Mancat Monday

It's Mancat Monday. Do you know what mancat Evan thinks of Mondays?

Mostly, Evan hates when this mom of his here leaves him to go to work on Mondays. Both he and I much prefer when I'm home with the furbabies. Or, perhaps Evan's irritated that I haven't yet used the weed eater to chop down the dandelions that the mower can't reach? That might be it, too. Those weeds are ruining his perfectly good view from his favorite window seat.

How are you all feeling this Monday? We hope you're feeling superb! Happy Monday to all!

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Doodle of the Day

For those who might have missed the weird little memo in some of our recent posts, I'm scribbling up a series of doodles starring a kitty character named Wannabe. I've named her wannabe because she's white lady cat with a pink bow on her head, making her a wannabe Hello Kitty. In my sketchbook, Wannabe is a witch's familiar, and sometimes her witch co-stars in the doodles. That's exactly what is going on in today's doodle, as Wannabe and her witch are enjoying a cozy spring evening in the comfort of their home. Some of you probably think I'm seasonally confused, doodling up witches as summer approaches. You may or may not be correct, but either way, I really enjoy this sort of imagery. We hope you can forgive the wackiness of these doodles and enjoy them nonetheless.

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Tip of the Day

A couple days ago, we talked about ear mites. These mites are not the only kind that can infest our pups and kitties, though. As many of you likely already know, there are other mites that can affect the skin of our furbabies.

There are a number of different mites that can affect our pups or kitties. In dogs, mites that cause sarcoptic mange are perhaps most common, and are also highly contagious between dogs and also to humans. Mites that cause demodectic mange are perhaps a bit less common, as a healthy immune system can often suppress them, and they are also far less contagious. Cats have certain mites that more commonly affect them, such as cheyletiella mites and mites that cause notoedric mange. Both of these are contagious, similarly to the mites that cause sarcoptic mange.

No matter the species of your furbaby, they can potentially be affected by mites. Depending on the type of mite, as well as the pup or kitty's overall health and the severity of the infestation, you might see a variety of symptoms. When it comes to mites and mange, keep an eye out for itching and scratching, hair loss, scabs or scaly skin, and discoloration of the skin, just to name a few.

If you think you see any signs related to mites, or signs of any dermatological issue, have your furbaby seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Not only is itching and scratching uncomfortable, but lesions and secondary infections can result. Left untreated, mites and their side effects can become a risk not only to your furbaby's comfort and happiness, but also to their health.

All of that being said, keep in mind that treatment for mites will likely not only include medications prescribed by your veterinarian. Mites will also need to be eradicated from the environment. You may need to pitch bedding and rugs, or at the very least efficiently wash them in hot water. Do whatever it takes to ensure that your furbaby and their environment is as sanitary and safe as possible, so that they can live a happy, healthy life.