Sleeping it off

Bean is home from her day at the vets'. She is a wee bit unsteady and woozy, but we are both happy to be reunited and back Chez Mima and Bean.

By the way this photo shows just how thin she is. The muscles on her face are terribly wasted.

Anyway... I arrived at the vet at 4 o'clock to discuss the findings and to pick up Bean, feeling so nervous I thought I was going to be sick. 

So imagine my relief when the vet said "We have found nothing obviously wrong with her." No tumours or masses. A larger than average heart, but not unusual for an athletic breed. The heart murmur is 'tiny' and could be as a result of the weight loss, and there are no signs of any cardiac issues.

As for the weight loss, there are no obvious reasons. So the best educated guess is that she ingested something a few weeks ago which seriously disagreed with her bowels, and which has been exacerbated by the steroids she's on for the toenail problem. (Steroids suppress the immune system.) But there is no sign of anything untoward going on in her gut now. 

Theoretically she should start putting weight back on now she doesn't have diarrhoea. The vet suggested that I give her 40% more food than she usually eats. (She won't complain about that!) And I am to reduce the steroid dose more quickly than originally planned, so that her immune system can rebound. 

If she gets ill again, or doesn't put weight on, a poo sample will be analysed for giardia, signs of cynobacteria and a couple of other things I can't remember.

I don't think I need to explain my relief. But now I just hope she can gain weight again, slowly and steadily. I'll be weighing her each week at the vet clinic to monitor progress. I won't relax until I see her gain some kgs.

Thank you for all your love and concern. xx