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 will inquire more the next time i see her... just a sad case though.
update for hh (and anyone else).....
Gary is still alive. When we first got told about her kidney failure we were pretty much told she had days to live - that was beginning of April. I haven't wanted to post too much about her in case I jinx things, but it's only fair that her biggest fan gets to know what's going on.
I think I mentioned in the open letters thread that I took her to the vets at the beginning of June for a weigh in and steroid injection. Well for the week after that she didn't eat much at all - but I was visiting some weirdo's in Auckland so it may have been because I was away or just the fact that she was sulking after having been to the vets.
After that she was eating quite a bit. Fussy madam that she is, Gary would loooooove one particular type of food for a few days so I'd buy more of it, then she'd decide she didn't like it.
We bought lots of different types of wet food, so she doesn't get bored, and we bought some expensive biscuits. She's eating almost the recommended amount of biscuits per day plus nearly 2 pouches/small tins of wet food - so we're very happy with this.
We also bought some treat type biscuits, which we have found we can hide her acid reducing tablets in. So we do that every few days, and we're not sure if it's helping or not but we carry on doing.
She's due at the vet on Thursday for a weigh in. Even though she's been eating ok, I think she *may* have lost more weight : /
As we're there, I'll probably get her another steroid injection - even though she is eating - it can't really harm her and may improve the appetite more.
In herself....she is more cuddly at night time when we're in bed. Her routine is to lie between us most of the night, or curl up BESIDE N AND NOT ME!!!! She's been playful at times, and lazy at times. It's difficult to know if she's acting ill, because we KNOW she is and are looking for signs. She's certainly not unhappy at the moment and we're pleased with how it's going.....but we know it could go downhill at any time and we both dread that.
So yeah at the moment we have a happy cat, and I really appreciate that she is still here.
Yay for Gary!!
I haven't updated in a while either....so here goes.
Jonah did his trial of the diabetes insipidus medicine and there was no change. We started the Cushing's medicine - his first urine test on Saturday after 2 weeks of pills came back unchanged as well. So now were are doing the two medicines together - I have a hard time believing that he'd have both diseases at once, but whatever. He's lost 4lbs though, which made the vet happy.
Now on to our real problem, Harry.
We noticed that he had been digging in his ear recently, but when I went to look at it, he ran away. Overall, he was just acting strange - stranger than usual. So I thought we should have the vet take a look.
She decided to muzzle him since he has a tendency to bite, which I think was the main problem - he gets so stressed so easily, the muzzle just amplified it. He started screaming and thrashing - it was horrible. 3 people were holding him down and the vet still couldn't get a look in his ears. So they took him to the back - I was near flipping out at this point - I can't stand to see him freaking out like that. I mean, I know they weren't hurting him, but I really thought he was going to have a heart attack or stroke. After about 15 minutes, they brought him back in - still alive, thankfully. He had bitten his little tongue and it was all bloody, but they got the medicine in his ears.
Then the vet addressed her concerns about his behavior and what will happen with the new baby. I asked about doggie Xanax, but she said that would lower his inhibition to bite, so she prescribed Prozac for him. I'm not entirely sure what the Prozac is supposed to do for him. He's not depressed, just grumpy. And I don't know how we'll know if it's working, aside from getting all in his face and seeing if he bites me.....
But it can take 2-4 weeks to take effect, so I guess we'll have to wait and see. The vet doesn't see many other options - which I assume means she would recommend putting him to sleep if he lashes out at the baby. I'm willing to try anything that will prevent that.
Oh, and the best part is is that we have to do all this again in 2 weeks. But she gave us a sedative for next time help him relax.
Gary, go on being your sassy self! Does N sleep warmer? Maybe she's going after the heat? Or maybe... just maybe... she's being a cat. <- it's possible
GARY, IF YOU CAN CUDDLE WITH N YOU CAN CUDDLE WITH MEEEE
Is that good news about Johah, or no change news? I hope the meds are working. I hope the best for Harry. Did the vet figure out what was up with his ear?
Jonah's problem is still a mystery. So I guess it's bad news - but he's fine - I mean, other than excessively drinking water and being a little chubby, he's alright.
Harry just had an ear infection - that's all they said. They put some yellow goop in both ears and in 2 weeks he has to go back and have it done again.
there are some pheromone dog collars that are supposed to be calming; some people like them. i can't remember the names, though...
:) for Gary! :-\ for Jonah! :'( for Harry!
so after the vet today......
Gary has put on a bit of weight (last weigh was 2.97kg and today was 3.01kg - so not much but some). The vet was so super really impressed with how she's doing. Kerry (the vet) said that she was really happy with how Gary is doing and that she looks much better than expected. She was really happy Gary had put on even a bit of weight and said that her coat looked great and that she seemed healthy and happy. I told her exactly what Gary was eating and Kerry was really happy with that and said well done to Gary!
She realised I know what's going on (as in me being a health professional and know what to look out for) and has said I only need to take Gary in again in 2 months time, rather than 1 month......or earlier if I''m concerned about Gary. So rather than phoning with reminders and sending reminder letters for weigh ins, the ball is in my court as to whether i want to visit the vet or not......and the option is there just to call and discuss over the phone if I want.
Massive Gary love heading from the States.
:)>>> :cat2:
We always get the Natural Balance vegetarian formula for Olen which usually says "allergy formula" on the front, but today we bought a bag that says "vegan formula" on the front! Kinda neat! (but I think it's the same food?)
i used to get Natural Balance as well but find my dogs like Nature's Recipe veggie one better... Have you seen or tried that brand? cool the other says vegan now! i think the one i use does too
i used to get Natural Balance as well but find my dogs like Nature's Recipe veggie one better... Have you seen or tried that brand? cool the other says vegan now! i think the one i use does too
Nope, Olen loves his so much I haven't looked for any others. He pretty much loves to eat all food, though...
Now that Harry is on Prozac, he won't eat his breakfast. He eats dinner, but isn't hungry in the morning anymore. He was pretty plump, but I can tell he's losing weight. I hope one meal a day is enough for him...
a dog on anti depressants? freakin bizarre
how long has he been on the prozac now? I can't remember...about a month?
It can cause decreased appetite in humans, so I guess it would be the same in dogs (we'll see what fb says). But maybe if he has a larger evening meal that would be sufficient? When I was young we'd only feed our dog a small amount in the morning and then give him a larger evening meal.
Yeah, it's been a little over a month now. His demeanor is great now - not that I've tried to get him to bite me or anything, but he seems calmer, less grumpy. Apparently he ate some of his breakfast this morning, so that's good. The vet said the one side effect she most often sees is decreased appetite, so I knew to expect it....
I'm worried about Boo (my 18 yo kitty). For the last year or so he has been meowing excessively almost all of the time. It's not for food, he's always eaten in the morning and evening and if I offer him food he'll just leave it. Sometimes I think it's for attention, so I'll pick him up and bring him over with me for whatever I'm doing, but he'll just go back and sit in the kitchen or on the staircase and HOWL. His littermate passed away in January 2010 and I think that might have to do with it? I know he most definitely misses him, Rajah was his other half. I thought about getting another cat for him to play with so he won't feel so lonely, but I don't want to stress him out or have the possibility that they won't get along (Boo's never been around any cat other than Rajah). :( At night if I don't bring him in my room with me and close the door he'll (this is weird) sit at the bottom of the staircase and meow up it. The meowing gets really desperate sometimes and overall just breaks my heart because I don't know how to help him. Could this be an elderly cat thing? Has anyone had any experience with older kitties? He seems very healthy, but sometimes has what I call "cougar spouts" where he acts like a wildcat and races up and down the staircase and flies around corners really fast (but he has pretty much always done this). Halp!
a dog on anti depressants? freakin bizarre
I thought pets needing medications like this was odd too until I started my current job. One of my coworkers has a Russian Blue that has to take both anti-depressants and anti-psychotics. Without them, it will try to chew it's tail off. She told me that she went out of town a few years ago, and left the cat in a neighbor's care. The person forgot to give it the anti-psychotics and the cat chewed it's tail down to the bone.
*shudders*
SOG my gmas old cat does the constant meowing thing too... just a senial (sp?) old cat who seems confused or something...
evergreen... hmmmmm i wonder if meds might help my dog mason? he had mange that was treated right before i adopted him but he is always biting and itching himself... i almost think it might be a mental problem...
i am going to the vet tomorrow cause he was just groomed on sunday and i came from work today and he had 3 patches of hair missing that he's been scratching at :(
SOG, I really don't know what's up with your cat......but I strongly suggest a trip to the vet. My Gary yowls at times....the vet said it's possibly related to her kidney failure.
I find she yowls if she's just about to puke (she gets a bit nauseous sometimes due to toxin build up - acc. to the vet). sometimes if she's thirsty and she can't get into the bathroom she'll yowl (she won't drink unless we place her water bowl in the bath - weirdo).
She'll also yowl if she has just done a poop and then she'll be super playful - she's always done that though, nothing to do with her kidney failure.
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