KoKo is sick! 02-27-21

Yesterday morning KoKo didn't want his breakfast!  It has happened a couple times in the past, but eventually he would go back to his bowl, eating every bit of kibble.  He wasn't very perky on our morning walk, but seemed happy to ride in the car to stay with Nancy and Bud for a few hours while I went on to Oceanside to pick up my "Palms" quilt and have lunch with two friends.  He didn't finish his breakfast at Nancy's.   Back at home he threw up what little he had eaten.  As the evening went on he grew lethargic and around midnight he was shaking all over.  I was afraid he was having a seizure and looked up an emergency vet.  It is way on the west side of Fullerton and we arrived about 12 50am.  It looks like a well kept place and the young woman who took KoKo inside (Covid rules: nobody can go inside with their animals) was pleasant and gentle with him.  After about 40 minutes she came back out and told me the vet thought he had Gastroenteritis, but more tests were needed and I would have to leave him overnight at least.  Somehow my inner monitor told me "No".  I signed the papers that I was refusing further treatment (what?  all they did was take his temperature and examine him).  We drove home on the deserted streets, he threw up some more, but finally settled down and slept on my lap all night.  I drove us to our usual  vet, "Circle of Friends" in Yorba LInda, hoping they might be able to see him right away when they opened.  No luck.  But there was an appointment at 11:30am, so we drove back then.  The vet did some blood tests, X-ray, gave him some hydration, medication, and a thorough exam.  She came out to tell me that his problem is  Pancreatitis. Not unusual in dogs and treatable.  Just like people it is caused by a fatty diet and lack of exercise, neither of which apply to KoKo. He eats the kibble recommended by the vet and does not eat people food.   Why he has this condition is unknown, but once he has it he is more likely to have it again in the future.   He has antibiotics, pain pills, and a liquid to reduce vomiting.  He can only have a canned dog food for "delicate stomachs" and I am to give him just a few Tablespoons at a time today and tomorrow.  He gobbles it down!  So far he has not been drinking water, which is a worry as he has always been a big "drinker".  He has been sleeping a lot, but we did go for about a half a walk tonight without any poopy.  But there isn't much in there to come out since he threw up so much last evening and night.  I am still very concerned and hope I am doing everything right.  I have a new understanding of parents who have very sick children in the middle of the night or on weekends.  Guess I will try to identify an emergency vet that I will feel more comfortable with, in case my "child" gets sick when our regular vet is closed.  Of course they are closed on Sunday, so I am on my own until Monday morning when I am to report his condition and get further instructions..  Meanwhile, I am feeling a bit better, but sooo tired and my injection site is still swollen and itchy.   All I can think of is "We will get through all this.!"

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Blooming 02-25-21

 Spring is coming!  The oxalis is blooming and the bees are very, very busy. 

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Covid vaccine #2 02-24-21

 

After having the #2 vaccine on Monday at 3pm, I felt okay.  Then at 6:30pm on Tuesday the reactions hit.   Chills, fever, aching joints, headache, sore/itchy arm - the works.  We went to bed early after Tylenol and Benadryl and slept most of the night.  Today I feel much better.  Still have the terribly painful, itchy arm and slight headache, but able to go for our walks morning and evening.  They say that this "affliction" shows that the vaccine is working.  I'm not going to complain about the discomfort because it is much easier to endure than having Covid.   We took it easy today and will do so tomorrow.  I have been sewing half square triangles - no brain needed!   I am committed to sewing for an hour every day.  Maybe longer, but at least an hour.  Might accomplish something. 

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White Pelicans 02-22-21

In the winter American White Pelicans vacation at Anaheim Lakes and the Starbuck's/Pollo Loco parking lot backs up on the lake.  There were two "rafts" of pelicans out today, but too far away to take a close up picture.  

They were all together when I took this image of about 25 spread out fifty feet off shore, but then divided up with ten or twelve birds going north and south.  There were only a few fishing people who didn't seem to be catching anything.  Nor were the pelicans. 

 

In the background are the Anaheim Hills where wild fires threaten homes in recent years.  The 91Fwy goes along the bottom of the hills.  This lake is private, requiring a fee to enter the area.  I've never been inside the tall chain link fences.  Sometimes the shore is almost elbow to elbow fishing people, it was a gorgeous day with a temp of 84F, but few people fishing. 

I couldn't get a close up, so I lifted this image from Google.  They are very large birds, larger than the brown pelicans we see along the coast, and they frequent fresh water rather than the salt water the brown guys like. Their wingspan is second only to the California Condor and runs between 95" and 120".  Average weight is about 20 pounds.  One interesting habit is that white pelicans will band together and form a large circle on the water.  They then all swim toward the center, in effect they herd the fish into a tighter space to make feeding on them easier.  I have only seen them do this once, but it is a common trait.   

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KoKo post 02-21-21

KoKo is my housemate and keeps me sane.  He needs to be fed, loved, bathed, walked, pottyed, brushed, bathed, and entertained.  In turn he entertains me, keeps me moving, snuggles at night, and listens intently to everything I say.  He is the perfect housemate.

KoKo likes to walk the wall in the backyard.  It overlooks, a weed grown slope, a metal fence, a gravel road that belongs to the water company, a flood control channel, a chain link fence, a block wall and a tract of "garden" homes.  The taller buildings are apartments on a parallel road.  The other end of our yard overlooks a park that is little used - mostly lovers, dog walkers, and guys tossing footballs or frisbees.  

 

Today was bath day and KoKo is now squeaky clean and curled up in his bed with his best friend, Froggy.  Froggy is going to have some shoulder replacement surgery, necessary to keep his arms from falling off!  I don't know quite how to do it, but some artificial joints may be necessary.  Poor guy, I'll bet he has more surgical scars than any frog on record.  He is the same age as KoKo, seven years old on May 20.  Old for a doggy's froggy, eh?

Tomorrow I have a date for my 2nd vaccine.  Fingers crossed for no side effects. 

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