A Caturday Art Birthday Card

Today is the birthday of this here human's sister. My sister is the mom to our housemates Toby and Winky, and she is the other mother to pup Astrid. I always doodle up birthday cards for my family members, and it's pretty much tradition now that I share these doodles with all of you.

Just as has been the case with numerous past birthday doodles for my sister, this one was inspired by the Harry Potter series. Both my sister and I grew up reading and watching Harry Potter, and my sister is a pretty big fanatic of the series. This doodle was inspired by multiple scenes in Harry Potter, and I took some artistic liberties in blending together various aspects of those various scenes. Don't worry, though, because there is a kitty involved.

If I was being true to the scene from which I pulled that kitty character, it would be a tabby cat. But, my sister loves her some black cat, so black cat it is. That particular black cat is based on my sister's lady cat Winky, perhaps because Winky herself is named after a Harry Potter character.

Tomorrow will start our little series of Valentine's doodles for this year. As I mentioned the other day, be prepared for kitties, pups, and lots of sweet treats in honor of the day that is February 14th.

Happy birthday to my sister! And happy Caturday to all!

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday we discussed symptoms you might notice if your furbaby is suffering from any number of dental issues or diseases. Our tip for today is a bit of a long one, and it will wrap up our dental tips. We'll start with the recommendation of, of course, taking your furbaby to be seen by a veterinarian if you notice any dental concerns. Your veterinarian can take a look in your cat or dog's mouth to get a basic idea of what might be going on. They might be able to see a broken tooth, an abscess or infected tooth, gingivitis or other gum disease, or masses growing within the mouth. Of course, a simple exam may not reveal everything, and when dental disease is noted or suspected, it might very well be recommended that the animal go under anesthesia for a more thorough dental exam, dental x-rays, dental cleaning, or extractions.

If a dental procedure is recommended, of course discuss the necessary details, options, and plans with the veterinarian. Make sure that both you and your veterinarian are on the same page. If your furbaby has other existing diseases, such as those of the kidney or heart and lungs, of course discuss with your veterinarian if or how it is best to safely proceed with a procedure.

If a dental procedure is scheduled, make sure that you understand all preparations for it. Give your kitty or pup any prescribed pre-op medications, such as antibiotics, if applicable. Just as we recently discussed in one of our spay/neuter tips, also be sure to pull your furbaby's food at 10 pm or so the night before the surgery, or whenever you are instructed to do so, in order to reduce the risk of aspiration while under anesthesia.

Also make sure you understand all post-op care. For example, give antibiotics, pain killers, or other medications as instructed. Some dental work, such as tooth extractions, requires that your furbaby go off of dry food and exclusively eat moist food for at least a couple or a few days after the procedure. Be sure that you understand if this is required, so that your furbaby can recover and heal as quickly and efficiently as possible. After dental work is performed, also make sure that you understand if your veterinarian recommends at-home care from then on out, such as brushing your cat or dog's teeth or applying certain oral medications on a regular basis to help prevent future concerns.