Steps Onward

Saturday, September 14, 2024

Slightly over a month ago, my donkey Pimmy was hospitalized for days because her liver was failing. I hadn’t recognized the signs that was happening. Now, I understand that livers are lovely because they can regenerate.

Yesterday, Pimmy had a post-hospital wellness check. Her blood analysis shows that her liver is recovering and in the high-normal range. She’s not out of the woods yet.

Pimmy went into the hospital with her weight way down because she had lost her appetite. Post-hospital, she has regained both appetite and weight. I learned yesterday that her “downweight” level was perfect for her. But we had to get her to eat again, accomplished that, and now she’s too heavy.

Pimmy is being started on a diet. She may eat only 6.5 pounds of hay daily; she also needs meds (and resists being mediated). The vet explained ways to “trick her” into taking them. So last evening, Hungry Pimmy got a little gain sprinkled with a powdered med and ate that mix. She also gobbled a “Little Debbie” (something or other) with a bad-tasting pill buried inside. That pill had been double-disguised–inserted into a gelatin capsule–to hide its smell.

If she takes the meds freely, that’ll be so nice. Now that her liver issue is more under control, we have begun medicating for her Cushing’s disease. That means Pimmy needs the awful-tasting pill daily and for the rest of her life. She also must stay at an appropriate weight.

I’ll be playing by ear to feed and medicate her appropriately. I hope to manage without reducing my outside part-time working hours or quitting altogether. On some evenings, I help to close the store, which turns a last feeding for the horses (and Pimmy) into a very late effort that needs handling quickly. Now, it includes both medication and calorie control.

Dear Friends: I hold close that “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Diana