Adventures with Angel Astrid

Today's memory of sweet angel pup Astrid is yet another one from a walk from a few years ago. It was a bright and sunny day, and we took a nice stroll along the creek that runs through our neighborhood.

Astrid always loved watching wildlife, both on walks and in her yard. I thought she was watching ducks in this photo, but I don't actually see any in the water there. Either way, something had her attention, and I hope she enjoyed watching whatever it was that piqued her interest.

Happy Wednesday to all!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I'm in a spooky mood and also recently watched the movie Frankenweenie, so here's a fitting flashback doodle I scribbled up for our "Halfway to Halloween" April A to Z Challenge a few years ago. Just as with all the other drawings from that old series, it stars my calico angel Rosie, and of course a little zombie dog.

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Tip of the Day

Today's summer safety tip is about your furbaby's care in the event that you are traveling this summer. We'll begin with if your furbaby is staying behind while you travel, in which case it is important to plan well in advance for their care. If your furbaby would do best being boarded, then be sure to schedule this well ahead of time, to ensure that they can stay at a veterinary or other boarding facility that you trust.

Another option is of course having your furbaby stay home and having a trusted pet-sitter come in to care for them, or to have your cat or dog stay with someone you trust. No matter what route you take for your furbaby's care while you are away from them, be sure that whoever is looking after them has all of the resources and information they might need. Make sure that your furbaby's food is stocked up, as well as their medications, litter, and anything else of importance. Ensure that their caregiver knows the details of their care, including what, when, and how much they are fed, as well as any medication administration instructions they might need. Don't forget other resources a pet-sitter might need, such as any pertinent details of your furbaby's medical history, as well as the contact information for their veterinarian.

Then there are the times that our furbabies travel with us on vacation, and it is also important to plan accordingly in this case as well. To begin, make sure that you pack all that your cat or dog might need. This would include food, treats, water, medications, leash, carrier, and anything that is significant for their daily care. It is of course also important to plan in advance for pet-friendly lodging at your travel destination. Are you staying at a hotel? If so, is that hotel pet-friendly? Or, are you staying with family or friends? If so, do they have a pet-friendly home? Are there other animals at this home, and if so, will it be safe for the animals to interact? Be sure that any such details are ironed out well in advance.

With all of the above planned out, there is then the actual act of traveling with your furbaby. If you are traveling by plane with a pup or kitty, this will of course require you to learn of the airline's requirements, and that you do so with plenty of time to spare. A veterinary visit and a certificate of health may be required by some airlines. Regardless of whether a certificate of health is required, it is important to discuss with a veterinarian whether your furbaby is safe for travel by plane, especially if they are sick, geriatric, or if they do not travel well. If it is by car that you are traveling, ensure that your cat or dog has a cage or seatbelt for safe restraint during travels. Make sure that your furbaby has a chance to eat, drink, and bathroom during long trips. At the same time, make sure that they are safe from escape anytime you stop and open any car doors.

Summer is a time for travels for some people, and perhaps even their furbabies. Whether you leave your furbaby home or take them with you, always plan well in advance. Always keep in mind your furbaby's health and happiness, and discuss any concerns with a veterinarian.

Belated Memorial Day Remembrance with Tonks and Evan

We're so sorry we failed to share a Memorial Day post yesterday. That is entirely this here human's fault. Weekends tend to get a bit wild and crazy, simply because that's when I'm off work and can get all the neglected home and yard chores done. That's why I don't often post on Saturdays or Sundays. I hope to remedy that someday, but for now I guess it is what it is. Since I also had yesterday off, and spent a good chunk of the day finishing up my yard work to-do list, I failed to even post on that day. Shame on me.

That said, we hope all of our friends in the United States had a blessed and safe Memorial Day. We will never forget those who have lost their lives for or in any way served our country. Because of them, we are free.

Since it is Tonks Tuesday, I decided to also share these patriotic flashbacks of kitten Tonks. Back when she was tiny, I had a piece of red, white, and blue star decor hanging from my front door and tried to get photos of her posing with it. She was indeed a kitten, though, so it was a real challenge. Even so, she was (and of course still is!) adorable.

And since Evan missed out on Mancat Monday, we also have some flashbacks of him being trolled by his little sister Tonks.

You can tell these photos are from a few years ago, as Evan hadn't yet started getting his little caboose shaved.

Evan is such a good boy and such a great big brother. He's the only cat in the house that all the other kitties get along with. Soon after these photos were snapped Evan did give Tonks a little barking meow to request she stop, and then all was well again. Tonks loves to play with the Evan, and he's the only cat in the house she actually plays with rather than trolls, but if he asks her to stop she will.

Wishing you all a terrific Tuesday!

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Tip of the Day

Today's summer safety tip is to be careful around water. Summer often means swimming in pools, or visiting lakes or other bodies of waters. If your dog or cat is with you when you visit the pool or any body of water, always be cautious and keep an eye on them. Though many animals have the instinct to swim when in water, that does not mean they cannot drown in certain situations. So, as needed, block access to pools so that your cat or dog cannot access the water, especially when not closely monitored or when they are not used to being in or near water. If you take your pup or kitty to visit a lake, to go on a boat ride, or to participate in any other similar water activity, keep them near you, such as safe on a leash. In addition to this, you can get flotation devices specifically designed for furbabies. This can come in handy especially for furbabies who are new to water, or if you have any concern for their safety when around water. After all, what do we always say? It's always better to be safe than sorry. So, if your summer plans with your furbaby include some watery ones, plan ahead for their safety.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Getting Up Close and Personal with Eddy

Hello, friends! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.

1. I would be willing to pay more for _________.

2. I refuse to spend money on _________.

3. My _________ is a bit chaotic.

4. A fun fact about me is that _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. I would be willing to pay more for my kitties' health and happiness.

(I always feel guilty splurging or spending money on "fun" stuff. Except, that is, when it comes to my kitties, or of course any pups that bless my life. Their vet care, their meds, and their favorite foods and treats are some of the only things I won't bat an eye at spending some pretty pennies on. What's more, I love getting special toys and such for their birthdays and other holidays. Except for basic bills and necessary household expenses, the vast majority of my spending is for my kitties.)

2. I refuse to spend money on water.

(I do indeed pay my home's water bill every month. But, when it comes to getting water as a drink outside of my home, I refuse to pay for that. A lot of restaurants offer water for free, for which I'm grateful. When it comes to other events, though, it's like water is gold. I don't go to many events like concerts, but the rare times I do attend such things I'm always frustrated with how you're not allowed to bring your own water, all while they charge $5+ for a single bottle of the stuff. No, thanks.)

3. My sock drawer is a bit chaotic.

(I no longer pair up or in any way organize my socks. They just get tossed into my drawer as singles and it's a bona fide free-for-all. This all started years ago, when I'd wash and dry matching pairs of socks, but it was like my laundry machines would just eat random socks here and there. Two matching socks of a pair would go in, and only one would come out. I'm sure there's a valid explanation to be had, but I decided to blame it all on the sock gremlins that steals them. I even threw thieving sock gremlins into the story I've been writing, because. I started getting so frustrated that I stopped  trying to pair up my socks or worrying about whether matching sets were together in my drawer. Hence the chaos.)

4. A fun fact about me is that I never wear matching socks.

(This all started because of #3 above. When I'd be in a rush and couldn't find a matching pair of socks, I'd just mix and match. That became a habit, and now I can't stand to wear matching socks. My feet do prefer the socks to be similar styles and fits, but otherwise they are not allowed to match. As I type this, my left foot is wearing cute little otters and my right foot is wearing a Care Bear.)

Now it's your turn!

To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!

You can also click on the badge below to add your link.

You are also welcome to complete the fill-ins in the comments below,

or in the comments on Ellen's blog, 15andmeowing.

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I was going through old photos the other day and found these adorable closeups of Eddy's nose, her sweet little snaggletooth, and her cute little whiskers.

It is very rare for Eddy to sit still long enough for me to get not only a non-blurry photo in general, but a closeup at that. These were snapped a few years ago, and now I think I'll challenge myself to getting up close and personal with Eddy to recreate them. The biggest challenge will of course be getting this girl to sit still.

Happy Friday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

This is an old doodle from a few years ago, and it was technically concept art for an old story I was working on. That said, I've always liked the aesthetic of old, cobblestone street sort of settings, so I would have happily drawn this whether it was an illustration for a story or not. And, of course, I tossed a kitty in there, because of course.

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Tip of the Day

Summer can be a fun time of the year. For example, there is often a barbecue or two to be had during the summer months. That being said, keep in mind that events such as barbecues may not be the safest place for our pups or kitties. A hot grill in itself can pose risks, of course including burns. Then there are the foods that are often served at barbecues, many of which could be toxic to cats and dogs. For example, onions, or dishes containing onion, can be hazardous. Don't forget some of the other dangerous foods that might be found at barbecues, including alcohol, chocolate, garlic, and grapes and raisins, just to name a few. A dog or cat can find themselves in dangerous situations if they are not closely monitored or if they are underfoot at events such as barbecues. For this reason, it might be best to keep your pups or kitties somewhere safe and out of the way during a barbecue or other similar summer events. As we always say, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Sunshine, Open Doors, and an Evan Update

Hello, friends! It's Thursday, and Thimble is of course here for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is grateful for not only the sunshine, but for open door weather. When it's not too hot, I'll open the big doors for the kitties and let them enjoy looking out the screen doors. They always enjoy this.

Thimble is also thankful that, when I take her picture, the sun glints off my phone and creates lights on the walls and ceiling. She loves having starting contests with these bright and shiny lights.

I myself am grateful that both of my home's screen doors have windows that go all the way to the floor. That means all of my kitties, including hind limb paralyzed and therefore more landbound Evan, can really enjoy the view.

That's an old photo of Evan indeed trying to enjoy the view, but his sister Thimble sort of sat right in front of him. You can tell these are older photos, because it was before a stubborn hematoma permanently deformed handsome Evan's right ear.

How about a little update on Evan after his trouble with a nasty UTI earlier this week? Evan is starting to feel better. He's not 100% yet, but he's definitely improving, slowly but surely. His bloodwork all came back looking good. Well, except for his CBC, but the values skewed on that were indicative of him having an infection.

The above said, Evan's urine culture and susceptibility test came back indicating that he does indeed have a UTI, but the bacteria are luckily susceptible to the antibiotic that he's been on since Monday. Evan is on a 1 week on, 2 weeks off regimen with this antibiotic because of his chronic UTIs. Evan was just on this antibiotic not even 2 weeks ago. At that time, I started him on it earlier than usual because he was starting to display signs of a UTI. Then, when he finished that week on the antibiotic, within a few days his symptoms returned. Because this UTI is being so stubborn and Evan is so uncomfortable as a result, Evan's vet has advised me to continue the antibiotic for 3 weeks total.

Evan did stop urinating blood within 2 days of starting this round of antibiotics, so that was a relief. Because he's still having a bit of discomfort when urinating, though, I'm continuing his increased frequency of pain medication administration. He isn't as painful or restless as he was earlier this week, but this nasty UTI is knocking him down more than usual. I'm grateful he has been improving, but I do look forward to seeing him fully back to his usual self.

Oh, and on top of all of that, last night and this morning Evan was really struggling with his megacolon. All of his related meds were on board, and he did finally evacuate his colon, but the poor little guy is really on the struggle bus this week. Thankfully, though, things are starting to look a lot better for him.

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Last but not least, let's share the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I would be willing to pay more for _________.

2. I refuse to spend money on _________.

3. My _________ is a bit chaotic.

4. A fun fact about me is that _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's doodle is from a few years ago. I scribbled it up after seeing a similar sign that said, "Coffee. Because murder is illegal." That's why there's a knife hanging out in the background. I'm not a coffee drinker, but I'll just pretend there's hot cocoa in that mug.

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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.

Adventures with Angel Astrid...and a Shopping Cart

I was going through old photos of my sweet angel pup Astrid, and I was reminded of how she and I more than once met none other than a shopping cart during our walks.

We live about a mile away from this store, and during this particular summer it became evident that someone in our neighborhood was transporting their groceries home indeed with one of the store's carts.

Astrid and I came upon one of these carts on at least three separate walks. Each time, Astrid would investigate the scene and give the cart a good sniff. Unfortunately, there was never anything tasty left behind in the cart and so the pup would continue on her way. 

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is one I scribbled up a couple years ago as concept art for the book I'm currently writing. There's a corgi in this weird and wacky story, and so I experimented drawing one of these pups.

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Tip of the Day

We spent the last two days addressing how to keep your furbaby cool and safe should they be spending time outdoors in the heat. Of course, staying cool indoors in the summer is far more ideal. That being said, though, extra care may still have to be used to keep some cats and dogs comfortable even when inside the home during the summer months. This is especially the case for those furbabies who have certain traits that might make it more difficult for them to stay cool even indoors. For example, on hot days, it is especially important to monitor the condition of cat or dogs with long or thick coats, those who are overweight, those with flat faces (such as Persian cats and Bulldogs), and those who are geriatric, sick, or for another reason may have difficulty regulating their body temperature.

So, how can you ensure that your furbaby remains cool and comfortable inside the home, even when it's sweltering outdoors? First, of course, you can run the air conditioning. Ensure that the unit's filter is regularly replaced. Also make sure that the vents throughout the house are open and unblocked, so that cool air can easily make its way throughout the home. In addition to the air conditioning, you can set up fans to help keep air moving and to keep your kitty or pup comfortable.

Some furbabies may even opt for lying on smooth, cool surfaces in order to stay cool. For example, hardwood or tile floors stay far more cool than carpet, and so you might find a kitty or pup sprawled out on the hard floor during the summer months. In this same line of thought, there are also cooling mats specifically designed for pets. These mats offer a cool surface on which to relax, and they can be placed on the floor, on furniture, or potentially even outdoors in order to keep that furbaby of yours cool.

Even if your furbaby is spending hot summer days inside, it is still important to monitor them and to ensure that they are staying cool. Then again, especially for those with short or no fur, it is also important to make sure that the air conditioning or fans are not too cool for them. As you all certainly know, keep an eye on those furbabies, and then make adjustments as needed to keep them happy and healthy.

Tonks Tuesday with Evan

It's Tonks Tuesday, but the calico loves her big brother Evan and so is allowing me to give an update on him today. Though, you still get a dose of Tonks in these flashback photos of her playing her brother.

As I mentioned yesterday, Evan is having some stubborn urinary issues, likely related to both his chronic bladder cystitis and his chronic UTIs. He was seen by our vet yesterday, and while we're still waiting for urine culture results as well as bloodwork, Evan's antibiotic prescription was yet again refilled and he started on yet another round of those.

Though he's still having some discomfort when his pain meds start to wear off, I do think I'm seeing a bit of improvement with the antibiotics. Evan's vet is worried that the long-term use of this particular antibiotic has led to a UTI resistant to it, which is why we're doing a culture and antibiotic susceptibility test. There's also the chance that he simply needs his usual antibiotics for at least 2 weeks to clear the current infection. Then again, it's possible that it's not an infection at all but just a gnarly flare of his bladder cystitis, which has been the case more than once in his history of urinary issues. Though, the fact that a round of antibiotics initially cleared up all the symptoms a week ago and they only returned after a week of antibiotics would indicate it is indeed infection.

All that said, Evan is acting like he feels a bit better with his increased doses of gabapentin and the restarting of the antibiotics. We'll give you all another update when we have the test results, but for now, thank you all for the prayers, purrs, and well wishes for my sweet boy Evan! Calico Tonks loves her brother so much and also thanks you all!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

If it's not obvious, this doodle was inspired by my boy Evan.

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Tip of the Day

As a follow-up to yesterday's tip on how to keep your furbaby cool if they are outdoors in the heat, we're here today to specifically talk about those walks you and your furbaby might take this summer. Especially on those days with extreme heat, it is safest to either limit or cut out walks, or to take them only when the day is at its coolest. For example, a very early morning walk or a late evening walk would be far safer than a walk in the middle of the day, when the sun is at its highest and hottest. If a walk or bathroom break outdoors is necessary for your pup or kitty on a hot day, do consider taking a water bottle along to help keep your furbaby hydrated and cool.

It's not just the heat of the air that you have to consider with regard to summer walks, though. Pavement can reach literally burning hot temperatures in the summer sun. While us humans typically wear shoes to protect our feet, paw pads are exposed and can indeed be burned during exposure to hot pavement. If touching the pavement with your own hand leads you to conclude that it's burning hot, then indeed take that into consideration. This is one reason why it is incredibly important to plan walks and outdoor adventures accordingly during the summer months. If your pup or kitty does need to go outdoors in the extreme heat, and especially if the pavement feels hot to you, then try to avoid the pavement and instead head straight for the grass. Or, for those furbabies who will tolerate it, protective booties can be placed on the feet to keep them safe against the hot pavement.

In the summer, just as always, it's always better to be safe than sorry. That might mean skipping a walk on a scorcher of a day, or changing your walking schedule so that your furbaby is outdoors only when it is cooler. Always do what is best for your furbaby's health and safety.

Mancat Monday: Evan's Urinary Woes Continue

Poor Evan had another rough weekend. I mentioned a couple weeks ago how Evan was seemingly having a flare of his bladder cystitis, as he'd started urinating blood and crying while urinating. I upped his meds related to his urinary issues, and since he has a history of chronic UTIs and he therefore has an ongoing prescription for antibiotics, I also started him on those. Within 2 or 3 doses of his antibiotics, Evan's symptoms all went away and he was his happy self again. He received those antibiotics for a week, until last Tuesday, and starting this Saturday his symptoms returned.

Poor Evan is back to urinating blood, acting painful and restless, and his urine is also quite malodorous. His ears and nose also feel warm to me. So, he's off to the vet this morning. Since he's on long-term antibiotics, his vet is worried he has a UTI that's become resistant to his usual antibiotic. I'm hoping these still work, especially since they actually took all of his symptoms away recently, but that perhaps he needs them for a longer duration of time. Either way, Evan's having his urine checked today, and we'll do a culture that will test any growth for antibiotic susceptibility. While we wait for those results, I'll keep him good and drugged to help him feel as comfortable as possible. Urine cultures can take a couple days to show full growth, and so it could be a few days before we know whether any infection is resistant to his current antibiotic.

Evan is getting lots of rest, in no small part thanks to his increased doses of gabapentin. Lots of naps are happening around here.

Though he's not feeling his best, Evan still hopes you all have a magnificent Monday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's summer safety tip is all about how to keep your furbaby cool if they are outdoors in the heat. To begin, as we previously mentioned, sometimes the great outdoors is a very dangerous place to be for a pup or dog in the extreme heat of summer. For this reason, please do try to limit time spent outdoors in the heat.

However, if your pup or kitty has to be outdoors for any reason, be sure that they are provided with everything to help them stay as cool as possible. For example, be sure that a sufficient amount of cool, fresh, clean water is available for them to drink. Also ensure that they have somewhere in the shade to stay. A potentially stifling outdoor enclosure, such as a shed, will often be no cooler than the sun. But, shade from trees or a building can enable a furbaby to get out of the sun and stay as cool as possible. For those furbabies who enjoy and take advantage of water, you can also put out a children's pool, with cool, clean water. This way, a pup or even a kitty who likes water for more than just drinking can have another way to cool off.

As we said previously, please do all that you can to keep your pup or kitty out of the heat of summer. If a trip outdoors is necessary for any reason, though, then it is important to know how to keep your furbaby cool and safe, such as by means of water and shade. Summertime is just another example of how you must think and plan ahead for the sake of your furbaby's health and happiness.