BONNIE’S RACE, AND THE STORY OF BONNIE (continuation).

TRANSPLANTS Kidney transplants in dogs are fraught with difficulties, and in Great Britain it is illegal to remove an organ from one animal for use by another. In the USA where kidney transplants in dogs have been done, they are rarely successful.

Dialysis, which would be used on humans in renal failure was also ruled out. No machine is available to cope with the small quantity of blood in a small dog, although it has been tried in the USA on a Great Dane. It would also be extremely difficult to confine a dog for such intense treatment, and only those with the exceptional tolerance for treatment displayed by Bonnie would be suitable candidates.

*Even so, The Team intend one day to research the possibilities and practicalities of miniaturising dialysis machines for small animal treatments. If it looks feasible they hope to establish a fund to raise the necessary money in Bonnie’s memory.

Lyn, who absolutely disagrees with having any animal put down unless it is as a last resort, and the kindest thing to do, had an idea for Bonnie.

DIALYSIS!  She did not want to give up on Bonnie until she really had to. She noted that when Bonnie was put on a drip and her system was ‘flushed out’, the blood toxin levels fell significantly, and Bonnie was as bright as a button for days afterwards. Lyn discussed the possibility of this ‘primitive dialysis’ with Bonnie’s Veterinary Surgeon Siriol, who agreed because Bonnie was such a model patient and had no fear of visiting the Surgery.

FLUID THERAPHY Siriol decided Bonnie could spend 24 hours a week in the Surgery on this ‘fluid therapy’. On each return home Lyn spent the days between visits, every two hours giving Bonnie 120 mls of water per session orally. This was made ‘fun’ for Bonnie by being immediately followed by a game with her favourite ball. It wasn’t a cure, but as long as Bonnie was enjoying life, and the regime was working, it would prolong her life and was well worth it. We all knew it would only work for so long, and that Bonnie was on a cliffs edge, needing very little to tip her over the edge

We had firmly decided she should never suffer the pain and distress of dying from renal failure. Bonnie didn’t mind the catheter. It was part of her weekly routine, and the overnight hospitalisation often provided the opportunity of a cat or two in the next kennel to bark at ! She barked all right, even at empty cat baskets!! She would never hurt a cat but she sure enjoyed barking at them.

BONNIE THE VIP Bonnie had VIP treatment over the New year. (New Year’s Day was also her birthday) with constant visits by the attending Veterinary Surgeon on call, and then being ‘chauffeured’ back home by Senior Practice Partner Jeremy Jones, who had also participated in discussions concerning her treatment.

Jeremy brought Bonnie indoors, she sniffed around, and then proceeded to look for and play with her ball just as if nothing had happened. Jeremy was duly impressed with her quality of life, and could see for himself why she was well worth while all the effort and expense, and how little it affected her quality time at home.