[Dailydrool] Buford--yet again

[Heidi I Sarver]

I know---it's getting old, but this evening I took the advice of Mary  
Tipping and took Buford back to the emergency clinic because things  
were "just not right" and I was a wreck.  I called first, explained  
the situation--filling with gas/air to the point of bloat each time  
he ate ANYTHING--and they said to immediately bring him back for re- 
evaluation.  I'm thinking "running out of money but what can I do?  I  
don't want him to die because I was stupid."

We met with yet another doctor (4th one so far) who re-examined him,  
and reviewed his entire file from soup to nuts.  It was perhaps the  
most exhaustive session I have yet to have with a vet.  When all was  
said and done it was agreed that we're all just grasping at straws  
and guessing what could be wrong.  Granted, he has early heart  
disease and I never would have known that if it were not for all the  
tests done these last couple days--but that did not explain all the  
gas he was getting.  This doctor agreed.

So, we're treating him for three things:  a possible gastrointestinal  
motility problem, a possible inflammatory condition of his  
gastrointestinal tract, and a possible reaction to his food and/or  
gastroesophageal reflux.  Also knowing that something else could be  
in play, he will be seeing an internal medicine specialist as soon as  
I set up the appointment tomorrow morning.

We came home with Reglan, Carafate, Zantac and Hills Prescription Z/D  
food to go along with his Trilostane for Cushings and Enalapril for  
his heart.  The way everything has to be given with regard to how  
often, how much, how soon before meals, how soon after meals, how  
soon after all oral medication....my head is still spinning!  I had  
to write everything down twice to get it organized correctly and I'm  
still scared that I'll screw it up.  Tomorrow I will pick up one of  
those pill boxes that spreads things out for a week, etc.  YIKES!

**BUT** here's the GOOD news:  we survived dinner tonight with ZERO  
bloat!!!  Heck, the boy is so jazzed up with anti-this and anti-that  
it's a wonder his body even knows it ate food!  But he's sleeping  
soundly on the couch right now and that's the best sound I've heard  
from him all day.

I hope we get through the night with ease as well as tomorrow  
morning's meal.  I'll be a wreck all day because I have to take my  
mother to NY for her oncologist appointment, but he will be at his  
regular vet's for boarding and I'll make sure they know EVERYTHING  
that's been going on--I'll pay extra for someone to check on him  
every 30 minutes if I have to!

Thanks to all who have sent such wonderful notes and advice--Drool  
folks truly are the best.

Della is slinging drool to those in need....Buford is drooled out at  
the moment.  Snooters to all!

--heidi, buford, della and guinness the cat.