Guest Sunday Selfie

Today's selfie stars one of my parents' kitties. His name is Flitwick, he's the littermate to our very own Tonks and Winky, and he's downright adorable.

For anyone who might remember, Flitwick is the little guy who had a bit of a health scare when he struggled with some crystals in his bladder and difficulty urinating a few months ago. These days, though, he's doing very well. He's now on a special diet and takes medications as needed, and he hasn't had any urinary issues in something like two months now. That makes us all very happy.

Happy Sunday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is yet another one from the sort of gothic winter series I shared last year. It's also what inspired the next new series of doodles we'll be sharing.

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Tip of the Day

As part of our series of tips for National Pet Dental Health Month, today we'll be discussing some of the symptoms to look out for related to dental disease. First up, of course, is halitosis, or bad breath. This can signify any number of issues, including an infected tooth or gum disease. Of course, bad breath can also come with certain diseases, such as oral cancer or even kidney disease. For these reasons and more, never ignore abnormally rank breath in your cat or dog. Moving on from bad breath, though, if your kitty or pup is suffering from certain dental issues, they may also of course have a decreased appetite, or seem pained or have difficulties when eating. In some dental cases, you also might notice blood or excess drool coming from their mouth. There is also the chance you might visibly notice broken teeth, loose teeth, discolored teeth, or even tartar buildup. Also don't forget that the teeth are in close proximity to and therefore often linked to the eyes and nasal cavity, and so discharge from either of these can also potentially signify an oral concern. All in all, if you smell, see, or in any way notice concerns relating to your furbaby's mouth, or any part of their body, do be sure to have them examined by a veterinarian. Dental health can even be linked to heart health and other systems of the body, so this is again one of those cases in which it is always better to be safe than sorry.