“What do we say to the Lord of Death?’
‘Not today.”
― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
https://meanderingpassage.com//wp-content/uploads/images/2021/04/EBM-20210326094027.jpg
New Beginnings
There are signs of a new season, Spring, with new beginnings. What was grey or brown is now turning green. Flowers are blooming, and pollen is freely flying through the air. You can hear lawnmowers, trimmers, and blowers running daily. It’s the time of year I take over-the-counter allergy medicines and even then try to limit my exposure. But I love it just the same. I appreciate beginnings and new chances.
A few days ago, I was celebrating our dog Maggie’s 13th birthday in a post here. This past weekend we came very, very close to losing her. Without warning, on Saturday morning, she began to experience uncontrollable throwing up and diarrhea. Within a couple of hours, we knew this was something serious and rushed her to a local emergency veterinarian clinic for treatment. With X-rays and other tests, it was determined her digestive tract was inflamed and not functioning properly. Among the possible causes discussed were a growth/blockage, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), and the big “C” word. We prepared ourselves to let her go depending on her condition the next day. Luckily there was an improvement on Sunday, and after one more night of care, we were able to bring her home on Monday.
Without additional extensive and expensive testing, no one can be sure what the real cause for this episode was, but it’s being treated like IBD. There have been some recent food allergy symptoms that could support this diagnosis. So, Maggies on a very restrictive hydrolyzed protein diet. We’ve donated all of her old food and snacks to a nearby no-kill animal rescue. She’s not too happy about this, but she does like the new food, and she’s been improving each day.
It’s also official that at the moment she has more medication prescriptions than Bonnie and I combined! :-)
But I’m grateful for the time of each additional day and the new chances they afford.
So glad Maggie is improving!!!! Have had so many of these “close calls” – so I know how unnerving they can be especially as dogs get up there in age. Can’t tell you how many times we have resorted to homemade food to get through some of these. In fact, recently we had to ditch all of the food and treats we had because Cosmo, then Floki both started having digestive issues. So hard to trust many commercial pet foods, good idea to search on the food name + the word “recall” to see if they may have had voluntary recalls for something. Hope Maggie continues to get better!
Thanks, Mark. We’d been doing homemade food for Maggie as a supplement to other commercial food and treats. Several months ago, she began chewing at her front paws to the point of them being raw and sore. Our vet thought it was probably a protein food allergy, probably beef, based upon our experiences. Last week, we began switching her to all chicken and lamb-based protein, which seemed to be helping. Then this happened, and the general thought is she may not be able to handle normal proteins in general. I’d never heard of hydrolyzed protein dog food before. Supposedly, the protein contents of the foods are split into peptides, which reduces the likelihood of an animal’s immune system recognizing an allergic threat. For some reason, it requires a prescription to purchase it, but so far there have been some unexpected beneficial changes. No killer gas attacks or gagging stinky poo anymore. Haha! :-)
On the downside, of course, it’s expensive! :-(
That’s what our vet also thought, that it as a specific protein allergy. But now not sure since they both have seemed to return to normal.
We’re seeing positive results in Maggie with this hydrolyzed protein food, even beyond this weekend’s events, so the vets may have gotten it right in this case. Fingers crossed. I’m happy Cosmo and Floki are back to normal.
I must have missed the Happy Birthday post but it sounds like after this episode, it’s almost like another birthday now! Sorry to hear about your pollen allergies — I suffered from them all my life while I lived in Germany.
I really like the photo! Beautiful rendition in monochrome… even though I’m not quite sure what I’m looking at. ;)
PS: Toni is 18 years old now and she’s only getting Hills Prescription diet for her kidneys. It’s one of the few brands I really trust.
Yes, if not another birthday, new possibilities and more time. I’ve had pollen allergies (especially pine trees) all my life, but they seemed to have gotten a little worst as I’ve aged. But then the available allergy medicines have gotten much better, so we’ll call it even. :-)
Thanks for your kind comments on the photo, Alex. It’s of the bloom and new leaves of a Box Elder (Acer negundo) or the boxelder maple. It’s a species native to North America, is fast-growing but a short-lived tree. I think it’s often considered a weedy or invasive species. It’s most often found in the eastern and central regions of the country.
Wow, 18 years old. That’s amazing! What breed is Toni? Maggie has always been a very, very picky eater, and I don’t dare to calculate the time and money I’ve spent trying to find quality food that’s both good for her and that she likes and will eat. That’s why I’m happily surprised she’s readily eating the Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein food she has been placed on for what now appears to have been severe protein allergies.
Ah yes, Royal Canin is another dog food brand that I really trust. Toni is a Shiba Inu mix (a little smaller than a regular Shiba Inu). She always had a very robust stomach and food was never much of a problem (I’ve been feeding her raw food with my own fruit & veggie mixture for most of her life). She’d catch a gopher while hiking, and eat the whole thing! xD
Thanks for the explanation about the photo as well, and sorry to hear that your allergies have gotten worse as you got older (it’s been the opposite for me! not complaining!)
Sounds like you need to be as diligent about Maggie’s food as you are about your own. Not that you weren’t, but there’s a lot of stuff out there masquerading as food that isn’t. Glad to hear that Maggie’s on the mend!
There’s a lot to be said about the onset of spring! Pollen or not, bring it on!
I’ve been lucky and have not had problems with allergies, except for work, until later in my life. I deal with them, much more than when younger. I had two children who suffered much of their younger years with them and have some compassion for those who do suffer with them. I had to smicker when you mentioned that Maggie has more meds than you two. Yet that says a lot on how healthy you two are which is a good thing. Actually, I believe that more of us need to eat fresh foods and less processed stuff. It’s been more of my choice over the past few years. Glad Maggie’s on the upswing. 😍
Thanks, Monte!
Glad to hear she is improving. Spring always does amaze me. It’s like the world getting reborn.
Thank you, Howard. Maggie’s doing fairly well at the moment.
I always feel a little sad I miss some of Spring due to allergies. The worst time for me is usually the month of April when evergreens are at full pollen. But, we all play the hand we’re dealt, don’t we? So we play it as best we can! Nothing to really complain about in the larger scheme of things.
Take care and be well. I’ve been enjoying your “rotisserie flower” photo experiments. :-)
LOL – Rotisserie Flowers :-)
I keep coming back to this image – left this browser tab open now for weeks, I guess – because the beauty of of these blossoms is extraordinary. This certainly is a perfect image, Earl.
~ Markus recently posted… Stone in the Pond
Thank you, Markus. I’m pleased you like it.
Lovely image of a Memento Mori. The quote at the top grabbed my attention.
Yes, that quote is hard to forget. Perhaps I should recite each night as I turn in, “Not today.” LOL :-)