This visit was much more pleasant than the first. The clinic was on schedule, so we were seen immediately. I knew what to expect and felt less anxious [Yo-Yo, however, expressed her dissatisfaction by peeing under the exam room bench]. Dr. Skeptical was in a much happier mood and didn't dis the protocol as she had at our last visit. We even had a laugh inventing the circumstances necessary to perform a double-blind study to test the protocol's effectiveness. On a secret island, researchers would establish a colony of 1,000 basenjis, fed by assistants who were paid to do just that, provide sustenance, not get attached as regular owners would. Then, after the 10 percent developed the disease, the other 900 could go up for adoption [Wouldn't the national rescue group love that!]. The remaining 100 would participate in the research. The only problem, as I pointed out, was that basenjis could win over even hardened scientists who, as a result, would start sneaking sodium bicarbonate to the "sugar pill" group anyway!
I decided to spring for the very expensive ultrasound [$270], just so we would know early in this "adventure" the state of Yo-Yo's kidneys. Dr. Skeptical sent Elizabeth and me away for an hour, and Yo-Yo went to radiology, where she received a Brazilian wax before the procedure. Elizabeth and I drove up the road to Quiznos, and since the restaurant was in a Publix shopping center, we got Yo-Yo a quarter pound of roast beef to make up for the stress of the afternoon and the sandwich stink on our breath. When we returned, Dr. Skeptical had a laptop loaded with pictures of Yo-Yo's insides. Her kidneys are normal size, but the ultrasound showed that her bladder wall was thickened, indicating an infection. There was no blood in her urine, though, and at the last visit, her culture had been "clean." Her walk behavior didn't indicate an infection, either. We stopped to pee just once; if she found a really interesting street corner, she might squeeze out a few extra drops for any other dogs that happened by. Dr. Skeptical decided that we would culture her urine again at the next visit and see what happened.
Elizabeth unwrapped the roast beef, and Yo-Yo gobbled a slice. Elizabeth gave the second slice to Dr. Skeptical, who tore it into little pieces. In typical basenji fashion, Yo-Yo accepted the offerings—it was roast beef after all—but remained aloof to her "torturer." She acted as if Dr. Skeptical's hand was the floor, and she just happened to find bites of beef there.
Yo-Yo still looks good, has high energy, and is her usual spunky self. An extra meatball with breakfast and dinner to accommodate two more sodium bicarbonate pills suits her fine.
Yo-Yo considers whether or not she will forgive the trip to the specialist.
Yo-Yo knows how cute she is.
Not another picture, Ma!
