Adventures with Astrid: Action Shots

Astrid's most recent episode of vestibular disease has improved quite a bit. She's far from the level of steady on her feet that she was even back in July, but she's at least not as constantly wobbly as she was the first couple weeks of August. She's especially steady on her feet when she goes for walks, as pavement seems to be what she's most confident walking on. She's also quite fast when she hits the pavement, which is why today's shots of Astrid are a bit blurry.

This Friday, Eddy will of course be sharing some bloopers for the Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop, so Astrid decided it was fine if I shared some blurry shots of her this week as well.

Walking too long, especially in the summer heat, causes Astrid's vestibular symptoms to flare a bit. So, we're giving the poor stir crazy girl some short little jaunts here and there. We also take her into the back yard quite a bit. The weather is finally cooling down, at least for now, which Astrid absolutely loves.

We don't know if Astrid will continue to improve even more, or if this particular vestibular episode has left her a bit more permanently wobbly. That can happen with some vestibular episodes, so we shall see what a couple or a few more weeks does for the girl. I especially can't wait for the weather to cool down even more. After all, not only does Astrid love colder temps, but her vestibular symptoms give her less trouble when it's cooler out.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is a rather random one from a series I scribbled up many years ago.

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Tip of the Day

Can you believe we're still blabbing on about taking your kitty to the vet? Indeed, we still have a few more tips to offer in this series. Some of our very recent tips have been about ways to safely get an anxious or aggressive cat to the vet. These tips included leaving the carrier out at all times, putting treats and toys in it, using Feliway spray in the carrier, administering sedatives to your cat if needed and prescribed by your vet, and using a towel or thick gloves to load a potentially aggressive cat into a carrier. Sometimes, though, even with all such measures being taken, a certain cat might still be difficult or unsafe to easily take to the vet. This might be the case for semi-feral or otherwise aggressive cats. In addition, some cats become so anxious that it's potentially unsafe for them to make the trip to the vet, such as if it causes them to open-mouth breathe or other respiratory distress.

If any of the above descriptors match your cat and taking them to the vet is extremely difficult or unsafe, then consider discussing with your veterinarian the possibility of scheduling an at-home vet visit. Some veterinary clinics do offer visits in your own home, especially if that reduces any dangers related to taking your cat to the veterinary clinic itself. In some areas, there are even veterinarians who specifically practice as mobile vets. So, if your cat becomes distressed or dangerous when it comes time to get in a carrier or travel to the vet clinic, consider the option of having a veterinarian come directly to your home. This might not always work, but it's worth a try if other options are not easy or safe for you and your cat.