Trust Your Instincts

Cricket Update: We took him to the vet this past Saturday for X-rays to confirm the Megaesophagus diagnosis. Three X-rays and $175 later, our vet was not confident so he suggested we see a specialist to get an ultrasound. Bruin and I left feeling defeated… we LOVE our boys but the possibility of spending hundreds of dollars on a dog was just very very unsettling. Plus, this whole time, I just couldn’t come to terms with the diagnosis… I felt it was something simpler, like doggie acid reflux. I know I’m not a mother yet, but I feel like I already have ‘motherly’ instincts. I just couldn’t shake the feeling! So Monday, I got to talking to my co-worker, Matt, about the situation and how I felt it was acid reflux and he mentioned they are having issues with his little boy, Eli, and acid reflux. He said their doctor recommended feeding Eli smaller meals, more often, to avoid the stomach acid build up. Then it clicked… when the boys are at ‘camp’ (i.e. doggie day care), they get fed once a day. The last time they were there (during Christmas), I started feeding Cricket once a day, too… AND THAT’S AROUND THE SAME TIME HE STARTED GETTING REALLY SICK!!! HELLO?!? It makes perfect sense! Of course he’s throwing up after he eats; his belly is so full of acid, he just can’t keep all that food in there!! So on Matt’s suggestion, we immediately started feeding Cricket 3 small meals a day (in the morning, right when we get home and before we go to bed). And I’m happy to report Cricket is back to his ‘old’ self!! We’ve even put him back on dry food (thank goodness, cause canned food is expensive!!) and are no longer elevated it OR holding him upright after he eats. It’s only been a few days but I’m confident he’s better. He even told me so. :)

Now, Bruin and I have agreed, if he’s not completely better within the week, we WILL take him to the specialist. And I’m not saying doctors don’t know what they are talking about. I completely respect them. However, I know my baby. And I know he doesn’t have this terrible condition. I guess the moral of the story is: Trust your instincts. :)


Hi Everybody! I'm feeling better!! Woohoo!!

Attack of the MEGAESOPHAGUS

Pop Quiz:
What is Megaesophagus?

a. A long-necked dinosaur that lived during the Cretaceous period
b. A new R&B group made up of deep-voiced boy-band wannabes
c. A condition in which the esophagus muscles are enlarged & don't properly function

If you answered C, then you are correct!!

So... the next question... why does this matter?? Because my sweet baby Cricket has been diagnosed with the condition!! Basically, his esophagus is so large that it does not push the food down into his stomach. Instead, it stays in his esophagus and he eventually 'regurgitates' it. So yeah, we've been dealing with a dog that throws up ALL THE TIME. Fun times in the Robinson house. :)

Anyway, we will confirm the condition with X-rays some time this week. But until then, we have to feed Cricket soft food, watered down with about a cup of water. Then while he's eating, we have to hold him upright so 'gravity' pushes the food down into his stomach. THEN, for 30 minutes after he eats, we have to keep him upright. It looks something like this:






No, we're NOT feeding him at the table... this is after he eats. He's been doing better this week. He actually went all day yesterday (and so far today! fingers crossed!) without throwing up. I'm not really looking forward to the vet bill when we get the x-rays, and I'm still hoping his throwing up is something simpler (like doggie acid reflux??). I guess we'll see. I'll keep you posted.

Ambrose Family Farm

Bruin and I heard about this opportunity last year to purchase a "share" of a local farm's anticipated crop. The produce is organically grown and picked the day before you get it. I was really curious about it and would have liked to do it but unfortunately, we heard about it a bit late so weren't able to participate. Well, this past week we heard they were accepting applications for their Spring/Summer harvest and after breaking down the cost and comparing it to what I normally spend, we decided to apply. (It ended up being about $20/week, which I easily spend at BiLo)

Basically, from the first week in April to the first week in July, we pick up a box of freshly picked, organic fruits and veggies every Thursday. The fruits/veggies vary each week so you get a good mix of things. I'm pretty excited about it for a number of reasons...it's going to help Bruin and I eat better... it'll increase the diversity of the fruits/veggies we eat... AND it supports our local farmers!

I think once we start the program, I'll take a picture of our box each week so you can see what we get. They also have a Fall Harvest program so if the Spring Harvest goes well, I think we might do that, too.

If you are interested in learning more about the program, you can visit their website here:

http://www.stonofarmmarket.com/AmbroseFamilyFarm.html