Vet Visits For The New Girls...

Marci & Phoenix had exams today with Dr. Booman, our veterinarian.
Marci said "no thank you" to blood work! Marci weighs in at a whopping 3 3/4lbs and is about 8-9 months old. Her heart and lungs sound great, although you can only hear them on the left side of her chest ~ there are too many other organs on the right side. Marci has an appointment next week for x-rays to check the extent of her hernia, and decide whether surgery is an option for her.
Phoenix is 7lbs, and is about 3 years old. She's missing a couple of her teeth, and has an old scar in one eye from an ulcer that didn't get treated when it happened. We've confirmed that she doesn't have mange or mites or any other parasite causing her skin problem. Her blood work shows that she's had chronic inflammation for quite a while. Her urinalysis shows she also has a urinary tract infection, and crystals in her urine. She will be joining Scooter on the "gourmet" prescription diet, and will be on antibiotics for a couple of weeks. She'll also be treated with eye ointment to soothe her irritated eyes, and topical ointment and medicated baths to soothe her red, raw skin. With parasites ruled out as the cause of the skin problem, food allergy is the next potential cause. We plan to send out another blood sample for allergy testing next week.
In the meantime, both girls are adjusting well to life here. Scooter has taken on the role of the official "ambassador" and is helping them adjust to the daily routine. Lucky girls!