We all woke up late... 6:30 a.m.! It was a more peaceful night last night. I think, because I was able to comfortably snuggle with Ruth, to give her comfort if she began to fret. Which she did fret twice, and I realized that's her way of letting us know she needs to go outside. Bless her heart. I checked about 12:30 and indeed needed to change her bedding, then again about 3:45. Both times were after her trying to hold it as long as she could.
With both eyes clear and focused, when she was presented with the peanut butter med, she EAGERLY accepted it! Then, Bud prepared some cream of wheat and she LAPPED it up (off my finger) a little at a time until about a 1/4 cup worth was gone!!! This was the most tongue action we've seen in several days! She will certainly be offered more cream of wheat for lunch!
Also, today, for the first time in DAYS, we heard from her more than just the clashing of teeth!!! So, it sounds like she's getting her voice back!
Yesterday, she did have about 1 3/4 cups worth of low sodium chicken broth, in addition to some plain water. I've already started her on a regiment of chicken broth and water ... I have two bottles prepared and ready to give her one or the other every 15 minutes.
Another baby step... before we moved her from the floor padding to the couch, we tried to get her to stand (with us holding her of course), but she couldn't... back legs were too weak. So, she squatted like, and let out a good potty! Then she sat (on a dry towel!) for a while... she can hold her head up, but we know it takes a lot of strength/energy so we don't keep her in that position for long.
I pray we continue to have baby steps today!
Bud just returned from town and brought home another round of Prednisone. I had read a blog that said they also gave Doxycycline, along with the Prednisone, so he picked that up from the vet as well. In addition, he got a tube of "Supplical" which is a nutritional supplement that's a concentrated source of calories, protein, vitamins, minerals, Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids, and Antioxidants. The vet said others found it "tasty" ... well, Ruth wasn't impressed, and Beth also turned her nose up to it!!! But, Ruth got it put in her mouth anyway!!! I had also read that Pedialyte would also be good for Ruth, so he bought some home and we'll start working on that!
Oh well, hind sight's 20/20 ... wish we had tried the cream of wheat (CoW) again before giving her that "tasty" supplement. What CoW she did eat was basically either put on her nose so she'd lick it off, or a fingerful put between her jaw & lip! Needless to say, she didn't eat much. At least, she had it "chased" by some Pedialyte!
We sat her up on the appropriate elbow and she looked around, out the window, and then back at us, all the while getting scratches and loving. She gave us both some kisses and managed to balance on her own for a few minutes, too!
When I was changing her bedding a few minutes ago, I leaned over near her nose and got a kiss!
Again we leaned her up on her elbow and she sat up for a while, looking around! This was the third time today!
YES! She took her evening meds! Tonight we started the Doxycycline (100 mg) along with the Prednisone. She wouldn't eat hardly anything tonight. We did get about a cup of Pedialyte in her, along with some more squirts of the "tasty" supplement! Bud tried "taco juice" ... drippings from hamburger meat cooked in the microwave and drains into a corning ware dish that we freeze up and have always given to Ruth and Beth. She wasn't too impressed, so Bud soaked the pancake and put in between her gums and lips... then chased it with some water. After about 3 bites, she totally was not happy.
About 7:45 tonight, she pooped! (She's pottied several several times today... just got tired of posting each time!) I was giving her a kiss and noticed her back leg moving. I did a check and discovered it!!! Apparently, she was in the process, or trying to move away from it! The stool was dark and sort of hard, so maybe what taco juice she received helped to lubricate it. Earlier, when we had her in the sitting position, it looked like she was trying to poop then, but couldn't.
Sleeping arrangements will be like we had last night ...
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Our Ruth Girl
(She is 10 1/2 years old)
This is our baby girl, Beth
(She is 9 1/2 years old)
