Update on Dakota - July 2008
Dakota continues to do well with her battle against cancer. Earlier in the year the welfare team and the vet discussed weaning her off the steroid tablets. This was attempted slowly but after a two week trial her lymph nodes started to increase in size again so it was decided to stick to the daily dose which has kept her stable for the last year. She did not get the post season cystitis in May which she typically does every year; this we think is because of the steroids.
She did, however, come up with a new condition; overnight she lost two areas of hair over her flanks. The vet was consulted and a hair pluck sample taken to look for external parasite but this came back clear. She is fit and showing no signs of discomfort, no treatment is needed apart from sun block so the area does not get sun burnt. The technical name for the condition is Idiopathic flank alopecia and is a condition which dogs can also get. It is possibly linked to the long term use of the steroids or a hormonal imbalance at the end of the breeding season. The hair will probably not grow back until the new winter coat comes through in the autumn. The condition makes her appear very moth eaten but as she is in no pain and continues to enjoy walks she is still going out with Duma on ambassador visits.
Article created on: 01 Jul 2008