New collar, a tag, and a house key.

New collar, a tag, and a house key. We're ready! ❤️

Some light reading for anyone interested...

Some light reading for anyone interested. This describes Oreo - down to the itching skin. 😳 It's so wild to me that his body can be starving despite him being fed.

This was sent to me from the amazing Aunt Taimi. She deserves some serious credit for keeping this kid alive since he was released from AMC. She's figured out the fat content he does best on and everything. I'm going to need her to show me how she's been caring for him before I bring him home. I'm terrified that I'll mess up his progress.

I can only take credit for picking him up. I have no idea what I would have done if he'd been able to come home with me initially like I'd planned. Best case scenario is that the vets here could have figured him out. Worst case is that he reached a low too low to come back from.

I don't think I can properly express how grateful I am to Taimi for the way she's cared for and advocated for Oreo. She has put her time and energy and effort into investigating his symptoms and helping him. I have never had a foster so intense. But I credit her and her years of experience in every one of his health gains.

I guess I am off to search up some EPI groups on here. I am so looking forward to being reunited with Oreo, but I feel like I'm going to need the support. This is 100% new to me and I want to do the very best I can for him.

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/health/exocrine-pancreatic-insufficiency-in-dogs

Oreo went to the vet today.

Oreo went to the vet today. He got his vaccinations, so now that's done. He still didn't like it. He's just not ok with being poked, poor buddy.

He's up to 41.8 pounds now, so he's gained ~4.5 lbs.

He didn't feel great today when he woke up, so Aunt Taimi was quick with the anti-nausea meds again. He was also doing the "downward dog" type posture which is a sign of pain in the tummy area. She's been keeping a log of his meals and nothing had changed. He has managed to keep his meals down today.

They were unable to test for it today, but he is almost certainly pancreatic insufficient based on everything we've noted and what the vet observed. They gave him an enzyme to start that should (eventually, in like a month) help him have fewer bad days.

Until then, our sweet boy is doing pretty well. The vet trip didn't wipe him out today. He played with Kiwi after he got home. That's a great improvement over having to be carried into the house and tucked into bed.

His lows have also gone from "I might be dying" to "my stomach hurts and I'm not feeling well" so we'll count that as a win, too.

I've gone ahead and ordered him a tag for his collar and am anxious to bring him home. I've missed that sweet boy and am practically counting the days now! ❤️

Toebean went to the vet again today.

Toebean went to the vet again today. He's now on Gabapentin plus an antibiotic, as well as got an anti-inflammatory injection. They couldn't see anything wrong with his mouth that would make him cry and can't find a reason other than anxiety or pain for him to be pulling his hair. 🙁

I guess if none of these things help he'll be seeing a specialist soon. Poor buddy.

Aunt Taimi got a wild wake up this morning.

Aunt Taimi got a wild wake up this morning. Oreo and Kiwi were wrestling on the bed!

I hear that our sweet boy has had a good day. I'm glad to hear that. He's currently snoozing and hopefully he and Kiwi will let everyone get some rest tonight. 😂😂😂

I didn't want to bum anyone out yesterday, but...

I didn't want to bum anyone out yesterday, but Oreo had no appetite and ended up vomiting yesterday. Aunt Taimi got fluids in him and he seems better today on that front. At least he seems able to bounce back faster than before.

He's been itching since I found him and we thought that might resolve once he was more nourished, but it seems to be getting worse. Aunt Taimi had to give him Benadryl so he could sleep last night.

He's still doing better overall, but not 100%. I'm sure it will take time and many more vet trips to get him sorted out.

For now, he's resting like a good boy. Just look at that snoozing pup! ❤️

Sweet Oreo played today!

Sweet Oreo played today! Look at him go! ❤️