Kendal continues improving

Kendal continues improving

He is eating a gruel composed of oatmeal, chicken, chicken broth, and some other things Faye whipped up from a recipe she found in a cookbook. It may not be completely balanced but he s eating and for now that is the important thing. We are sneaking in some kibble as well

Kendal has more energy, coming into the kitchen to investigate the goings-on, raising his nose to the countertop to check out what goodies are there. Still wanting to walk and go outside. Not 100% himself but closer all the time. This is the Kendal I know and love.

Downwind

Downwind

The way that these tufts of grass calmed the wind, causing blowing snow to fall out create the little drifts downwind, caught my eye.

Brutal, beautiful cold

Brutal, beautiful cold

Dawn in the heart of winter is a brutal, beautiful time. The temperature by the car thermometer was -24C. This may be nothing by some standards yet by banana belt Ontario standards, it is awful. Life is simply trying to endure and to get through.

Several sights about this dawn caught my eye. The way the ditch angles through the frame made an interesting almost asymmetrical contribution. The sun blushes the edge of the lower level clouds. there in the middle left of the frame, cirrus clouds are light, feathery, almost invisible. This photo and the others I took were well worth the cold stinging my bare fingers.

Goldfinches

Goldfinches

They are very hungry, emptying the feeder, trying to survive.

Brutal cold

Brutal cold

Today the high temperature was -11 or 12 F. With wind chill it felt like -19 or about -2. It was at times a bleak and very forceful reminder that we have a warm cars, warm offices, warm houses. We and our pets are blessed. Wildlife has none of this, the songbirds scramble for food, water, shelter. I topped up the bird feeder after getting home, liberally scattering seed on teh ground for the juncos and other ground feeders. Saturday and Sunday will will be warmer, then the brutal cold returns for a few days. It is winter, winter is brutal, it is a time of testing, of endurance.

Kendal is better

Kendal is better

It has been a rocky few days. His energy level as well as interest in food, water, and exercise are all still off. Present, it is true, but not his normal self.

Tuesday we took him back to the vet. Dr. Vallee, the senior vet at the clinic, reviewed Kendals’ record and x-rays. He recommended discontinuing the doxycycline and scheduled an ultrasound for Tuesday morning.

That night was rough. Kendal could not get comfortable, was groaning, trembling, breathing was off. We were prepared for the seemingly very real possibility that he would not come home. Tuesday morning, Dr. Vallees’ demeanor and discussion indicated that he expected to have to give us very bad news.

Well the ultrasound revealed. . . nothing earth-shattering let alone awful. He, and we, were puzzled. He took a pee sample and requested a full culture, and gave a cortisone injection to ease Kendals’ discomfort and improve his appetite. Kendal isn’t his normal self but he definitely feels better. Better appetite, better energy, more comfortable.

Today, New Years Day, he called us with initial results which suggest a leptospirosis infection. His explanation and our research indicate that Kendals’ symptoms – lower energy level and nterest in food, discomfort/pain, diarrhea, a bit of vomiting – and the bloodwork results coincide with how lepto presents. Dr. Vallee recommended resuming the doxy which we have done.

It’s not a definitive diagnosis but it makes sense. We should know more tomorrow.

Apple blossoms

Apple blossoms

Still sorting through old photos. I took this in 2004 when I was still in Austin. An apple tree in my backyard put out lovely blooms every year. Unfortunately the fruit was always hard and sour. Not enough chilling hours. The blooms always entranced me though.

Kendal

Kendal

Dr. K is the same today. He ate not quite a full can of the I/R diet the vet sent home yesterday, which is unlike him. Faye went to Goderich to see her mom as well as brother Allan, Connie, and Keith and I stayed home. Walked him up to the corner and he had a smallish poop; considering that he hasn’t eaten his normal amount of foo that isn’t too troublesome. He’s still lacking in energy and his usual enthusiasm, and I did not have him join me and the cattle dogs outside. This photo was taken last month.

It’s concerning.

A fine day

It is a fine day, about 38F and clear, so the cattle dogs and I celebrated by spending some time outside. they engaged in a bit of play while I enjoyed a cigar.

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