Yet Another Mancat Monday with Megacolon

Hello, friends! It's Mancat Monday, and Evan had himself another megacolon sort of weekend.

That photo was actually taken after the poor boy successfully evacuated the stool he'd been struggling to get rid of all weekend. He's resting very well now. And don't mind how Evan is (not) in his bed. Those paralyzed back legs of his don't always make it into the bed with him. If I catch him like that when he's not yet settled, I help him get into his bed better. But, when I find him already snoozing like that there, I let him rest as he is.

Evan and all of us here wish you a magnificent Monday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

It was just over a year ago that Evan's right ear developed a hematoma. It never fully healed, which is why his ear is deformed in photos you see these days, such as the photo above. He struggled with ear infections for the first few months of last year, since the ear deformity blocks airflow into his ear and all that jazz. These days, though, his ear is doing great, all thanks to a specially formulated ear cleaner that a retired vet at our clinic created many years ago. Evan hasn't had an ear infection since I started using that cleaner in his ear last spring.

All the above rambling is to say that I recently rediscovered this doodle I scribbled up after Evan developed his ear hematoma at the end of last January. So, here you go.

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Tip of the Day

February is not only Spay/Neuter Awareness Month and Pet Dental Health Care Month, but also National Cat Health Month. We've already given tips on the first two, so now we're of course moving on to some tips for keeping those kitties healthy. Our first such tip is to take your cat to the veterinarian for a checkup on an annual basis at the least. In general, a health check is recommended at least every 6 to 12 months. More regular vet visits are of course recommended for any cats with known illnesses, such as kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and cancer, among others.

Visits with the veterinarian do not always just simply mean a quick exam, though. Depending on your furbaby's health, lifestyle, and any other important factors, you will of course have to take into consideration vaccinations, bloodwork, urinalyses, fecal exams, and so forth. Your veterinarian will be able to discuss and offer recommendations on how and when to proceed with these. For example, discuss with your veterinarian your cat's risk for certain illnesses, and discuss any related vaccinations. When it comes to bloodwork and urinalyses, these are often recommended at least yearly for seniors cats, such as those who have reached 6 or 7 years of age. This could allow for early detection of certain diseases. More frequent bloodwork is, of course, recommended for those with known kidney disease, diabetes, and a variety of other diseases.

Of course, also remember to be diligent of your kitty's health in between vet visits. You know your kitty best, and you spend lots of time by his or her side. So, do be sure to do frequent observations and checks of their actions, behaviors, and overall health and happiness. For example, keep an eye on how much your kitty is eating and drinking, and make note of any changes in their food or water intake. In addition, check that litter box and take note of any changes there, such as the amount of urine or feces, or even the odor. Or, has your kitty become less active, or more active? What about the way they walk? Are they walking abnormally, such as favoring a foot? Do they still jump as often and as well as they used to? What about their vocalizations? Is your kitty more vocal than he or she used to be? Less vocal? Has the sound of their voice changed? Is your kitty hiding more often? Has he or she become more aggressive, or less tolerant of being petted or held? These are all just examples of things that you, as your kitty's companion, should keep an eye on regularly. Any such changes, even subtle ones, could be indicative of disease, injury, or any number of issues. So, do be sure to make observations such as these, and report any concerns, no matter how big or how small, to your veterinarian.