Fiona Health Update Part 3

With Fiona, we have good news and bad news.

The bad news:
The medicine trial we did over the past few weeks did not show any meaningful improvement, making IBD less likely and cancer more likely.
​
The good news:

Fiona had a few really good eating days over the weekend.  So much so that we brought her to Veg Fest with us on Sunday because she had some spunk back.  She didn't do so well with the long, hot walk to the tent (and to be honest, neither did pregnant Mallory - why do they have this festival in August?!?) but luckily dad was there to carry her.  She approached people who came up to our tent for pets, and insisted on her share of the attention when they went over to meet our pig Millie, who had also joined us.  She tried to wander off to go see some geese by the lake.  In the car, she was looking out the window the whole time, interested in all her surroundings.  

We aren't sure what brought on these good days, but we did start a new kind of food, a probiotic, and got her started on B-12 injections, so it could be any of or a combination of those. 

Next Steps
We now need to move forward with the endoscopy to determine exactly what is going on.  With her reduced weight and elevated kidney values, Fiona isn't a great anesthesia candidate, but she isn't a terrible one, either.  Our internist is going to give her extra fluids and monitor her closely during the procedure to protect her kidneys as much as possible.  

If it is cancer, the most likely one would be a slow-growing lymphoma, which is treatable medically, but only after a biopsy to confirm it.  The endoscopy procedure would also take samples for biopsy, so we will be able to get a definitive answer.  Fiona is scheduled for next Monday morning for the procedure.  

Our current fundraising goal is $5,000 to cover Fiona’s endoscopy, biopsies, pathology, and associated veterinary care. This does not include whatever treatment may come afterward if she receives a diagnosis requiring additional care.
We know this is a lot to ask. Fiona has already needed extensive veterinary care, and our sanctuary is responsible for the lifelong care of so many animals. But Fiona deserves every reasonable chance we can give her at more good days, more adventures, more snacks, more naps in comfortable places, and more time surrounded by the people and animals who love her.
We will share another update as soon as we know more.  Please donate towards Fiona's care if you can - we only have until Monday to raise the funds.