Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
a difficult choice
While I was at the vet this past week with my cat Athena, I sat in the waiting area and overheard something that made me start thinking quite a bit.
All I know is what I heard the receptionist say to the person on the phone, so I have no specifics or idea what the exact situation is. ALL I can go on is what I heard the lady in the office said. I am sure there is more to the story, but... I have no idea what it is.
The person calling initially sounded perhaps as though they were needing to bring in one of their pets. No idea whether it was a dog or a cat or some other animal. But when the receptionist asked if that was the case, apparently she was corrected. The caller was apparently interested in having the animal put to sleep. A sad situation, but someting that is not without question as an animal's health can be in jeopardy. Who knows what reason the caller has for needing to bring in their pet. But the part that got my mind racing is the apparent wish by the caller to simply drop off the animal at the vet to be taken care of. No idea if there would be plans to pick up the remains afterward, or simply pay to have it done and allow the vet to dispose (bury) the remains.
Which made me wonder..... being there for a pet if you're having it put to sleep. I've had countless numbers of pet mice and rats that I've had to have put to sleep by someone I know who works at a local animal shelter that I am very good friends with. And each and every time I've had it done - yes, even the mice - I've been there to comfort the critter as it's put under and finally put to an eternal sleep. I will say that EVERY time it's been done has been because of health reasons - 99% of the time it being because of a tumor growth. When I was younger - maybe 3 or 4 - I had a pet cat that apparently got sick and had to be put to sleep. I barely remember this or knowing what was going on. I do know that I missed the cat and it's lead to one of the most amazing occurances ever in my life that one of my cats that I have now, Whiskers, I do believe is the re-incarnation of... well, Whiskers. My old cat was named Whiskers, and one of my current cats is named Whiskers. (The new one - as I like to call him "Whiskers 2.0" sometimes - was named by shelter staff before I actually adopted him.)
At first I wanted to be angry at the caller I was overhearing for simply dropping off their pet and not being there for the pet as it is euthanized. But after some thought as the day went on, I could not jump to that conclusion not knowing the situation. Perhaps they were simply careless and had no interest in 'being there' for a pet that is supposedly a family member. Perhaps it is an animal with no known health issues and they are having it put to sleep because it is no longer wanted. (Not without question that it has happened before that people do this to an otherwise healthy pet but because its not wanted by anyone). Or perhaps the animal is truly sick and they felt that it would be incredibly hard on them while the animal is euthanized. That I would not blame someone on as having a loved one - whether it be a pet or a human (!) - is incredibly hard. Though it would not be a human relative that is put to sleep by euthanization, but I hope people know what I mean when I say that. I mean when a family member is terminally ill and they are basically dying before your eyes. Yes, it has happened to me before and it IS difficult.
If you had a pet (cat, dog, rabbit, etc) that you needed to have put to sleep for whatever reason...would you choose to be there at the vet while it's put to sleep? Or would you go the route of the caller that I overheard who would prefer to have the procedure done while not observing or being present at the time? (Negate the reason for having the animal put to sleep; illness, injury, old age, no health issues but simply unwanted, etc).
All I know is what I heard the receptionist say to the person on the phone, so I have no specifics or idea what the exact situation is. ALL I can go on is what I heard the lady in the office said. I am sure there is more to the story, but... I have no idea what it is.
The person calling initially sounded perhaps as though they were needing to bring in one of their pets. No idea whether it was a dog or a cat or some other animal. But when the receptionist asked if that was the case, apparently she was corrected. The caller was apparently interested in having the animal put to sleep. A sad situation, but someting that is not without question as an animal's health can be in jeopardy. Who knows what reason the caller has for needing to bring in their pet. But the part that got my mind racing is the apparent wish by the caller to simply drop off the animal at the vet to be taken care of. No idea if there would be plans to pick up the remains afterward, or simply pay to have it done and allow the vet to dispose (bury) the remains.
Which made me wonder..... being there for a pet if you're having it put to sleep. I've had countless numbers of pet mice and rats that I've had to have put to sleep by someone I know who works at a local animal shelter that I am very good friends with. And each and every time I've had it done - yes, even the mice - I've been there to comfort the critter as it's put under and finally put to an eternal sleep. I will say that EVERY time it's been done has been because of health reasons - 99% of the time it being because of a tumor growth. When I was younger - maybe 3 or 4 - I had a pet cat that apparently got sick and had to be put to sleep. I barely remember this or knowing what was going on. I do know that I missed the cat and it's lead to one of the most amazing occurances ever in my life that one of my cats that I have now, Whiskers, I do believe is the re-incarnation of... well, Whiskers. My old cat was named Whiskers, and one of my current cats is named Whiskers. (The new one - as I like to call him "Whiskers 2.0" sometimes - was named by shelter staff before I actually adopted him.)
At first I wanted to be angry at the caller I was overhearing for simply dropping off their pet and not being there for the pet as it is euthanized. But after some thought as the day went on, I could not jump to that conclusion not knowing the situation. Perhaps they were simply careless and had no interest in 'being there' for a pet that is supposedly a family member. Perhaps it is an animal with no known health issues and they are having it put to sleep because it is no longer wanted. (Not without question that it has happened before that people do this to an otherwise healthy pet but because its not wanted by anyone). Or perhaps the animal is truly sick and they felt that it would be incredibly hard on them while the animal is euthanized. That I would not blame someone on as having a loved one - whether it be a pet or a human (!) - is incredibly hard. Though it would not be a human relative that is put to sleep by euthanization, but I hope people know what I mean when I say that. I mean when a family member is terminally ill and they are basically dying before your eyes. Yes, it has happened to me before and it IS difficult.
If you had a pet (cat, dog, rabbit, etc) that you needed to have put to sleep for whatever reason...would you choose to be there at the vet while it's put to sleep? Or would you go the route of the caller that I overheard who would prefer to have the procedure done while not observing or being present at the time? (Negate the reason for having the animal put to sleep; illness, injury, old age, no health issues but simply unwanted, etc).
(feel free to also participate in my blog poll back on the main page)
"Pet Tails": twice daily
Back when Whiskers had his minor surgery a few months back, I thought the .... uh, fun.... of giving him his butt baths for a week or so twice daily could not be topped. What could possibly be more fun to do than that? I think I may have found it.
Athena, for a while, has had a situation involving her mouth. Irritiation or something involving her teeth and gums has been giving her problems for well over a year now. I can't recall off the top of my head what her previous weight was, but this past fall her weight according to the vet visit was in at about 8.5 pounds. (I'm guessing that this is down from the past.) She's had visible signs of discomfort, but yet she's still been able to eat well and seems like a happy cat. Last month at her checkup she got put on some prescription for an anti-biotic that I had to pick up at the local pharmacy. (Which was unusual.) For about three weeks I had to give her a small dose of a liquid medicine every other day. All this hoping to avoid having to go the extreme route of getting some of her teeth pulled.
This past Monday was her 1-month re-check after that visit and the initial set of antibiotics. Some improvement, but also yet not enough. Bottom line: she's going back on the antibiotic for another month (with the possibility of another month of refill beyond that). And...further at-home treatment I have to give her. Part of it involving making sure to wash the outside corners of her mouth with slight soap and water to clean off the irritation. Then apply a special bit of ointment that I had to purchase there at the vet's office. That's all and fine. But the kicker? Instruction of brushing her teeth.
Have you ever tried to brush a cat's teeth??? Brushing a dog's teeth wouldn't be too hard as dogs tend to be more easy going to whatever is happening to them. But cats? Cats DO NOT like change or new things. They hate water, and they certainly hate someone trying to make them do something they don't care for. One of those things is teeth brushing. I've only had to do it once before for one of my other cats in the past, but this is always a challenging thing. Let me say that if you ever have to do this, by all means go the route of getting the small rubberized finger brush that you can use by putting on the end of your finger. The fun I've had the past 2 days? Trying to use an unused toothbrush I had to apply the specially-made feline toothpaste - seafood flavored! - and then trying to do a multitude of things at once: hold down Athena with one arm, open up her mouth with that same hand, and use the other hand to operate the brush to try to brush the teeth and gums on either side of her mouth. Can I say.... nearly impossible?! I suppose it could be more difficult. At least it's not Sylvester that's having to have this done. If it was him then I'd REALLY be having enjoyment doing this. (Of course I say that sarcastically.)
I have no idea how long I am to do the brushing, but maybe until her re-check up the first week in February. So at least for the time being, I get to: apply ointment to the corners of her mouth after washing it twice daily.... brush her teeth using seafood-flavored cat toothpaste twice daily.... and then after my next payday tomorrow and I get the prescrip from the pharmacy I get to every other day give her a small dose of medicine.
Fun, fun, fun. I doubt anyone is envious of me for this.
It is obviously costing me money for each vet visit and medicine and product I am needing to give her, but... maybe its a futher sign of what kind of responsible pet owner I am by doing whatever it is I need to do to take care of my cat(s) and make sure that they're well cared for by getting the needed treatment.
Athena, for a while, has had a situation involving her mouth. Irritiation or something involving her teeth and gums has been giving her problems for well over a year now. I can't recall off the top of my head what her previous weight was, but this past fall her weight according to the vet visit was in at about 8.5 pounds. (I'm guessing that this is down from the past.) She's had visible signs of discomfort, but yet she's still been able to eat well and seems like a happy cat. Last month at her checkup she got put on some prescription for an anti-biotic that I had to pick up at the local pharmacy. (Which was unusual.) For about three weeks I had to give her a small dose of a liquid medicine every other day. All this hoping to avoid having to go the extreme route of getting some of her teeth pulled.
This past Monday was her 1-month re-check after that visit and the initial set of antibiotics. Some improvement, but also yet not enough. Bottom line: she's going back on the antibiotic for another month (with the possibility of another month of refill beyond that). And...further at-home treatment I have to give her. Part of it involving making sure to wash the outside corners of her mouth with slight soap and water to clean off the irritation. Then apply a special bit of ointment that I had to purchase there at the vet's office. That's all and fine. But the kicker? Instruction of brushing her teeth.
Have you ever tried to brush a cat's teeth??? Brushing a dog's teeth wouldn't be too hard as dogs tend to be more easy going to whatever is happening to them. But cats? Cats DO NOT like change or new things. They hate water, and they certainly hate someone trying to make them do something they don't care for. One of those things is teeth brushing. I've only had to do it once before for one of my other cats in the past, but this is always a challenging thing. Let me say that if you ever have to do this, by all means go the route of getting the small rubberized finger brush that you can use by putting on the end of your finger. The fun I've had the past 2 days? Trying to use an unused toothbrush I had to apply the specially-made feline toothpaste - seafood flavored! - and then trying to do a multitude of things at once: hold down Athena with one arm, open up her mouth with that same hand, and use the other hand to operate the brush to try to brush the teeth and gums on either side of her mouth. Can I say.... nearly impossible?! I suppose it could be more difficult. At least it's not Sylvester that's having to have this done. If it was him then I'd REALLY be having enjoyment doing this. (Of course I say that sarcastically.)
I have no idea how long I am to do the brushing, but maybe until her re-check up the first week in February. So at least for the time being, I get to: apply ointment to the corners of her mouth after washing it twice daily.... brush her teeth using seafood-flavored cat toothpaste twice daily.... and then after my next payday tomorrow and I get the prescrip from the pharmacy I get to every other day give her a small dose of medicine.
Fun, fun, fun. I doubt anyone is envious of me for this.
It is obviously costing me money for each vet visit and medicine and product I am needing to give her, but... maybe its a futher sign of what kind of responsible pet owner I am by doing whatever it is I need to do to take care of my cat(s) and make sure that they're well cared for by getting the needed treatment.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
"Pet Tails": when the cats visited Santa
A little late posting these, but these were the cats visiting Santa Claus back on December 5th...
Whiskers
Porkey
WhiskersTabby 
PorkeySylvester 
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