Yesterday’s Vet Visit

It’s so nice to have vets, and their staff, who truly care about their patients and their patients’ humans. What a change from our experience at VIMP!

Mina didn’t have an appointment yesterday, but since Dr. Nolan hadn’t seen her in a while, and she was between patients, she took a few minutes to check Mina’s lymph nodes. When I told her that Mina is coughing and hacking at night and breathing very loudly, Dr. Nolan told me that Mina’s mandibular and medastinal lymph nodes are so enlarged that they’re blocking her air passage.

Dr. N. suggested a low dose of prednisone to try and shrink those nodes. So, in addition to the Metoclopramide (anti-nausea) and Metronidazole (anti-diarrhea and anti-bacterial), Mina’s taking 5 mg. of Prednisone twice a day.

Mina on the way home from the vet, looking perturbed

Already last night she was drinking more water than usual and she ate about four baked, boneless dead chicken thighs. She seemed overly warm last night but I didn’t wake up as often as I had the night before from her coughing. Maybe she didn’t cough/gag as much or maybe I slept too well?

This morning she didn’t seem up to much of a walk, but she did eat some chickens and all over her meds, supplements, and homeopathic remedies.

Thanks to everyone who’s written comments and written to me personally about their experiences with euthanasia. I’ve had to euthanize two pets, as an adult, and I knew that Sammie was ready because she was suffering so, but I was never quite as confident about Wolfie. She had a brain tumor and it was making her constantly hungry and we believe she was hallucinating. Still, that last morning before our appointment at her vet’s office, it seemed she was a little perkier than the day before. I didn’t find the experience at all peaceful as my niece, then 3 and a half years old, was hysterical the entire time. I am determined to do better for Mina when her time comes.

In the meantime, we’re spending as much time together as possible, and I’m giving up my Sanctuary volunteer work to be home with her all weekend. I will resume that work at a later date.

 

A Hot Summer’s Day

Miss Mina Bean is in typical summer mode today – she isn’t eating much and spending all her time resting on the tile entry way. Can’t say as I blame her, ’cause it’s hotter ‘n Georgia asphalt outside! I like a hot day around 88F with near matching humidity, but today it’s about 93F and dry – like the desert.

Generally, she seems to be feeling OK, just not into doing much. I spent the morning and early afternoon working at the Sanctuary, so I’m not into doing much, either. Tomorrow, the peak period for the Vincristine will pass and she should return to her normal appetite – just in time for her Leukeran, which makes her nauseous.

That said, for these next three weeks I am not sweating any weight loss. Mina doesn’t lose that much from week to week, and sometimes she gains, and we’re almost at the end of the chemotherapy protocol. I want us both to get through it without any DRAMAH so we can move on to the next phase, whatever that may be.

s.

 

Fourth Day and Quiet

Today is the fourth day after Mina’s Vincristine IV treatment. You probably know by now that chemo drugs tend to peak around 4-5 days. She’s quieter today, but still interested in taking walks, and she’s still eating, just not as much as yesterday. Today Mina’s eaten two meals of boiled chickens and ground cows, a jar of organic baby food as a snack, and a half jar of baby food with the Forti-Flora mixed in.

We took a nap earlier in the afternoon and now I’m getting ready to boil water for chicken desecration.

One thing I’ve learned recently that entices Mina to eat – I give her the peanut butter-coated pills and supplements right by her food dish. So far, it’s worked every time.

s.

 

A Quiet Day

Mina is rather quiet today, which is typical of the day after chemo. She’s been out on three walks, all quite perky, visited the leasing office twice for butt scratches and liver treats, but has mostly been napping in front of the couch or on the tile in front of the door. She’s eaten three meals and taken all her pills and supplements. I don’t think she feels bad, but it’s clear that she’s pooped.

She has a new habit, too. When we go downstairs now she turns to the back of the breezeway and sniffs at Max’s door. This afternoon she got lucky as Max and his mom were just coming out for a walk. Mina loves Max, even though she can’t keep up with him. It seems that she has a thing for younger boys.

s.