Adventures with Astrid and Arthritis

Pup Astrid turned 12 in February. Though I'm grateful it took this long, I have to admit that Astrid has finally started to show her age. The main issue she deals with these days is her osteoarthritis. Her back legs have definitely become more stiff and weak. Her back right leg is the most significant problem, as she was born without that hip joint properly formed, back in 2017 she lost a toe on that foot to cancer, and in 2022 she had metal screwed into that knee to repair a torn CCL. Due to her congenital hip joint issue, that leg is also shorter than the other, which has been causing atrophying muscles for years now. And it really doesn't help that Astrid is currently at her heaviest, 85 lbs, which we'd like to reduce.

All of the above said, in the past few days, we've added a decent dose of gabapentin to the carprofen and Dasuquin Astrid already gets. Almost immediately, we noticed a great improvement in Astrid's legs and arthritis. Just this past weekend, my sister, my dad, and I all went on a walk with the pup. She always gets extra excited when my dad, her Pawpaw, joins us for a walk. On that beautiful day with her beloved Pawpaw, Astrid chose to go on a long walk, and her legs gave her little to no trouble at all.

One of arthritic Astrid's main issues, even on the new pain med regimen, is posturing to none other than poop. I try to help support her when I see her preparing to go. But, given the mess I found on her yesterday, she clearly fell while trying to evacuate her bowels in the back yard when I wasn't looking. Whatever tumble she took has caused her back right leg to bother her even more than usual, and so she's getting plenty of those pain meds and is getting breaks from walks for a couple of days to let whatever she did heal up.

Luckily, over the past few years, Astrid has developed an obsession with hanging out in the back yard. So, even when she gets breaks from walks to help her legs, she happily chooses to spend hours upon hours outdoors. When my sister or I do walk her, she'll often even pick a short walk so that she can scurry home, run inside, and go straight to the back door and her beloved back yard.

Don't worry, though, because ornery Astrid is still here. The pup still steals cat food, vehemently demands pieces of chicken, and just generally wreaks all sorts of havoc, just like she's always done. 

If her arthritic legs continue to decline, even on pain meds, we'll at that point give the Librela injection a try. We're hoping to put off that slightly more divisive arthritis treatment for a while if we can, as there are some potential side effects that are a bit concerning. But, should Astrid need more than just pain meds, we'll give other routes a try.

Old girl yet still very ornery Astrid wishes you all a happy Wednesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip was about being cautious of the potentially poisonous bites of certain snakes and spiders. In a similar yet also different tip, we are today talking about those critters who contain substances that could be toxic if ingested by our furbabies. For example, there are certain toads that contain substances on their body that can lead to severe toxicity. Two of the most poisonous toads are the Colorado River toad and the Marine toad. A pup or kitty making oral contact with these toads can lead to nearly immediate side effects such as drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, difficult breathing, difficulty walking, and potentially death if left untreated.

Other critters that can poison a dog or cat if ingested include a butterfly or caterpillar that has eaten milkweed, which can be incredibly toxic to our furbabies. In addition to this, there are some caterpillars with hairs or other means capable of injecting venomous toxins, which can spell out trouble if a cat or dog puts the caterpillar in their mouth. Monarch caterpillars and a variety of moth caterpillars are some of those known to have the ability to inject toxins when threatened.

Even fireflies can have poisonous effects on a cat or pup if ingested. Though their less-than-ideal taste is likely to keep a pup or kitty away, if ingested, they can cause vomiting and other gastrointestinal distress. For all of these reasons, especially if you are unsure of a critter's potential effects on your furbaby, simply do all that you can to prevent your kitty or pup's contact with or ingestion of bugs and other critters. As we mentioned yesterday, do your best to be aware of the types of critters in the area, and which ones can pose a risk to your pup or kitty. And, if your furbaby does come into contact with or ingest any bug of which you are unsure, do not hesitate to contact a veterinarian.

Tonks Tuesday with the Chair Thief

It's Tonks Tuesday. Today, the calico isn't sharing a photo with all that great of lighting. That said, I snapped it a couple nights ago, when Tonks stole the chair I was sitting in after I got up for all of one whole minute. She looked so adorable about her thievery, though, as you can clearly see here.

Tonks was looking right at me with the cutest look on her face, but as soon as I pulled my phone out to snap her photo she refused to make eye contact. Even so, you get the adorable gist above.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

One of the themes I almost picked for this year's April A to Z Challenge was something related to Halloween. I didn't end up picking that this time around, though I did a Halfway to Halloween, or springtime Halloween, theme a few years ago. All of the doodles starred my sweet angel Rosie and looked a little something like this:

A lot of the doodles from that series were actually way more Halloweenish than the one above. I think I'll share more of those over the next few days. This also reminds me that I'm way past due to draw more doodles starring my beautiful Rosie.

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Tip of the Day

As part of National Pet Poison Awareness Month, we're now talking about the risk of poisonous bites your kitty or pup might receive from other critters. Depending on where you live, or where you might be visiting with your furbaby, you might find it necessary to be on the lookout for critters such as snakes and spiders whose bites can have toxic effects. When it comes to snakes, some of the dangerous ones include certain coral snakes and rattlesnakes. As for spiders, as most of you certainly know, black widows and brown recluses are among the most dangerous. Bites from such critters can result in any number of dangerous or life-threatening side effects, including cardiovascular shock, respiratory distress, neurological damage, and tissue damage, among others.

When outdoors, especially in areas where snakes, spiders, or other venomous critters are a known possibility, always monitor your furbaby and keep an eye out for danger. As needed, research the wildlife of areas you will be, so that you know what snakes, spiders, and other critters of which to be cautious. Of course, if your kitty or pup is bitten by a spider or snake, especially a known venomous one, do not hesitate to seek veterinary care. In many such cases, counteracting the venom in a timely manner is crucial.

Mancat Monday in the Sun

It was a crazy weekend and it's been a crazy morning. More on that later this week, but for now, here's a dose of adorable Evan in the sun.

Happy Monday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip is about the toxic gas known as carbon monoxide (CO). CO is not only dangerous to us humans, but also incredibly dangerous to our kitties, pups, and other animals. CO most often results from car exhaust, fire/smoke, and when generator systems fail. When a large amount of CO is inhaled, this can lead to cells in the body becoming deprived of oxygen. CO poisoning can thereby result in life-threatening effects on the cardiovascular system, neurological system, and other important systems of the body.

Needless to say, do all that you can to prevent both your furbaby's and your own exposure to CO. Set up CO monitors in your home, and ensure that they are always properly functioning. Of course also ensure that you have functioning fire and smoke alarms. There are all-in-one alarms on the market that detect fire, smoke, and CO. In addition to this, properly maintain any generators that you have, and do not use them if they are in any way malfunctioning. Also, of course, do not let your kitty or pup into a closed, unventilated garage where a car or other motor vehicle is running. CO can be a silent killer, so do all that you can to protect your furbaby, as well as yourself, from it and its deadly effects.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Adorable Eddy

Hello, friends! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. _________ is my kryptonite.

2. _________ is the thing I misplace the most often.

3. _________ was when I realized _________.

4. I wish I had learned _________ sooner.


My answers are below in bold. I tried to keep my accompanying rambling to a minimum this week. I tried.

1. My furry family is my kryptonite.
(I would do anything for my kitties and pup.)

2. My cell phone is the thing I misplace the most often.
(My keys come in second place. In third place is the TV remote, which loves to disappear into alternate dimensions despite having just moments ago been sitting right next to me on the couch.)

3. Adopting Evan was when I realized that I always want to share my life with specially abled animals.
(There are indeed challenges to sharing my life with hind limb paralyzed, urinary incontinent, megacolon Evan. But it's all so worth it. He's beyond special. He's my little hero, as I've said many times before, and thanks to him I know I will always want to share my life with special kitties like him.)

4. I wish I had learned to do what I love sooner.
(I'm grateful for the degree I earned in college and all of the jobs I've had. That said, I wish I'd learned sooner that it's important to keep hold of my true passions and desires in life. I didn't enter a field related to my true creative passions, namely drawing and writing, and so they got put on the back burner for years. Now I'm trying to make up for lost time.)

Now it's your turn!

To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!

You can also click on the badge below to add your link.

You are also welcome to complete the fill-ins in the comments below,

or in the comments on Ellen's blog, 15andmeowing.

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You're ready for your Eddy fix, aren't you? We know you are. So, here's the adorable little girl. And her whiskers. And her adorable little snaggletooth.

Eddy and all of us wish you a happy Friday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I recently stumbled upon this witchy sort of springtime doodle from a couple years ago, so here you go.

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Tip of the Day

Today's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip regards none other than topical preventatives. First and foremost, always ensure that you are giving preventatives specifically formulated for the species at hand. Just one reason for this is that some flea and tick preventatives formulated for dogs are toxic to cats. Many such canine preventatives contain pyrethrin/pyrethroid, to which cats are highly sensitive. Pyrethrin/pyrethroid poisoning can result in excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty walking, or seizures, just to name a few. So, never apply dog preventatives on your kitty.

Also, be careful if your cat lives in a household with a dog who receives preventatives. In such a case, try to look for canine preventatives that do not contain pyrethrin/pyrethroid, or keep the dog and cat separated for a safe amount of time after application. Ask your veterinarian for information on how to keep both your kitty and pup healthy and safe, yet also protected from pests. It's also worth noting that some other forms of flea, tick, or other pest preventatives, such as sprays, may contain pyrethrin/pyrethroid. Always check the label, and only use products that you are certain will not harm your kitties or pups. Again, ask your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns regarding a product's safety.

In addition, know your cat or dog's weight and select preventatives accordingly. Administering a medication intended for a cat or dog larger than yours could have negative effects for the furbaby. Also be aware of their age, as some kittens or puppies, for example, may not yet be of an age deemed safe for the application of some preventatives. What's more, also always take into consideration your furbaby's overall health status. If your cat or dog suffers from any ailments, always discuss with your veterinarian the safety of giving a preventative. While we of course want to keep our furry family members safe from fleas, ticks, heartworms, and all sorts of infestations, it is important that we do so safely.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Beauty and Bird TV

It's time for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop, and Thimble is more than ready.

Today, the adorable little tabby is yet again grateful that, well, she's adorable.

You'd probably like to see that cute little face closer up, wouldn't you? Well, here you go.

Thimble is also thankful for the window view she had in those photos. There were lots of birdies up in the trees, and she had a lovely time spying on them. So, it's her obvious beauty and enthralling Bird TV that Thimble is sharing for today's gratitude. And she hopes you all enjoy those things as well!

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Now, of course, we'll share the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. _________ is my kryptonite.

2. _________ is the thing I misplace the most often.

3. _________ was when I realized _________.

4. I wish I had learned _________ sooner.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip is one that relates to our previous tips on pesticides, but is also one upon which we failed to expand. The type of pesticide of which we speak today is none other than mothballs. Mothballs come in a variety of forms, and typically release gas vapors intended to repel or kill moths, or other pests. When it comes to our furbabies, mothballs can cause toxicity via inhalation, skin contact, or ingestion. Dogs are perhaps the most likely to ingest mothballs, but cats are more sensitive to their effects. Old-fashioned mothballs are the most dangerous, as they contain naphthalene. More modern mothballs are typically formulated to be less dangerous to kitties, pups, and ourselves, but they can still pose risks. Mothball poisoning can result in vomiting, lethargy, difficulty breathing, or even failure of organs such as the liver or kidneys.

For the sake of your kitty or pup, it is likely best to avoid the use of mothballs altogether. There are alternatives to ridding your clothes or areas of the home of moths. Some of these methods may require more laborious cleaning and may indeed be more time-consuming than simply tossing in a mothball, but the health of your furbaby is well worth the effort. If you do use mothballs, though, of course ensure your furbaby's safety by keeping them well out of their reach.

Adventures with Astrid...and a Feathered Friend

In part because she's not a fan of warmer weather, and also in part because her 12-year-old legs just aren't what they used to be, pup Astrid hasn't been asking for as long of walks as she used to. That's okay, though, because we still have happy little adventures.

Astrid heard and saw a little something ahead in the photo above. Can you guess what it was?

It's not the easiest to see, but ahead of Astrid in that second photo is a female duck. There were actually multiple ducks as well as some geese hanging out here when we walked by, but that particular duck was the loudest and also the least afraid of Astrid, so it stuck around longer than the others. Despite how interested she looks in these photos, Astrid is actually very good with and kind to wildlife (except opossums, who are her greatest enemies in the whole world, but that's a story for another day). When she was young we had to train her to not chase squirrels and rabbits, but nowadays Astrid coexists with wildlife very well and doesn't chase them (except opossums, ahem). Even so, she was still very intrigued by her new feathered friend.

Astrid and all of us here wish you a wonderful Wednesday!

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Doodle of the Day

Astrid's birthday was back on February 20. I always like to scribble up a birthday doodle for each furry baby, but I didn't finish Astrid's until the night of her birthday. That means I didn't share it here on our blog on her actual birthday, and I just recently realized I still haven't shared it. So, today you get Astrid's belated birthday doodle. As a bit of an explanation, on none other than Astrid's birthday, my sister and I saw the first Harry Potter movie in theaters for the first time since we were kids. In my excitement, I decided to scribble up a Harry Potter-esque doodle for Astrid's birthday. That means this drawing probably makes no sense whatsoever, but here it is anyway.

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Tip of the Day

After yesterday's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip on paint products, we wanted to also give a PSA on the dangers of certain glues. If we're to be honest, the primary danger of glue isn't necessarily poisonous effects. Nevertheless, we still want to warn of the life-threatening hazards of glue. Some glues, such as glues for wood or construction, as well as heavy-duty glues such as Gorilla Glue, can lead to severe side effects. Ingestion of these glues can cause symptoms such as gastrointestinal distress, vomiting, and decreased appetite. What's more, though, is that these types of glues can contain diisocyanates, which can mix with stomach acid and then expand. This can then lead to bowel obstruction. Bowel obstruction is nothing to take lightly, and often requires surgery. Needless to say, if your kitty or pup gets into glue, especially heavy-duty glue that contains diisocyanates, seek veterinary care immediately. Of course, to prevent such emergencies, take no risks and be sure to hide away any and all glues someplace where your furbaby cannot reach.

Tonks Tuesday with Evan and an Alphabetical Announcement

It's Tonks Tuesday, and today Tonks wanted everyone to know how much she loves her brother, Evan. Evan is actually the only cat in the house that every other cat likes and gets along with. A lot of the female cats in the house don't get the along all that great with each other, and our housemate Toby also picks on all the girls. But, when it comes to Evan, all the other kitties generally like him. For Tonks, that started way back when she was a kitten. See?

After recently stumbling upon that adorable photo above, I decided to see how many photos I've snapped of Tonks hanging out with Evan over the years. Here are just a few of them that I found...

I always find it funny how Tonks will give a little smack or hiss to most of the other kitties in the house whenever she passes them, yet when it comes to Evan, she'll stop and hang out with him or initiate play. Tonks and her littermate Winky can't even look at each other across the room without exchanging a hiss or at least a glare, but Tonks is totally fine with Evan body slamming her to the ground repeatedly while they play.

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Tonks also wanted to share her love for her brother today because she's helping me finally announce our April A to Z Challenge theme, and it is heavily influenced by Evan.

I'm going to try to make this quick, because otherwise I'm just going to ramble. As always, So, after dragging my feet in fear that others wouldn't enjoy my weird and wacky plans for April, I finally decided to just go for it. So, as I've mentioned a gazillion times before, I love the fantasy genre. Fantasy has always been a form of escape from reality for me, both in terms of reading and writing. I've been writing all sorts of fantastical stories over the years, and most recently I've been working on yet another such tale, this one starring an orange tabby who, like my Evan, is hind limb paralyzed. The name of this fictionalized kitty inspired by my own boy is Hobo. He has that name for a reason, in case you were curious. Anyway, for this year's April A to Z Challenge, I'll be sharing illustrations of Hobo going on his weird and wacky adventures.

Since Evan inspired all of the craziness rather inarticulately explained above, he's starring in today's brand new doodle. And in said doodle, he's hanging out with one way I might envision my current writing work-in-progress if it were actually a book.

I'm sorry if none of the above made sense. I quite frankly never know how to explain my weird writing projects or my freakish obsession with the fantasy genre. Even so, if you're interested in learning about a hind limb paralyzed cat going on fantastical adventures, that's what we'll have for you in April.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Tip of the Day

We've given past tips on the dangers of paint products, but we're going to repeat this for National Pet Poison Awareness Month. Unsurprisingly, paint, varnish, and other similar products can be toxic to our furbabies. Lead paints can of course cause lead poisoning, which can cause a variety of severe symptoms, including those of the gastrointestinal and neurological systems. Lead can also be detrimental to red blood cells, brain function, and other important processes in the body. Oil-based paints can also be dangerous, potentially causing diarrhea as well as having serious effects on the lungs. They may also contain heavy metals and thereby cause symptoms similar to those of lead paint toxicity. Products such as varnish can also have similar negative side effects as paint.

Also keep in mind that paint and paint products can emit dangerous fumes, as we're sure you all know. Especially without proper ventilation, inhalation of the fumes can cause irritation of the lungs or symptoms such as dizziness. To avoid emergencies related to the ingestion or inhalation of paint or other paint products, of course keep these items well out of reach of your furbabies. Try to keep your furbabies safely out of areas that are being painted. Should ingestion or inhalation of paint products occur, do not hesitate to seek veterinary assistance.