The daily medical treatments vary week by week here, but I thought I'd show you what we're doing every day at the moment. Usually our kitchen counter isn't this neatly arranged, but for the purposes of the photo I figured I should organize everything. What you see are most of the medications we dispense every morning. Currently getting daily treatments are six dogs, five horses, and one cat.
In the mix are heart drugs, steroids, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, joint supplements, thyroid medications, iodide, pergolide, phenobarbital, potassium bromide, eye ointments and topicals, and yes, molasses. (Not all the drugs are in this photo.) In the small round Rubbermaid is Brynn's antibiotics, big fat pills we pulverize in that coffee grinder and then mix with the molasses. (Coffee grinder works great, just don't use it for coffee later!)
Speaking of Brynn, she is doing better ... she's still running a fever but her temperature is coming down every day.
Since our kitchen also serves as the pharmacy and dispensary, our biggest challenge is just making sure we don't, um, accidentally add a little dexamethasone to the pasta sauce or sprinkle the trimeth sulfa on the pizza.
(Click on photo for larger image.)
This looks familiar. I'm sure that like me, you have made yourselves a checklist of who gets what when to keep the endless rounds of medications straight! Our house is much smaller--just 26 cats--but we have daily sub-Q fluids, antibiotics, pain medications and of course, there's the diabetic cat's insulin. But as you know, it is a labor of love. I get such a lift from visiting your blog. What you do for these animals is wonderful--and I know what they do for you makes it all worth it.
Posted by: Laura P | April 19, 2007 at 02:10 PM
A coffee grinder...that's a GREAT idea!!! Now I have to talk Dr. Mooers into buying one for the clinic!!! Love the site, can't wait to see you guys this summer!!
Posted by: Sabrina | April 15, 2007 at 12:33 AM
You certainly have to be alert on heavy med mornings so that one of these doesn't end up in your Granola!
I'm glad Brynn is doing better; that's great news!
Unfortunately, for some reason I wasn't able to download yesterday's video clip. Don't know if anyone else had a problem, it could just be one my side. Boo-hoo!
Posted by: Leilani | April 12, 2007 at 09:56 AM
Man can I relate to this! Caring for my CRF cat, I have his I.V. bag hanging from one of my kitchen cabinet doors,the syringe and needles in the drawer below. His epakitin, azodyl and nutra-cal are in the icebox along with the clams and clam juice that he likes better than water.It really is all in the name of love for our friends. I had ecouraging news about his CRF. His BUN/Urea and creatine levels came down over 10 points and the phosphorus also dropped a little. So it is very true what they say about CRF.. treat the animal not the numbers. By doing this I have been blessed with an additional 8 weeks and counting.Thank you for your inspiring work and hang in there!
Posted by: Lynn | April 12, 2007 at 12:52 AM