The Everything Pet Thread
Posted by biodancer on Jul 04, 2008 · Member since Jul 2007 · 978 posts
I wanted to start this thread to be all about our pets. Ask questions, help answer questions, tell a funny story about something your cat/dog/ferret/bird/rat, etc did, update everyone on your pet's health, tell us about a new pet, vent, grieve, laugh, etc. I know I'll be posting here a lot and I hope you'll join me!
:)>>> :)>>> :)>>> :)>>>
I'm sorry that so many of you are grieving. I wish I had words to comfort you.
We lost our dog, Buster, to cancer in April of last year. I have his picture on my screensaver photos. One of my co-workers (from a different office) makes it a point to ask me, "Didn't you have a dog that died?" every flippin time she comes to visit my office. I have to be nice to her, because in some unfairness, she is in a position higher than my own.
This is why I prefer the company of my pets over the company of most people.
This is why I appreciate you all so much. Here are the two phone conversations I've had today.
Conversation #1
Me: Cat was euthanized yesterday.
Friend: Finally?
Conversation #2
Mom: What did you do today.
Me: I stayed in bed.
Mom: Why? Is something wrong?
(pause)
Me: Yes. Cat died yesterday.
Mom: Yeah, I know. But is something wrong?
The lack of understanding some people have regarding the bond between cats (and dogs) and their humans boggles my mind. I'm so sorry, hh, that you lost your baby.
We lost our dog, Buster, to cancer in April of last year. I have his picture on my screensaver photos. One of my co-workers (from a different office) makes it a point to ask me, "Didn't you have a dog that died?" every flippin time she comes to visit my office. I have to be nice to her, because in some unfairness, she is in a position higher than my own.
This is why I prefer the company of my pets over the company of most people.
Why, why do people even have to say anything? No one would think of going up to someone and saying "Hey, didn't you have a friend that was murdered?" or "Didn't your dad die of cancer?" every time they saw them. Why someone would think that it was appropriate to say "Didn't you have a dog that died?" boggles my mind, especially if it occurs so frequently. >:(
We lost our dog, Buster, to cancer in April of last year. I have his picture on my screensaver photos. One of my co-workers (from a different office) makes it a point to ask me, "Didn't you have a dog that died?" every flippin time she comes to visit my office. I have to be nice to her, because in some unfairness, she is in a position higher than my own.
This is why I prefer the company of my pets over the company of most people.
Why, why do people even have to say anything? No one would think of going up to someone and saying "Hey, didn't you have a friend that was murdered?" or "Didn't your dad die of cancer?" every time they saw them. Why someone would think that it was appropriate to say "Didn't you have a dog that died?" boggles my mind, especially if it occurs so frequently. >:(
I know this is a thread about pets BUT since we are talking about stupid things people say.....this fits.
4th of July:
sister in law: so....arn't really doing the meat thing right?
me: uh, yes.
sister in law: okay, well I can make some chicken for you instead of steak, will that work?
so what, chicken isn't meat?! (duh) I love my SIL she is very sweet but give me a break. Stupid.
4th of July:
sister in law: so....arn't really doing the meat thing right?
me: uh, yes.
sister in law: okay, well I can make some chicken for you instead of steak, will that work?
so what, chicken isn't meat?! (duh) I love my SIL she is very sweet but give me a break. Stupid.
You didn't know chicken wasn't meat? You'll soon learn that fish are vegetables too! :err: >:(
Storm's rubber kitty!
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii85/Stormflakes/Family/Phantom1.jpg
I wish I could bend like that!
Re: homemade food... I forgot Taurine! That's another supplement that I ordered.
Storm - your cat is so adorable! :)>>>
I have a cat question now! My new kitty (Sketchy) has a really tangly butt. Not dirty and poo filled hair, just knotty. It's tangled all over his backside and between his legs and on his belly. I've tried brushing him and cutting out the knots but I'm afraid of cutting something off because his skin (and man-junk) are dangly. I called the groomer at my vet's office today and she said it would be $40 to have him shaved! :o :o What can I do?
You need the Furminator!! It's ridiculous how much fur comes off. I bought one for Wilma the other week and it was like I combed off enough fur to make another cat! www.furminator.com
I have a cat question now! My new kitty (Sketchy) has a really tangly butt. Not dirty and poo filled hair, just knotty. It's tangled all over his backside and between his legs and on his belly. I've tried brushing him and cutting out the knots but I'm afraid of cutting something off because his skin (and man-junk) are dangly. I called the groomer at my vet's office today and she said it would be $40 to have him shaved! :o :o What can I do?
My parents' cat Lacie used to have the same problem because she's long haired. They always brushed her, but she'd still get matted and her belly and behind always looked ratty. My parents would cut off the mats with a razor blade because they got so thick. They never had to shave her, but since switching her to Innova kibble and AvoDerm wet food, her fur is magically non-tangly. They use the furminator on her now, too, but that was after her coat got better, so it's gotta be the food. I know you feed your cats good quality food, but maybe adding an oil supplement of some sort would help? I know AvoDerm has avocado in it and that might be what's doing the trick for Lacie. Shaving him would be a good solution for now and then maybe make sure he gets some extra oil to help his long hair (you said you were going to add cod liver oil to their homemade food, so maybe just add a little more in his portion?).
Yeah, I think once you get his "junk food coat" gone, his new one will be nice and shiny :) And he'll probably be kinda cute shaved with that orange fur--he'll look like a lion!
Oh, about the furminator...
It doesn't work for all cats so even once Sketchy's coat comes back, it might not really de-shed him. It only works for Joe (DSH) but not on Lucy (DMH) or Mom (Snowshoe...short-medium hair-ish). I remember reading that on the package when I bought it--that it won't work for some cats with certain kinds of undercoats (since it's the undercoat that it's removing). Just something to keep in mind if the furminator fails...
Re: homemade food... I forgot Taurine! That's another supplement that I ordered.
Storm - your cat is so adorable! :)>>>
I have a cat question now! My new kitty (Sketchy) has a really tangly butt. Not dirty and poo filled hair, just knotty. It's tangled all over his backside and between his legs and on his belly. I've tried brushing him and cutting out the knots but I'm afraid of cutting something off because his skin (and man-junk) are dangly. I called the groomer at my vet's office today and she said it would be $40 to have him shaved! :o :o What can I do?
Did I miss something? Are you thinking of home cooking? If you are feeding meat and fish, you don't need Taurine supplements. After home cooking for over 15 years, I thought I would try a high quality pet food. Harold is now dead. I am going back to home cooking. Like HH feels guilt, I do too and it is not a good feeling. I put them on pet food about 6 weeks ago. I do know what possessed me and I am angry at myself for listening to other people.
Just like Cat, I don't believe the food killed either Cat or Harold. I do however believe, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I caved because Cali isn't growing her hair like she should be. So many recommended this good food in case I was missing stuff (vitamins & minerals) in the home cooking so I put everyone on it. The dog formula for Cali, the cat formula for the cats. Cali's hair is now even more sparse.
When I went to the vet this weekend with Cali she couldn't believe I had given up my ideals of home cooking. I never really did. I just caved. This being my conventional vet who wanted me to put her on a good pet food but was good about the fact that I refused. When I said I would give the food two more weeks and then I was going back to home cooking, she agreed it was right for Cali.
I caved because I thought, what if everyone is right? Well, they weren't because Cali was great on home cooking. My sweet little Harold was great on home cooking. Although she was incredibly feeble and over 20.
Still, like everyone who loses a pet, we always have guilt. I think that is part of our nature.
If you home cook and feed your cat a diet based on meat and fish (after all they are true carnivores) you don't need to add Taurine supplements. They get it from their natural diet.
I will always feel that I accelerated Harold's passing by taking her off her home cooked. Probably only by a couple of months but none the less....I am not feeling good about myself right now.
More so, I enjoyed opening a bag or a can instead of spending 15 minutes a night of cooking for them. They are my everything. What the hell was I thinking? Why did I listen to people? Harold, Boobie and Pie all lived past 20 on home cooked. Willie lived 18 years and Teddy 16. Isabela was a different story. She was a very ill street dog. She is not a good example of the food I fed.
Anyway, although a little effort, my critters have always thrived on home cooking and they will soon be enjoying it again. Maybe with a little added kibble but certainly not the main stay of their diet.
I just thought I'd show off my kids, Monchichi and Atticus. Monchichi is the tabby, and he turned 7 this summer, and Atticus is the black cat, who is 5. They are madly in love.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/rabidchi1d/Cats/Snuggles015.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/rabidchi1d/Cats/Snuggles.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/rabidchi1d/Cats/catsinlove.jpg
Longcat is Long... no.. really...
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/rabidchi1d/Cats/IMG_6230.jpg
We call these Atticus' "Yoga Poses"
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/rabidchi1d/Cats/IMG_6252.jpg
Monchichi planning his vengeance... or my dinner...
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/rabidchi1d/Cats/munchiewithavengeance003.jpg
Monchichi Kitten saves the Townsfolk from the Evil Vibraphonic Chickie
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/rabidchi1d/Cats/cowboychickie.jpg
So I just got off the phone with my vet. Wilma's blood tests still haven't come back but we discussed the ultrasound. I told her that I switched her from dry to canned food, which she agreed was best, but that she isn't taking to it very well. She told me that while it is important to have her on canned food, it's more important that she doesn't lose weight. So if the dry food is what she will eat, let her eat it and incorporate the canned food in more slowly until she realizes that is her food. She heard of Avoderm but asked me to bring in a label for her to see. She also said that there is a lot of information out there promoting low protein diets for kidney problems but that in her experience she has seen no proof of that. She has seen cats do worse or no better on low protein diets. Otherwise she wants to check her urine 4 times a year to monitor the protein levels and the stones. We are going to watch her very closely. Once the blood tests come back, we will know more.
Nice pictures, rabbidchild.
biodancer - When does your vet expect the blood tests to be returned?
biodancer - When does your vet expect the blood tests to be returned?
HH. Since they are special tests the lab told her about two weeks. It's been one week. She said she is going to call them today to ask when she could expect them. She didn't mention anything about fluids now.
MDV. The test strips are a good idea. It may take some trials because Wilma is a little "litter shy". Last night I spied on her while she was in the litter box to make sure she wasn't straining like the vet asked. She wasn't, but she caught my eye and I swear she stopped mid stream and ran away! I think it was the spying that shocked her. I guess if I caught someone watching me pee I wouldn't like it either! If I'm sitting right there and don't surprise her, maybe that would work. ;)b Of course she doesn't find it rude to barge into the bathroom when I'm using it ;D
Oh, and rabidchild, your kitties are so cute. I love when cats cuddle with each other!
In between vet visits, you might want to check the pH of Wilma's urine at home as this can be a good indicator of stone/crystal formation. Too acidic = calcium oxalate stones; too basic (alkaline) = struvite stones/crystals. Ideal for cats is about 6-6.5.
You can buy urine pH test strips at well-stocked pharmacies, some natural food stores, and most places that sell diabetic testing supplies. They are very cheap. (We bought 10 for $3). Make sure you buy strips that measure to the 0.5 marking (6.0, 6.5, 7.0, etc.) as pH is a logarithmic scale and there is a big difference between 6.0 and 7.0!
We've found that testing urine pH on days when we dump the entire litter box (once a week, as opposed to twice daily scooping) is easiest. The cats love the freshly washed box! ::) After refilling the box with litter I sit on the floor beside it and just wait for them to come along, stick the strip in the stream of urine, and 20 seconds later you'll have a reading. Don't try to accost your cat while in the box. This tends to piss them off. (Ask me how I know this ;D)
A clean litter box with a handful of unpopped popcorn is a good for urine sampling, as long as you don't need a sterile sample (which for pH, you don't). It's just enough for them to dig a bit, and doesn't absorb the urine, and is a heck of a lot cheaper than lab litter!! Once you get your sample you can just add litter on top of the popcorn. It blends right in!
In between vet visits, you might want to check the pH of Wilma's urine at home as this can be a good indicator of stone/crystal formation. Too acidic = calcium oxalate stones; too basic (alkaline) = struvite stones/crystals. Ideal for cats is about 6-6.5.
You can buy urine pH test strips at well-stocked pharmacies, some natural food stores, and most places that sell diabetic testing supplies. They are very cheap. (We bought 10 for $3). Make sure you buy strips that measure to the 0.5 marking (6.0, 6.5, 7.0, etc.) as pH is a logarithmic scale and there is a big difference between 6.0 and 7.0!
We've found that testing urine pH on days when we dump the entire litter box (once a week, as opposed to twice daily scooping) is easiest. The cats love the freshly washed box! ::) After refilling the box with litter I sit on the floor beside it and just wait for them to come along, stick the strip in the stream of urine, and 20 seconds later you'll have a reading. Don't try to accost your cat while in the box. This tends to piss them off. (Ask me how I know this ;D)
A clean litter box with a handful of unpopped popcorn is a good for urine sampling, as long as you don't need a sterile sample (which for pH, you don't). It's just enough for them to dig a bit, and doesn't absorb the urine, and is a heck of a lot cheaper than lab litter!! Once you get your sample you can just add litter on top of the popcorn. It blends right in!
I checked with my vet on this, when we talked earlier, because it would be so much easier to take a sample in than to take Wilma in. But she told me that it would need to be a sterile sample for the culture. So I guess I can check the pH at home but 4 times a year I need to bring her to the vet.
So I just got off the phone with my vet. Wilma's blood tests still haven't come back but we discussed the ultrasound. I told her that I switched her from dry to canned food, which she agreed was best, but that she isn't taking to it very well. She told me that while it is important to have her on canned food, it's more important that she doesn't lose weight. So if the dry food is what she will eat, let her eat it and incorporate the canned food in more slowly until she realizes that is her food. She heard of Avoderm but asked me to bring in a label for her to see. She also said that there is a lot of information out there promoting low protein diets for kidney problems but that in her experience she has seen no proof of that. She has seen cats do worse or no better on low protein diets. Otherwise she wants to check her urine 4 times a year to monitor the protein levels and the stones. We are going to watch her very closely. Once the blood tests come back, we will know more.
Sounds like you have a great vet! The low protein thing is so controversial, but it's promoted by the big veterinary pet food companies (Hills, IVD--Royal Canin, Purina, etc.) because then they can sell a "special" food ::) >:( The AvoDerm kibble isn't the best in the world (lots o' corn), but the canned is good. If she's not eating the canned, you might want to try a different kibble with less corn and more high-quality protein.
I don't know if I mentioned this before, but maybe try mixing in a little water with the dry food (maybe a tablespoon or so) just to add a bit of moisture in there. She might not like a lot (one of my cats, Mom, only likes enough to make the kibbles soft) but she might like the extra flavored water/gravy (my other two, Lucy and Joe, lap up their kibble-flavored water first and then chow down on their food--they love it!).
Hugs for Wilma :)>>>
I just thought I'd show off my kids, Monchichi and Atticus. Monchichi is the tabby, and he turned 7 this summer, and Atticus is the black cat, who is 5. They are madly in love.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/rabidchi1d/Cats/Snuggles015.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/rabidchi1d/Cats/Snuggles.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/rabidchi1d/Cats/catsinlove.jpg
Longcat is Long... no.. really...
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/rabidchi1d/Cats/IMG_6230.jpg
We call these Atticus' "Yoga Poses"
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/rabidchi1d/Cats/IMG_6252.jpg
Monchichi planning his vengeance... or my dinner...
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/rabidchi1d/Cats/munchiewithavengeance003.jpg
Monchichi Kitten saves the Townsfolk from the Evil Vibraphonic Chickie
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/rabidchi1d/Cats/cowboychickie.jpg
OHHHHHH! They are beautiful! Your gray kitty looks just like my stanley!
I checked with my vet on this, when we talked earlier, because it would be so much easier to take a sample in than to take Wilma in. But she told me that it would need to be a sterile sample for the culture. So I guess I can check the pH at home but 4 times a year I need to bring her to the vet.
My Atticus has (had, I guess, he's ok now) struvite crystals so after the first sample showing that that was the problem and not an infection, they've just needed to test for presence/absence/quantity of urinary crystals, which doesn't require a sterile sample. At the vet they stick a needle directly into their bladder (which, bizarrely, the cats don't seem to mind... I worked in vet hospitals for 5 yrs) and get the sample from the source. With the box you'd have to remind them to wash their feets and everything... though with lab litter and a scrubbed box you can get a *relatively* clean sample.
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