An Update from Mina’s Cancer Vet

Allyson from Dr. B.’s office called a few minutes ago. She told me that Dr. Tran has reviewed the Five Leaf Pet Pharmacy kidney treatment program and OK’d it with a caution …

One of the ingredients, horsetail, is a diuretic, which is obviously needed when flushing one’s kidneys. It’s a mild diuretic so there’s a good chance it won’t bother Mina too much, perhaps increase her need to drink water and hence her incontinence. If it becomes clear that Mina is drinking and peeing too much then I have to stop the treatment because of the UTI. They want to do a blood glucose test again after the treatment is over.

The test results for Mina’s urine culture revealed the same bacteria as before, a variant of E. coli. The Baytril is designed to treat this variant and they want her to take all 28 pills and then they’ll do another urinalysis.

We talked about Mina’s diet and Allyson said that calcium is important for Mina and recommended calcium carbonate for her, either in Tums or bone meal. She’ll ask Dr. Tran for me about the problems with taking calcium and taking drugs at the same time. Kestrel warned me about this possible conflict. Allyson also recommended a half tablet of Centrum Silver vitamins for Mina every day. I looked at the ingredients and they’re full of junk! I’d prefer to give her something for a canine that’s not all full of crap. Suggestions?

They are pleased to hear that Mina is still eating and said not to worry if she doesn’t gain any weight; they just want her to stop losing so much weight. I must be an awful overachiever because I want her to gain about three more pounds. I’m going to try giving her some boiled sweet potato with her food tomorrow, and I’ll boil that piece of dead cow for her, too.

Right now, it’s time to take Miss Thing for a nice walk.

s.

 

Insert NIN Lyrics Here

Mina’s UTI is back. Again. I came home from a lovely morning at the sanctuary, where I saw lots of humans and non-humans whom I enjoy, plus two baby deer who’s mama is raising them on the farm and a gigantic black snake who found his way into one of the chicken houses, to find Mina squatting frantically again.

I called PWEVC to make sure Dr. Smith was there, took a shower to wash off all the dirt, ate a slice of Hearth-baked WFM vegan pizza, drank a Sam Adams Light, and off we went.

I officially LOVE Dr. Smith. The clinic was so busy with major emergencies, yet he took time to tend to Mina specially, consulted with Dr. B. and saved me a couple hundred bucks by performing one test at VIMP on Monday instead of today at the clinic.

The LVTs cleaned Mina’s vulva and got a clean-catch urine sample for a culture that will be handled through VIMP. They’re trying to find the specific bacteria to attack it directly. The problem is, and this is very frightening, is that Mina might be getting resistant to antibiotics as the chemo breaks down her immune system. I don’t even know what that means yet, and I’m not going to freak out today. Dr. Smith/Dr. B. prescribed Baytril.

Baytril is used for both companion animals and food animals. The use of antibiotics in food animals should really concern those of you still eating animals for food. I don’t know if this is the antiobiotic of last resort for Mina, I hope it isn’t, but I’ll learn more on Tuesday when Mina is evaluated for Vincristine again.

Right now she’s resting after eating some chicken, drinking a bowl of chicken broth, and eating some liver treats. I may join her soon as it’s already been a helluva day. Oh yeah, it’s a holiday, too. I’d nearly forgotten.

s.