However, I have decided to update here again, because something has been happening to me and will be happening to me. so a blog is a better place to document my journey. You see my metabolism has been changing, and with all the things which have happened to our dear old Tallulah, and Nalle and Lotte before her, who all had the Setter hypothyroidism, mummy has been a bit concerned about me.
My hormones have changed that's for sure, and mummy being a psychologist/behaviourist, whose BSc(Hons) qualification included biology/brain and behaviour, has been monitoring the changes. First of all, she noticed that I was becoming more concerned and somewhat reactive towards other entire male dogs. It all started after several attacked me at agility shows - just for being there. It wasn't very nice, and as a result, I started to react to the scent of other entire male dogs by going on the offensive. She also noticed my stress levels rising around other dogs in general, with lots and lots of leg cocks and marking the same spot over and over again. I then started straining until my anal glands released scent to notify those other dogs that I am about. This mummy couldn't stand and therefore considered my having the snippy job.
As I have the very special gift of being able to alert mummy when she needs to increase her cortisol medication for her Addison's disease, she worried that having me neutered would lower my sensitivity towards hormonal status and changes, and therefore removing my ability to alert her. Because of this she decided to go for a chemical, non snipping implant to be placed into me which blocks testosterone from the pituitary gland, which is in my brain. That implant (Suprelorin) went in on Wednesday, which is not Chewsday. and today is Fryday, so the implant has been in me now for two days
It takes a while for it to completely change me (up to six weeks it says), so at the moment I am in a transitional period, and that's why I am going to start documenting how I am, and how this thing is affecting me.
Yesterday (Fursday). I felt great. On top of the world, and mummy was absolutely over the moon with me. I was happy, pleased to see everyone, and more playful and jolly than I have been in quite a while. Everyone celebrated, including DaisyMae, who was really happy to play with me.
Today, I was not quite as happy as I was yesterday. First of all I was lying upside down on my chair, as I often do and
mummy noticed that my balls were a bit swollen, which is what can happen for a short time when this implant goes in. "hmmmm" thought mummy, "I wonder what affect this change is going to have on him today".
As we set out on our walk, she noticed that I was cocking my leg about 50% more than I was yesterday, which was hardly anything at all. When I had my first encounter with another dog, a Labrador, again I felt about 50% more reactive than I was yesterday.
We met the Italian Spinone gang, who are all entire males. I was a bit bristly around them, but Mummy heard one of them grumbling at me, and saw him circling. She thought he was going to attack me so stood back, but fortunately he suddenly became distracted and went off else where. I was so relieved, but I wondered what was it about me today that made him rumble? he is usually just assertive around me, not grumbly.
I was rather more interested in other female dogs today too, and then I started to become about 50% more stressed than I was yesterday, and started the straining again, around the gates where the male dogs leave their pee mails.
This was all happening late morning. I have to make a point about this, because Mummy is very aware that hormonal levels fluctuate throughout the day, and one lot of hormones will have an impact upon others.
We were then into the afternoon, and a while later, it was like everything started to calm back down. Mummy noticed me starting to relax, just like I did yesterday. My facial expressions changed and I felt all happy smiley again. I found a funny toy that someone had dropped, and flipped it into the air. It was such fun, and mummy threw it for me. I then ran, span, played with Daisy, and stopped all the leg cocking and training again.
We don't think anyone has done a blog on the behavioural changes as a result of Suprelorin, so we are putting them here for anyone to see who is considering using this on their dog, so that you know roughly what you might come to expect.... but remember - we are all different hormonally, so this should only be used as guide as to what may be expected.
Tomorrow is Setterday. And I shall be reporting on what Setterday brings - on Setterday :-D
See you later. Oh, and Tally - she is still with us :-) she is now 11 1/2 years old and still enjoying her walks and games with her ball.
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