The Pet Discussion Thread

pap64 · Post by **pap64** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 2:30 pm

I honestly don't know what to do with my cat...I honestly don't know.

All this week he has been crying and meowing like crazy. I even tried the water spray idea and it worked...for one day. Afterward, he kept meowing and crying till late in the night.

The reason why is because there's a cat in heat around the house and it drives him insane. And since he isn't neutered it drives his hormones crazy.

Now I'm the one looking like a bad guy because I refuse to let him out and try to calm him down. To mom, he's "suffering" which is a load of crap. Yeah, he's upset because he can't mate. But he is in far bigger danger and is likely to suffer more than if he stayed inside.

One time we let him out and he came back with a nearly broken leg. A cat bit him hard and it punctured his leg, so it was swollen and he was weak for nearly two weeks. The other time he was let out he not only came back late but came back with a bloody ear. Finally, the last time we let him out we thought he died because he hadn't returned. After looking for him mom finally found him.

It just annoys me that when Garfield is in danger mom's all worried, but then gets annoyed and sympathetic when he starts to cry.

The town has a serious cat problem. The other night we found four cats under our car, and there's always one running around the house. If we let Garfield out we are helping the cat population grow because he isn't neutered. He doesn't have his shots either so he could get sick and even rabies from the other stray cats. Not to mention the cars and other potential dangers.

I am so upset because I could solve all of this but I have no money, so its like I can't do anything and have no freedom to do what is right.

Mooky · Post by **Mooky** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 2:43 pm

If it's of any comfort, I understand what you're going through. It's a double-edged sword. If you let him out, you risk him getting injured or, even worse, killed. Keeping him inside only makes him more agitated and it makes you and your family nervous.

I know this probably is not a good advice, but have you thought of borrowing money for the procedure from somebody?

pap64 · Post by **pap64** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:15 pm

mooky_7_sa wrote:If it's of any comfort, I understand what you're going through. It's a double-edged sword. If you let him out, you risk him getting injured or, even worse, killed. Keeping him inside only makes him more agitated and it makes you and your family nervous.

I know this probably is not a good advice, but have you thought of borrowing money for the procedure from somebody?

Believe me, I've thought of asking for money. But...

- The only one who probably has the cash is my best friend, and he is now in the process of getting his own business started so its likely his cash is very limited.

- Its more than likely that I'll be unemployed for a couple of more months, meaning that I won't be able to pay it back, and knowing my friend he will keep asking for the money.

- The vet will charge like crazy for just the checkup.

Mooky · Post by **Mooky** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:30 pm

That sucks...

Do you have a leash? You could take him out, but you'd be able to keep him away from other cats. That is, if you have the time to keep an eye on him.

blackcauldron85 · Post by **blackcauldron85** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 5:26 am

mooky_7_sa wrote:That sucks...

Do you have a leash? You could take him out, but you'd be able to keep him away from other cats. That is, if you have the time to keep an eye on him.

That actually isn't very good advice (no offense, mooky). I know a lot more about dogs than cats, so I'm not sure how they're spread, but feline leukemia and feline AIDS are very harmful diseases. I know that if, let's say, a dog eats the poop of another dog, and the dog who is eating doesn't have his or her shots, that dog can get sick. Dogs without certain shots can get sick just by getting nose to nose with another dog (like if they're smelling each other), and one has "kennel cough".

Since Garfield doesn't have his shots (and because he's not neutered), he should not be let outside, period, really. You'll just have to deal with him being all hot and bothered by the cat in heat. Maybe you could try to shoo away the female cat outside (just don't let Garfield out in the process!).

If you get money for your birthday, you could use some of the money towards getting Garfield some medical care. (That might not seem like fun, using your "fun" money towards your cat, but I'm using half of my "fun" money towards our new dog...sometimes it must be done!)

If she doesn't come into this thread, you really might want to try contacting Siren, since she has worked with animals for a long time, and she might have some good advice for you.

Mooky · Post by **Mooky** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 1:13 pm

Yeah, I guess you're right. I just thought it would ease both cat's and the family's troubles for a while.

I don't know much about cat leukemia, but I know the virus can't survive outside of cat's organism for long. It's transmitted through a direct contact with the infected animal. So, yes, it would be better if Garfield stayed inside.

TheSequelOfDisney · Post by **TheSequelOfDisney** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 7:17 am

I'm super mad at my mother right now. She wants to take our dog back to the pound because he has bitten her a few times. I really don't want him to go; he has been our only dog and has brought so much fun into my life. So I won't let her take him back. He'll stay in my room forever if he has to.

Maybe Ceaser Milan can help.

blackcauldron85 · Post by **blackcauldron85** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 9:38 am

Oh no- that's really sad.

Has he bitten her hard? Would you say that he's an "aggressive" dog? I know that at the SPCA, where I volunteer, "aggressive" dogs are unadoptable. How long have you had the dog for?

TheSequelOfDisney · Post by **TheSequelOfDisney** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 8:00 am

I wouldn't call him aggressive; he can just be a little protective of himself and whatever else is his (toys and things like that). We've had him for 2 years this March and he is the best thing in our life. I just simply don't understand why she would want to take him back if all he did was bite her. I don't even think it was very hard. Hopefully she will change her mind.

Anne · Post by **Anne** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 8:39 am

pap64, I have two male cats here and I believe that the only permanent solution you have is to get him neutered.

Here is a website that has a list of free/low-cost neuter programs in the US, you should give it a look:
http://www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html#pa

Good luck!

ajmrowland · Post by **ajmrowland** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:41 pm

Two cats(one male, one female. both neutered) and a dog(Male Westie).

blackcauldron85 · Post by **blackcauldron85** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 6:16 am

For the past week or so, Sally had been licking at her paw more often than usual. I figured maybe she was just annoyed that her nails needed to be cut. Wednesday night, as I was saying goodnight to her, I noticed that between two of her toes on her front right paw, it was red and inflamed. I called the vet yesterday morning, and made an appointment. The vet said that it's possible that a bug or fire ant bit Sally and it was her licking that made it so bad (and it's between 2 sets of toes).

She has a cone of shame.

I feel awful. And she is on antibiotics and she has a foot wash. The cone is difficult- at times, I have to help her get around, since the cone (I think the official term is a "E-collar") gets stuck on the walls and doors and whatever. And she can't eat out of her bowl, so last night and this morning, I fed her out of my hand- I hadn't done that since we first adopted Harry & Sally and they didn't want to eat. As I was leaving, one of the receptionists, who helped get Sally outside and into the car, mentioned that pet stores sell a Donut, which I guess is like a cone but doesn't extend past the face. They already charged me $17 or so for the cone, but if the Donut would be cheap enough, maybe it'd be worth it. I have to help her fit the water bowl under her cone.

I had been worried about her brothers teasing her (well, I guess worried about Harry teasing her, since Oliver is very kind), and he snarled into her cone a couple times.

I wish they could've just wrapped up her paw and I could just unwrap it when I need to wash it, but maybe a) it needs air and b) she would bite and lick at the bandage. I don't know.

And sleeping is an issue...she just was having problems getting comfortable last night, I guess, even though she easily can lie down like normal with the cone on.

I don't know if it's easier to get around and eat and drink for taller dogs, but she's already so low to the ground (she's a Basset hound) that the collar is also practically on the ground.

I found this:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=3185093

She'd need a large, so it'd be $40ish! Ugh. Maybe I should just help her out with getting around, eating, and drinking for the next 13 days (she needs the cone and medicines for 2 weeks).

Also, Sally has been at 56 lbs. for a long time, and the vet said that we need to get her down to 50 lbs. She asked what we feed her, and I said 2 cups of Purina One Healthy Weight Management a day. The vet said that that's just regular Purina (but I don't know how she knows, and we give the minimum amount for their weight), and that we need to buy "Light" or "Lite" food. And she said no more treats- buy carrots. And then the vet and technician kept calling her "Chubs".

My poor girl.

blackcauldron85 · Post by **blackcauldron85** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:14 am

I know these probably belong in the "Post a Picture of Your Pet" thread, but I already explained why she has the cone.

I bring you Miss Sally and her Cone of Shame:

THe cone is quite massive. And she still needs some help maneuvering around with her cone, and I still have to feed her out of my hand, since she just can't get the cone around her bowl (I think what it is is, the water bowl is completely full, so she can drink, but her food bowl isn't completely full, so she just can't reach the top of the food). Harry still gives her some grief about it, but Oliver has been a nice brother.

After just 2 days, the redness seems to have gone down a lot. I don't know why the vet said 2 weeks. If after a week she looks to be all better, I'll call the vet and see if she really needs to be on the meds and have her cone for another week.

universALLove · Post by **universALLove** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:29 am

Aww, poor Sally

. Just make sure she doesn't look up for too long when it's raining

blackcauldron85 · Post by **blackcauldron85** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:49 am

That made me lol. She doesn't like being out in the rain, so I don't think we'll have that problem.

*edit* I thought that maybe using a small bowl for her food would work, so I wouldn't have to feed her out of my hand, and it did! It was so much easier! I still have to make sure all the food gets out of her cone, since it falls in there. Poor Sally.

universALLove · Post by **universALLove** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:21 am

blackcauldron85 wrote: That made me lol. She doesn't like being out in the rain, so I don't think we'll have that problem.

that's good then. Is she a bit of a doggy Diva, doesn't like getting her hair all wet...?

blackcauldron85 · Post by **blackcauldron85** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:22 am

She is definitely a doggie Diva! Except she loves to roll around and get dirty...but everyone has their quirks.

universALLove · Post by **universALLove** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:23 am

blackcauldron85 wrote:She is definitely a doggie Diva! Except she loves to roll around and get dirty...but everyone has their quirks.

That's what I like to hear

.

PixarFan2006 · Post by **PixarFan2006** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 9:25 am

My family currently has one dog; a mixed breed named Molly. she is 12 years old and is still doing great.

We also had a Shih Tzu named Fancy who died December. She was 15 at the time of her death.

blackcauldron85 · Post by **blackcauldron85** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 9:34 am

So, at the vet when I brought Sally and she got her cone and all, the vet said that she'd like to see Sally down to 50 lbs. She also said to get them light or lite dog food. We already have them on Purina One Healthy Weight Management. Without looking up the food or anything, the vet said, "That's the same as regular Parina". I didn't believe her then, and I just read the label, and it's bullcrap.

a) Purina One Healthy Weight Management has "25% less fat and 15% fewer calories than Purina One Lamb & Rice Forumula".

b) On the label, it says how much food to give, and then in the other column, it says how much food to give for "25% calorie reduction". That's what we've always given them.

c) The label says:
For dogs 36-50 lbs, give 2 to 2 1/2 cups per day.
For dogs 51-75 lbs, give 2 1/2 to 3 1/4 cups per day.
We give our 56ish lb. dogs 2 cups per day. We already feed them less than the label says (but we do mix in a chunk or 2 of wet food, plus they get a biscuit every night, and sometimes another dog snack during the day, so that probably makes up for it).

We already give them the minimum. I haven't yet checked the biscuit labels (we have some small biscuits and then their nightly biscuit is a large Milkbone), but I know that biscuits are good for their teeth. And, although it's an only-sometimes treat, when I give Beggin' Strips, I only give each 1/3 of a strip. It's not like we overfeed our dogs.

We don't usually see the vets themselves; usually we deal with the receptionists and the technicians. They get yearly physicals, so we'll see the vet(s) then, but Sally's infection is the first for us that's anything more than a physical or pedicure. Maybe next time I should ask for another vet? She just seems clueless to me.

Sally's infection looks healed to me. I'm going to keep her on the meds, but boy, what a difference!

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