Medical Mancat Monday

Evan had his annual exam and senior bloodwork on Friday. The vet called and emailed me with the results, and Evan has hypercalcemia, that being elevated calcium levels. We're pursuing further testing regarding this. Every other value on his bloodwork was in the normal range and therefore not concerning. Evan's vet and I are hoping he just has idiopathic hypercalcemia. Obviously this would still have to be addressed and managed, but the other less likely though still possible reasons for his elevated calcium include cancer. I'm obviously truly hoping Evan does not have anything malignant going on. We won't have the results of the further testing until next week at the earliest, and I'll share what those are when I know. If you have any purrs and prayers to spare, Evan and I would truly appreciate it.

The vet did say that in his experience, in cases like Evan's, the diagnosis is most often idiopathic hypercalcemia. He said he rarely gets diagnoses like cancer or hyperparathyroidism in cases like this, but I'd like to rule these out with a calcium panel that involves sending Evan's blood out to Michigan Statue University.

I'll also add that, as far as I can tell, Evan is not showing any new symptoms. He has a history of urinary issues, megacolon and constipation, and that sort of thing. None of that is new, though, and besides the issues those conditions sometimes cause, Evan is acting happy and active. He eats well and has not lost weight, but instead has maintained the same weight for the last couple of years. I'm hoping that's a good sign that anything going on is benign and manageable.

Wishing you all a magnificent Monday!

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Doodle of the Day

I scribbled up this doodle a few days ago, during one of the many times when Evan was helping me get stuff done on my non-desk of a couch.

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Tip of the Day

We've previously mentioned sweet potatoes and green beans, and how these vegetables are safe when fed plain, but are best left out of your furbaby's diet if prepared in a casserole or with other added ingredients. Today, we're here to remind you of some of the other vegetables that could make for nice Thanksgiving treats for your pup or kitty, of course as long as they are fed plain. One common and nutritious vegetable is carrots. This orange vegetable can provide a large variety of beneficial nutrients, such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, and others. Other veggies that are generally safe as a snack for a kitty or pup include broccoli, celery, cucumbers, spinach, and peas. So, if you're pup or kitty wants to be included in the Thanksgiving feast, go for a safe and healthy option, such as a plain vegetables. Of course, though, even when it comes to veggies, it is still best to feed them to your kitty or pup in moderation. And, as you've heard us say many times now, always be aware of any ingredients that are added to foods prior to feeding them to your furbaby. If a veggie dish has been topped with onion, garlic, excess salt, or other similar seasonings, then it is no longer an ideal or safe treat for your kitty or pup.