Friday, February 20, 2009

Friday critter blogging

This week we're taking a break from cat blogging and focusing on the critters I'm currently housesitting for. I'm not going to put up names or pictures because I don't have permission from the friend who owns these dogs, but I will describe them for you as best I can.

I'm housesitting this week for two dogs, a yellow lab and a black lab. The yellow lab has had some physical issues in the past; she had surgery on her hip quite a few years ago, about a year or two before I met my friend. So the yellow lab is on meds for her hip; even though she walks normally, she can't run great distances. She wants to jump on you when she sees you, but she can only hop, because of her hip.

In addition to her regular meds, the yellow lab is also on two different antibiotics for her ears; she has a blockage in her ears which is clearing up. She also gets a gel squirted down her ear canal twice a day, and another solution that gets massaged in her ears every other day.

The black lab is on one medication, but I'm not sure what it's for. She's also on another one for "biting issues." That's the best I can describe it. She tends to bite her left front paw quite a bit, and supposedly the pill is used to calm her down.

In addition to the two dogs, I'm also looking after my friend's cat, whom my friend believes is twelve or thirteen years old. The kitty has severe arthritis, so he gets a pill mixed in with his food every morning. Additionally, he has an anti-anxiety medication that he has to take every day as well.

All three critters also are on special diets. They can't have regular Purina that can be purchased at the grocery stores. I'm not exactly sure why.

I have to admire the care that my friend gives her pets. She never married or had kids, so her pets are her family. The critters all live happy, healthy lives, and they are fun to be around. They are playful and affectionate. I really enjoy them.

That having been said, I wonder how far I would go for my girls. I know that there are pet owners who spend $500 or more on meds for their pets. I had a friend who gave her cat insulin injections twice a day to keep its diabetes under control.

I love my girls. They are my family. They are my kids. They love me unconditionally, and I feel the same way about them. I would do anything for them.

That having been said, my budget is very tight right now and I don't have enough room for veterinary emergencies. Last week Gabby ate a ribbon and she puked it, but I admit that I was damn lucky that she was able to regurgitate it. If she didn't, she may have had to had surgery. I think about that and start having heart palpitations. What if I couldn't save my cats? That's like a mother not able to save her own child! Oh, the thought still sickens me...

My cats are young, six and seven years old, respectively, and I hope that I get a lotta living out of them. I can't believe I've had Maggie for almost seven years now. That's my entire adult life, Kittens. I've had cats my entire life, period, except for the first year I was in my apartment.

I've often heard parents say that if something needs to be done for one of their kids, they find a way to do it. They make what seems to be impossible, possible. That having been said, if my cats needed urgent care, I'd find a way somehow.

Now, Kittens, I must ask the question:

How far are we willing to go to save our pets?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't have any but I'm pretty sure that those who do would go pretty far to save them.

Midlife, menopause, mistakes and random stuff... said...

All my animal's are rescue pets. The dogs, the cat and the bird. I don't think that there isn't much I wouldn't do to give them the best quality of life possible since they came to us from the poorest quality of lives.
They've replaced our grown kiddos (okay not replaced....you know what I mean, lol) and are constant sources of live entertainment in our home:)

Steady On
Reggie Girl

Lisa G said...

I'd go pretty far to save my "children". Right up until I thought they were in any kind of pain. At that point, I would do the humane thing and let them go to heaven. I hope that day doesn't come though...

La Belette Rouge said...

I spent over $600 on Lily's urgent care bill this week. I hear you. I would do anything to save my animals, anything. We had a cat who had cardiomyopathy and it was EXPENSIVE. I will not even admit how much we spent on him. I have long thought about contacting the cardiologist who took care of our Inks to see if we could set up a little fund( little, maybe $1000) for people who were having trouble paying for their animals care. It just breaks my heart to think that someone would have to choose to have their animal put done because of money.

Anonymous said...

Uh, yeah...you DO NOT even wanna know the amount of money we've spent on our one dog Max.....oy....don't get me started! He's just a disaster waiting to happen....to name a few: got a fence spiked post through his chest.....got kicked in the eye by a deer (yes, he caught up to a deer).....Fell on his head and had to have 3 surgeries.....oy....

Jodi said...

I adore my Harley boy SO much I can't even put it into words. Back in November I had a scare with him because he is 15yrs old and he lost 4 1/2 pounds in 3yrs. They found different things like a spot on his gallbladder, he has a touch of pancreatis which makes him puke alot, and his heart muscle is enlarged. But, what caused his weight loss is because he is a senior cat. I consider it money well spent (and well charged to my VISA!)

God forbid if something every happened you would do it without even thinking just like I did. Harley is like my son to me him being 15yrs old (his name is even tattooed on my wrist)

He has been on a special urinary tract disease veterinary diet food for the past 11yrs. It costs about $100 a month so I relate with your friend. What she does is amazing for those animals. They are loved and well taken care of.

I commend you on being such a beautiful friend to her in helping her watch her babies while she is gone. With so many different things going on at once, you probably help put her mind at ease that her babies are at home and not kenneled (not that there is anything wrong with that...I just choose not to do that because of Harley's special diet needs).

You are doing a great thing!!!

Jenners said...

At one point in my life, I had two dogs and four cats. One cat got pretty sick and needed pills every day. I stuck with him and did it. Then another cat got sick and I stuck with her. But it started to really add up quickly and I was starting to wonder how far I was willing to go. Fortunately, they both recovered and didn't send me into financial ruin ... I would do it for a child without question but probably not a pet -- there would be financial limits for me on a pet.