Caturday Art

On Thursday I mentioned how my twin uncles' cat Oleander had a urinary blockage and was hospitalized at our local emergency vet clinic. You amazing friends of ours sent him lots of purrs and prayers, and for that we are so thankful. What's more, those purrs and prayers worked. Oleander is doing much better. He is no longer blocked and is urinating on his own. And, though his kidney values had skyrocketed following his blockage, they are now back in the normal range. Oleander is finally going home today, with a full armory of medications and instructions.

Thank you all so much for your purrs and prayers for Oleander! He and our entire family are beyond grateful!

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Now, how about we participate in Athena's Caturday Art Blog Hop?

It's another winter doodle today. This is the penultimate doodle in our current winter series, which involves a more classic winter aesthetic. It's not Christmas anymore, but we did throw some candy canes in this doodle. After all, I like me some peppermint hot cocoa.

Our next short winter series of doodles will involve a slightly more gothic or dark aesthetic. If I'm being honest, as someone who enjoys gothic and eccentric things, I'm looking even more forward to the next winter series of doodles. It's just more my preferred style.

Anyway. Shall we stop rambling? Yes, we shall.

Purrs and happy Caturday, friends!

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Tip of the Day

Among other things, February is National Pet Dental Health Care Month. So, of course we'll be giving a couple of tips on keeping those pearly whites healthy and happy. Let's start with a quick discussion on at-home care and dental disease prevention. First and foremost, of course, is the act of brushing your furbaby's teeth, which can help remove food morsels, plaque, and other debris that could lead to tartar and other dental issues. Though this is not a job that every furbaby enjoys or even allows, if they are trained to accept it and it is done correctly, brushing can help keep those teeth healthy and happy. There are pet-friendly toothpastes and other oral cleansers out there, as well as pet-friendly toothbrushes and other similar tools for cleaning those teeth. There are even products on the market that more heavily focus on helping treat gum disease, such as for those furbabies with a history of gingivitis or stomatitis. Not all dental products are created equally, though, so if you are unsure what is safest or best for your furbaby, then most certainly discuss the options with your veterinarian.

There are also other types of products on the market that can potentially help teeth remain as healthy as possible. These of course include treats and food formulated for dental health. This is something that again can be discussed with your veterinarian, as he or she will best be able to guide you to products that are the most reliable and effective.

Dental care can of course start at home, but do keep in mind that it is still possible for tartar, gingivitis or stomatitis, and other forms of dental disease to arise even with brushing and other at-home care being used. Tomorrow we'll discuss some of the symptoms you might notice if your furbaby's oral health is in need of further assistance.