Monday, March 17, 2025

 Monday, March 17, 2025 

   I had another spectacular night’s sleep. This morning, I checked my blood pressure: 122/77. Fantastic! 

    Elsa and I had a follow-up appointment with a vet to check her ears. Two weeks ago, she was diagnosed with a serious ear infection. She is prone to ear infections caused by the same allergy that causes her skin lesions. They always told me to come in to check if the treatment was effective. I never have. This was my first time. 

    The tech took her to the back to test the results.  When the vet came in, she told me she still had a yeast infection, as she had two weeks ago. She wasn’t surprised. It is apparently impossible to combat these ear infections because they are a response to allergies.  Skin and ear infections are a plague for dogs in Hawaii. The heat and humidity create endless problems.  The vet was in an agitated state. I think her frustration was caused by this Sisyphean problem.  No one knows what causes the allergies.  Without knowing the cause, there is no cure. There is only treating the symptoms.  The vet wants me to give her medication, which will lower her immune system.

   I’ve had success with the skin condition.  A groomer told me to apply conditioner when I bathe her and not rinse all of it off.  Bingo!  Elsa had been lesion-free for three or four months. The vet said it was a temporary solution. It won’t work forever.  It’s only treating the symptoms. It may only be temporary, but it worked better than any solution the vet gave me.  I said moving to the mainland, away from the conditions in Hawaii, also treats the symptoms.  She argued no.  Hmmm! Doctors and vets are not taught to think. Given the litigious nature of our culture, they can’t recommend solutions that are not VMA-approved.  All solutions have to be evidence-based.  The evidence that leaving a heavy coat of conditioner prevents the skin lesions right in front of them doesn’t count.  I walked out, determined to find a solution.

   I called Al from Intrasound. Did he have a solution? I got his wife, Kathy. She knew they had done something for a dog of theirs. Al would remember. He recommended that I make a solution with warm water and the Intrasound powder, load it into a needle-free syringe, and inject it into her ears.  I could also coat the inside of her ear flaps and ear canal with Intrasound gel.  It would protect her ears from the allergen as the conditioner protects her skin.  It’s worth a try. The money the vet wants from me is one of my problems with the vet’s solution. The other is I don’t like loading her with medications.  At least I have to give my alternative solution a try. I’ll ask around. I bet someone has come up with a DIY solution. 

   After dropping Elsa off at home, I went to Costco. I needed to reload on supplements. What do you know? Most of the ones I wanted were on sale. While in line, I heard someone call my name. It was Mama K. I knew she would be on this side of the island this morning and figured she had a trip to Costco planned. We haven’t seen each other in person for years. Twin E was with her. I got to give her a hug. 

      I didn’t have a single tutoring session today, and I was good with that. It’s spring break.  Fourth-grade LG always goes away for school breaks to grandparents. It gives his parents a break from childcare.  Mama K and Twin E were in Kona and not available. Fifth-grade GV had a playdate, and his mom asked if I could switch the session to tomorrow.  Sure.  I got gardening done. The plumbagos were getting out of control. I must ensure they don’t expand into my neighbor’s yard.  As Darby says, we don’t plant in Hawaii; we just cut back.