It is now several days after I started to prepare myself for the worst and I am now cautiously optimistic.

Gryphon (my 11 year old German Shepherd Dog) has now been on cortisone treatment since Sunday and he appears to be beginning to respond positively. He can now get around, although he is still stumbling at steps and on turns, but his quality of life seems to have taken a turn for the better. He has for the last hour or so been enjoying the sun on the back deck, something he hasn't been able to do since Saturday.

I realise this is just the present disaster averted and there are no doubt more in the future, but it does mean my spirits have lifted and I don't feel like I'm facing the abyss.

And a word here must be said for my wife, Karen. I know that no matter how hard the decisions will be, we will make the decisions together, as we have always done. We lean on each other a lot, and never more so than at critical times like these, and for that I am truly grateful.