Safe Return Doubtful

Roja had been unwell with vomiting after eating since Monday, I mentioned it in the last post. Though I thought he had recovered, the issue flared up again later in the week. It was clear he wasn’t digesting any of his food, and was losing weight. On Friday I found a vet that was open on Saturday morning in Oliveira do Hospital, about a half hour drive away. I sent them a message ahead of visiting, but didn’t get a rep,y, and drove over on Saturday morning. I may have been lucky, but the ‘doctor’, a they are referred to here, agreed to see us almost straight away. It wasn’t very busy. 

I was lucky in more than one way though, as I have never been so impressed by the set up at the vets. The receptionist and vet / doctor, a young woman, spoke a few words of English, and we used a translate app to help us get by. Obviously the vet wanted to confirm it was Gastroenteritis, and find out why it occurred. She suggested a blood test. I immediately thought of the last one Roja had had, a couple of years ago, which cost £150 and took a week to get results back from. This was 50 euros and the surgery had the equipment for it to take twenty minutes. The vet was concerned that the large bony lump Roja has on his rib may be malignant, and the cause. The blood test came back negative, and normal. She then suggested an ultrasound test, again 50 euros, and again, they had all the equipment at the surgery. While waiting for the blood test result I had gone to the supermarket and when I returned the vet had a colleague with her who spoke good English. We saw from the ultrasound nothing of concern other than the stomach was completely full of undigested food. So there was no indication of anything serious causing the Gastroenteritis, and Roja was given some medication and special food for the next few days. 

The vet suggested a biopsy on the lump on his rib. He has had the lump for about eight years now, and my vet in Penrith has always said that it was too difficult to take a biopsy, as the lump was so hard. It took this vet a few seconds to do, and the sample was sent off with the result to come next week. If it proves to be malignant any symptoms can be slowed down. The doctor wants to do something for his dyspraxia also, but will leave it until this result comes through. 

The whole thing took about an hour, and the service was extremely impressive. For visitors from the UK the cost is less than half it would be at home. Roja is of course, much happier now, and should regain the four kilos he lost pretty quickly. 

So his treatment, along with mine for the hand, make it a god idea to stay around the area for a while longer, another week at least I should think. I get the wound on my hand cleaned and redressed a couple of times a week in Coja, four kilometres away. 

The weather has been fine, with a sunny day at this stage of winter now producing enough solar energy to balance the van’s consumption. It’s overcast and drizzly today, but not cold, about 14C. The forecast for the next few days is clear and warm. 

Roja’s digestive problems haven’t stopped him being out though, and we have explored more of the area over the last few days. He wandered into the garden of a very nice house up on the forested hill a day or so ago, and passing the cafe terrace tonight a woman called us over and said it was her garden, and he was welcome anytime. She was originally from Brighton but had lived here with her family for 30 years. There are quite a few British, Dutch and German expats living around here. 

The motorhome / campervan area is busier again at the weekend, though it’s large, and I’m away from the cafe area where there is even some live music on this afternoon. I’m settled in watching Bath and Bedford, less stress than watching the Six Nations, in one screen, and the cricket from Mumbai on the other.