Observation Journal for new remedies

Day 1 Saturday June 27th:
Visit with our fabulous new vet. An hour consultation ending with 20 minutes acupuncture.
For dinner, started with new herbs mixed in his food.
Michael did not eat his dinner.

Day 2 Sunday June 28th:
Start the day with fresh application of Front Line.
Added some real chicken and flax seed oil and re-mixed his dinner from last night.
Breakfast devoured.
Added some Dr. Ackerman's spray to his hind quarters in afternoon.

Day 3 Monday June 29th:
Am: breakfast: kibble with herbs, flax seed oil and some chicken diced in. Michael ate all but a few bites.
pm: Michael ate his dinner, loves the added real chicken and carrotts and that helps to get the herbs down him that is being mixed in.

Day 4 Tuesday June 30: Doing well on food, herbs

Day5 Wednesday July 1st: eating all food with herbs, still scratching.

On the constant check with him for fleas. Have found a few here and there....

Day 6 Thursday July 2nd: Woke several times during the night michael itching scratching like crazy! found fleas each time I checked him. Upon waking michael's tummy area was BRIGHT red, pink and obviously he'd been scratching all night long....Since waking I have found EIGHT fleas on him, and I am in panic state right now. Part of this problem relates to having two inside cats that get taken out every day to "play" then brought back in. My room mate is from Colorado, where apparently they don't have fleas (how was I to know that?) and she knew not what the flea issue would be like. However, I did tell her weeks ago to get the Frontline, etc, going and had she done that at that time, we might not have quite this problem right now. So, I'm not terribly unhappy having just spent a whole bunch of money I don't really have to help him and he's being totally bombarded with fleas now.

am food: ate up everything with herbs. HOW ARE HERBS SUPPOSED TO WORK WHEN I CAN'T GET RID OF THE FLEAS?!?!?!?!?

Day 7 Friday July 3rd: Same as usual.

Day 8 Saturday July 4th: The issue of fleas and Michael's scratching is becoming constant. he is eating his herbs in his meals. loves having the wet food mixed in with the dry. Not doing too much, I don't want him to gain a bunch of weight.

Day 9 Sunday July 5th: Michael's belly is red, raw, and horrifying. I am applying aloe very (100% natural, no additives) to soothe the raw belly areas....He is eating his food with herbs morning and night. He is liking a little kibble mid day now....asking for it.....

Day 10 Monday July 6th: am: had dry food with some wet food added with herbs.
Added dose of Frontline as flea situation is too much. he can't possibly make progress under these circumstances. I'm disgusted, let down and beside myself over this situation. it's keeping me from getting my work done at the computer because I have to sit by Michael's side all day to keep him from scratching himself any more raw than he already is. It's very upsetting. Will call to Dr. tomorrow morning as soon as the clinic opens.

Things get hellacious for a couple of days where I am frequently in tears over it all......

Day 12 Tuesday July 8th: The holistic vet prescibes a natural hydrocortizone and I run down there and pick it up. Also Dr. says to give him some benedryl.

12:00 Noon: Administer Hydrocortizone and Benedryl a little while later. Later in the day Michael has totally chilled out on the scratching!

Day 13 Wednesday July 9th: Breakfast: Herbs, both pills @ 7am

Scratching like mad from about 5am - 7am I get up two or three times to search for the )_@)@(#*$()%)()( culprit, but cannot get my eyes open enough to find the bugger......

Day 14 Thursday July 10th: Belly looks "normal" no pink at all!!! No scratching!!

Day 15 Friday July 11th: Breakfast Herbs, natural hydrocort. pill

Mid Day: gave Benedryl as Michael was starting to scratch

Day 16 Saturday July 12th: Scratching and licking in the early morning hours....

Breakfast: herbs & both pills
midday at show: Michael doing good, having great day visiting with everyone at the show. ate light snack in afternoon.
Dinner at 7p
Doing good, hardly any scratching!

Day 17 Sunday July 13: Doing good at the show. Starting to scratch a little bit.
am Breakfast: Last of the herbs. 1 natural hydrocort. pill. No benedryl
pm Home very late after show. Michael scarfed down his dinner innova kibble & real chicken off the bone.

Day 18 Monday July 14th: Starting to scratch. Checking for fleas. Pulled off FOUR fleas!
Breakfast: Hydrocort pill. No benedryl

Michael had a really messed up tummy day! Super loose had to go several times. poor baby. yucky tummy.

PM dinner: dry kibble only

Day 19 Tuesday July 15th: Breakfast with a tiny bit of innova wet just to get down hydrocort pill.
Bowels loose
Called vet took sample to them by 6pm. Should hear back tomorrow morning.

Day 20 Weds July 16th: very light breakfast, no pills, no tummy movement.
very light dinner. finally late in day bowel movement, appears mostly normal.
No call from vets regarding stool results.

Day 21 Thursday July 17th:
Michael scratching all night. Got up at 1:30 am to give him a benedryl.
7am light dry kibble with a sprinkle of brewers. Gave hydrocort pill
Bowels loose again. No word from vet as of 8:45am
Called vet in afternoon. Negative result in stool test. He should be fine. Dr. thinks my stress level is affecting Michaelangelo. (My stress level has been higher than I can ever remember it being. I feel sick in my stomach a lot of the time.) Dr. suggests Sweet Potato or Yams blended and added to his food. MMMMMmmm. I love sweet potato.
Went to the beach for afternoon meditation near sunset. We took lots of happy pictures cuddling on the beach.
PM Dinner: Dry Innova kibble.
9:30pm Benedryl. Tummy pink. Checkin' for fleas.

Day 22 Friday July 18: Still having tummy problems. Itchy! Red Tummy! NOT HAPPY!
Dry kibble & brewers yeast
am hydrocort pill


Day 23 Saturday July 19th:
benedryl & hydrocort pills
dry kibble drizzled with flax seed oil
NORMAL POOPS!!

pm dry kibble with baked organic sweet potato slices from Trader Joes
normal poops!!
10:30pm red itchy gave benedryl

Day 24 Sunday July 20th:
am: hydro cort pill
dry kibble with warmed sweet potato LOVES LOVES LOVES sweet potato!
pm: dry kibble with sweet potato!

Day 25 Monday July 21st:
am: hyrdo pill, dry kibble & sweet potato. very itchy, scratching....
pm: