A Happy Little Evan Update

Hello and happy Wednesday! In trying to sort out some of our ongoing technical difficulties in the early weeks of January, I'm yet again shifting around our posts for this week. This also may or may not be because Eddy somehow managed to throw my old, already decrepit scanner to the floor while flying around the room the other day, and now I'm trying to get it all realigned and working again in order to share one more doodle I finished for the post that was supposed to go up today. That poor scanner has seen things and is ready for retirement, but I digress.

So, for today, we're going to give a quick little update on Evan. Some of you amazing friends of ours have been asking about Evan and sending him continued purrs and well wishes, for which we are eternally grateful.

For anyone who doesn't know, Evan was hospitalized the day after Christmas for a urethral obstruction, which presented with sudden straining to urinate and passing relatively large amounts of blood. He was at the emergency vet for two days, with both a urinary catheter and an IV catheter in place. He had an emergency recheck last Tuesday, when he started passing more blood in his urine in tandem with having very significant and visible urethral spasms, but he was luckily not blocked again. The vet determined that Evan needed a refill of certain meds that had previously been discontinued for him, and a change in other meds. After trying a couple of different medications during his recovery, we've discovered that, at least presently, he seems most comfortable and happy when given prazosin (an anti-spasmodic) and gabapentin (a pain medication). We're trying to find just the right frequency to keep him happy and comfortable, but also without medicating him more than necessary. All that to say, despite the fact that he's not the biggest fan of the flavor of his gabapentin or having medication thrown in his mouth at least once a day, Evan is doing very well.

Evan and I want to thank you all for your continued purrs and thoughts for my orange boy! We are so thankful for friends like you.

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Especially if you live in an area prone to snow, ice, wind, and other wintry goodness, do be sure to think ahead and plan for any related emergencies. For example, should a blizzard be expected to blow through and potentially leave you snowed in, ensure that, prior to the winter storm, you stock up on your furbaby's food, medications, and other necessities. Another potential winter weather emergency includes power outages. One thing to help combat that is of a course a generator. If you have a generator, do be sure to have it checked as needed, to ensure its functionality and safety. Not everyone can or does have a generator, though, and in this case make sure you take other precautions to prep for potential power outages in the winter. Again, of course, make sure you are stocked up on your kitty or pup's food, medications, and so forth. Also have blankets at the ready. If you have a fireplace, have it regularly checked, cleaned, and rendered safe for use. A fireplace can of course be perfect source of heat in the event of a power outage, but it should be checked for safety, and should of course also be set up so that no furbabies can reach or be injured by the fire. Also, if there are safe places to put them well out of the reach of furbabies, candles being lit throughout the house could also potentially lend a tad bit of heat as well as light.

In some cases, especially in the event of lengthy power outages, it may be necessary to find a warm place to stay away from your powerless, cold home. If this is the case, ensure that you again have food, medications, and all necessities properly prepared for your kitty or pup. Then, of course, it is crucial to find somewhere that is pet-friendly for your furbaby to stay. This could be a hotel that is pet-friendly, or a family or friend's home where your furbaby is allowed, and that is also a pet-safe home. If necessary, such as if you cannot find a hotel or home that is pet-friendly for the duration of your home's power outage, you could also look into a pet boarding facility that you trust, and that of course has power and heat. During the winter months, snow, ice, and wind can wreak all sorts of havoc, so do be sure to consider how this could affect your furbaby, and have plans in the event of potential winter emergencies.