We've been giving Buddy benedryl and coning him because he is allergic to the flea collar and he will not stop licking his paws. We got rid of his but Piggy is all up on him all the time and he was still exposed to hers. So, we got rid of hers, too, but he's got a hot spot between his back toes. I soaked his feet last night in a warm epsom salt bath. Getting rid of her collar was key, because I can tell that he is getting better now. Man, his skin REALLY did not like whatever chemical was in that collar. False alarm here. He normally has crazy good hearing but I think the cone messes that up. He thought I came home and stood there for half an hour attached to the door. Poor Buddy! PS: I am a bad person because I laughed way too hard at this pic.
Thought you guys might get a kick out of this and didn't know where else to put it... some people do keep them as pets (although usually not the males) so here it is: http://www.perthnow.com.au/technolo...s/news-story/9adf17b956251e570689c4264f4c3701 Thats a fairly big male Red Kangaroo (they can get bigger), and my guess is he is seeing his reflection in the window and thinks its another male trying to encroach on his territory hence the posturing, chest bashing and the hind leg kick at the end. That kick at the end? Can and totally will fuck you up (although attacks on people are very very rare), this is the claw these guys rock on both hind legs: Its used to disembowel rival males... or you know anything else that wants to fuck with it.
Well, our fat cat has the diabeetus. Sunday morning we were dealing with her vomiting and having a little diarrhea, so our vet gave her fluids and some meds for that. But the next day, and since, she's been lethargic, quiet, unable/unwilling to jump up on the couch, and just overall a sad lump. She's been disinterested in eating and only putting her lips to water, not lapping it up. Today, she got her blood test that made the vet suspect diabetes (blood glucose at 300) so he kept her at the vet to give her an IV. After A few hours, he checked her blood glucose and it had skyrocketed to 600. So this weekend we have to start some insulin shots and try and get her to eat anything without forcing her. Her potassium levels were super low as well (causing her to not want to move or lift her head from being so weak) so the vet gave us a syringe of the potassium gel, but also said that she will hate it, and hate us for it, so not to stress her out but to try and give it to her. Here's some pictures of her, because she's just so fucking cute. She's usually 19 pounds, and we can tell in the last week she's lost weight. Bewildered understands, we love our fat cats! Here's Healthy Izzy: And here's Diabeetus Izzy, complete with her stylish bandage from the IV: I hope I did that right, I've never uploaded images, and I'm on a new iPad. EDIT: Also, note the cardboard/gaffer's tape/aluminum duct tape contraption on the couch. I made one for each couch so the cats can't go underneath and scratch at it. It would probably be easier to just, you know, not have cats...but that's not an option.
My old cat used to be diabetic, and giving her a shot morning and night was not the big deal that I originally thought it was going to be... it was just one other thing you did when you fed her. She didn't notice it at all (you give it in the scruff of the neck), and she was a totally different cat with the shots. Did that for almost a year before she died. So if you're freaked out or worried about giving her shots or something, don't be... it's no big deal.
We've been giving her insulin for three days now, a low dose morning and night. The vet thinks we'll probably have to up the dose but he's seeing how it affects her first. So far she's gotten her appetite back and is getting more energetic each day. I can actually tell that her energy increases after a dose and starts falling slowly until the next one. And she's only really tried to run away once when I gave it to her, but I think she did it just because she saw me holding the syringe and figured it was what she was supposed to do. She doesn't seem to really notice it otherwise.
Yep... my experience as well. At some point she will correlate her feeling well with that shot... it's not something tangible like a treat, but she'll know that right after that morning/evening shot she feels better, and will welcome it. Maybe "welcome" is a bit strong... she won't be bothered by it.
Never thought I would say this, but the insulin turned Toby back into his old self. We started the injections and prescription cat food a year ago. It was a bit of an adjustment, but I'm so glad we did it. I actually wish we had caught his diabetes sooner. He has so much more energy, his coat is like silk, and he just seems healthier overall. Those vials are expensive, but they're worth every penny.
Kaiser got stung in the face at some point last night or this morning. I didn't notice until I took her and Max out to relieve themselves. When my wife took her to the vet, Kaiser somehow managed to evade the entire vet staff and GOT OUTSIDE. She's at home now, hopped up with Benadryl. Spoiler
We've been watching neighbor dog Gus over the weekend, and he and Buck seem to be getting along fine.
Buddy has finally embraced Piggy's lack of boundaries. She is an aggressive cuddler...it was only a matter of time before she converted him to her ways. Resting in the backseat after a little 1pm hike. Hot dogs!
The dogs were not allowed on the bed.....until we realized that this is the comfiest way to spend a Sunday afternoon. We started allowing them up for naps a few months back and I'm not looking back. They still sleep in their beds at night though. Do yall share at night with your furry friends or is the bed off limits?
We used to let the dogs sleep on the bed every Saturday night but then I got pregnant so that stopped. They're so cute..on Saturdays, they would circle the bed until we let them up. Since we spoil the shit out of them, we have two tempurpedic-like dog beds for them next to the bed though, and they LOVE their beds.
I'm indifferent about where my dogs sleep, so where they wind up is up to them. Abraham, the big one, has - from the age of eight weeks - never wanted to be more than 10' from me. When he sleeps, however, he doesn't like to be bothered. I can still remember him as a passed out puppy and me trying to roll him over and rub his belly. He heaved this great big sigh, got up, walked away and laid down across the room. Kind of like, "Would you just not?" He sleeps at the foot of the bed, on the floor. Finli, the terrier, is all over the map. Sometimes downstairs on his favourite chair. Sometimes one of the couches. Often he starts off the night atop a folded up comforter that I keep at the foot of the bed. If there's thunder, fireworks or if the ice maker is on, though, he'll stretch out right beside my shoulder/chest, pressed up beside me. It makes for an exceedingly bad night's sleep. However I'm not awake enough to realize I could just push him away.
From day one Buck has always preferred to sleep curled up on the bed with his butt against my legs. On really hot nights he may sleep on the floor at the foot of the bed, otherwise he's up against one of us.
Piggy's really smart and although we very sparingly do it, when she acts like a real shit head or has an accident for no good reason we kennel her, and I think that is turning her off to the kennel. We feed her in there for all meals, too, but she really prefers to sleep on the couch in the front living room. She's been really good lately (I think most of the puppy is finally out her...thank God) so I think I'll allow it and not make her go in the kennel at night. Buddy is like your Abraham, D. He sleeps on the dog bed in our room because it is near me. If I were in the living room he would stay there. He is easy peasy. I have to be more careful with her because she is really flipping smart and will change her behaviors and habits if she picks up on us doing something that she doesn't want (nail clipping, baths, kenneling, making her come back to the scene of the crime to show her what she did, etc). She remembers everything.
One, I dont know where Bewildered got a picture of my dog. Two, I used to let my dog sleep in my bed until I started developing sleep issues myself and rolling over on an unmovable rock of a dog wasn't going to work. I tried moving a dog bed in the room but she didn't like it and would get restless. We try to keep the bedroom doors closed during the day, if we don't she'll sneak onto a bed. I really don't get people who are fanatical about not letting their own dogs on the couches.
This is something I have been giving a lot of consideration these days. Ours are welcome on the couches....but our couches are plether (easy to clean) and old as hell. I bought them used and have owned them at least 6 years. We really need new couches but that means either leather (expensive and I'll be pissed if they get scratched up) or cloth that is difficult to clean. Maybe a slipcover is the answer? I don't want my living room to appear dirty. I do not want people to step into my house and know we have dogs, ya know?
Some pictures of Augusta the cat at the home-front and KT abroad swimming, hunting for marmots and keeping sentinel on hiking and swimming trips. As far as the bed issue, I don't believe in crating a dog, it just leads to so much weirdness. KT has a bed I made for her out of some old comforters right next to my bed but she'll only get up on my bed if she is invited and naps all throughout the house. August could give a fuck less and just sleeps wherever. Under my bed, on my bed, up on the cat bed I have for her on shelving above my bed.