Monday, March 18, 2024

Medical Mancat Monday

First and foremost, I wanted to share my prayers and condolences with Ellen of 15andmeowing following the loss of her beautiful Lucy.

Lucy was so blessed to know love, thanks to Ellen. What a beautiful angel Lucy was, is, and always will be.



***

I started typing out a whole long explanation for yet another weekend absence on our part, but let me see if I can make it short-ish, not-so-sweet, and almost to the point.

Evan started straining to both defecate and urinate on Friday night. He also started passing blood in his urine. I was able to get his urinary issues to settle down on Friday night with additional doses of his medications, and then he was seen at the vet on Saturday morning. Thankfully he did not have a urethral obstruction, but we have increased multiple of his urinary medication dosages and frequencies. Evan also was officially diagnosed with megacolon this weekend. He received an enema to help with that in the moment, and he was able to get lots of stool out on Saturday and a bit out on Sunday as a result. He is still, however, straining to urinate and is passing blood and now blood clots as of last night and this morning.


I know that photo looks dramatically sad, but that was Evan simply trying to make himself look invisible at the vet. He had just gotten out a large amount of urine when the vet tech expressed him, which was good, but he seemed pretty sure that if pretended to sleep he would be left alone. Sorry, buddy, but no such luck.


Evan was already scheduled for his usual sanitary shave today, so I dropped him off at the vet's groomer this morning. After this weekend's enema and other events, the grooming was very much needed. When I dropped him off, I also had the receptionist leave a note for the vet, to let her know that he's still straining to urinate, still passing blood, and now also passing blood clots. He also might still be doing some straining to defecate, despite all of the stool passed this weekend, but sometimes Evan's hind limb paralysis seems to make his internal tracts all shades of confused.

What's more, my dad ended up in the ER on Saturday. He was having back and abdominal pain and couldn't keep anything down, not even water. Despite all sorts of tests and imaging, nothing major was found, and the ER doctor believes he's either having a flare related to gallstones, or that he has some sort of intestinal virus that presented in this way. Thankfully, my dad was able to come home that afternoon and with some medications of his own has been slowly feeling better.

While I'll try to keep some sort of schedule, if a miss a post over the next day or two, don't be alarmed. Evan is currently on so many medications at so many intervals as we're trying to settle his urethral issues, not to mention his urethral spasms and urine straining have been happening all hours of the day and night, that my sleep and schedule in general are completely off the rails. I'm trying to stay on top of things, but I just thought I'd mention this, in case I miss a post over the next day or two.

Either way, have a wonderful Monday, friends!



***
Flashback Doodle of the Day




***
Tip of the Day

We've given past tips on the dangers of paint products, but we're going to repeat this for National Pet Poison Awareness Month. Unsurprisingly, paint, varnish, and other similar products can be toxic to our furbabies. Lead paints can of course cause lead poisoning, which can cause a variety of severe symptoms, including those of the gastrointestinal and neurological systems. Lead can also be detrimental to red blood cells, brain function, and other important processes in the body. Oil-based paints can also be dangerous, potentially causing diarrhea as well as having serious effects on the lungs. They may also contain heavy metals and thereby cause symptoms similar to those of lead paint toxicity. Products such as varnish can also have similar negative side effects as paint.

Also keep in mind that paint and paint products can emit dangerous fumes. Especially without proper ventilation, inhalation of the fumes can cause irritation of the lungs or symptoms such as dizziness. To avoid emergencies related to the ingestion or inhalation of paint or other paint products, of course keep these items well out of reach of your furbabies. Try to keep your furbabies safely out of areas that are being painted. Should ingestion or inhalation of paint products occur, do not hesitate to seek veterinary assistance.

Friday, March 15, 2024

Friendly Fill-Ins and Elusive Eddy

Hello, friends! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. I enjoy watching _________.

2. I _________ on St. Patrick's Day.

3. Others come to me when they need help with _________.

4. _________ is my lucky charm.


My answers are below in bold.

1. I enjoy watching my kitties and pup as they sleep.
(Because they're downright adorable and I'm a creep like that. What more can I say?)

2. I feast on Dublin Coddle on St. Patrick's Day.
(My mom always cooks up some Irish-inspired foods on St. Patrick's Day. Most of them are cabbage-based, but as someone who's really just not a fan of cabbage, I instead have myself a hearty serving of the Dublin Coddle my mom makes. It's an Irish sausage and potato stew, and it's delicious.)

3. Others come to me when they need help with cat claws.
(By this I mean I'm the person who cuts most of the family cats' claws. I don't mind. I used to work as a veterinary assistant at a cat clinic, and one of my jobs there was trimming kitty claws, so I grew quite used to it.)

4. My furry family is my lucky charm.
(I'm not a very superstitious person and don't really have items I consider truly lucky. That said, my kitties and pup make me feel like the luckiest person on earth, so that's my answer.)


Now it's your turn!
To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!
You can also click on the badge below to add your link.


You are also welcome to complete the fill-ins in the comments below,
or in the comments on Ellen's blog, 15andmeowing.



***

Who's ready for an Eddy fix? We're sure you all are. Today, you get a rather strange angle of ever elusive Eddy, since she was too busy looking out at the sunny day to say cheese to the camera.


Eddy and all of us here wish you a happy, sunny Friday!



***
Flashback Doodle of the Day




***
Tip of the Day

Our tips for National Pet Poison Awareness Month continue on, and we have yet another random household item to be aware of due to the potentially toxic effects that can result if ingested. What we're talking about today are coinsCoins, such as pennies, contain zinc, which can lead to toxicity and serious side effects if ingested in large enough quantities. Zinc poisoning can result in vomiting as well as increased respiration rate and heart rate. Zinc can also damage blood cells. For these reasons, as well as for the choking and obstruction hazards that coins can pose, be sure to always keep coins out of your kitty or pup's reach. Some animals will put anything and everything into their mouth, which could of course lead to danger with items such as coins. So, keep those coins safely tucked away.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Too Cute for Words

Hello and happy Thursday, friends! Thimble is of course ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is grateful for warm and cozy places to nap.


And, of course, Thimble is also thankful for belly rubs, and for how adorable she is when she rolls around. Even when blurry, she's simply too cute for words.




You are indeed free to rub that belly. Thimble loves to have that belly tickled and smooched and all that good stuff, for which I myself am very grateful.



***

Now, let's share the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I enjoy watching _________.

2. I _________ on St. Patrick's Day.

3. Others come to me when they need help with _________.

4. _________ is my lucky charm.


We'll see you tomorrow, friends!



***

Before we go, though, we want to wish everyone a Happy Pi(e) Day! For anyone who might not know what on earth I'm talking about, the mathematical constant known as pi, that being 𝜋, equals 3.14. So, March 14 is Pi(e) Day.


I failed to finish my new Pi(e) Day drawing this week. I'll complete it soon and share it then, along with a number of other doodles I have complete and need to scan and upload to share. But I digress. For today, here's an old doodle of Angel Rosie the Baker. She says you can pretend this pie is whatever you want, whether that be banana pie, lemon meringue pie, pineapple pie, or whatever else you're craving.




***
Tip of the Day

Today's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip is about essential oils. There are a wide variety of essential oils on the market, and there are also a wide variety of reactions your furbaby might display if exposed to certain essential oils. Some essential oils can indeed be poisonous to our kitties or pups, kitties typically being especially sensitive to them. Depending on the type of oil and its concentration, exposure to and ingestion of an essential oil can lead to potentially serious side effects, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty walking, just to name a couple.

To prevent any accidental toxicity or emergencies, it might be best to simply prevent your furbaby from coming into contact with any essential oils, to ensure that your furbaby does not come into contact with one containing a toxic ingredient. This would mean refraining from putting essential oils on your kitty or pup, or placing essential oil diffusers anywhere near where your furbaby can reach. Also keep in mind that essential oils and their fragrances can also potentially cause respiratory irritation, with symptoms such as ocular discharge, nasal discharge, or signs related to asthma. When in doubt, keep essential oils, essential oil diffusers, and any other similar products well away from your furbaby, as their health and safety is not worth the risk.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Adventures with Astrid: Greener on the Other Side

For today's adventure with Astrid, the pup wants to first take you back to a walk we took a couple weeks ago.


Do you see the not-so-green grass there? It was still pretty dead, as you can tell. That said, shall we fast forward to a walk from earlier this week? You'll see a bit more color in this one. See?


The green grass is officially here, friends! And you better believe Astrid is marking it all as hers on her walks.

Happy Wednesday, friends!



***
Flashback Doodle of the Day




***
Tip of the Day

We have yet more random safety tips for National Pet Poison Awareness Month. Today's tip is to keep that hand sanitizer out of the reach of your furbabies. Hand sanitizer contains alcohol, which means that, especially if ingested in large enough quantities, it can indeed lead to alcohol poisoning. More than likely, hand sanitizer will neither smell nor taste enticing to your kitty or pup. But, some furbabies may simply have strange or unprejudiced tastes, and so keeping any potentially toxic items out of their reach is of course crucial. Keep this in mind not only when it comes to hand sanitizer. Some items can contain toxic ingredients that you might not expect, and some furbabies might not be picky about what they put in their mouths. So, never leave anything questionable within their reach, because it is indeed always better to be safe than sorry.

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Sleepy Tonks Tuesday

It's Tonks Tuesday, and it's a sleepy one today.


Tonks isn't the most likely kitty to seek out a human lap, so when she does choose mine, I feel so honored. Not to mention I just love oohing and awwing over at that cute face of hers. Honestly, just look at it!

Happy Tuesday, friends! Tonks is wishing you all lots of naps today!



***
Flashback Doodle of the Day




***
Tip of the Day

Still continuing on with our National Pet Poison Awareness Month, we are today reminding you to keep any questionable kitchen products well out of reach of your furbabies. Just as laundry detergents can be dangerous, so can those used in the kitchen. Dishwasher detergent or tablets, for example, can often have corrosive or other dangerous side effects. Other potentially toxic kitchen products include degreasers, oven cleaners, and drain cleaners. These products can also potentially have corrosive effects, among other adverse reactions. If your furbaby ingests any such products, they might display gastrointestinal distress, oral ulcers, lethargy, or other symptoms. As always, if you think your kitty or pup might have ingested a toxic kitchen product, seek veterinary assistance.

Monday, March 11, 2024

Mancat Monday: Co-Starring the Ear

Hello, friends! I'm yet again sorry for disappearing for a couple days this weekend. I spent a good chunk of the weekend doing yard work. The weather was lovely, and there was a project I've been meaning to finish for quite some time now. It's not quite done yet, but it's very close. That said, working on that meant I didn't open my laptop even once this weekend. This is why it's still a goal of mine to soon get back to scheduling our posts days in advance. Anyway.

It's Mancat Monday, so here's a dose of handsome mancat Evan for you, co-starring his aural (ear) hematoma.



I know Evan looks rather sad in those photos, but I promise he was purring and enjoyed some treats both before and after these were snapped. Evan's floppy ear makes him look so dejected, but his ear in these photos is actually an improvement. It sort of plateaued at this stage over the past week, but I hope it continues to shrink again soon.

Evan has had mostly good days lately. This whole ear hematoma really had him acting differently there for awhile. While he's still not fully past all of the annoyance with his ear, he's acting a lot more like himself again. He's still on all of his medications, which help with the ear as well as his urinary and intestinal issues. Not that he's a huge fan of having nearly half a dozen drugs shoved down his throat every day, but he's a good boy and let's me do it anyway.

Evan hopes you all enjoyed seeing his handsome self today! And he promises he's not as sad as he looks in these photos. He's purring for you, actually. Can you hear it?



***

Now, wonderful Ellen of 15andmeowing brought to my attention that it's time to announce our themes for this year's April A to Z Challenge. I hadn't even noticed that fact myself, so I'm glad she's far more on top of things than I am.



I will indeed be participating this year, of course again in the form of doodles. And this year's doodles will be of the theme...All Things Cat. I won't say exactly what that means just yet, but this flashback doodle here sort of inspired this year's theme, and so it might point you in the direction of what you'll perhaps be seeing from me this April.


That old drawing there is actually not too terribly timed, since this Thursday is Pi(e) Day. I only just realized that, but now I hope to scribble up a new pie-ish doodle for the occasion. We'll see how that goes.

That said, I've been working on this year's A to Z doodles for months now. They're a bit different than my usual drawings, but they're still of a feline nature, and hopefully you'll enjoy seeing them as much as I'm enjoying scribbling them up.



***
Tip of the Day

Our next set of tips for National Pet Poison Awareness Month will cover some of the random household items that could potentially be toxic to your kitty or pup. To begin, don't forget that some laundry products could lead to ill effects for your furbaby. For example, fabric softeners and dryer sheets often contain detergents that can be corrosive in nature. If your cat or dog gets into such products, the adverse reactions could include gastrointestinal distress, oral ulcers, and lethargy. For such reasons, do be sure to keep all laundry products well out of reach of your furbaby. If your kitty or pup does get into any such products, do not hesitate to seek veterinary assistance.

Friday, March 8, 2024

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Eyes

Hello, friends! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. If someone offered me a free _________, I would accept it.

2. If someone offered me a free _________, I would refuse it.

3. I have _________ memorized.

4. _________ has really changed since I was younger.


My answers are below in bold.

1. If someone offered me a free goodie for my cats or dog, I would accept it.
(Food, treats, toys, or anything that could benefit my kitties or pup, I'll happily accept. As long as it's something safe for them, that is.)

2. If someone offered me a free concert ticket, I would refuse it.
(This especially goes for certain artists, including most modern artists. Everyone of course has their own tastes, but I'm one of the people you couldn't pay to go see someone like Taylor Swift, for example. I'm just not into that kind of music or the hype around it. In general, though, I'm just not a big fan of concerts. I love music, but from the calm, quiet comfort of my home, car, or earbuds.)

3. I have our vet clinic's phone number memorized.
(This is mostly thanks to my boy Evan and his constant trips to the vet, and my constant trips to go pick up his medication refills.)

4. The world has really changed since I was younger.
(I was debating what specific answer to put for this, but I couldn't settle on one, so this is what I've got to offer.)


Now it's your turn!
To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!
You can also click on the badge below to add your link.


You are also welcome to complete the fill-ins in the comments below,
or in the comments on Ellen's blog, 15andmeowing.



***

Who's ready for their Eddy fix? All of you? Well, lucky you, because we have for you a shot of Eddy cuddling in bed in the morning sun.


I've said this before, but I love this girl's eyes. Obviously I love all of her, but her eyes are just gorgeous. And of course I'm not biased or anything like that.

Happy Friday, friends!



***
Flashback Doodle of the Day




***
Tip of the Day

I'm sure I don't need to tell you all, but as part of our tips for National Pet Poison Awareness Month, we're here to remind you that many human medications are indeed toxic to our furbabies. One of the most common pet poison emergency culprits is ibuprofen. It can be very dangerous and even fatal if ingested by your kitty or pup, and its side effects can include gastrointestinal distress or even kidney failure. Ibuprofen is of course not the only human medication that can have dire consequences for our cats and dogs, though. Decongestants such as excess pseudoephedrine can also be toxic, as well as medications for treating blood pressure and ADD/ADHD, just to name a couple. Needless to say, keep any and all human medications hidden away in a secure cabinet, drawer, or other such confines.

It is also worth noting that certain topical creams and ointments that we humans use can also be dangerous for cats and dogs. These such medications can be sneaky as well, since you might apply a potentially toxic cream to your skin, then you might forget about it, and then your furbaby might lick your skin or even clothing that touched the topical medication. This, in turn, can possibly result in toxicity. As a couple of examples, creams for pain management or hormone treatment can easily contain ingredients that could lead to life-threatening side effects for your kitty or pup. So, not only should you safely store medications, but you must also be diligent about how you might be exposing your furbaby to toxic ingredients.