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Saturday, April 19, 2014

EASTER 2014

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. Buddy is gone now a few days more than two years. Thankfully Annie and Orphée are doing well. The ferals are all healthy and accounted for.

It will be a quiet day again this year culminating in Easter dinner out. Artie and I haven't decided on a restaurant yet but we are leaning towards Manhattan Chinatown, an unconventional choice I know but this year we need to shake things up a bit. Of course I'm tasked with surfing the net for a promising restaurant.

To all my readers a very Happy Easter or Passover. However you spend your holiday may you enjoy your day, friends, family and make sure your pets are safe and secure.


Wednesday, April 16, 2014

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

Yesterday started very early with a 9 AM visit to veterinary emergency for Annie's appointment with her Ophthalmologist for yet another follow-up.

The weather was dreary and a bit rainy but that didn't stop Annie's whining and crying as she waited impatiently for the radio car. Still more whining and crying during the ride as Annie sat on my lap looking for dogs, cats, birds and babies. We arrived to a quiet office and were ushered into an examining room without a long wait.

Happy to see everyone, Annie was very good and patient during the exam even staying extra still for her glaucoma test. The doctor was pleased with the results, there wasn't any active inflammation, everything was normal. The doctor lowered the eye-drops to one drop once a day and scheduled the next visit in two months' time. We made the next appoint for June and it will be a double-header, seeing both the Ophthalmologist and the Oncologist on the same day.

By the time we left a little more than an hour after our appointment there was a steady drizzle. More whining and crying on the way home but Annie surprised me by quietly going in without the usual insistence on a walk. The doctor had commented on her being more quiet than usual. I guess my girl is getting older and slowing down. That's OK she'll always be my girl and I'm thankful our decision to go with the surgery was the right one.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

MEAL TO MEAL

Annie is back to eating on a regular basis. My little girl is more herself appearing relaxed and happy once again but still ever so slightly subdued.

We are following the doctor's suggestion of meals containing a mix of mostly cooked meat, organ meat, some vegetables, a bit of grain and two raw patties. Annie is enjoying her food again, eating without coaxing on my part.

I serve each meal with some trepidation but Annie's lack of hesitation has eliminated a good portion of the stress I'd had the past few weeks.

Time now for Annie's breakfast and her morning walk. It looks like life is back to normal at least for now.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

EATING, AN ONGOING ISSUE

Annie's refusal to eat came to a head this week causing myself and Artie unending worry and concern. She refused all food for two days, sleeping constantly and appearing very subdued. Yesterday during her late morning walk Annie regurgitated bile then later on mucus. That was enough for me, I made a doctor appointment for the same day.

During our car trip and at the Doctor's Annie was more animated although slightly less than usual. A full exam was conducted and blood/urine samples taken. Annie was given an anti-nausea shot. Once home she slept for the remainder of the day as well as most of Saturday. 

A sonogram was scheduled tentatively for today with the proviso to cancel if she improved; if Annie vomited after receiving the shot the ultrasound had to be done. She's been eating and keeping her food down but she is still reluctant to consume her meals. Her overall behavior improved. She is more herself. The sonogram was cancelled but I'm not completely convinced we're out of the woods yet.

I've not written about this but during December I started to transition Annie over to a raw diet feeding her freeze dried raw food. The diet transition went off without incident and even though I wasn't completely comfortable feeding raw, I did see immediate positive changes. Annie's coat became lustrous and soft, it no longer felt greasy. Her body lost that 'doggie smell' and she no longer had bad breath. She slimmed down without a diet - all great pluses. 

About two weeks ago, Annie began shying away from her raw diet. After much discussion with her doctor, we decided I should go back to cooking for her adding two or three raw patties to each meal. Annie did well for a couple of meals with one or two patties added back. Today's breakfast I increased the patties to three but that did not go over well. My thoughts now are that for whatever reason Annie no longer likes the raw diet and I need to return to cooking with the addition of one possibly two patties to each meal.

Only time will let me know what is going on.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

AN ISSUE OF CONCERN

Annie is still resisting at mealtimes.  Today's breakfast was rejected even with the addition of crumbled mozzarella and a pinch of dry cat food. Otherwise, she's completely normal and more active than a few days ago.

If this continues another doctor visit is in the offing.