Wishing you all.....

.... a merry merry Christmas!


And if Santa Claus doesn't visit you this year, it's because he's chilling out in his flip-flops down south, in the Carribean! But I hope he does come and y'all have a fine time out there.

All I want for Christmas.... is a moderate amount of calls out as I shall be on call:)

An unusual case

Well, imagine my puzzle a few days ago when somebody brings in 2 rescue puppies.

That in itself is not something unusual of course, especially since we collaborate so closely with the local Humane Society. But there was something else about them...




No signs of trauma, normal temperature, wagging their tails... but on sternal recumbency and over all....no muscle tonus. The consistency of a kitchen rag. And mildly dehydrated.

But...both of them??? In the same time?
They were quiet and sweet. But what is wrong?

However, before I got to panic and put the worse in front and started a more complicated treatment, Dr. Brenda was around. A very experienced practitioner, she said...Oh, it looks like a case of botulism! Maybe they both ate a rotten chicken or something!

And turns out, she was right. That's because with nothing but supportive care, they gained more strenght every passing day, and now, about a week later, they actually stand up and even started walking. By the time I get back in tomorrow they might even be running around:)

As treatment, there is a specific serum out there but we didn't have it in the clinic (well...it's the first case I have seen ever and the first one there in almost a year of work. And they seem to do dandy fine even without it). So we just gave them oral antibiotics, corrected dehydration (with fluids SC even, as they resumed quickly eating and drinking provided it was...very available) and supportive care.

And before you know it, they'll be up for adoption!

What happened lately in the Caymans

Well, it's been a long time since my last post. I left the story to when hurricane Paloma was just about to hit us. It was quite an adventure. The hours before a hurricane aren't pretty...just windy and rainy, rainy, rainy. We all had our bit of fun trying to get all the animals from the clinic safe and sound, and then get ourselves safe.
I wasn't quite safe as we opted to spend it not far from the sea, in a lovely apartment without hurricane shutters ... but with a grand view. Luckily, about an hour before it would have been a direct hit, it turned and continued it's trip with rage, crushing straight into Cayman Brac, a mere 100 km away, as a hurricane cat 4. Lots of damage there, and many torned houses, luckily no human or animal victims that I know of. Can't put my hand in fire for the wildlife thou!

With this late comer, the 2008 hurricane season, and my first one ever, came to an end.

And then all others started flying by... Halloween, a big deal on the island. Many people dressed up, and even I went as a small Dracula. I had to, right:) ? Then Pirate's week, a weekend in fact of fun and everybody taking a turn of dressing up as a pirate or a wench, which is that tarty female you see in the company of pirates. All in good fun, thou! Then Thanksgiving, where there was plenty to eat other then the traditional turkey for the vegetarians amongst us;

And now the whole island is putting the lights on, preparing for the mega Christmans celebrations. Some are over doing it, but generally all in bright spirits. It's funny to see the palms lightened up like christmas trees, but one has to work with what's available, right?

Also, another warm December for me (and I don't complain there a bit!!). The weather and the sea have cooled down a bit, and it can be windy at times, but we are still enjoying a daily 27 C.
No question of a white Christmas thou, unless we count the perfect powder sugar sand!

Missing lots and lots my friends and family back home, and the lights from Bucharest, and all the fun free time I used to have around this time of the year....

Yours, from far,
Andreea