Mewdy Blue Update

Just wanted to give you all a short update on Mewdy Blue. Today he still doesn't want to eat his food but he sure is interested in everyone else's food. I poured some chicken broth on his food and he lapped that up avoiding his food as much as possible.

Tomorrow he is going to his regular veterinarian, Dr. Tammy. Please keeps us in your minds as we search for an answer to this trouble. I can't watch my boy shrivel away to nothing. The way he's smacking his lips these last two days I'm leaning more and more toward his teeth and wondering what in the world we can do about them.

Thanks to all of you for your kind thoughts and prayers. We are cherishing our online friends right now.

Mewdy Blue

Please help me!

http://www.giveforward.com/mewdyblueveterinary 

As most of you know three of my cats have already passed this year (Bluebird in October, Rainbow and Twygal in April). This week Mewdy Blue has decided he doesn't like food anymore! You can guess what kind of shape I'm in right now.

Last night I had to take him into the emergency services at Iowa State Unversity for I.V. fluids and lab tests to figure out why he isn't eating. His liver values have been high but we've been treating them and he seemed to be doing pretty well until now.

He is home tonight but still not eating so more tests are in his future to figure out what is going on and how we can deal with it. I have started an account with Give Forward because I am having trouble paying for all of this. Four cats in one year is just too much.

If you are able I would really appreciate any donation to this fund. If you can't please pass on the information to your friends and readers to help me get out the word. Last night we rang up a bill of $461 but they are talking about a possible bill of $2000 if we go ahead and run x-rays, ultrasound and place a feeding tube.

The site is http://www.giveforward.com/mewdyblueveterinary .

Mewdy Blue thanks everyone who can pass on their prayers and warm cuddly feelings. And I thank you too.

National Senior Pet Health Month

Mouse

Do you know how to best care for your senior pet? For that matter do you even know what senior means in the pet world?

September is National Senior Pet Health Month in the U.S. so this is a good time to stop and think about your pet’s age and relative health. How old is your pet? Most cats are considered mature at about age 7 and “senior” after age 10. With dogs the determination is a little more difficult and individualized. Larger dogs generally have shorter lives than smaller dogs and thus mature much sooner.

Blizzard

Dr. Bianca Zaffarano at Iowa State University’s Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department talks about this on the ISU website:

http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2012/09/13/agingpets

If your pet isn’t yet a senior you can still protect his future health today. Familiarize yourself with your pet’s normal health condition. Fix in your mind the following behavioral tells:

·      Routine playtimes

·      Favorite toys

·      Favorite foods and amounts eaten

·      Drinking habits

·      Litterpan habits (bowel movement consistency, color and normal urine appearance)

Basically know your pet’s normal everything. At some point in your pet’s early adult life have your veterinarian run basic bloodwork in order to set a baseline for your pet. Any lab work run later will be compared to this baseline to determine if anything abnormal is going on. Also weigh your pet on a regular basis. If your pet’s weight changes drastically from month to month consult your veterinarian immediately.

Twygal

This month talk to your veterinarian and ask what you should be doing for your senior pet. Make sure his diet is appropriate for his age and activity level. Watch his activities to be sure he isn’t suffering any pain from arthritis or other maladies.

Most importantly cherish this time with your senior pet. You’ve shared so many years with him, so many experiences, so many special moments – now is the time to sit back and truly appreciate them. Love those seniors but make sure they are living a happy life.

Ozma and Zeit Geist