Archive for the ‘Pet and Vet News’ Category

I was in town to see Sting with a couple of my sisters (a must-see concert IMO!)  and work on planning the big 20th year vet school reunion(!) with my pal Peach. This merged into a quick getaway with my parents – just the parental units and me – to the coast. It was a bit spur-of-the-moment at a crazy time of year, when I normally wouldn’t take a trip, but we had a wonderful time.

We even had a day of nice weather.

Then I came home. I somehow walked out of the airport leaving a bag on the baggage carousel. la-la-la didn’t even think about it until several hours later. Yes, feeling a bit distracted lately. :-/ Thank goodness, my bag was waiting for me in the baggage claim. My dear husband drove out to the airport to retrieve it. How nice. (I think he was eager for a little break too, since it was dinnertime. I cooked instead of going to the airport.)

I came home to an eager family and pets, all of them glad that life is now “normal” again, and me realizing oooh how far behind I am on work. Quality time with the parental units meant less work time, but it was totally worth it. Now, however, I am feeling a bit buried.

Reality hits.

Awaiting my return was a package from a long-time dear friend who is genius, pure genius, at packaging and gift-wrapping. And finding cool stuff. Her talent takes my breath away, seriously. (Also filled with a bit of envy… you would know why if you have ever received a package from me, taped wildly together and including a few cat hairs for good measure.) Look:

Everything handmade, wrapped to perfection.

Yummy goodies, musical goodies, books, fun stuff and a big juicy letter! WOW. Perfect goodness on a cold rainy day. Barnie went crazy playing in the packaging. He is so easy to please.

Friends, Family, Pets - what life is all about

A drive around my neighborhood.

Abandoned Farmstead

In the small stand of trees to the right is the abandoned house, and the white rectangle is the old barn; trying to hold it together against the elements.

Abandoned farmsteads are common around here, most settled during the “160-acre free land to homesteaders” in the west. Sometimes only the foundations remain or a windmill, but many do have a visible house and barn. The stories that they must have…

Typical spring day here – crazy big white clouds, blue sky, and green-green-green as far as the eye can see. My favorite time of year. Mid to late June is when the wheat and barley start getting streaks of gold, then the greeness is all over. Golden waves of grain is pretty and all, but I love the green.

I mentioned the Cat Mat the other day when talking about my snoozing pets. I had the idea to make essentially a mini blanket for the back of the couch and another one for Barnie’s window seat.

Lucky me – Michael’s had Lion Brand “Thick and Quick” wool blend on sale. It is 20% wool, 80% acrylic – great for easy washing – in an olive color called Cilantro. Normally $6.49, marked down (clearance, actually) to $1.99. This was the only color on sale – hmmmm!? – maybe it doesn’t sell well or people don’t like it, but I would have selected it above all of the other colors. So… not sure what that says about me, but I was happy about that.

Here is the finished mat and the Cat Mat recipients. I have written down the “pattern” below for any knitters out there.

The Cat Mat on the back of the couch, Greta's perch

Greta on her Cat Mat (that IS her happy look)

Window version of the Cat Mat, modeled by Barnie

Barnie figures this is a good deal

Make your own Cat Mat
I used just a few yards over 1 skein (to make the last 5 rows, ~10 yards) of Lion Brand Wool Ease “Thick and Quick” using size 15 (29″) circular needles. I would recommend casting on fewer stitches and it should be a one-skein project. I plan to make more of these and will try that out. For now, here is what I did to make this Cat Mat.

I am not a pattern-writer, but here goes.

1. Cast on 54 stitches. I used a Long Tail cast on.
2. Garter stitch (knit each row) for 5 rows.
3. Garter stitch first 5 stitches, then stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl the next row), then garter stitch last 5 stitches.
   *Note: garter stitch = always knit the first and last 5 stitches to give you the garter stitch side borders
4. Continue step #3 until the Cat Mat is as ‘tall’ as you want it, then finish off with 5 purl rows.

Finished size: 22″ x 14″ (unblocked) and 2.5 stitches per inch

That’s it!

For my next Cat Mat
I purchased some 14″ size 15 straight needles for the next go-round. That will make the ‘short’ edge of the Cat Mat, and the stockinette stitch will go length-wise. Just to try a different way (and an excuse to buy another pair of needles).

Senior pets are near and dear to me. Who can resist those soft eyes, full of trust and love? While it is sometimes more “work” to care for a senior pet, I always consider it an honor. A celebration of a life well-lived.

But what if the senior pet is cranky, gets “lost” in the house, or doesn’t seem to respond to you? It may be a condition called Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) or in simpler terms, senior dementia. I recently did an interview with Edie Jarolim of Will My Dog Hate Me? on this topic: Canine Cognitive Dysfunction: A Vet Explains

Learn more: about senior dementia, also known as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD).

Share your story about living with a pet who has senior dementia.

Related Reading:

• Anipryl – Help for Senior Pets?
• Caring for Senior Dogs
• Celebrate Senior Pets! Show us your senior dog or cat
• Readers Respond – Viewer-submitted stories on a variety of topics

Photo: In Memoriam by normanack on Flickr

Most people are aware that antifreeze is toxic to animals and humans. While cars and garage or parking lot spills are the most common source of antifreeze, boats, “winterized” cabins, and similar situations must also be remembered with pets are around.

This forum post sadly illustrates this point.

ForRiley writes: “Last week we lost our beloved puppy, Riley, to antifreeze poisoning. The source of the antifreeze was a portable basketball hoop  in our driveway.

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