This morning, Isabella again declined to join us for the morning walk although she was waiting at the gate as we returned. I completed two circuits with all the dogs then Skinny and I went on our own for a couple of circuits before going back to the camping. Someone on a bike was around quite early for some reason. I can’t understand these people who lurk around in the early hours of the morning!
Once back, I put my breakfast on as our departure was set for 09:15. The cats were fed and I rode my bike. I was eating my breakfast when Antonis contacted me to say that we only needed to leave at 10:00 which was a bit of a relief. I understood that Antonis was going on to Chania but he stayed waiting until we were finished.
Stavros carried out a number of tests slightly impeded by the blood test machine failing to boot and a power outage. His customers now come only by invitation due to the distancing requirements so there would be someone at 12:00. The first sets of tests were fine but the second were very bad. Stavros diagnosed that Isabella has serious Pancreatitis which was probably brought on by a virus of some kind. He says that she can’t have cancer of the pancreas as she’s too young.
Hopefully, the pancreas will recover which we will discover during the next few days. She must have only a drip for the next three days with no food or water. If she survives, she will be on a special diet for the next three months or so. She must have no fatty foods whatsoever. Controlling her diet is going to be interesting as she eats like a horse!
I carried her from Stavros’ surgery out to the car and Stavros fastened the saline drip to the grab handle above the passenger seat with a cable tie. She was very dehydrated so the drip needed to be started immediately. Antonis, Isabella and I drove back from Maleme to Paleochora with a stop at the pharmacy to collect a few litres of saline before going back to the camping. Due to the roadworks, the entrance to the camping is very difficult so we couldn’t go in with the car. I carried her back to the compound and Antonis brought the drip and the medications.
Stavros has sent a list of medications she will require for the next ten days so I’ll need to visit the pharmacy tomorrow or the next day unless I can get Antonis to go in my place. With the Easter Holidays this weekend, the shops will be closed on Friday and Monday.
So far, around 1.25 litres of saline has been transfused and there are prepared syringes containing tomorrow’s medications. It’s going to be quite demanding managing Isabella and the other dogs. She is the first to get tangled up in anything. The drip is attached to the metal ceiling of the awning using a carabiner, some network cable and a strong magnet from a computer hard disk. At least if she pulls down the drip the magnet will let go eventually. I have a spare IV line left over from Dave as well as a couple of litres of saline and loads of hypodermic needles and syringes. I didn’t expect to have to be doing my Dog Doctor thing again so soon…
The day has been tiring and a little stressful. It was my first day out in around three weeks. Antonis says he will give me a letter confirming that I live at his house in Paleochora and his father will give me another confirming I live in Kountoura. Should I be asked where I live, I can produce the most appropriate letter. At least I’ll be able to go out although not for a couple of days as I’ll have to try to keep watch over Isabella. She’s fairly immobile as present as she’s so unwell but that situation will change as and when she starts to get better.
My food is cooking so I’ll be able to eat it very soon and then maybe fall asleep.
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