We took Ty to the vet last week after he started limping really badly on the leg he had his surgery on before we got him, back in March. He had blown his cruciate ligament in his left rear leg and needed reconstruction, and after about 2 months of hobbling around was back to normal for weeks! But then he started really favoring his leg badly and couldn’t get onto the bed or couch without our help, so we knew something was wrong.
After being poked and prodded at for what seemed like an eternity, Ty was whisked away to x-ray while I waited nervously in the exam room. Then they brought him back and we waited nervously together. Then the doctor came in and confessed that she can’t really say what the problem is, but there’s some definitely inflammation, and if it doesn’t get better in 2-3 weeks we need to consult an orthopedic surgeon. Gulp. He might need to undergo another surgery.
In the hopes of avoiding that, his doctor prescribed Rimadyl, a brand of doggie NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) carprofen, which is comparable to asprin. He’s on a 2-week regimen of one and a half tablets a day accompanied by limited physical activity, which we hope will reduce the inflammation and get him back to full mobility with no pain (or surgery!). After a few days on the drug, he seemed to be feeling a little better.
But then I got home on Sunday night to a house that smelled like poo. Continue reading
When we moved to our new house at the end of March, we decided that we’d let our cats be indoor-outdoor instead of just indoor once they got oriented to the new place. And ever since that first weekend we let them out, I’ve worried pretty much nonstop any time they’re not in my sight.
If your cat is anything like my two, she’s too curious for her own good. Isabel likes to jump on the counter while I’m unloading the dishwasher or putting groceries in the cupboard so she can be part of the action. There have been several times that I’ve accidentally closed her in the pantry and not realized it for an hour or two. 
The key is to have an adorable, already well-behaved dog who sweet-talks the in-store dog trainers by showing off her pitiful repertoire of tricks. Then, while they’re cooing over what a good girl she is and how nice it is to see a pug who isn’t