Toesies Tuesday

I asked Astrid to let me snap a shot of some of her toesies, in honor of the fact that she's having the tumor on her paw pad removed today. After she realized what was going on, though, she refused and kept her paws to herself. Evan stepped up for his puppy sister Astrid, though, and so he has some toesies to share with you today.

We want to thank everyone who has been sending us purrs, barks, thoughts, and prayers for Astrid! The veterinarian is optimistic about the removal, and though we will not know for absolute certain until the biopsy is done, we are pretty sure the tumor is benign. Though I trust our vet's office completely, I know I will be a nervous wreck until Astrid is out of surgery and all is well.

Happy Tuesday to all!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:

Continuing on with our discussion on protein yesterday, today's tip is about how protein in pet food plays a role in food allergies. Food allergies are often in response to a particular protein in a cat or dog's food. Such a food allergy typically manifests as itchy skin, sores on the skin, hair loss, and other dermatological issues. This type of food allergy will develop after an animal has already previously been exposed to a certain type of protein found in food, as it is the resulting antibodies that lead to the allergic reaction. This is why, in order to help treat or prevent food allergies, a novel protein diet is often recommended. In other words, if an animal has food allergies, it is often suggested that they be put on a type of food made with a protein to which they have never before been exposed. This might be duck, venison, rabbit, or another novel protein. In many cases, this will help to alleviate the symptoms of food allergies. Of course, though, it is always best to discuss these options with a veterinarian!