This gal is in today for the 2nd part of her heartworm treatment. She's a sweetheart. But is rather unusual looking. Part SharPei (obviously) and not sure what else.
She is on a diet, and has lost about 10 lbs. since August. Probably 20 lbs. more to go.
Back in 2005, I spayed her and fixed entropions on her eyelids. She came in again in 2008 and weighed 83 lbs. She came in this year, and weighed a whopping 95 lbs. She had heartworms and we put her on a diet, and started her treatment. If I remember correctly, she originally belonged to the son, or grandson, of her present owners. He was killed in an automobile accident. I suspect Queenie has been taking advantage of her owners, to get extra treats and snacks.
This is Buddy. He came in today. He cut his leg open sometime over the weekend. His owner didn't bring him in. A concerned neighbor did. She really can't afford to be taking care of dogs, other than her one, and her 2 cats.
About 8 weeks old. 12 lbs. Lab Mix?
If the family keeps him, he'll likely get run over because they live close to the 4 lane highway. That has been the fate of previous dogs. The neighbor, my client, worries about them all the time. Being elderly, that isn't good for her health.
He's on antibiotics and has something to clean it with. It'll granulate and heal together pretty fast. I'll probably call the animal control officer to make sure they get the Mom out of the puppy business.
I giggled out loud, just a little, when I saw his name on the new patient form. We've seen a few Rocks and Rockies, but never a Rocky Balboa that I can recall.
This was him yesterday- 11/3. 23 lbs.
Here is his video from yesterday.
This was him 3 weeks ago when he first came in. He has gained about 8 lbs- from 15 lbs. to 23 lbs. Soon he'll lose his widdle puppy face. The dogs were barking and howling in the kennel, and he was talking to them, but he wouldn't do it so well when the camera was on.
So what fun filled adventure does everyone have planned this weekend? I am not sure what I am up to, but I think I'll be glad to see the time change. I have the worst time getting up in the morning when it isn't getting light out until 9:30 am.
Last Thursday afternoon, I spotted the city animal control truck pulling into the parking lot. Which is rarely a good thing. Usually it's me getting hit up for free tranquilizers, free medications, free services, etc. Which I wouldn't mind helping out if I could, if the City were more amicable to deal with. There are 2 veterinary hospitals in town, and I am about 5th on the list of hospitals that sees any referral business from them.
The dog catcher brings in a pet carrier, and says, "I need to have this kitten put to sleep. It has an upper respiratory infection." Which sometimes, respiratory infections can be quite severe- with eye lesions, corneal ulcerations, infections, etc. So I look into the carrier expecting to see a really sick kitten.
Instead, I see a little kitten purring with a slightly weepy eye. "This kitten doesn't look that ill . . . how long have you had it?", I ask. "10-15 minutes", he says. The look of disappointment and shock and on my face had to be apparent, as he added, "I have another cat that I can't find a home for . . . I can't be bothered with a kitten."
And I'm thinking to myself, Yeah, and I can't be bothered euthanizing a kitten just out of convenience on a Thursday.
So I have to think fast and sort through the options.
1. Put the kitten to sleep and make the dog catcher happy.
2. Refuse to put the kitten to sleep. Which I know is gonna end badly for her.
3. Keep the kitten and find it a home when she is better.
So that is what I did- #3.
Meet Esmerelda.
She got a bath on Friday. Her weepy eye cleared up over the weekend. She
was really, really wormy, and got dewormer for 3 days over the
weekend. Flea medication for the ear mites. She still has a little rattle in her chest, but I am waiting to see if that will clear up on it's own. Antibiotics won't help if it is viral in origin. I suspect part of it is malnutrition and the intestinal parasites. She's been eating great.
Here's her video from Friday.
Here she is today. You can see how her eye looks better. With about 2 applications of eye ointment.
She'll be up for adoption in a few days. If you know anyone who wants a grey tabby kitten, with a loud motor, get in touch. I'll probably put her on petfinder as well.
You saw Jack back in July. He is still looking for his forever home. He boarded last week along with his foster family.
He's small to medium size. 22 lbs. He has been vaccinated for everything, neutered, and is on heartworm prevention. He lives with his foster home that is full of other dogs and cats and gets along well with everyone.
If anyone is interested is meeting him, or adopting him, or know someone or a family that might be, let them know, and get in touch with me.
Notice Lucky, the Cat Shark, circling and stalking his prey . . . . .
Since putting Leon to sleep in July, no one has claimed his chair in the exam room. Lucky is about the only one who'll sit in it while clients and patients are in there. Sometimes he is so in the way, that he has to have time out in his own cage during office visits. When clients aren't here, sometimes Sunshine or Priscilla are sitting or snoozing in it.
But strange things started happening a few weeks ago. When Holly came in for annual checkup.
Holly is a Shih Tzu, 5, maybe 6? years old now. She has several middle nicknames- from Cockeyed to Jumps like a Frog- but the one that has stuck the most is McNasty. She got that one as a puppy when she devoured a dead rat carcass before anyone could get it away from her.
Holly McNasty.
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So Holly was on the table and Lucky proceeds to get on the table too. And starts getting all amorous as if he is Pepe LePew. Rubbing on her, grabbing her leg, etc.
So the next week another little Shih Tzu comes in. This time it is Chloe who is about 13. She is getting a haircut. and the same thing happens again.
jumped off the bed. He's 6-7 months old. Chihuahua.
He came in a little over a week ago. Check out that leg he is holding up.
This happened several days before these photos were taken. A callus has already formed trying to stabilize the fracture site. You can't move the bones around. It happens rather fast in puppies and kittens. Ideally, if he had come in after it happened, we probably could have put a spoon splint on it. A spoon splint won't fit on it at this angle. Referring him to an orthopedic surgeon wasn't an option, and neither was anesthetizing him and refracturing the fracture. As it heals, I think it will remodel and not be at such a severe angle.
We sent him home on some pain meds and orders for strict confinement so it can finish healing. No more jumping off the bed.
I made 10 of these late last night. Carrot and Blueberry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting. No sugar in it so it is dog safe.
There is probably some health code about selling them, so I am giving them away for a $3 charity donation. The special little box to keep them from getting squished costs a $1.
Stop by if you want one, I only made 10 and Daisy has already eaten one . . . . .
I have clients who live out in the county and strays are always showing up at their house. After awhile some have to be delegated as "barn cats". Then the problem becomes trying to catch them, (or trap them), and get them spayed or neutered before they have more "barn cats".
While they are out of town, their "pets" are boarding, and they brought a Mama Cat, her 2 kittens, and another kitten in to be neutered and/or spayed. Check them out.
The kittens are part siamese. The 3rd kitten, from another litter, is solid black and he is hiding in back of the carrier. Probably can't see him well at all. The little female kitten won't be spayed for a few weeks. She came along for companionship as she would be lost without her mom and siblings according to the owners. And they were right- she started meowing as her two brothers were taken out of the cage, anesthetized, and neutered. They'll be awake enough to return by late this afternoon.
Here's a video of them-
In other news, July and August are flying by. It's been over a month since I sent Leon to Cat Heaven. I mentioned it here and there, but I don't think I officially mentioned it here on my blog. Clients have asked about him as they come in, and they don't see him anywhere. If you were following along with his bad kidneys, he got worse over the 4th of July weekend- depressed, dehydrated, etc. And when he got to where he wasn't interested in eating his treats, (he NEVER refused cat treats. Even with tooth gel on them, he would eat them.) I knew it was time to set him free. He had been here from almost the beginning of Granite Hills Animal Care so it was rather different not having him around. I told someone I sort felt like I did when my last grandparent passed away. You always have grandparents, and then one day, you don't. He sits on a shelf here in the office with Jezabelle and Jethro.
I have also been working on some gift ideas for the holidays and beyond. I needed to take photos of some of the items, so I bought some flowers yesterday and got out the camera to photograph this vase-
Well . . . today we find "You Know Who" grazing on the salad bar and upchucking all over the office.
I wasn't messin' with the flowers. Honest.
We finally had to put the flowers in a cage to keep Lucky away from them. Sunshine enjoyed the salad bar a little as well, but not nearly to the extent that Lucky did.
So what's new with you? Ready for the summer to be over with? Looking forward to Pumppkin Pie?
You saw Tuki as a puppy when she was about 9 weeks old in this post.
She is all grown up now and having puppies of her own. These 3 came in today for their 6 week vaccinations. 1 boy, 2 girls. Pebbles is the name of the little grey one.
They are all cute, but check out runty little Pebbles again. All 2.2 lbs. of her. Uno, the male is about 3 lbs., and the other little female is in the middle at 2.7 lbs. They like their pedigree puppy food mixed with vienna sausages.
Here's a short video of them. Tuki is in there too.
