evening, and he seems absolutely fine.
It’s unbelievable we have Bob back. A vibrant, fun loving, energetic Bob. A Bob that’s so much happier and engaged. A Bob that remembers some of his unusual quirks but still loves muddy puddles and enjoying a swim. Definitely a much hungrier, more scavenging Bob but most importantly a Bob we should have had right from the beginning.
We are grateful for so much after this experience. Firstly looking after a friends dog is a huge responsibility and we’re so thankful he was with someone who knew him well and could react when things went wrong. Most importantly the veterinary staff at North Downs Referral Centre, Bletchingly were amazing; so talented, so kind and so patient and never too busy to answer all of our endless, frantic questions.
I’m not sure I will ever truly relax with Bob around - Bob is always going to be Bob but we are so happy he’s come through this traumatic experience a happier and healthier and more loving dog. And we hope that we'll give him the fulfilling and happy life he deserved all along - he’ll certainly let us know if not!
Find out more about Reg and Bob’s adventures on Instagram and Facebook. Reg&Bob is also an accessory business for active dogs which you can check out here
