bosley's big adventure

Bosley spent the entire day at the vet's office on Friday. Dr. Brown sent the first set of films to the cardiologist last week, to see if they thought Bosley had a Persistent Right Aortic Arch (PRAA). They didn't think so, and wanted to see another set of films. I dropped Boz off at 8:30 Friday.

I have to say, I really missed not having him here all day! I suppose I have grown a little attached to the guy. :) I did get more work done without having to fight to see my monitor.


Boz in his favorite spot while I am trying to work.

I managed to muddle through the day without him, but I was hoping they would call me early to come get him. I had a doctor's appointment at 4:00 myself, and was hoping to be able to get him before that. I didn't get the call until I was walking into my doctor's office. Ellen, the vet tech called to tell me they wanted to set up a 5:00 pick up and meet with Dr. Fernandez to go over the films. Perfect. Joy was meeting me there at 5:00.

We got there, and all of the staff could not stop talking about how cute and sweet Bosley was! Ellen had told me over the phone that she wanted to kid(cat)nap him and take him home. Both the receptionists were in love with him, and the other tech Chris, said he was so good and he liked to sit on his shoulder (we already knew that!)

We got in to see Dr. Fernandez, and the first thing he said was "That Bosley is such a sweet little guy!" Seems Bolsey charmed everyone there. I am not surprised!

We looked at the x-rays with Dr. Fernandez. I had done some internet research the last couple of days about PRAA, and Megaesophagus, another term I heard Dr. Brown mention when we were in last week. He had shown us a photo in a book about PRAA, and there was also a picture of a puppy that had megesophagus that was eating by standing with his front legs on a box. It said that it helped the symptoms by letting gravity help get the food to the belly. I decided then I was going to start feeding Bosley that way, and already it seemed to help.


Boz eats from the bowl on his elevated box-diner. Appropriate name of a game that we are using for his dinner station.

Dr. Fernandez showed us how Bosley's esophagus was very dilated, and it was very apparent in the films. You could see the narrowing of the path, then nothing, then you could see the barium in the belly. Dr. Fernandez said he is sure Boz does not have PRAA, and he does have megaesophagus, and possibly a hernia, which is causing the narrowing of the esophagus near the juncture of the stomach. He said he wants to send the film out to a radiologist to look at, but it's definitely not PRAA.

What does all that mean? Well, for now it means we feed Boz in a more upright position, and after he eats, I try to keep him vertical even longer. Not hard to do, since he loves to be held. He gets frequent small meals, and only Prescription A/D, which has more nutrition, and it's much easier for him to eat, as it has no chunks. So far, he is doing quite well with that. He ate a lot last nigh, and no vomiting! There may be a surgery in his future for the hernia, but there is nothing that can be done about megesophagus surgically. It is what it is, and there is no cure, just managed care. We can do that. Now we wait and see what the radiologist has to say.


Bosley naps with Bentley.

In the mean time, Bosley has integrated pretty well with the rest of the "family." Bishop and Buck both mother him, hold him down and bathe him. Ripley ignores him, and Bentley is pretty indifferent. I think he understands that he doesn't feel good, so he really doesn't bother with him. After a big dinner last night, today he has yet to eat. He had a couple of laps of KMR, but has no interest in eating. Hope he feels better as the day wears on. Gonna be hard to keep weight on him this way.