Woof Woof Wednesday

A certain pup around here has a birthday this weekend. Despite what her seemingly bored or pouty expression might convey here, she's actually quite excited.

Doesn't Astrid look excited? No? Well, pretend she does. It's hard to look excited when you're pouting in the window. Don't worry, though, because Astrid didn't have to pout for long. She got to go on her walk after this shot was snapped. Let's just say this pup was far more excited to walk through nearly a foot of snow than this here human was.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Since this is Astrid's day of the week to post, and since her birthday is on Saturday, today we've decided to share her birthday card from last year as a flashback doodle.

This Saturday, on Astrid's birthday, we'll share her birthday card for this year. That will also be the day of the Caturday Art Blog Hop, so you better believe pup Astrid's kitty siblings will be co-starring in her birthday doodle.

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Tip of the Day

We have a couple more tips related to this National Cat Health Care Month. These last ones are some random bits and pieces to help keep your kitty as happy and healthy as possible. Today it's all about those ears. Just as with humans, our kitties' ears can get a bit dirty. Wax can accumulate in a cat's ears, and can even become impacted. Your vet will likely check your cat's ears during their regular exams, but in between those times, if needed, you can help keep your kitty's ears clean at home. The safest thing to do is to ask your veterinarian not only if and how often your kitty needs those ears washed, but also what ear cleanser to use. Many veterinary offices will have pet-friendly ear cleaning solutions available. Some of these simply require that you drip some in the cat's ear and then rub the base of the ear. It can often be as simple and easy as that, if that is something your veterinarian thinks is of benefit to your kitty.

Also related to ear health is allergies. Airborne allergies can lead to itchy ears, just as can food allergies. Ear infections can result from such allergies, or from other potential causes. No matter the reason, always be sure to keep an eye on those ears. Does your kitty hold one or both ears down? Does he or she scratch at them? Are there scabs or hair loss around the ears? Are the ears warm to the touch? Do they have a strange odor to them? Ear infections, or other issues of the ear, can of course manifest in a variety of ways. So, if you have any concerns, do discuss the topic with a veterinarian. If there is an infection, antibiotics for the affected ear or ears will be necessary to treat the infection. Infections in the ear can lead to permanent damage if left untreated, so though it may seem like a small concern, that's not necessarily the case.

The ears are just one of the many parts of your kitty that can affect their overall health and happiness. This time of year, especially in extremely cold temperatures, kitties who live or go outdoors could even potentially suffer from frostbite on their ears. This is just one more example of an ailment that can afflict those feline ears. All in all, keep an eye on those ears!