Ashley and I met with Dr. Ikeda this morning in order to get a second opinion. I brought Flower and all of the paper work from the previous visits and we sat and talked with the doctor and with the nurse for about an hour and a half about Flower. He was pretty puzzled by her condition also and didn't yet have any clear answers. His assessment was more optimistic, however, than what I've been hearing lately. Her symptom's all point to some kind of gastro-intestinal disorder and he suggested that this be the first place we look. Having already had x-rays done about a week ago, we need to next get an ultrasound done; we just need to decide whether to go to the specialist or have it done at the vet's office. He also suggested a feeding tube for her, which at first I was very reluctant toward. Ashley has mentioned this to me before, but I didn't think it was something to consider in Flower's case. The fact remains, however, that all we know right now is that she won't eat on her own, and that she seems to feel better (although not 100%) after returning from the vet when she has recieved IV fluids and she has eaten. After talking with Mom and with Ashley about it I decided that the feeding tube gives us the best chance to help Flower until we can find out what's going on. The doctor called me back later in the afternoon, however, and told me that Flower had started eating some dry food on her own after only having been on the IV for a short time. He felt that we should wait and see how she'll do on her own with a new prescription of diazepam*. So we'll administer it this evening and again tomorrow evening in the hopes that she'll eat on her own. With so many ups and downs in the last week I'm ready for some answers but it appears that I will have to wait awhile longer to find anything out for sure. Tonight Flower is sleeping again, curled up in a little ball; I've taken off her cone and she has her paw with IV catheter installed draped over her head, not quite sure what to do with it. I'm anxious for Flower to give me the sign that she feels better but for now it seems that she still wants mainly to sleep; I'm always worried when she's sleeping. I want her to wake up and pester me in the kitchen and beg for treats. But she's not quite ready for that. In the meantime I am focused on giving Flower the best chance and on giving her as much of my time as I can afford.
