The pill saga.

Ok, morning update. She took the chicken with the pill like a pro. Zero issues!  However...

I put the second  pill in chicken on my side table, turned to get it and it wasn't there.  Looked around and saw Coco swallowing.

My Gawd.

So Sassy got one of the two.  I have no clue which and Coco got the other.

I was on the phone to my Mommy stat while we looked up how serious it was for Coco to eat an anti seizure med.  

Yikes.  Turns out, not serious if dose was for her size.  Phew.

So it was still a long night.  Watching Sassy who missed a dose.  And Coco who might react.

They're both still breathing.

Sassy didn't have a seizure.

Coco has slept better than usual, so I'm suspecting she got the anti seizure pill versus the steroid pill.

Sassy took her midnight pill and 4am pill like a champ.  No issues.  She didn't sleep well, was up awake a lot.  She puts her paw on me and taps of so gently.  Wanting pets.  I think.  Who really knows.  I don't actually speak Chihuahua. It's possible she is still showing me her owie or wanted me to put her on the floor.

We have nothing on my agenda today.  Dinner is planned.  Four kids here.  I put a 4am Walmart order in.  It's being delivered right now.

I did a thing a while ago and signed up for the yearly Walmart delivery plan.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it.  Best thing ever.  

Owies

 

Sassy keeps showing me her owie on her leg.  From the i.v.

She is just the sweetest.  Sob.

Eric put in a ton of work getting Oscar ready for his trip.  He left at 3:30am on Saturday and got the obligatory ferry picture at daybreak.  Looking sharp Oscar.

Meeting up for the Whipsaw trail.

17 tigs started out together.  A bit of drama and one couple left.  Then there was a split.  I don't know much.  Why can't the groups get along?  So frustrating.  Eric and Ben left the others and camped on their own on the other side of the lake ;)  

Eric was gunner.  The air is thick with smoke.  They saw live fire through Manning Park.  I'm sure he'll have lots to tell me when he's home.

It was freezing on the mountain top.  Light snow.  Eric took his fleece pillowcase off and used it as a hat.  I haven't heard from him yet today.  He obviously survived.  I saw him moving on the 360 app this morning.

He did send these three photos of a ground squirrel.  Adding to the fomo.

The house that was shot up and had bombs thrown at it is for sale.  Won't you be our neighbor.  Haha.  I sure hope it doesn't become a rental again.

I keep hearing thumps and bumps outside.  Sounds like near or in Eric's garage.  Luk went to investigate for me.  I thought maybe the darn raccoons but nope.  We have a new family living on the back patio.

With their wee button babies.

I'm pathetically watching the time for Sassy's med time.  The fear and anxiety is real.  Fei left for work.  Jia is with Robert.  I'm on my own with Luk and Kai.

You know how everyone says to call if you need them...does this qualify?  Can someone come and support me in shoving pills down Sasha's throat?  Kidding, not kidding.  

Chanting, I can do this, I can do this. We medicated Finn for years with liquid.  Gave insulin shots to Jr.  Izzy was easy, we threw pills and she caught and ate them followed by a treat.  But I have never shoved a pill down a Chi.  Cats are murder to medicate.  But I jabe done it, dressed in armor.  With Sassy I don't want to hurt her, upset her or violate her trust.  

4rth update

 I finally got a call this morning.  She is stable and can come home.  The Kepra worked.  No more seizures.  Picking her up at 1.

So, I'm fussing around, pets, tidying, laundry, fed Kai brunch.  And the phone rings.  Vet. Oh no.

There are no compounding pharmacies open on the island re the long weekend.  The Kepra pills are too much for her.  You aren't supposed to break them.  They are suggesting she could stay in hospital two more days.  Omg.  It's about $1000 a day.  Next option, she takes high doses of Kepra until we can get meds compounded.  Which is the option I took.  

I can't believe I'm back in the realm of compounding meds for a tiny dog again.  It is fraught with so many issues.  The whole vet situation on this island is sad.  

I do appreciate that Sasha got care.  She would have definitely died without them.  But the process is so flawed.  

3rd update

 She had another seizure this evening.  Now on anti seizure meds.  They are talking neurologist.  I wasn't keen to go that route so they immediately went into talks of end of life care.  Yikes.  She was running around on Thursday.  

This is hard.

Next update in the morning.  If the seizure meds are working She might be able to come home tomorrow.

Sassy Update

 6pm Saturday.  She is still not stable.  Her electrolytes are off.  She is hydrated and her sugars are good.  She is still not eating.  Far more concerning, she had a seizure this morning at 10:30 and they don't know why.

My guess is too many meds for her wee sick body to deal with.

She isn't coming home tonight.  Sigh.

It's been a very, VERY long day waiting for news. 

Surprisingly my sugars are perfect today.  Go figure.

Sassy is sick.

My little muffin just wasn't herself.

So on the Friday evening of the long weekend I asked Dr Google some questions and he said her symptoms were emergent.  So, it was off to the emergency vet in Nanaimo.

Fei came with me.  We went in Squirrel, she is the most equipped.

While little miss had tests we crawled in the back of the Jeep.  I was charging my phone and Fei wrapped up in a  squirrel blankie.  We could have made tea.  I had quickly packed snacks.  Lili even joined us for a wee visit.  The three of us fit ;)  

It took a couple hours for diagnostic tests.  Sedated X-rays and bloodwork.  The vet thought everything was indicative of Addison's Disease.  Sassy stayed there overnight for more testing and hydration.  

I just got an email at 3am confirming Addisons.  I don't know much about it.  She will need steroids and electrolytes for life.  It's not fatal and no surgery. 

I get a call in the morning about next steps.  Her meds have started now.

My poor wee baby.

I hate the prices but I'm glad we took her in.  The service has been amazing.  It's really awful leaving babies to be in the hospital.  How can she possibly understand?

Sidebar...there is a kitten in care.  They need her to pee.  She is in a kennel with a litter box, a privacy curtain and classical music being played for her.  Awe.  

2nd Sidebar...Eric just left at 3:30am for his Whipsaw trip.  I have serious fomo. Sassy needs me, so everything for a reason.

6:30 am update.  She is on new meds for life and tolerating it ok so far.  Pain meds knocked her out so they're trying a different one.  Her electrolytes are still out of whack.  Still dehydrated.  Not eating but also not vomiting. So, not stable yet.  Day vet coming on at 8.  Next update will be late morning.  It doesn't sound like she will be home today. I haven't slept yet.  Guess how messed up my guts are with this level of stress?!  Guessing my cortisol problem will have my glucose level doing crazy unpredictable things today.

Vancouver Aquarium

 

Lili and I took Kai and Luk over to go to the zoo. It was raining a bit too much so we did a pivot and went to the Aquarium instead.  We're very happy with how things turned out.

Sloths, monkeys AND we stayed dry.

We ubered to the New Town Bakery in Chinatown for some fabulous Chinese Dim Sum for a late lunch at their hidden restaurant.  Worth the jaunt.

There is a dragon exhibit with models that can be touched.  This was fabulous for Kai.

Kai took this picture.

Kenai and Izzy.

Izzy.

Kenai.  He's a mere 1540 lbs.

His underbite is the cutest thing ever.

All of the stunts or tricks they do in some way helps the keepers keep them cared for.  Showing off bellies, under fins and movements in the water.  The show was interesting.

All of their animals are rescues.

Kai's favorite part was the sharks, Luk's was the sloths.

I mean, it just never gets old finding Nemo and Dory.

Little Squishies.

This fellow was huge.

Lili spotted the 1st sloth, she had to get a picture and zoom in for me to see.

This is how we figured out that Kai couldn't find any animals in the enclosures, so I took pictures of them all and then zoomed in to show him on my phone.

Tedious and slow but it worked and he had a great day.

Too cute.

Yuk.  Ew.  However.  Zoom closer and check out the cute little face.

Obligatory Hullo ferry picture.  We packed breakfast.

Another cutie.

The sea otters are always fun.  The crowds were nuts to see them and they move super fast.  I wanted a picture of them rafting to show Kai but I couldn't find a place to break through the people.

The sea lions are in the old Baluga tank.  So we got to see them underwater.  They are HUGE when they swim right by you.

This is a better picture of Kenai's adorable underbite.

It was a good day.  Long.  We were definitely tired.  So worth it.