Foodie Friday -- October 10th

 Welcome to the October 11th Foodie Friday, where good food is always on the menu.

 

We've had human and canine medical issues this week, so I'm posting just a little early tonight.

The human has a herniated C-3 disc and has an appointment with a neurosurgeon. The disc is pressing on the spinal cord, so surgery is likely.  A bad fall or car crash could cause the cord to snap.

 "Please don't write about me on your blog!" the human said.

So you didn't hear it from me.

 

As for the other emergency, my diabetic Yorkie, Zap, spent 30 hours at the emergency vet hospital--a bout of vomiting sent Z into very early DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis), which is life-threatening.

 

Since the DKA was in the very early stages, the treatment (fluids, fluids, and more fluids) was successful. An infection often kicks off DKA, but the vets couldn't find *anything*.

This is Z's second episode of DKA, the first incident occurred a few years ago, when he was diagnosed. The vet told me that sometimes there just isn't a reason for DKA.

If you have a diabetic dog, the early stages of DKA are ketones in the urine and "acetone breath."

Zap only had a small amount. He was active and afebrile.

 

I'm a registered nurse, but I didn't feel competent to treat him at home by pushing fluids. Also, Zap had a rapid heartbeat. Dr. Will (my husband) said that a rapid heart rate can be due to dehydration. Since Zap had begun vomiting in the middle of the night, we felt very helpless. At 8 am, we rushed him to our local vet. The doc did blood work, and he was worried that Zap's kidneys might be in the early stages of failure. He sent us straight to an emergency vet hospital--that was the longest 1 hour drive in my life. It turned out that Zap's BUN and creatin levels were due to vomiting/dehydration. His kidneys are fine, thank goodness.

He was sent home with antibiotics (the vets were pretty sure that Z had a covert infection...somewhere) and anti-nausea pills.

 

 

We picked up Zap late this afternoon, and he didn't really perk up until he was home.

He probably didn't eat very well at the hospital, which can affect blood glucose levels. Food and insulin must be matched.
I'll give updates right here, tonight and tomorrow.
Update 1: Zap's blood glucose dipped low tonight, and I rubbed Karo Syrup on his gums. He's okay now.
 

Before the health crises, I had barbecued two pork tenderloins and served them with grilled garlic toast. The tenderloins were marinated with Jack Daniels and honey. You can find premixed marinades in bags at the grocery. I added grated apples to the marinade.

Very easy and tasty.





 

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 Thanks for visitin'!

Note: On this Monday, October 14th, the Novel Bakers will return with Apple Week! 

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