Molly, 13 yr, shih tzu - lhasa aspo - Molly has passed

A truly stinky poultice that may help -

Materials needed:
• One medium onion
• 2 Tbsps ground corn meal
• Apple Cider vinegar, 2 Tbsps
• Cheese cloth
• Flannel, wool scarf, or cloth
• Small amount of Olive oil

Instructions:

Peel the onion and place into a skillet that has been coated with the tsp of vegetable oil. Bring the skillet to a medium heat and sauté until they are clear. Do not brown.

Sprinkle in the cornmeal and vinegar. Stir well until the onions are mixed - you want a poultice that holds together and won’t fall apart once it is placed on afflicted area. Take the pan off the heat. Cut a piece of cheese cloth (or old cotton T-shirt) twice as big as the area to which the poultice is to be applied.

Drop some onion poultice onto the cloth and fold it in a neat package. Make sure that the poultice is at least 1/2 inch thick and not so hot as to burn the skin.
Place poultice over the area to be treated and cover with flannel or wool. Keep on at least 20 minutes or until the poultice is cool.



And a garlic soup -

Garlic Soup (bugs-be-gone)

You need:
about 4 whole bulbs of garlic, up to six if you wish
3 Tablespoons good olive oil or butter
about a quart of home-made, rich chicken or turkey stock
4 egg yolks
plus whole plain yogurt, chopped almonds and lots of parsley to top

All you do is:
Crush the cloves and slip off the skins, Toss the smushed cloves into a Dutch-Oven size saucepan (stainless steel, cast iron or enamel, please) with the oil and sauté oh-so-carefully, making sure not to brown (browned garlic is bitter tasting). When the garlic is soft, add the stock and simmer about half an hour, again very gently. Cool, and then squeeze the stock through cheesecloth or a sieve, into a bowl.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks until thick with a whisk and pour into the large pot. Start slowly beating in a Tbsp. or two at a time of the now cooled garlic broth. When you have about a half cup beaten in, you can add the rest of the broth in a steady drizzle. Heat to a boil, and remove. As soon as it's cooled but still nice and warm, serve in large bowls topped with a dollop of yogurt, chopped almonds and parsley.

If you like, you can add salt; other herbs to taste, of course, and adding home made chicken broth gives it a new taste as well as healthy punch.


Lots and lots of water, plain pure water, room temp is best. Keeping in an upright or slanted position like Valerie suggested will help. The steaming is a good idea as well and you can use some Rosemary (if you have access to some fresh) or something like Mentholatum to help open the airways with the steam. A gentle knocking on his back while coughing may help move some of the gunk. The times he's feeling up to it, getting up and moving around as much as possible helps break it up as well. An old wives tale that has worked at times for me is to put Vick's VapoRub or Mentholatum on the soles of the feet then cover with socks to help with coughing.

Sending healing energies to you both,
Leslie

Sharlene:
I have an even more stinky one, but my grandmother taught it to me and it works. Take 2 egg yolks and add 6 teaspoons of spirits of turpentine- yes I did say turpentine. Blend with a mixer of blender drop turpentine in a teaspoon at a time into the yolks. Spread on cotton poultice and put on your chest. I use this many times when sick. My grandmother even had her sister take one to the hospital for her one time and the Dr's were amazed at it. Blessings
Patti

Molly is no longer impressed that both of us are home with her. Seems that is only a good thing if the couch is going to be shared with her and right now it is solely hubs and the pillows to keep him in the upright position. So, not a happy molly. tsk tsk

He did okay last night, got some sleep, which is beneficial. No he isn't lying flat down. Drinking lots of water to keep things fluid in there.

I cancelled the hotel in Montreal for this weekend. No way hubs is going anywhere for awhile. Might end up canceling vacation in Feb too, since he is missing weeks of work right now. Just another we'll wait and see how things play out. The here and now is most important. :)

We'll do okay, thanks for the tips everyone. I'm excelling and throwing garlic in anything and everything right now. He is eating eggs every day and creamy style soups, but not made with milk. Tonight I'll make a shepherds pie and portion it up in the fridge for something easy for him to heat up.

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Hi Sharlene,
awww, your poor husband still fighting this horrible cough, and you too-are you feeling better yourself? Molly's getting a little sick of you two being home?? It would probably suit her just fine, if you were both 100% and playing with her all day! :D
Hoping you both feel better soon

Barbara

How is everyone doing, I,m hoping that you and your hubs are better and that poor Molly gets her sofa back :D

Sharlene:
Wow all of you have really had a go at this illness. That is terrible your poor hubby got so bad. I am praying for you all to get healthy and recover soon. Blessings
Patti

Hello Sister Sharlene, how is the patient? Hope you are seeing signs of it easing. As you know pneumonia is not something to mess about with and I am sure your other family members are worried sick about him the poor things, he always sounds like such a rock and a good man in your posts and I really hope he has turned the corner and not required another trip back to the hospital. Sometimes IV antibiotics are needed so hope he has perked up and able to move on the couch to give Molly some room :)

Second party cancelled eh! Well that sucks and hubs is going to have to take you somewhere special to make up for this when he has recovered :D:D although I am sure you would settle for a healthy hubs at this point!

Hope your feeling better too and Molly is holding up while everyone else is down.. been thinking of you xxxxxx

:) Hubs IS doing better. I think we got it quickly, xray borderline thursday then 1/8 right side on Sat, antibiotics started.

He is coughing less today than other days, not coughing up as much gunk and his eyes are better. I have been to the hospital to pick up a copy of xrays, taken those to family doctor, consulted with the family doctor about him, have an order to get another xray done (prob early next week) so all in all I'm okay with the progress he is making and if the xray next week isn't clear, I'll ask for more anitibiotics or something to help clear it up.

Molly is, well she is molly. She's not happy that she isn't getting enough play time, so much barking at her toy box, etc for us to come play with her and then running around and huffing if we don't pay attention. All this just tells me she is feeling pretty good and is not happy that we aren't.

I'm on the mend too, just a bit of coughing now and then, but I didn't get the same thing he did obviously.

Yea, I'll take him at being a-okay and everything else we'll just work out.

I think next week will actually bring more improvement. At least I hope so.
Yes the family is worried, of course they are and doesn't help that they can't talk to him directly. Talking = major coughing. To adapt, I'm sending out email updates once a day on how he is doing.

hugs all
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Scary how quickly it can go from being a "virus" or "cold" to be full on pneumonia so good on you for taking him back. Phew good to see progress being made though, any steps in the right direction is good news!! Your family must be pleased to read those emails each day.

He needs a toy on a string he can throw for Miss Molly and then reel it back in so he doesn't need to get up or do anything to strenuous and keep our little Miss entertained!! xxx

Glad to hear that hubs is on the mend or at least heading in the right direction must have been a worry for you, and the family.

Hopefully next week brings more good health for you both and poor Molly can get her house back :p