A Vet Visit

No good news today. Blood tests were needed for Hoopie and Tux.

Hoopie's creatinine level is up again. She's going on a low protein diet and Azodyl, an expensive probiotic that is ineffective according to one study I read about online. Oh well, the vet recommended it.  She wasn't crazy about the new food at first try so I'll add a no-salt bullion cube for a little flavor. I guess it's only a matter of time before we lose her. My sweet girl.

Tux's blood values were all over the place and x-rays showed abnormal lung tissue. She's lost ten pounds in the last couple of months. Either she has cancer or Valley Fever, coccidioidomycosis, a fungus found in desert soils. We won't get results of the test until next week. She can be treated for Valley Fever, but it will be six months to a year of anti-fungal meds - that recently tripled in price - and possibly a life long need for it, in addition to her Pannus and arthritis medications. If it's cancer she won't be with us long.

It wasn't Tag's day for an appointment and after Hoopie and Tux, I'm afraid to take him in.

There is something to be said in favor of letting these guys just live out their lives naturally, without a lot of invasive medical intervention. I've felt more like I've tortured Tux the last few months than helped. I gave her some nice fatty hamburger with dinner tonight and she was happy to eat again, but poor Hoopie was smelling it cook and then only got the disappointingly bland low protein food. Why not give them ice cream and steak and let them be happy in their final days?