A New Year. A New Cat.

Hi All,

Libby here.

So, I went back and forth about an appropriate topic for this week’s blog.

I don’t know if you noticed but I try to alternate between medically relevant topics and ones that are purely fun, (basically, for my own edification). Oh and I suppose there are some topics that are timely- the Hurricane Sandy posts for instance. Holiday ones too.

Now, going back to the very first sentence of this post, the time seemed right for another medically oriented blog, but, since tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, I  decided to just go for it and write a timely one instead—namely, my New Year’s Resolutions.

This list is going to be pretty difficult considering that I am the pinnacle of feline perfection. I don’t really have much I should be resolving to improve about myself. Stop rolling your eyes. It’s true.

But moving on, here are four areas that I suppose I could stand to improve upon.

1. I resolve to be a nicer cat. Life sometimes gets me down, what with the whole inability to go to the bathroom by myself, thing. So I get down. And then I get mean. But I realize, in all my kitty wisdom, that that’s not so fair. So I’m going to try to be nicer.
2. Try even harder to help PPAC clients. That may sound lofty for a mere office cat. But, I recognize that the more I know, the more wisdom I can impart. To empower my massive blog following, I’m going to keep learning and sharing so I can help all the pet owners/ blog followers out there.
3. I will practice what I preach. And lose half a pound. Lord knows I’ve spoken (and written) more than enough about animal obesity. I also know that pretty much everyone everywhere resolves to lose weight come New Years. So, I’ll hop on the weight loss bandwagon and promise to lose some of my cat flub. And if you think a half a pound sounds like a weak resolution, know this: when a five pound cat loses half a pound, that's about the same as a 100 lb person losing ten pounds. So back off! (Sorry…forgive the outburst, as per resolution #1).
4. I’m going to be more of a mentor to the younger cats and dogs who pass through the PPAC or who are in it for the long haul. I know this place better than I know my own paws. So I want to pass on what I’ve learned and spread the love to all visitors and tenants of the office's hallowed halls.

Well folks, I think that’s more than enough commitments for me to undertake this year. I've had enough with my promises of self betterment. So, I bid you adieu and wish you all wonderful and fulfilling New Years.

Til' next time,

Libby

Back In the U.S.A.

Hi All,

Libby here!

First of all, Merry Christmas to all those celebrating out there! I hope you and your families spend an amazing day together!

And now, without further delay, a little holiday treat from moi!

You may (or may not be aware) of the fact that Dr. S's youngest child, Nick, has spent the last 28 months in St. Kitts at veterinary school. He's learning the profession, toiling away and soaking up some sun at the same time. That's right! He's going to be a vet, just like his dear ole' dad. 

Before he went to St. Kitts, Nick adopted an adorable Canaan dog named Annie (she's the one wearing the antlers). While in the Caribbean, it's also pretty common for aspiring vets to adopt an island dog. Which Nick did. And he named her Lucy (she's the little pup in the background). So now he has two dogs (which sounds like one dog too many in my opinion but who's asking!)

Well, they're back. And as a my little holiday present to you all, I'm giving you a break from my ornery musings and I'm going to let Lucy and Annie have a go at blog writing. While they lived in the Caribbean, they had full, packed days what with spending time chasing monkeys on the beach, doggy paddling in the pool and sunning themselves in the morning heat. Well, now they're back and looking for something to do. So here goes.

Annie: Hi! I'm Annie. 

Lucy: And I'm Lucy! 

Together: It's COLD here! 

Annie: I'm not sure how we feel about this weather but it's a nice change I suppose! I'm going to take over the keyboard now since Lucy isn't as smart as I am. 

Lucy: HEY!

Annie: Simmer there, little one. So...Libby didn't really tell us that we needed to talk about anything in particular so I'm going to just tell you my top three favorite things about being back in NYC so far.
1. SQUIRRELS!!! I missed these pesky creatures. They don't have them in the Caribbean and I gotta say, monkeys just don't compare. I love spending the afternoon chasing after them.
2. Bernie! The Silverman's dog is so fun! Lucy hasn't been getting along so well with him but we just love spending time together.
3. Hanging with my friends at the PPAC!

Lucy: Now me! Here's the three things I don't like about NYC!
1. Bernie! That pesky guy's gotta go.
2. Leashes- they're just cruel. I hate them. 
3. Annie's good mood since we've arrived here.

Annie: Sorry for Lucy's bad mood. She's been kind of cranky lately but she'll adjust in no time. And Libby, thanks for letting us give this blog writing thing a shot! It's been a ton of fun.

Libby: Sure thing, ladies. Til' next time,

Annie, Lucy and Libby!

A Happy Chrismukah to All

Hi all,

Libby here. 

I've decided to take this opportunity in the no-man zone between Christmas and Chanukah (apologies to those of you for whom neither of these apply, but I'm going with generic for the sake of ease), to wish everyone happy holidays. 

Merry Chrismukah. Chag Sameah. And so on and so forth. 

I've been hitting the catnip pretty hard this week what with all the holiday parties, and my brains a wee bit fuzzy so to be honest, I don't think I can handle a post that's much more intense than this.

In fact, i'm writing this from my favorite seat on the garbage can lid here at the PPAC while their staff party takes place in the front waiting room. I needed a little break from the festivities. So anyway, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank Doc S and the PPAC staff for giving me a loving home and people to call family during the holidays. 

So remember everyone, keep it merry. Keep it bright. And be good to each other. 

Til' next time.

Libby

My! What Big Teeth You Have

Hi All,

Libby here.

Now, how do I say this lightly...we animals aren't exactly known for our breath. More specifically, about how our breath smells. In fact, I'd go so far as to say we have pretty stank breath when it comes down to it. However, in our defense, we don't really tend to live by the oral hygiene standards humans make for themselves. It's fairly common for us to have our teeth cleaned professionally once or twice a year, as opposed to you fine folks who brush what, twice? three times a day? You do the math.

Speaking of oral hygiene, we don't brush as often as you do. So we're even more prone to some of the same diseases as you are. Just last week, Dr. S. had an interesting mouth-related case.

This dog came in (named Major for the record) with his face completely swollen on one side. When Dr. S. opened his mouth (in that semi-frightening way that makes you wonder if the dog is going to chomp on the person in question's hand), he saw blood and pus at the gum line involving three teeth.

Aside from being kind of gross (sorry for my lack of sympathy but you know you all agree with me,) mouth issues can be incredibly painful. So, in the hopes of putting the poor guy out of his misery, Dr. S. put Major on antibiotics to reduce the swelling. The swelling resolved. Yay! Dr. S. then removed the three offending teeth on the upper jaw and Major is back to normal and (virtually) as good as new.

So, you are all probably wondering what you can do to help keep your pet's mouths healthy and avoid situations like Major's. If you are a truly committed pet parent, you can take a gauze sponge and clean the plaque that accumulates on their teeth after meals. And, if you have an animal who is willing to sit still (good luck with that) for long enough to brush their teeth, there are special pet toothbrushes for you to invest in. Another good option is antibacterial mouth wash—it's like ACT for pets.

Well folks, what it all boils down to is, if you are willing to do it, you can take care of your pet's teeth to ward off future mouth issues. But, it does take effort.

Otherwise, bring your pets in for annual teeth cleaning and checkups to make sure all is OK in your animal's mouth!

Til next time,

Libby

My Tummy Hurts

Hi All,

Libby here.

It's holiday time! And you know what that means? That's right...stomach aches!!! Ok. I can understand if you are not equally enthused about the prospect of an aching belly as I am but, ever the opportunist, I am excited to use this gastrointestinal issue as a topic of my blog post this week!

I've been hearing a lot about people and their aching bellies recently. Now, although I assume this is more related to eating too much turkey and apple pie, I know that you human folks are not unfamiliar with stomach issues and sensitivities to food. Sometimes, stomach issues are caused by eating too much. Other times, there is something much bigger at play. 

Similarly, gastrointestinal issues are not uncommon in pets. And so, in honor of holiday pains, today, we are going to talk about gastrointestinal diseases, just one of the many stomach and intestinal ailments that can afflict your pet.

I have a soft spot for this condition because I can relate on a personal level; I suffer from loose bowels and a raging appetite. And I'm not ashamed to admit it. But as we know, in spite of the fact that this blog is basically the world through MY perspective, this case is not about me but rather about a kitty named Ordonez.

Ordonez, named after Rey Ordonez, a Mets player from the 90's, came in about a year and a half ago presenting with vomiting and weight loss. Ordy, as he was fondly referred to, had thickened intestines and swollen intestinal lymph nodes. 

Dr. S. performed a needle biopsy of the lymph node which gave a diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. He was treated with cortisone to make the inflammation subside. Ordy responded to this treatment for a period of time but his symptoms returned. An exam revealed that the lymph nodes were bigger but now, a distinct mass was also found in the intestines. A second needle biopsy revealed that a cancer was present. It was lymphoma.

Chemotherapy was prescribed. It was administered, and worked, for a year and change. Unfortunately, after this time, Ordy stopped responding to treatment. About a month later, his mommy decided to humanely put him to sleep.

Although the tale is sad, Ordy was a lucky kitty; with treatment, his lifespan was extended.  So ladies and gents, GI issues are a serious matter. If you see your cat suffering from diarrhea, increased appetite, weight loss, or a loss of appetite (I know, these symptoms seem a bit at odds with eachother but sometimes, the body does crazy things!) bring them in to the vet. It may be a treatable GI issue.

Til' next time,

Libby

RIP Gnocchi

Hi All,

Libby here.

It's with a heavy heart and a heavier paw that I ask you to join me in saying farewell to a very special little pug named Gnocchi. 

The beloved pet of a wonderful Italian lady, fond of biscotti and even fonder of wrinkle-faced dogs, Gnocchi lived a good life. A well fed life full of delicious, home cooked, Italian meals.

Unfortunately, it was her insatiable appetite that ultimately did her in.

One night a few weeks ago, after finishing her evening meal (and still hungry for more), Gnocchi went on a search of the house, hoping to find something delicious to snack on. Ultimately locating a stray tampon and some dental floss, she ate with relish. 

Unbeknownst to her mother, after ingesting these two items, Gnocchi took ill. Looking for an explanation, her mommy brought her in to the PPAC for some tests and it appeared at first as though she had pneumonia. This assessment was based on her symptoms of a cough, a high white blood cell count, and a fever. There was also some reported vomiting. Working on his hunch, Dr. S did an X-ray and confirmed his diagnosis. He treated the pug until she stabilized. The vomiting subsided but she didn't appear to be making a full recovery. When her white blood cells began rising again, he sent her to VERG for further testing.

At VERG, it was discovered via ultrasound that Gnocchi had a problem with her intestines. She had exploratory surgery which revealed that she had ingested the aforementioned tampon and dental floss.

It was then determined that the pneumonia was a product of her vomiting, caused by the objects that she had eaten. She was taking vomit into her lungs (aspirating) which irritated them.

The vets over at VERG performed a long surgery and Gnocchi appeared to have made a full recovery. Sadly, three days after returning home, she began throwing clots to her back legs and into her lungs. She started spiraling downhill rapidly. To put her out of her misery, her owners decided to put the little thing to sleep.

Thus concludes the sad but true tale of a very sweet, beloved pug named Gnocchi. 

RIP my friend.

Til next time,

Libby

Oh My Aching Kidneys

Hi All,

Libby here. I am remiss. I took a winter vacanze and didn't write a post. I  didn't even send a postcard. But, I had a great time. Hope you didn't miss me too much.

Today we are going to to talk about a topic that may be unsavory to some but is pertinent to all. Peeing.

Now, I'm not trying to be gross or take this conversation in a scatological direction.  But, today's topic affects cats and dogs alike (and is in fact, quite common) and is therefore worthy of discussion.

We're going to talk about something called acute renal failure. For those who don't know what renal failure is, it's when the kidneys (the body's toxic waste filtration system), don't work properly and can't remove wastes from the body. When this happens, you may notice your pet suffering from some of the following symptoms: loss of appetite,vomiting, dehydration, depression, painful tummy, ulcerations in the mouth and decreased urination.

So how does acute renal failure happen? There are a number of different ways this condition can occur. And shockingly, they all involve eating (crazy, right that something involving your pet revolves around eating!) Specifically, ingestion of the following:

a. Certain types of rat posion
b. Antifreeze (watch out during the approaching winter months!)
c. Easter lillies
d. Raisins
e. Grapes

It can also be caused by an infection called leptospirosis. This infection is caused by drinking from stagnant puddles of water contaminated by raccoon or rat urine.

So, if you happen to see your pet eating any of these things and can't pry it from their jaws in time, the first stop would be your vets' office- they will induce vomiting immediately. If however your pet eats these things on the sly and begins to exhibit symptoms, bring them in for emergency care. If they have in fact developed acute renal failure, your vet will know how to treat it.

This condition is not to be taken lightly- not to scare you but this can result in the death of your pet. So if you notice any of these symptoms, act fast!

Til next time..watch what those pets of yours are eating!

Libby

Save the Pets!

Hi All,

Libby here.

I am just blown away by what happened with Hurricane Sandy. 

I was skeptical that all the hype would amount to anything. In fact, I spoke with Dr. S. last week about writing a post that took a more cynical approach to the whole situation, but he put that idea down real fast. Seeing the pictures of the death and destruction in Long Beach, The Rockaways, Island Park, and The Bowery, among others, I was completely cowed by my former skepticism. The pictures of these pooches are just a tiny indication of the plight of pets through this disaster.

Even though I never let my true thoughts air via internet, I still feel obligated to help out with disaster relief in whatever way I can, as a mea culpa. Lacking opposable thumbs, and being an indoor cat, keeps me mostly confined to the PPAC but, I figured it's not a bad idea to spread the word about how you all can help out. There are so many amazing organizations that are looking for volunteers and donations but, to keep it even more relevant to pet owners, here's a  list of animal related rescue ops that are going on.

1. The Huffington Post has a great article with general pet rescue information. Have a read, click the links and get to it!

2. Among other much needed human items like flashlights, batteries, food, clothing and personal items, the Rockaway Relief is also collecting donations of animal food. Visit them on the Upper East Side at 85th and 2nd outside of Molly Pitcher's Ale House to donate.

3. Financial donations- The easiest way to help out in any crisis, is to donate money. The ASPCA is accepting contributions here to help with animal search and rescue.

4. The Humane Society is coordinating animal search and rescue operations. Check here for resources.

5. And finally, keep up with Twitter #sandypets for trending topics on pet rescue!

I hope this proves to be helpful and keep in mind, this is just a tiny selection of all the volunteer opportunities out there. Hop online to learn more about how you can help.

Helping out, in any way, no matter how big or small, is amazing.

For those of you with opposable thumbs, keep on keeping on.

Libby

Tips to weather any storm.

Hi All,

Libby here.

You know the old adage, the early bird catches the worm? 

Well, this kitty likes to be super responsible so I write my blogs the day before I post them. I like to go back in the next day and make sure that everything I wrote isn't complete garbage.

Well, I was trying to figure out what I would write about yesterday while sitting around the PPAC and all I keep hearing is 'Hurricane Sandy is coming.' 'Frankenstorm is coming.' 

Ever the helpful cat, I've decided to write out a top ten list of Hurricane Safety Tips for you pet owners out there.

1. Stock up on non-perishable food items for your cats and dogs (oh wait...isn't that the very definition of dry food?)
2. While filling your own water bottles, be sure to fill up some extra bottles of water for your pets-they get thirsty in hurricanes too!
3. Move doggy and kitty beds away from windows. Not to fear-monger but windows can be scary places during a storm- keep us safe!
4. Make sure all of our stuffed animals, scratching posts and chew toys are easily accessible. We'll need all the comfort we need!
5. If the storm gets really bad, be sure to keep tabs on us...especially the scaredy cats (I don't mean to insult my own kind but we got the name for a reason). We tend to run and hide and you want to know where we are in case of an emergency.
6. Make sure you have kitty litter. Yup- we still need to go to the bathroom, even in a storm.
7. Give us extra love if the storm gets bad. We frighten easily. Sometimes, even putting a blanket over us will keep us feeling safe if things get scary.
8. Keep miniature flashlights around for us to navigate through the house if the power goes out. No I'm kidding. This would just be impractical. Come on!
9. Give this list to your owners. All of the above will be kind of moot if your owners aren't ready.
10. And the number one tip for braving the hurricane? Don't walk your dogs during the storm! Wee wee pads were invented for a reason!

Til next time,

Be safe. Be smart.

Libby

Save the tatas!

Hi all,

Libby here. You may not realize it but this weekend was the annual Breast Cancer walk.

Tons of men, women and children came together, raised money and participated in a walk to raise money for Breast Cancer research- Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Most walkers came out all dressed up (mostly in pink!) to support the cause. This past weekend, one of the walks took place in Prospect Park and the Silverman family (among other Slopers), walked. Yay!

Now, the reason I'm talking about Breast Cancer (other than spreading the news about a great cause), is because most people assume that this illness only affects humans. Not true! Dogs and cats are also capable of getting breast cancer! Who knew?

Fortunately, as with so many other conditions, there are preventative measures to help put your cat or dog at a lesser risk of getting the illness. Further good news is that there are treatments (same as in human medicine), if your animal does get sick.

As far as prevention goes, spaying your cat within the first six months of their lives, reduces their risk of developing breast cancer tremendously. For dogs, the same is true if you fix them before their first birthday.

Obviously, prevention is the best course of action but, if you decide not to spay your pet and they do get sick, breast cancer treatments include surgical removal options and chemotherapy options.

I just think this information is cool to share because people forget that as mammals, there are a lot of overlaps in human and veterinary medicine. I also think it's cool that the treatments are fairly similar in both humans and animals. 

But what do I know. I'm just a cat.

Til next time,

Libbt

Take care of those knees!

Hi All,

Libby here.

This week, I'm writing about a topic that is near and dear to Dr. Silverman's heart.

You may not have known this but, about a year ago Dr. S. had a knee replacement surgery. He needed a new knee because of an injury he sustained as a young athlete- while playing basketball, he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.

He didn't let this injury hold him back however, and the following year, he sustained a torn meniscus in the same knee. Now bear in mind, this was before the days that effective cruciate ligament surgery was an option so he just kind of sucked it up and dealt with a bum knee for thirty years. Fast forward to last year when he decided he wanted to regain some mobility and he finally got the surgery. Yay for Dr. S's knees!

So, why do you care about Dr. S's knees? Well other than the fact that he's happier now, (and everyone loves a happy vet) this is also the most common orthopedic injury in the field of veterinary medicine so it bears talking about!

Last week in fact, I was lying on top of the garbage can minding my own business, when a doggy came in limping and barely bearing any weight on his left hind leg. I felt really bad for the poor guy- I appreciate how important it is for a dog to be able to run. Otherwise, who would chase after us cats? Anyway, Dr. S. took a look and diagnosed some cruciate ligament instability and minimal range of motion of the knee.

A couple of days later, Dr. S. performed a surgery and when the joint was opened, lo and behold, the doggy had a torn meniscus wedged in the joint that was preventing the leg from being able to extend fully (That's what Dr. S. had too!)

Anyway, without going into gory details, the torn meniscus was removed and the knee was stabilized surgically. The dog is starting to toe touch- yes, that's just what it sounds like- he's literally beginning to touch his toe to the ground and bear weight on the leg.

You may not realize it but a lot of dogs sustain this sort of injury (being the athletic beings they are!). If you see your dog limping or appearing to hesitate a bit when they make turns, be sure to bring them in to the vet-they may have a rectifiable condition that, if fixed, could really improve their lifestyle!

Til next time,

Libby

The importance of vaccinating

Hi All,

Libby here.

So, I'm sure you all know this but what's the first thing you do when you adopt a new kitten or puppy?

You vaccinate them! Vaccinations make sure your new pet is protected from any illnesses they could otherwise contract from being around other animals.

Even if you are planning on keeping your cat as an indoor cat and, regardless of whether or not you have other animals in your house, you always need to vaccinate.

How come?

Well for starters, you wouldn't skimp on your own vaccinations, right? Why would you skimp on a pets'?

Let me tell you the sad but true tale of a recent friend I've made at the PPAC who can help me elaborate why vaccinations must not be missed.

A few weeks ago, a woman calls, telling us that she had adopted a little kitten who didn't seem to be very healthy after bringing her home. She brought the kitten in and despite intensive treatment including fluids and antibiotics, the little kitty didn't make it. 

A few days later, the woman's other cat, Little Edie was brought into the PPAC also not feeling well.

Upon further diagnostic investigation, Dr. H. diagnosed something called panlukopenia, otherwise known as feline distemper. The disease wipes out the bodies' white blood cells which protect animals against disease. 

Turns out, although Little Edie (my new buddy) had been vaccinated as a kitten, she had not received something called a booster vaccine at one year. Basically, every cat should get vaccinated in a sequence, beginning at 8 weeks,  and then every 3-4 weeks up until they are around four months old. Then, they need more vaccines one year later, and again every three years after that. I know! It's a whole lot of vaccines but trust me, they're worth it.

When Little Edie missed her boosters, she was no longer protected against feline distemper and when the kitten was brought home, she exposed Little Edie to the virus! So sad!

Fortunately, Little Edie (who happens to currently be living in the cage next to mine!) appears to be doing quite well.

The point of this whole story, is to stress how important it is to keep your pet's vaccinations up to date-it'll make your cat's chances of living a long, healthy, happy life that much greater and, will serve to protect any new animals you bring into your home, too.

And on that note, I'm going to go cry in my litter box for the little kitten.

Til next time,

Libby

A pet for all ages

Hi All,

Libby here.

In yiddish, the word for match-making is 'shidduch' (thanks, Dr. S for the lesson!) As a kind and generous soul, I'm always looking to make good matches for animals and pet owners. So, here's the story of a buddy of mine, and how I helped her and a lovely woman find each other.

Did you know that other than being incredibly adorable, loving and affectionate additions to your family, cats and dogs have other fabulous qualities to bring to the table? In fact, pets have been known to offer something very unique to people- the power to heal!

Although both cats and dogs have been shown to provide restorative qualities when it comes to human health, for the purpose of this post, I'm going to focus on my buddy, a very sweet kitty named Trousers, and how she came to help an elderly person. Here's Trousers: 

A few weeks ago, one of the PPAC's oldest (both in terms of long- standing and, age) clients lost her cat to kidney failure. This lovely little octogenarian was heartbroken- she'd had the cat for 18 wonderful years and was sad to say goodbye. This client, who lives by herself, had grown to rely on the company of a kitty for companionship.

Enter Trousers! When the client met Trousers, it was love at first pet. She adopted the kitty and the pair have been offering love and comfort to one another ever since!

It's not exactly rocket science that company is always good for the soul but, animals in particular have been proven to help people who are older, feel needed and loved. It's a mutually beneficial relationship where everyone wins! Behold the power of the cat!

And so, for all of you out there who are feeling a little lonely or, who just want to have someone to spend time with, love and cuddle, adopt a pet.

Til' next time,

Libby

You are what you eat.

Hi All,

Libby here.

As some of you may know, this coming Wednesday is the second of the really big Jewish holidays- Yom Kippur. It's a day of fasting and reflection.

In honor of this holiday, today's post will be about the opposite of fasting- specifically, eating. Even more specifically, things that animals tend to eat that shouldn't be eaten.

A couple of weeks ago, a dog came in to the PPAC with cerebellar hypoplasia. For those of you who don't remember (or who are silly enough to not stay completely up-to-date on my fabulous posts,) cerebellar hypoplasia is a condition where animals have an under-developed balance center- like Oskie, the Silverman's cat. But I digress. Cerebellar hypoplasia has nothing to do with this case.

Anyway this two year old, sixty pound dog came into the office vomiting and having not eaten for around three days. Dr Quim took a look at the dog and decided that the dog should have some X-rays taken to learn more. The X-ray findings proved to be non-specific-that means they didn't really help to identify a specific condition that was causing the problem. The dog went home with medication to treat the vomiting and loss of appetite but returned the next day displaying the same symptoms.

Another physical examination was conducted and this time, Dr. Quim felt a lump in the middle of the dog's belly. He took another X-ray to try to find out what was the cause of the lump and found out that there was an obstructing object in the dog's intestines.

Surgery was performed and a champagne cork was removed from the belly of this poor, silly, dog's small intestines.

He went home the next day and has been feeling better ever since (other than the fact that he has an unfortunate tendency to knock into things because of his cerebellar hypoplasia).

And the moral of the story? Be careful what you leave around the house. Dogs, (being slightly less intelligent than their feline friends), have a tendency to put almost anything they find lying around into their bodies. So next time you pop the bubbly, make sure to dispose of the cork in a safe place where your dog can't access it.

And on that note, have an easy fast to those who are fasting. And to all the dogs (and select cats who also have insatiable appetites), be careful what you eat.

Til' next time,

Libby

Happy New Year

Hi All,

Libby here!

For those of you who don't know, the month of September is a very important one for Jewish people.

This is because they celebrate two pretty important days this month; The Jewish New Year (otherwise known as Rosh Hashanah), and, Yom Kippur.

I won't go into the specifics of either of them but, if you happen to wonder why there are no Jewish people in the office for the next two days, it's because the New Year starts this evening at sundown, and continues through until Tuesday evening.

And so, although I am not personally Jewish (Judaism is passed down through the mother) and my momma was most definitely a non Jew, as an adoptee of Dr. S, I am sort of Jewish by association.

And therefore, tomorrow will be a day of rest for me and I will not be posting.

Until my next post, here is an amazing, completely un-animal related video: Gangnam Style, to tide you over.

For my fellow Jews,  have a happy and a healthy New Year.

Til next time,

Libby

Gas is no laughing matter!

Hi All,

Libby here.

Summer may have ended last week but it sure doesn't feel like it!

But enough about the weather. This week, I want to talk about something called 'bloat'.

Now for the ladies out there, this may sound like a familiar condition. 

But, the bloat I am going to talk about today has nothing to do with that sort of bloat.

NOO. This bloat, is something far more serious.

Bloat is when the stomach spontaneously fills up with a lot of gas.

Farting jokes aside, bloat sometimes makes the stomach twist creating a situation where the gas can't escape from either end (imagine eating a Chipotle burrito and not being able to use the facilities afterward).Times 1000. Needless to say, this results in an incredibly painful and potentially life threatening situation. Gas is no joke!

Well, this unfortunately occurred to Dr. Quim's beloved pet, Sierra, who was boarding at the PPAC this past weekend. She was just hanging out, minding her own business when suddenly, out of nowhere, she started panting heavily.

Bloat is especially common in dogs who are deep chested, such as Dobermans and Great Danes. It usually occurs after they have a large meal or drink a lot and exercise afterwards (remember when your mom told you to not swim on a full stomach!)

But sometimes, it can happen spontaneously to other breeds as well, as was the case with Dr. Quim's dog.

Fortunately, the techs at the PPAC were on top of their game and called the bloat to Dr. Holloway's attention ASAP. Dr. Holloway immediately sedated Sierra, put a stomach tube into her, and relieved the gas and semi-digested food, saving the day. After the procedure, Sierra felt much better.

So ladies and gents, if you ever observe your dog looking very bloated or with a distended stomach, bring your animal in to the vet immediately. Time is of the essence so this sort of condition needs to be addressed ASAP.

Always be on the lookout for excess gas!

Til' next time,

Libby

A Widdle Kitty

Hi All,

Libby here.

I hope you're all enjoying your Labor Day weekends!

Out of respect for my beloved readers, I decided to not take a complete day off and post today in spite of the fact that everyone else is relaxing and BBQing their summers away. But don't worry about me or anything. I'm just taking one for the team.

As summer winds to a close (tear, sob) I've become reflective on life.

What's it all for? Why are we doing this? What's my higher purpose. ( I know- pretty profound for a cat, right?)

I recently had a situation which reminded me to be thankful for what I have, that of course occurred at my favorite hang out, the PPAC.

We recently had the good fortune to be graced by the presence of one 'Blackie', a tiny widdle kitty who was found abandoned in the great outdoors with two broken legs. He was rescued by two good samaritans and is currently recouping at the PPAC. This little guy reminds me how fragile life can be!

Now you know that I abhor any 'baby' talk when it comes to me and my furry friends but there's kind of no other way to describe this little guy other than 'widdle'. He's just so friggin cute and helpless and I want to pick him up and squeeze his cheeks, OOH! Here he is:

Tell me that's not just the sweetest little thing you've ever seen! 

Anyway, he was abandoned and to be quite blunt, probably wouldn't have made it if not for these generous souls who took pity on his pathetic little self. And that's the sort of thing that makes me appreciate life that much more.

Sorry for the somewhat somber tone of this posting but it's just what's on my mind!

Til next time,

Libby