What We Have Been Up To Lately

It just occurred to me that I have been quiet on the blog recently. It's not on purpose, just life has been going by so quickly that I haven't had the time or energy to write. We have been doing mundane things like work (a heck of a lot of it), training and hanging out as a family. But the last two weeks have been busy and here's why.

Last Monday Zach noticed Trinity asking to go to the bathroom a lot, then urinating multiple times outside. Of course this is nothing new and I made a vet appointment for the next day. Sure enough she has yet another UTI. The Doctor examined her, he told us her vulva doesn't stick out like a normal female dogs does, hers goes inside towards her bladder. This makes contracting UTI's easy. The good news is that considering how much it goes back in, she keeps herself clean pretty well. The infections will continue, but having one every six months isn't that bad. She was on antibiotics for two weeks and its all cleared up now. Trinity never lost her spunk, or energy, and was still able to train with no issues. These will continue, I just hope that she doesn't have to be on antibiotics prophylacticly.

Then, last Thursday we noticed Star's right eye draining and had shut closed due to the drainage. I cleaned and flushed it with eye drops that day, but the drainage was still there so we brought her in for a visit. He tested her retina for scratches and, luckily, it was negative. We got antibiotic drops to give her three times a day for a week. They worked so well that her eye was cleared up after being on them for two days. But he still wanted to see her for a follow up. He was pleased to see the eye cleared and we went out of there with no further orders. We didn't find any scratches near the eye so we are not sure how it happened.

Then, last Wednesday day Miss. Kylie was lethargic and not moving like herself. No  running, jumping, or any butt wiggles when I came home and she was just acting pathetic. She also had some abdomen spasms and favoring her back when walking. I, of course, got really nervous so we brought her to the vet that night. She was so nervous in there and it recently occurred to me that she has never been to the vet (since being rescued) for anything but a sick check up. Not to mention that the last time she was there she was put under. The doctor checked her out and told us she just hurt her back. She was prescribed NSAID pain relievers and a muscle relaxer. She felt great the next afternoon and greeted me at the door with butt wiggles.We were supposed to keep her as calm as possible, but when Kylie feels good she wiggles all over the place.

 No needless to say, we had four unexpected vet appointments with in two weeks. I asked them if they give out discounts if you bring in more than three pets in one week and they were nice enough to discount Kylie's appointment. But now you know why I have been working so many hours. My pets seem to want to keep the veterinarian office in business and I don't care, as long as my kids are healthy!

Why Do All The Sick Animals Come To Our House?

 It's been over a two months since we adopted Kylie from P.S I Love You and we have had some health issues with her. The day after we adopted her she started coughing in the middle of the night. She was hacking so much that I panicked and called Zach's brother and dad to go to our house and check on her while I was at work. I was so afraid that she was going to choke to death. She was still coughing so we went to the vet that night for a check up.



The vet wasn't sure what it was and explained to us about her possibly having kennel cough. She sent us home with antibiotics and an order for plenty of TLC. The cough was improving for a week but the next Friday night she was coughing non stop for 15 minuets at a time. So, the next day we brought her back to the vet. The doctor discussed with us the possibility of having lung worm or breathing issues. She told us we could possibly have to do a chest x-ray and a trans-treachial wash of her throat to determine what she had. But we could not do an x-ray that day because she was so nervous that she would have to be restrained down to get it or be sedated which you can't do until shes off antibiotics for 5 days. So we went home with an increase in her antibiotic and a cough suppressant. The cough medicine worked really well. She became more active, she was starting wrestling matches with Trinity and could do it for 10 minuets with out going into a coughing fit. So, we decided not to do the treacheal wash and held off on the X-ray for a few weeks.

She didn't need the cough medicine for a few weeks but last week her coughing became worse and she had one a day. I made an appointment for her on Saturday for a chest X-ray. We saw several things on it. One being a pellet in her muscle on her left side. Where she was dumped in Arkansas people frequently shot dogs for sport. I had hoped she hadn't been there to long to get shot but apparently she had been. It's not hurting her so were going to monitor it for now. It also showed a lot of busy activity in her lung fields. Shes not sure if it is 1) chronic bronchitis 2) athsma or 3) lung worm. We sent the X-ray out to the radiologist for a through examination and see what they suggest we do. But for now we are keeping up with the cough suppressant and monitoring her breathing. I just want her to get better and know what's going on in her little body.

Trinity's Unexpected Vet Appointment

Last week I noticed that Trinity had been urinating much more that normaly. She wasn't asking to go out more often, but whenever she would go outside, she would pee 6 times within a few minuets. This was very odd for her usually she urinates once at a time.

"Mommy, stop counting how many times I pee!"

So, on Saturday while she was getting a mani/pedi, I made an appointment for her at the vets office. We were very lucky to get in on Monday, usually they are very busy in the afternoons. They asked me to get a urine sample to bring in the day of our appointment. It was surprisingly easy to get from her. I just put on my gloves, got an old container, and stuck my hand, you know where. The urine was very concentrated and cloudy which indicates a urinary tract infection. The office was very happy to know I had brought in the sample. I kind of figured she wouldn't pee for them at the office, she's such a princess.

"No not me. But I am very pretty!"

While in the office, she was nervous about everything. We had to weigh her, which she hates, we found out she gained some weight. In April she was 54lbs and now she's 60lbs! I couldn't believe it, she doesn't even look like she gained weight. She was upset when the vet tech had to take her temperature, she jumped on me while it was being taken. Then she didn't want anything to do with the vet. She ran from her, we had to crowed around her to stop her from running away. The vet said she saw some blood in the urine which is worrying. By the end of the appointment she was sitting on Zach's lap in the waiting area.

"But it was scary!"

Yesterday I got the call from the vet. The good news is that she has a normal white and red blood cell count and there is no protein which means the lime from March is gone, yay! But the urine showed a low acid count and she has some uric crystals in their, that means that it could just be from the infection or bladder stones. She's unsure of this at this time but she put her on antibiotics twice a day for 7 days, then we will get another urine sample a week after stopping the antibiotics to see if the crystals are still their. If they are still in her urine we will have to do a bladder x-ray. I hope that it is just from the urinary tract infection and she doesn't have any stones. But this has not been affecting her mood wise. She's still her happy, crazy puppy self!

We Went To The Vet Again: An Update

A few weeks ago I posted that the cats went to the doctors. Yesterday they went back for a check up and for a distemper booster. They did great, as usual. They climbed all over each other while in the carrier. But once they got out they were good. One stayed on the exam table while the other stayed in the carrier.

The vet checked Star first for her heart murmur. To my surprise it was gone! YAY! She said it is probably stress related and that every check up we should be sure to listen for it. She also has lost some weight about 5oz in 3 weeks. The Doctor's not to worried about it but she wants me to weigh her every week to get a baseline and if there are any changes to call her about it.

"I'm so happy to be here...not!"

Waiting for the Doctor.

"What are you doing?"

"Can we come out now?"

"This is not comfy."

Sitting an sulking.

"Where is that Doctor already!"

But my trouble child seems to be Miss. Cookie Dough who has been vomiting digested foods more than usual lately. Unfortunately for us their is a whole list of things that could be causing her to do that, so Dr. Natalie wants to put her on a 'sensitive stomach' diet to see if that will help. The Meow Mix they have been getting is, according to the Doc, like 'pizza and burgers to us'. Which is not good. So, we came home with special vet formula wet food. Now I need to go to the pet store to buy her food because I gave her the new food last night and she's not to impressed with it. My girls are such picky eaters. It took us forever to find the kind of wet food Star likes and now I have to worry about one eating the others food. But for the visit Cookie Dough was hamming it up because she thinks she's super cute. Well I guess she is!

"This is how I lay down now."

The Cat's Went To The Docotor's

I'm sorry for the lack of blog posts lately. It's not that I've been busy doing a ton of stuff, except for working I've just been reading all of your lovely posts. So when it comes time to write one of mine, it's to late and I'm tired.

Now that I explained that, I must tell everyone of the kitties' doctor appointment last week. We went in for a check up and some shots. I brought them both together in the same carrier. They were so cute. Cookie Dough kept meowing and Star was trying to escape by pressing her head against the door.

"I don't like being in here."

They were both very good for the doctor. My kitty vet is by far the best vet I have ever had. All of the vets in the office are great, but I give this one 5 gold stars with 2 thumbs up! She was talking to them both, petting them, allowing them to sniff her equipment and apologized for when she intruded on there territory ie: gave shots or checked their temperatures. P;us, she kept calling me 'Mom', which I loved. We had a very bad experience with bringing the cats to the vet 1 1/2 years ago, for Star's surgery, that it's wonderful to have a loving vet.

"The last time we went to the vet we came out all drugged up!"

She checked Cookie Dough first while Star sat on my lap. We have seen her vomit undigested foods and that concerned us but she just wants us to watch her to see if it continues, luckily it has only happened once more. The only thing is that need to watch that her weight doesn't go up. She's 8lbs and has gained 2 since her spay.

"Are you calling me fat?"

Unfortunately, Star has a heart mummer. I knew about this since they were monitoring her for it during her dental surgery. She checked her and it is only at a level 1 on a scale ranging from 1-6. So when we go back in 3 weeks she will be checked again by Dr. Natalie to see if it is just from being nervous or she has it all the time. She was very upset when getting the shots that she was burring her head in the tech's arm. But no behavior problems at all. At the other vets, she was clawing their shirts and trying to escape.

"I'm a good girl when you treat me right!"

The next time we go back they will get their second round of distemperment since I was a bad mommy and forgot to bring them in last year for it and the year before, that the sucky vet (as I refer to them as) never gave it to them. The doctor told me it wasn't necessary because they live indoors but encouraged, especially since I would like to foster cats. It's something that's been on my mind that I would like to eventually do, hopefully soon. I just have to work on Zach approving it.

"Wait, you mean more cats for me to play with?"

Lastly, I asked her about possibly having heart disease in their family. Unfortunately, my oldest nephew and my sister-in-law's cat Smeagol passed away last Tuesday from a heart issue. He was doing an agility exercise and he seemed to have injured his paw, but it wasn't an injured paw he had many blood clots in his leg. Dr. Natalie explained to me that the clots affected his heart very badly. I was not sure if it was hereditary or not since all the cats were in a family outside and were all 'mixing and matching' with each other (you get it). She stated that there is a blood test to check if the cat has a strand of the disease, but she has only seen this in male cats mostly under the age of 5. So as of now I'm not worried for the girls, but Star will be monitored for any further signs or symptoms of heart issues.

Sun bathing before Trinity came and spoiled all the day time fun.

So now, I'm happy to say that the girls are happy and mostly healthy. But we are going to miss Smeagol very much and the only good thing to come of this is, when they are ready, is that another rescued kitty will find a loving home.

Star the Sort of Toothless Cat

I had the worst experience when I brought Star in for a procedure a few years ago. As I spoke before about how she was found under a T.V on the porch, the tiny little thing never seemed to gain any weight. But, we just thought she was a picky eater because she used to enjoy nacho cheese once in a while.

I had brought her to the vets for a check up. At only 5 lbs she was concerned about how small she was. Cats average weight should be between 6-8lbs. Upon her examination she found an infection in her mouth and she needed her to immediately go in for oral surgery to extract all but two teeth. But first they put her on antibiotics before the surgery. Giving them was a nightmare! She would squirm and try to get out of our arms the whole time.

Before we agreed to do the surgery, the vet told me she would be going home the same day. So, Zach worked from home that day to bring her in, while I went to work. They did some lab work and found her H&H was low, which meant she was anemic from not being able to eat properly. They called me at about 3 o'clock and told me that once she was awake she would be able to go home, but it wouldn't be until late at night. That was fine by me, I just wanted her home. I called back at 5 when she had just woken up. The vet tech said that they needed her to drink some water and hold down food before they could discharge her. So I waited another 2 hours, called back and they said she was eating and drinking fine but I needed to call back in another hour to see how she was. By this time I was getting worried. They closed at nine and I wanted her to come home. Another hour went by and I called again and here's the response I got from the vet tech.
"Well, she's really drowsy I don't think you should take her home."
"Why?" I asked, "Is she lethargic? Did she vomit?"
"Well, she's not eating or drinking."
"Wait, what? I was told she was eating and drinking."
"Well i don't know but I really think she shouldn't go home."
At this point I was pissed! You don't know how my cat is? Your supposed to be taking care of my living, breathing animal and you don't know how she is?!? So my response was, "If she stays there, will anyone be with her."
"No." she said.
"WHAT!!! I want to talk to the doctor right now!" So I spoke to the doctor and told her I wanted to take her home and the doctor agreed to it.
We picked her up and she was drowsy but she was picking up her head, meowing and moving around in the carrier. I don't know what they could have done for her that we couldn't at home. All they wanted was more of my money. I couldn't believe what these vet techs were doing. And if something did happen, no one would have been there to do anything anyway. Luckily she was and is fine.  I took her back for a check up once and that was it, we have never been back since then. Now, we have a wonderful hospital we go to and we couldn't be happier.

A Trip to the Vet= More Antibiotics

Trinity had a Doctors appointment this week. I was very excited to get her another rabies vaccine, she lost her 2011 tag at my in-laws back in December. I was also ready to get it over with because Trinity hates shots & the people who give them to her.

"I'm not so brave sometimes. But don't tell the squirrels that!"

 She had some blood drawn to check for heart worms, lyme disease & anaplasma. She did not like that they held her paw & she said "That really really hurt!" because she backed up while they were taking the blood. Then she wouldn't go near the vet tech later on. She then was climbing on me while I was sitting on the chair.

"Next time I'm gonna bring my Auntie Lady. She'll scare them away for me!"

Then the Vet came in. He admired her "Beautiful blue tinged eyes." that apparently are "Very unique." (I hadn't even noticed that). He said she's at a perfect weight (55lbs) and won't grow much anymore so we should take her off of puppy food. He also likes her back legs and said that they are 'nice and strong'.

"I'm such a big girl!"

Well, here's the bad news. While she is negative for heart worms (yay!) she is possibly, positive for Lyme disease & anaplasma. I knew those ticks were bad, but I never thought she would get this! But the good news is that, it is curable. So, now she is on antibiotics for a month to treat these diseases. In her short life she's been on 3 courses of antibiotics. But I'm glad that she had the test and will be treated so she can heal fast!

"That still wont stop me from driving to the woods."

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