Thankful Thimble Thursday with Evan

Hello, friends! We're sorry for yet another late post. The past 18 hours have been rough for Evan, and for this here human mom of his. He has had issues with occasional constipation as well as occasional diarrhea for almost two years now. No tests have found anything out of the norm to explain his intestinal issues, so his vet and I think it could very well be associated with his hind limb paralysis and its related issues. I know that might sound odd, but Evan has been struggling with all sorts of spasms on his back end for awhile now, which very well could have contributed to his urethral obstruction back in December as well as his occasional issues with defecation.

All that to say, Evan started having probably his most severe case of constipation yesterday afternoon. None of our usual tactics worked, and the poor boy was struggling so hard that he was crying and grunting while trying to remove that stool from his little body. While I debated whether an emergency vet visit was required, I did what Evan doesn't usually need and gave him an evening dose of his gabapentin and prazosin. Within 30 minutes of that, he finally pushed out a sizable bowel movement. Strangely, that was then followed by hours of diarrhea, which finally stopped early this morning. The finale was a sponge bath that Evan did not appreciate, but he is now a happy, sparkling clean boy.

With that, it's time for Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Thimble, like myself, is grateful that her beloved orange brother is feeling much better now.

It was sweet how concerned the others kitties were for Evan last night. Especially Thimble and Tonks kept checking on him, but he was incredibly uncomfortable and irritable, understandably, and so they gave him space while watching over him. Now that Evan is feeling all better, though, he'll let Thimble curl up next to him like you see above.

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And now we'll share the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. _________ always gives me a headache.

2. Ten years ago, I was _________.

3. _________ is the reason I haven't yet _________.

4. I prefer _________, but I also don't mind _________.

We'll see you tomorrow friends

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Evan's issues last night were a bit nightmarish, so this flashback doodle seemed apt enough.

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Tip of the Day

 

Today's summer safety tip is all about sunburn. Just like us humans, our furbabies can get sunburned. This can happen during time outdoors, or even by sunbathing in windows or doors. And, just as with humans, sunburn can result in skin cancer in our cats and dogs. This is why it is incredibly important to be aware of this and to take precautions.

Keep in mind that cats and dogs with little to no fur are of course more susceptible to sunburn. In addition to this, those with light fur and skin, such as those that are white or orange coats, are also more susceptible. That doesn't mean furbabies of other colors are not at risk, though. In addition, the areas of the body most likely to get sunburn are the ears, nose, and belly, as in most furbabies these areas have less hair coverage. Again, though, this doesn't mean sunburn or skin cancer cannot occur elsewhere on the body.

What are the signs of sunburn in your furbaby? They are very similar to those in humans. A cat or dog with sunburn will typically develop pink or red skin, which is often inflamed as well. The sunburn is often painful, and the affected skin can also become dry and flaky. Hair loss can also occur around the sunburned area. These are all signs to be aware of, but they are also things that you want to try to prevent from happening in the first place.

So, what can you do to protect your furbabies from sunburn and potential resulting skin cancer? You can of course minimize their time in direct sunlight, whether that be while outside or while sunbathing in a window or door. You can opt for outdoor activities when the sun is not at its peak, as well as opting for shade when outdoors. When it comes to indoor furbabies, you can close doors and curtains to help protect against sunburn during the sun's prime time of the day. In addition to this, there are certain window types and window covers that can help block UV light. These could certainly be useful for frequented windows and doors, but this also of course may not guarantee full protection against sunburn or resulting skin cancer.

Finally, another option for sun protection is, of course, sunscreen. This is especially important for furbabies who frequently go outdoors in the summer sun, or even for those who frequently sunbathe indoors. There is pet-safe sunscreen available on the market. Many sunscreens designed for humans can contain ingredients that are potentially toxic to cats and dogs, so it is indeed important that you look for products formulated especially for your kitty or pup. What's more, as we always say, if you have any questions at all regarding sunburn and skin cancer in your kitty or pup, be sure to discuss this with your veterinarian.