Archive for: boltz

Boltz is feeling better today than he did over the weekend. His hind quarter mobility and stability continues to be the main symptom as we try to narrow down the influences of various treatments. He is alert, behaviorally interactive and defending ravens from his deer leg.  Other than responding to some external stresses that can be part of life on a public exhibit (vehicles, traffic, noise from garbage trucks etc.), he generally rests on or in the den or in the straw beds adjacent to the building.   His resting patterns are pretty consistently defined as long periods of rest.  This is good for his overall well-being and may contribute to healing.  We also believe that his ability to rest comfortably is a good indication that the condition is not painful.  It’s been our experience with pain issues (including Grizzer’s ACL issue), that there is a lot of repositioning to find the appropriate pain-free position.  When Boltz rests, he curls up in the hay and falls asleep.  As you may imagine, all of the events over the last month can impact a wolf’s trust. In an effort to help improve that trust, today during wolf care, he welcomed a trail of Venison Cakes as a treat and a motivator to get him comfortable with coming into more confined spaces and take treats from the staff.  We are planning for the next set of medical tests that will require an immobilization.  This time, it will be much smoother thanks to the move into the Pack Holding Area that is adjacent to the Wolf Care Center.  Because we used Glucocorticoids (e.g., dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, prednisone) in treatment, we need to wait for a bit of time before doing the next tests.  Glucocorticoids are known to increase the white blood cell (WBC) count and this is one of the key components needed to assess infection or the potential for other conditions.  I am using the surveillance images with the date and time stamp so we can track his posture, alertness and overall condition on a daily basis.

Boltz had a vet check on Tuesday and while we think he has improved since he was removed from the Exhibit Pack on September 15th, there isn’t enough of an improvement to indicate that the prednisone treatment is working.  Every decision we make has to be balanced between risk and benefit.  Initially, we put him on prednisone while he was in the main enclosure in hopes to find some relief to this condition that would have allowed him to stay in the pack, at least until we could narrow down a diagnosis.  When it became clear that the initial dose of prednisone wasn’t effective, we reassessed risks and benefits and made the move to the Pack Holding Area.  Now, we are again reassessing and are in the slow process of transitioning him off of the prednisone treatment.  Since we made that decision, we do notice that he is much less anxious and resting more comfortably.  The surveillance cameras are tremendous in revealing how long he sleeps and how often he may change positions.  This mornings review of the overnight footage revealed that he went to bed about midnight and didn’t get up until the wolf care staff arrived at 8 am.  He was alert and stretching several times through the night, but no indication that he was uncomfortable in his resting position.

What are the next steps?  Thanks to some advice from Walter, a long-time ambassador wolf supporter, we located a research paper from the University of Florida concerning research on Degenerative Myelopathy in German Shepard dogs.  While we don’t know if Boltz has DM, we feel it is appropriate to act on some of the recommendations based on that research.  According to their study:

“DM progresses at different rates and “stress” plays a role in its advancement. Minimizing stressful situations is important where possible.”

For Boltz, moving him into a quiet safe environment and minimizing activity in the wolf yard has definitely decreased stress.  Other than a few moments of anxiety when someone pulls up to the back driveway, he is either calmly relaxing on the den, within the straw beds of the protective kennel or found sleeping in the thick straw inside the den.

Another statement from the paper shows some possible pharmaceutical treatments that may help:

” Over the last 2 decades, we have found 2 medications which appear to prevent progression or result in clinical remission of DM in many (up to 80%) of the patients.  These medications are aminocaproic acid (EACA) and n-acetylcysteine (NAC).”

During or Vet check on Tuesday, we discussed these treatments with our Vet and have been in contact with a pharmacy that cooperated on the University of Florida study to determine dosages and delivery methods.   Being able to get Boltz to take medication is important, powders and liquids are a challenge for a wolf that is neophobic (fearful or mistrusting of new stimuli) or more inclined to scent roll on things that smell different.  Most of our med delivery is done in a pill form, often hidden inside a chicken leg with a tab of butter as binding agent.

The paper also suggests some nutritional supplements that may help his overall immune system.  We have ordered the following and will be starting them as soon as they arrive.  We have reviewed dosage recommendations, potential contradictions with the treatments and any possible side effects.  With all that work done, we have developed a new daily regime for Boltz that will include (quotations indicate direct quote from research paper):

B-Complex: “They may help in neural regeneration”- Grizzer has been on Vitamin B supplements for years and seems to do well with them.

Vitamin E:   “It is a potent antioxidant and reduces fat oxidation and increases the production of HDL cholesterol. At higher doses it also reduces cyclooxygenase and lipooxygenases activities, decreasing production of prostaglandins and leukotreines. As such, it is a potent anti-inflammatory drug. This drug slows the progression of DM and corrects for low serum and tissue levels. In DM, there does appear to be a deficient absorption and tissue-binding protein which accounts for the low serum and tissue concentrations of vitamin E.”  When Aidan was initially diagnosed with Discoid Lupus, he was started on a Vitamin E supplement as well.

Vitamin C:  “Vitamin C works with vitamin E and helps regenerate vitamin E, potentiating its antioxidant effect. Vitamin C supplementation does no
harm, since the excess is excreted through the kidney.”

Selenium:  “Selenium is an important mineral which has antioxidant properties similar to vitamin E. Vitamin E can replace the requirement for selenium in the body, but selenium cannot substitute for vitamin E. In addition, selenium does not cross the blood-brain barrier like vitamin E. On the other hand,
selenium may help allow vitamin E to be more effective.”

Coenzyme Q:  “Coenzyme Q also called Co-Q-10, is a natural substance that assists in oxidative metabolism.  Since DM patients suffer from nervous system problems, muscle wasting and need aerobic endurance, a 100 mg Coenzyme Q daily dose has been recommended.”

We are planning two additional tests that require bloodwork, but need to have a period of time where he no longer has an influence of the prednisone in his system.  As always, I will keep you posted on when we proceed.  I have been turning on the webcam when he is out and about, but the recent cold, rainy weather has him seeking comfort in the straw beds within the protected and roofed area next to the building that is out of camera view.

Boltz has gone through the weaning process from a higher dose of prednisone to a maintenance dose.  We have reviewed the hours of surveillance footage to make an assessment if the treatment has improved conditions and if there is an optimum dose that can be correlated with improvement. Unfortunately, if the condition is Degenerative Myelopathy, research shows that prednisone has a limited impact on the condition.  We had hoped to have enough stored blood to go forward with a DNA test to see if Boltz posses the mutated gene associated with DM in dogs, but it would require more bloodwork.  Since additional blood sampling would require immobilization and knowledge of that DNA would not yield any changes to our treatment, we have decided to not put Boltz through another chemical immobilization at this time, unless we need blood for an additional purpose, such as a white blood cell count or if he has a decline in his condition.

Our veterinarian is connecting with some universities that are currently doing research on DM in dogs and may be trying some alternative treatments.   He has been active over the weekend, frequently climbing on and off the pack holding area den.  This movement has helped his mobility, and he is responding to the pack activities on the other side of the fence.

We are most impressed with some video footage gathered by the surveillance cameras on Sunday evening, when he at the shared fenceline with Grizzer and did a full tail wag.  This is the first time we witnessed a strong social greeting to Grizzer.

Over the weekend, Boltz continued to take a recommended dose of prednisone in hopes that we would see an improvement in his mobility.  While he does seem like he is more stable and less anxious, there is still an issue with his gait and strength in his back legs, particularly his left leg.

We should hear the results of the Blastomycosis test , which can impact the Central Nervous system and cause lameness.  Although he has no other classic symptoms of blasto, including loss of appetite, lesions, lung congestion etc.

If the prednisone is determined to be working, we would like to taper him off to a lower dose that will still give him relief, but reduces the issues associated with a higher dose of prednisone.  The risk of prednisone is that it is an immune suppressant, and we will certainly be watchful of any other potential viral or bacterial influenza or pneumonia issues that can present itself as winter approaches.

There are a few more possible conditions that are on the Veterinarian’s list.  We will be assessing testing methodology this week as we continue to strive for a diagnosis.  He has settled into the Pack Holding Area and has a thick straw bed near the wolf yard observation area that is a frequent place for him to rest. He is able to climb on the den and takes advantage of the warmth of the sun on some cooler fall days.  He and Grizzer have face-to-face interactions, but there is no anxiety observed in either wolf by the updated retirement living arrangements.

The Exhibit Pack’s howling has increased, often with all three wolves howling near the Pack Holding Area.  Boltz was even observed howling with them.  We don’t know if he will ever rejoin the pack. Everything is hinging on a diagnosis.  At this point, he is in a safe environment, with multiple security cameras to monitor his movements and social interactions from wolf care staff and Grizzer.  I plan on sharing more video on our YouTube channel and hopefully post a live feed of Boltz on our upcoming Webinar on Tuesday, Sept. 22, as we welcome the first day of fall.  There is still room to register for the webinar, check out this link to Register for the First Day of Fall Webinar.

The Center has posted a Facebook fundraiser to help support the many medical and logistical efforts needed to help understand Boltz’s condition.  https://www.facebook.com/donate/363942581650869/

We conducted a safe and effective immobilization of Boltz on Tuesday, September 15th.  Staff and our Veterinarian from the Ely Vet clinic were extremely patient to avoid causing Boltz any undo stress with the process.  He did extremely well with exceptional vital signs during the event which lasted much longer than a normal exam.  He received a complete MRI of his spine and a brain scan to determine the possible cause of the lack of stability experienced over the last few weeks.  The imagery will be sent to the University of Minnesota Neurology lab for analysis.  We also gathered enough blood for a full panel, a complete blood count and saved some blood to allow for additional testing as needed.  He is also being tested for Blastomycosis, a fungal infection that can be caused by inhaling fungal spores.  After arriving back at the Wolf Care Center, he spent the night inside and will remain in the adjacent Pack Holding Area until we can determine the exact cause of his condition.  At this time, we don’t know if he will rejoin the Exhibit Pack, we need to make sure he is healthy, not only physically, but that he is psychologically ready to join the pack.  Separation from the pack can impact rank and Boltz had some significant challenges in dealing with pack dominance in the past.  We will keep you posted via the wolf logs, but at this time, we will not be featuring him on a webcam, but will be monitoring 24 hours a day on surveillance.