Thankful Thimble Thursday

This is where I'm supposed to be sharing today's installment of the April A to Z Challenge, which would be the letter L. However, after having been ahead of the game for the first part of the month, life happened and now I've fallen a bit behind on my doodles. Rather than stress out and spend all night trying to finish today's doodle, I'm instead going to share it tomorrow. I'll be behind a letter for a couple of days, but I'll be sharing one on the usual hiatus day, that is Sunday, and so I'll be back on track by next week. I'm blessedly off of work on Friday, and so I look forward to sitting down and enjoying a nice, long drawing session. For today, I'll share a doodle that was actually an old bit of concept art starring the very kitty that would have been in today's new doodle.

That is not even remotely how the new doodle for the letter L is going to look when you see it tomorrow, but I thought it would be fun to share that really old concept art related to it. Stay tuned tomorrow for the new version of that kitty.

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I also didn't get a poem completed for Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge like I'd wanted to, but I hope to get back to those as soon as possible. Adulting can be very time consuming sometimes, and that is very frustrating.

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Now, what we actually do have for today is Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is grateful for window whiffies!

After some very springtime days, we're just going to pretend like it's not going to be nearly freezing outside again this weekend.

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And now we have for you the fill-ins 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. I hope the Easter Bunny brings me _________.

2. My favorite part of the Easter (or Passover) meal is _________.

3. I'm most looking forward to _________ this weekend.

4. For me, this time of year _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Tip of the Day

 

Yesterday we gave a tip on Giardia, and the parasite of today is very similar to this. Today's parasite is coccidia, which is another single-celled protozoa that can infect the intestinal tract. Coccidia is similiar to Giardia in more than just that regard, though. Just like Giardia, coccidia most commonly causes diarrhea, and is passed in the feces. It is also possible for a furbaby to become infected with coccidia if they ingest an infected rodent.

Also just like with Giardia, sometimes a cat or dog will show no signs of infection even if they have coccidia in their intestinal tract. Young kittens or puppies, geriatric furbabies, and those otherwise medically compromised are at the highest risk. In compromised cats and dogs, diarrhea caused by coccidia infection can lead to dehydration and other complications, which can be life-threatening.

Like the broken record that we are, we're of course reminding you again to keep an eye on your furbaby when outdoors, and to keep their environment as sanitary as possible. As we said earlier, ingesting the feces of another animal infected with coccidia can lead to infection. Also ingesting debris or water near where such animal defecated could lead to an infection with coccidia.

And, again, if your furbaby has diarrhea, seek veterinary care as soon as possible. Take a fecal sample to the appointment, so that your veterinarian can do a test for coccidia and other parasites. When a diagnosis is made, discuss with the veterinarian the treatment options. Give prescribed medications, which may include antibiotics, probiotics, or another, and do so for as long as the veterinarian prescribes. Stopping medications early, even if symptoms subside, can result in a recurrence. Then again, if a treatment plan is not working, discuss that with your veterinarian as well. Diarrhea, among any number of symptoms, is not to be taken lightly, so do your best to stay on top of it.

Woof Woof Wednesday with the Letter K

Hello and welcome to this Wednesday edition of the April A to Z Challenge!

Shall I repeat myself for the gazillionth time? Yes? In that case, for this year's April A to Z Challenge, since I love to write and am working on a series of books, I'm sharing A to Z doodles relating to my stories. Much like my usual doodles and weekly poems, the stories I write are weird, wacky, and star lots of animals. That leads us to today's letter, which is K. So, what does K stand for?

K is for Killman Cabin

I've always really liked the aesthetic of log cabins, as well as haunted houses. When you mix the two together, I'm a happy person. That said, despite its name and appearance, that there cabin is actually quite cozy and not all that scary. Its furry little visitors there can attest to that.

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Now, given that it's Wednesday, Astrid is of course here for what we like to call her Woof Woof Wednesday post. So, here she is yet again pouting in her beloved window.

Don't believe that pout. That pup just got home from a walk in those great outdoors.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Tip of the Day

Today we're talking about another intestinal parasite. This time, though, it's not a worm. The parasite we're talking about today is Giardia, which is a single-celled protozoa. In short, Giardia causes diarrhea in cats and dogs, as well as humans. Diarrhea caused by Giardia is often very malodorous, sometimes somewhat green in color, and may contain mucus or blood.

How does a cat or dog become infected with Giardia? It is passed in the feces of infected animals. This means that eating the feces of an infected animal, or eating grass or other debris near where an infected animal has defecated, can result in infection with Giardia. Drinking water near where infected animals have defecated is another way that Giardia can be passed from animal to animal.

This all being said, many healthy animals can have Giardia present in there intestinal tract and not show symptoms. It more commonly becomes a problem in very young, very old, or otherwise sick animals. It is also more common in highly populated areas, such as in a shelter. If diarrhea resulting from Giardia is severe enough, the situation can become life-threatening, due to dehydration and other complications.

So, though we can't always put protective bubbles around our furbabies, do your best to help prevent Giardia from affecting your furbaby. Try to keep them from ingesting the feces of other animals, of course, or from ingesting grass or water in areas where other animals may have defecated. Also be sure to keep their feeding, sleeping, and play areas, especially those outdoors, sanitary.

If you do notice your kitty or pup has diarrhea, do not hesitate to take them and a fecal sample in for an exam by a veterinarian. Especially if your furbaby is very young, geriatric, or sick, do not hesitate to have them seen if they are displaying diarrhea. Your vet can test a stool sample for Giardia, as well as for other parasites. Of course, also be sure to administer medications and follow other treatments that your vet prescribes for your furbaby. Also, as we always say, never hesitate to ask your veterinarian about any concerns you have regarding Giardia and your furbaby's risk, treatment, or prevention.

It is also worth noting that, though nowadays is is believed not as prevalent as originally thought, it is still possible for humans to get Giardia from cats and dogs. For this reason, always be sure to wash your hands after cleaning up their waste, especially if they are known to have Giardia. Giardia is not something to take lightly, neither in our furbabies nor ourselves.

Tonks Tuesday and the Letter J

Hello and welcome to another installment of the April A to Z Challenge!

As I've said more than a few times now, for this year's April A to Z Challenge, since I love to write and am working on a series of books, I'm sharing A to Z doodles relating to my stories. Much like my usual doodles and weekly poems, the stories I write are weird, wacky, and star lots of animals. That leads us to today's letter, which is J. So, what does J stand for?

J is for John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt (you can call him Jingle for short)

In case it's not obvious in my doodle there, John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, Jingle for short, is a possum. (He's technically an opossum, actually, because possums live in Australia and are smaller, have furry tails, and look a tad bit more like tiny kangaroos. But, I've always said possum rather than opossum, and so possum Jingle is.) This strange-looking little fella is indeed going to play a part in my stories, though not until a bit later on, according to all the notes I've scrawled down.

I'll admit that I used to think possums were kind of weird and gross, but as I've grown older, I've obtained quite an affection for them. That's in part because, in some of my animal science college courses, I learned about all of the amazing traits of possums (opossums, but you get the idea). It's also even more so because once I bought a house and started putting food out for the neighbor cat and strays and ferals, I ended up with quite a collection of possums in my yard over the years. And you better believe I've named them. Over the years there's been Arnold, Doug, Chucky, Phil, and plenty of others. I haven't yet named any of my personal possum friends John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, but there's still plenty of time for that.

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You'll of course now get your Tonks fix.

It looks like you're also getting a dose of Evan today, since he and Tonks were yet again fighting over a prized sun puddle during this photo shoot.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Tip of the Day

A few days ago we gave a tip relating to intestinal worms, including roundworms. We failed to mention lungworms, though, which are actually a type of roundworm. Slugs and snails are the common carriers of lungworm larvae. Dogs, therefore, can end up with a lungworm infestation if they eat a slug or snail that is carrying the larvae. It is also possible for cats to acquire lungworms, such as if they eat a slug or snail, or if they eat a bird or other prey that has eaten a slug or snail that is carrying lungworm larvae.

Lungworms, obviously, affect the lungs. Signs of lungworm infection can include coughing and difficulty breathing. In some cases, respiratory failure can occur. Needless to say, if you notice any respiratory distress in your kitty or pup, always have them seen by a veterinarian as quickly as possible. Diagnosis and treatment of any respiratory disorder, including lungworms, should not be delayed.

To help prevent any potential lungworm infection in your furbabies, be aware of their surroundings. Do you have slugs and snails in your yard, or in any areas where your furbaby visits? If so, keep an eye on them and try to prevent their ingestion of such critters. Also, do not leave toys or bowls outside where snails or slugs might be able to inhabit them, as this could result in even accidental ingestion of these critters that can carry lungworms. And, of course, if you have any concerns regarding the risk, prevention, or treatment of lungworms, discuss this with your veterinarian.

Mancat Monday with the Letter I

Hello and happy Monday, friends! Shall we get right to the April A to Z Challenge?

As you're probably tired of hearing by now, for this year's April A to Z Challenge, since I love to write and am working on a series of books, I'm sharing A to Z doodles relating to my stories. Much like my usual doodles and weekly poems, the stories I write are weird, wacky, and star lots of animals. That leads us to today's letter, which is I. So, what does I stand for?

I is for Ick

Ick is the older gentleman sitting back there at the desk. Don't worry, Ick isn't his real name. Ick is actually a nickname that my own great-grandfather earned because of his likeness to a slender, long-necked literary character known as Ichabod Crane. I've always quite liked that nickname and the story behind it, so obviously I had to use it. And that's far from the only concept in my writing projects that's inspired by my family and their stories.

Oh, and in case it's not obvious, Ick is a librarian. The kitty in the forefront is more or less the library cat, but you'll more officially meet him this week. You'll just have to wait for the letter L.

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We now of course have for you a dose of Evan.

Our floors are often littered with cat beds, cat toys, tunnels, and all that good stuff. Of all the things on the floor, this cat bed is Evan's favorite. When he's tired, like on a Monday morning, he can tuck himself in for a nap.

Happy Monday, friends!

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Tip of the Day

Though rare, did you know that our furbabies can get lice? The lice our kitties and pups can get, though, are not the same that we humans get. In fact, lice are species-specific. Humans get a certain kind of lice, dogs can become infested with a different kind of lice, and yet a different type of lice affects cats. In other words, we cannot get lice from our furbabies, and they cannot get it from us. Again, though, lice in our furbabies is not terribly common. Still, it is important to know that it's not impossible.

Signs of lice might include your furbaby itching, scratching, or biting at affected areas of their body. You also might even be able to see the lice or their eggs, more or less white in color, on your furbaby. A lice infestation and its symptoms will likely more heavily affect cats or dogs who are sick, elderly, or have a compromised immune system.

Just as we have noted with all of the parasites we've previously discussed, if you have any concern that your kitty or pup is infested with lice, of course have them seen by your veterinarian as soon as possible. Your veterinarian will be able to prescribe a treatment for eradicating lice. In addition, don't forget that with parasites such as lice, your furbaby's environment will also need to be rid of the infestation. As always, discuss any and all concerns with your veterinarian.

Sunday Selfies Starring Evan's Toesies

The weekend busyness around here is almost over, and we're excited to get back on track tomorrow. For today, though, a worn out Evan wanted to show you all his toesies.

Aren't those toe beans downright adorable? The correct answer is yes, yes they are.

Happy Sunday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day 

At least Evan's toesies aren't as nightmarish as this flashback doodle from last year's "Halfway to Halloween" April A to Z Challenge.

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Tip of the Day

A couple days ago, we talked about ear mites. These mites are not the only kind that can infest our pups and kitties, though. As many of you likely already know, there are other mites that can affect the skin of our furbabies.

There are a number of different mites that can affect our pups or kitties. In dogs, mites that cause sarcoptic mange are perhaps most common, and are also highly contagious between dogs and also to humans. Mites that cause demodectic mange are perhaps a bit less common, as a healthy immune system can often suppress them, and they are also far less contagious. Cats have certain mites that more commonly affect them, such as cheyletiella mites and mites that cause notoedric mange. Both of these are contagious, similarly to the mites that cause sarcoptic mange.

No matter the species of your furbaby, they can potentially be affected by mites. Depending on the type of mite, as well as the pup or kitty's overall health and the severity of the infestation, you might see a variety of symptoms. When it comes to mites and mange, keep an eye out for itching and scratching, hair loss, scabs or scaly skin, and discoloration of the skin, just to name a few.

If you think you see any signs related to mites, or signs of any dermatological issue, have your furbaby seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Not only is itching and scratching uncomfortable, but lesions and secondary infections can result. Left untreated, mites and their side effects can become a risk not only to your furbaby's comfort and happiness, but also to their health.

All of that being said, keep in mind that treatment for mites will likely not only include medications prescribed by your veterinarian. Mites will also need to be eradicated from the environment. You may need to pitch bedding and rugs, or at the very least efficiently wash them in hot water. Do whatever it takes to ensure that your furbaby and their environment is as sanitary and safe as possible, so that they can live a happy, healthy life.

Caturday This and That

Hello, friends! My job threw me a couple of curveballs at be toward the end of this week, and now I have some extra family in town, so the time I've been devoting each day to finishing up and uploading my art pretty much disappeared the last couple of days. All that to say, we're here late today and only just for a moment, and we're unfortunately sharing a flashback doodle for both Caturday Art and the A to Z Challenge. Today's letter would have been H, and so we're sharing last year's "Halfway to Halloween" theme H, which was haunted house. Honestly, that could relate to this year's theme revolving around some weird stories I'm writing. Here you go.

I admittedly have two or three drawings in the works for the letter H in this year's A to Z theme, because I couldn't make up my mind. Whether it be tomorrow, this upcoming week, later in April, or in May, I will eventually share all three of those. No matter when our H doodles are shared, we will continue the normal progression of the alphabet on Monday.

Happy Caturday!

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Tip of the Day

 

Our parasite talk today is all about ticks. These nasty little guys can find their way onto your kitty or pup (or yourself) from wooded areas, shrubs, and tall grass. They can make their way into your yard, especially (though not limited to) if you live near a wooded or other similar area. This means that animals who go outdoors can always be at risk for ticks. Then again, it is not impossible for animals with limited outdoor activity to pick up a stray tick as well.

Ticks pose more danger than one. First, to put it simply, they suck your furbaby's blood. It would most likely take a good deal of time for a tick to cause anemia in their host, but this is still something to keep in mind. What's more, ticks can transfer dangerous, sometimes life-threatening diseases to a cat or dog (or human, or other animal). Lyme disease is one such disease, and it can cause swelling, pain, and arthritis in the joints. Another disease that ticks can transmit is Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can result in fever as well as lameness, similarly to Lyme disease.

Obviously, for reasons such as those listed above, you certainly don't want ticks on your furbabies. Especially if your furbaby goes outdoors, and most especially if they visit areas with lots of trees and tall grass, the best way to protect them from ticks is by way of preventatives. There are indeed preventatives on the market that cover ticks, often while at the same time preventing against other parasites we've already discussed, such as fleas and intestinal worms. So, discuss these options with your veterinarian. Again, as we've said before, it is always safest to purchase quality products, such as those offered at your veterinarian's office.

We'll also take this time to note that, if you see a tick on your furbaby, don't just start pulling at it. Ticks can attach themselves, especially their heads, very securely to an animal's body. This means that if you pull on them, you might very well remove their bodies, all while leaving their blood-sucking heads still on your kitty or pup. For this reason, if you see a tick on your furbaby, assess the situation and determine if you know how to or are able to remove it safely and in its entirety. There are some tricks and even products, such as tweezers specifically designed for tick removal, that can assist in removing a tick completely. However, if you are not positive that you can manage this, as it is not always an easy thing, then contact a veterinarian and seek assistance in removal of the tick.

How about a bonus tidbit? Possums are known to be incredibly efficient tick-eaters. It has even been said that one single possum can consume over 5,000 ticks in one season. So, if you have possums in your yard, leave them be. They could very well keep that tick population down, leaving your furbaby and yourself safer for it.

Friendly Fill-Ins and the Letter G

Hello and happy Friday, friends! We have a couple of things to get to today, but let's start with the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, shall we?

Before we begin, my co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing is more than understandably taking a break this week after her sweet kitty Sammy gained his angel wings. She will likely be joining us again next week. Purrs and prayers to Ellen.

In case you missed them yesterday or you need a reminder, the fill-in statements are below.


1. I waste a lot of time _________.

2. At this very moment, I'm craving _________.

3. Don't _________ until you _________.

4. _________ makes life interesting.

My answers are below in bold. This week, I tried to and kind of succeeded at keeping my explanations short and sweet.

1. I waste a lot of time daydreaming.
(I don't know that I'd consider daydreaming an actual "waste" of time, but I do spend my fair share of time doing it when I should be doing chores or making progress on various projects.)

2. At this very moment, I'm craving sleep.
(In a rare turn of events, I'm not currently hungry. That's probably because I ate a giant brownie just a bit ago. What I am craving, though, is sleep. I'll be getting that very soon, thank goodness.)

3. Don't leap until you look.
(Quite the cliché answer, huh? This is also simply my opinion, and it probably stems from the fact that I'm far from a spontaneous sort of person. I'm a planner, and I'm likely not going to be doing any leaping until I've taken a good look and planned a few steps along the way.)

4. Sharing your home with furry friends makes life interesting.
(Need I say more?)

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.

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Next up, let's get to the April A to Z Challenge, yeah?

To yet again give the default recap like the broken that I am, for this year's April A to Z Challenge, since I love to write and am working on a series of books, I'm sharing A to Z doodles relating to my stories. Much like my usual doodles and weekly poems, the stories I write are weird, wacky, and star lots of animals. That leads us to today's letter, which is G. So, what does G stand for?

G is for Gremlin

You know how you can put a matching pair of socks in the wash, and by the time they make it out of the dryer the pair has lost at least one half of the duo, and then you're left with one lonely sock? You know what happens to those missing socks? Sock gremlins like this little weirdo take them, that's what happens. At least, in my head that's why I never have matching socks, and that wild idea made its way into my stories. I have to say, it's not until I start expressing all of my crazy ideas here that I realize just how insane they sound, but here we are nonetheless.

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Did you think we forgot to give you your dose of Eddy? We most certainly did not.

We're just going to pretend like Eddy was having a totally normal snack and that I wasn't trying to bribe her with treats to sit still for the camera. Considering most of these are bloopers, I don't think those attempts were met with much success.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Tip of the Day

We're in the midst of tips regarding parasites and their prevention. We have so far covered heartworms, fleas, tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. Now, today, it's all about those ear mites.

As is probably obvious, ear mites affect the ears, living primary in the ear canal. For what it's worth, ear mites are more commonly seen in cats, making dogs the luckier, less typical victims of these buggers. Ear mites can be spread directly from cat to cat.

Now, what will you notice if your cat, or dog, has an ear mite infestation? Your furbaby's ears will itch, they will scratch at them, there can therefore be inflammation in the area, and they may even shake their heads or hold their ears low due to the irritation. You also may see dark, brownish debris in the ears, which is commonly described as resembling coffee grounds.

If you do see any of the above symptoms in your kitty or pup, have them seen by a veterinarian. Ear mites can ultimately lead to secondary ear infections and other similar issues, so taking care of them is of course best for your furbaby's health and happiness. Your veterinarian can test for ear mites by swabbing the ears and looking at the debris under a microscope.

When it comes to treatment, it is of course best to use medications prescribed directly by your veterinarian. There are drops or other treatments that can offer a relatively fast-acting eradication of the ear mites. In addition, there are monthly preventatives that cover ear mites. These can typically help take care of existing mites, as well as prevent a future ear mite infestation. Discuss any and all such options with your veterinarian, especially if your furbaby is largely outdoors and potentially more susceptible to such infestations.