Updates on Kobe and Cappuccino Chunk Muffins

First off, a big thank you to Janel, Monica Jane, Kim, Jo, Rhonda, Brenda, Drick, Allyson and Natashya for leaving such kind compassionate comments regarding our shiba inu Kobe. He is family and our world was turned upside down with all the medical emergency visits to the vet and the cold hard fact that he will eventually be blind.
So - thank you for all who understood and lent a shoulder. I'll never forget it :-)

This boy here turned our lives upside down.


We are just getting over the flu when his eye went bad. We were at the vet Saturday morning then off to the emergency vet center later that day. Monday evening the eye pressure spiked to 72 and he was in serious pain. Off to Northwood Animal Hospital at 8:30 PM and we were there until midnight. So - we've been through the wringer physically and emotionally.

For anyone who has a pet predisposed to glaucoma, this info may help you. Kobe had his appointment with the ophthamologist and after experimenting with various combinations of meds these past few days, the pressures in both eyes are very good right now. It is a relief that we can maintain his vision and control pain for awhile longer with medication. Laser surgery may be needed in Kobe's right eye eventually.

Xalatan and Dorzolomide drops are an excellent combination. He also gets one drop of Timolol twice a day in the "good" eye. Since glaucoma is a bilateral disease, it's a matter of time before the left eye is also affected.

Right now Kobe looks great, and if you didn't know that he had glaucoma you wouldn't be able to tell by looking at him. The current dosages of meds are keeping him pain free, and he is acting more and more like his old self.

Couch Pirate Kobe!


Kobe will most likely end up blind before the end of his life, but the prospect isn't in weeks as we had feared.

After the stress of last week, a treat was in order.

Cappuccino Chunk Muffins



Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsps baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup melted butter, cooled
1 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp instant coffee
1/2 cup chocolate chunks

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease or line 12 muffin tins. Mix coffee into melted butter. Whisk well.

Whisk eggs lightly into the buttermilk with the vanilla extract. In a big bowl mix together both flours, sugar, baking powder & salt.

Now pour in the buttermilk mixture & the butter mixture, and mix in gently. Do not over mix or muffins won't be soft. Fold in chocolate gently just to combine.

Fill prepared muffin pans and bake in preheated oven for 20-22 minutes.



Thanks Tia for posting that recipe. I saw it awhile back and had been meaning to try it.

A tip: They are so dense that, after cooling and sitting for one day, pop them in the microwave for about 25 seconds and they will be just like they came out of the oven. Good!