Mancat Monday

Here we are yet again publishing our post much, much later in the morning than we'd like. Work and life in general are just going a bit haywire these days, but I really am determined to get back to a schedule I prefer. For today, though, even though it's late, we're finally here with our post.

So, it's Mancat Monday and Evan is here to wish his auntie a happy birthday!

Evan was looking at his auntie when this photo was snapped. I'm surprised his mouth wasn't open, because Evan loves to chat with and scream at his auntie. We'll just pretend his mouth is open, though, and that he's saying, "Happy birthday, Auntie!"

Evan even snoopervised as I scribbled up his auntie's birthday card. 

That doodle probably makes no sense to most of you, but my sister and I are both fans of the Harry Potter series, and this card is at least a slight homage to a certain house and scene from that series. I also added pup Astrid and my sister's cats Toby and Winky to the mix, because I obviously had to.

Have a magnificent Monday, friends!

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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.