A Thankful Poetic Thursday

First and foremost, today we are sending our purrs, barks, and prayers to Marg of Marg's Animals.

Marg was admitted to the hospital yesterday morning, and in the afternoon she had surgery for the placement of a pacemaker. She is recovering and doing well, for which we are so very thankful. That's why today we are beginning our Thursday with Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

We are thankful that kind and caring Marg is doing well. She is a great friend to so many, and all of her furbabies are so very lucky to have her. All of us here are sending our warm well wishes your way, Marg!

As per usual, we are also partaking in the Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge, hosted by the ever so handsome Angel Sammy and Teddy.

Today we have reached the final letter of the alphabet, that being Z. We have enjoyed this round of poetry so very much, and we will be continuing with it when it starts up again next. Our fun and fantastic hosts have a new idea for the next round of this poetic challenge, so be sure to visit them and see what fun is in store!

Oh, but of course here is our Z of a poem.

Zorro the Zoologist

Have you ever played bingo

With a pretty pink flamingo?

Have you ever had a laugh

With a funny, friendly giraffe?

If anyone has, it’s Zorro,

For he is the zoology pro.

Zorro the Zoologist has a great many friends.

His love for all creatures knows no end.

Spending time with all sorts of species

Makes Zorro the Zoologist feel quite peachy.

If you have any questions about the panda bear,

Zorro the Zoologist has plenty of facts to share.

He can even teach you a thing or two about the chimpanzee,

And about all sorts of creatures who live in the trees.

Zorro the Zoologist is the one you should seek,

If you need facts on anything with fur, scales, or beak.

After all, Zorro the Zoologist has much knowledge to impart,

For he is not only kind but also quite smart.

As always, we drew our inspiration from a real life Zorro. To visit him, just click there on his name! And, of course we doodled up a little something for Zorro the Zoologist.

Stay tuned tomorrow for another of our Black Cats of Christmas doodle. Though his doodle may not be as festive, don't you think Zorro is a mighty handsome black kitty?

Wishing you all a wonderful Thursday!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today’s tip is a very long one, and it relates to a fact that especially all cat parents really should know. And this is that there is currently no true treatment for heartworms in cats. There are treatments available for dogs that can kill the adult heartworms, but this does not work the same for cats. One reason for this is that the drug used to treat heartworms in dogs has been found, in some cases, to cause sudden death in cats. This is often due to dead or dying heartworms causing blockages and cardiac failure. Another reason why treatments may not work is because the life cycle of a heartworm is different in a dog versus a cat.

In dogs, the lifespan of a heartworm is longer, around five to seven years. This lifespan includes larvae entering the body after a mosquito bite, traveling to the heart, and then growing into mature, reproducing adults. Dogs are an optimal host for heartworms.

In cats, the heartworm lifespan is far shorter, often two to three years. What’s more, cats are not a prime host for heartworms, and a cat’s body itself often overcomes the heartworms, typically before they can even enter into adulthood. This is why far less adult heartworms are found in cats than are found in dogs. Even immature heartworms, which are typically what would circulate in the blood and be indicative of disease in a canine heartworm test, are often not found in the blood of cats. This is why cats are less commonly diagnosed with heartworm disease. Then again, though, it is not impossible for a cat to have heartworm disease, and in this case, heartworms cannot be killed as they can in dogs.

For cats, one of the only options for a cure is to have the heartworms surgically removed. This, of course, can be tricky and risky. Symptoms of the disease can also perhaps be controlled and the cat made comfortable with various medications and supportive treatments. Given that a cat might be able to outlive the heartworms, it is possible to treat the symptoms while the heartworms go through their cycle and ultimately die. As mentioned earlier, though, heartworms can live for two to three years in a cat, and there is still always the risk of pulmonary or cardiac failure while the heartworms remain.

With such limited treatment options for heartworms in cats, it is incredibly important to again note that the best option is to keep your cats on heartworm prevention. The risk of heartworm disease might seem small, but it is a risk nonetheless. And, just as always, it is better to be safe than sorry.

And, there is one last note for pup parents. Though there is a more successful heartworm treatment for dogs, heartworm disease can cause permanent damage. This can lead to lifelong issues, such as of the heart and lungs, even after the heartworms are eradicated. For this reason, heartworm prevention is of course also recommended for dogs.

So, there you have it. That was an incredibly long Tip of the Day, but we wanted to share these facts about heartworm for the safety all of our furry friends.