Chubby had to go to the vet last week.  This was his first visit to the new vet, and he was going to get new medicine.  We had to change his vet because the old vet was 40 minutes away, and one of the most expensive in the county, that’s not to say I didn’t love the old vet, just couldn’t afford to keep going anymore.  The new vet is 5 miles away, and very reasonably priced.

We got good news and bad news.  The good news is that there is no problem switching his insulin to Vetsulin.  We used to use PZIVet, and it is the most expensive stuff out there for diabetic pets, and the company is planning on shutting down production, so really no choice.  We also found out that we can lower his dosage, so he won’t have to have as much medicine.  As long as he gets his “special” medicine (treats) with it, he wants to keep getting his shots.  I was thrilled with the results of Chubby’s visit, well that part anyway.

The bad news is Chubby has to have dental work done.  He is losing his teeth, and he will only be 9 in March.  The vet actually turned one of his teeth on it’s side to show me how bad they are.  I thought it was his gum, then I saw it was his tooth.  Really bad.

I am not sure if the dental problem has to do with the diabetes or not, but we have another appointment in a couple of weeks to make sure the new insulin & new dosage are working well, and I will ask.  In the meantime I will be doing some research on how to take care of their teeth.  I will put the information I find on here.

Thanks for all the good wishes.

Chubby just likes to sprawl out in the middle of the floor.  We think he looks just like a walrus.

Sammy likes to lay on my desk and “help” me work on the computer.

Your cat can get bladder stones just like you and I can.  They are extremely painful and, if not taken care of, they can kill your cat.

Cats have a very narrow urethra, even for their size.  So any kind of blockage can be harmful.  Bladder stones are basically small rocks.  They are rough and uneven in size.  Your cat can have these for any amount of time.  It isn’t until they get stuck in the urinary tract that they become a problem.

If your cat starts urinating in strange and new places, there could be any number of reasons.  They could be getting older.  Their litter box may not be clean enough for them.  They could be mad at you.  Some people will tell you that cats don’t do things to spite you, but I can tell you that they most certainly do.

Another thing to look for is blood in their urine.  If they keep trying to go, and can’t.  Both of these are signs of bladder stones or another illness your cat may have, so take them to the vet immediately.  If it isn’t bladder stones, you will just be out the cost of the visit, but if it is, you have just saved your cat’s life.

At the vet, they will get a urine sample, and do tests.  If they discover stones, there are options.  Some stones can be dissolved with medication.  Some can only be removed with surgery.  Most cats only have one or two stones, but some can have more.  The more stones, the more room they take up in the bladder, and the less room for urine, so they will be trying to go more often.  And if one of the stones is in the tract, then they can’t do anything except fill up behind it.  Sometimes they can pass the stones, but more often they can’t because their urethra is so tiny.

Bladder stones are caused by a pH imbalance.  Their pH can be either too high, or too low.  There are medications to help balance the pH in your cat so you can avoid having a repeat experience.  If your cat’s pH is too high, there is too much alkali in your cat’s system.  If it is too low, there is too much acid.  There are special foods to give your cat to help keep their pH in balance.

Talk to your vetrinarian to see if you can use the food or if you need medications.  Also, if you need medications, ask your vet about liquid.  I don’t know if you have ever tried to give a cat a pill twice a day every day, but it isn’t fun.  Liquids are so much easier, especially since they are flavored.

Keep an eye on your cat, and they will be there with you for a long time.

Poor Cutie had to have 5 bladder stones removed.  He looks so pitiful, but I am sure he was very relieved, because this condition is extremely dangerous in male cats.

Mouthie was born with a black head, and got a lighter and lighter grey down his back to his tail.  We never expected an all black cat!!!

Dr Andrew Jones has written a very informative ebook called Veterinary Secrets Revealed that is about health care for your pets.  He tells you when it is absolutely necessary to see your veterinarian and when you can take care of your pet at home.  Dr Jones specifies when there are differences between cat and dog care.  It is the best of both worlds, most information is applicable to both, but he does remember to tell you when there are differences in care.

Dr Jones seems to be an anomaly in the professional world.  He doesn’t think everything needs to be done by your vet, he knows that we, as pet owners, are just as capable of performing basic care.  He also doesn’t feel that everything should be taken care of with medication, he believes in natural healing.

He tells you what you need to know for basic home health care for your pet, danger signs to look for, and how to treat various illnesses at home.  You also get great information on preventing some very serious diseases, such as cancer.

Helpful pictures of what to look for are included in the information of some of the diseases, as well as various home solutions.  Herbs, acupressure, homeopathic, and vitamins are all included in the treatments he recommends.

This ebook covers everything from abscesses to wounds, with mental and physical problems included.  This is the most comprehensive book I have found for taking care of my cats,  and I strongly recommend it to all of you.

Click here to find out more about Veterinary Secrets Revealed

Sammy isn’t too sure about the jingle bells on this collar, but he knows how handsome he is.

Chubby thinks he is king of the house when he wears this cape.

Your cat can get into so much trouble this time of year it can be overwhelming.  I know you want to enjoy the Christmas season, so here are some tips on keeping away from the veterinarian.

Holiday plants.  Many plants are toxic to cats, and most holiday favorites are in this list. Holly, lilies, poinsettia, and mistletoe are the major culprits.  Keeping things up high doesn’t really work for cats since they like to jump everywhere you don’t want them to go.  Shooting your cat with water usually works, but you can’t be there all the time, plus there are a few cats that actually enjoy being shot.  Placing a zapmat around the plant may help.  Unfortunately, keeping these plants out of the house completely, or inside a glass cabinet seems to be the only way to keep kitty healthy.

The tree can be a danger to you and your cat.  Cats like to climb trees.  Christmas trees are no exception.  Even when covered in decorations and lights they are a temptation.  You don’t want to go without a tree, and you don’t want to lock your cat out of the room, so what to do?  Tie the tree to the wall, preferably 2 walls in a corner.  It doesn’t have to be obvious, just make it secure.

Lights are beautiful, but tempting.  Cats love to chew, and a light cord is exactly what they like.  Long and skinny, sometimes moving around, just like a snake.  They revert to hunter mode when they see cords.  They will stalk them, pounce, then chew.  Then get electrocuted.  Make sure to keep cords covered, if they can’t see them, they won’t try to play with them.

Tinsel sets off the tree to perfection.  Cats love to eat tinsel.  Unfortunately, tinsel doesn’t agree with them.  It doesn’t just go in and then out, it stays.  It wraps around your cats organs, and will need to be removed surgically.  If you see some hanging out of their mouth, gently tug.  If it doesn’t come out easily, DON’T YANK, go immediately to your veterinarian.  Yanking can cause permanent damage.  To avoid this, put tinsel only on the top of the tree, or don’t use any at all.

Ornaments are fun to bat.  They swing around, making tempting targets, and easily get knocked off the tree and broken.  Use twist-ties to attach your ornaments, or only use non-breakable ornaments on the bottom branches.  Put your precious and most delicate ornaments higher on the tree.

We love to wrap gifts.  Ok, we love to look at wrapped gifts, sometimes the wrapping part is a little too much for us.  Cats love to look at the gifts, too, but their focus is on the ribbons.  Ribbons are tons of fun to play with.  It bounces around, flies through the air when batted and is just a whole day of playing by itself.  Fun to eat, too, but just like tinsel, very dangerous.  Eating ribbon can get your cat’s organs tied in knots, literally.  If you see ribbon in your cat’s mouth, gently tug, if it doesn’t come out, call your veterinarian immediately.  DO NOT YANK the ribbon, you can cause serious harm.

As long as we pay attention, and look at the holiday from a cat’s perspective, we can make it happy and safe holiday for all of us.