All About Our Pets(Pics, Advice, Etc)

[Caiter92]

So, speaking of pets.

I have a lot. I've got two dogs (a shepherd/chow mix and a springer spaniel), two kittens that I raised from 10 days old when they were brought to my shelter after they were found with their dead mother, a rabbit, a hedgehog, and four rats.

I'm sure you all can understand that these guys are my world and I can't imagine life without them! So here's my predicament: I'm trying to go to vet school, and I know I'm not the first vet student to have pets (in fact I would imagine the vast majority of vet students do have pets), but I don't know how easy it is to find housing that will allow me to have all of these animals? Does anyone have experience with this and can give me some advice? These guys are my inspiration and my heart and soul, I can't even fathom not being able to bring them wherever I end up!

So I have three cats, two rabbits, and four rats. My apartment complex is fine with the cats, and did not care about caged pets—aside from rats and reptiles. Whoops

I don’t think you’ll have a huge problem with the cats, rabbit, hedge hog, +/- rats. I would probably just ask what they’re caged pet policy is, since lot of places won’t put them specifically in the lease or even have strict limits on them(mine said they won’t put them in the lease even when I requested, because they don’t care and don’t charge a pet rent for them), and will okay them ask long as you say they’re caged unless supervised.

Two dogs in addition is another story. I agree you’ll have a lot easier time with a house allowing your pets. Depending on where you end up, it’s pretty common for Vet students to live in mobile/manufactured homes, so purchasing one may be an option for you. Here they’re pretty much passed on between Vet students, and you can get a decent one for $10-20k easily, more if you want a nicer one. I wish I had gone that route —-more space for about the cost I’m paying now, and the neighborhoods for mobile homes around here only have dog policies and don’t care about cats or other animals.

You’ll probably have less housing options and have to pay a bit more, but I think you’ll be able to find housing if you start looking sooner rather than later once you’ve decided on a school.

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[pinkpuppy9]

So the little barfer went to the vet. I won't go into what I'm currently having to do to afford these things. Blood work came back and she doesn't have hyperT, DM, kidney failure, or UTI. Her eosinophils are the only thing up.

She's doing better than I thought as far as hydration and weight goes. Hydrolyzed diet comes tomorrow and she's starting steroids for probable IBD or that other word I'm trying not to think about. But the vet says these things tend to go better in cats than in people.

In any case, I will be calling the vet about what I do to manage 2 cats who were free fed to having 2 different diets, and how to transition from one food to a new one. The internet is overly annoying to use for this sort of thing.

Not vet advice, but I got a lot of out reading what you guys were saying about how you feed your cats. If anyone wants to share anything they know about feeding cats as an educational topic....

In any case, you guys helped me process all this stuff, so thanks.

Sometimes it's just easier to have both cats on the special diet, especially if having another bowl of food in the house risks one of the cats getting sick every time they take a bite. I don't know that the headache of two different foods outweighs the monetary cost of having a second cat on the expensive diet, but that's opinion.

If they have to be on separate food, there are some nice auto-feeder options out there that will only open for the cat wearing the charm on the collar. Amazon product example, and one of the most affordable options I've seen. You'd need two, obviously.

There's also the option of gradually switching them to AM/PM feeding and then feeding one of the cats behind a closed door and waiting until both have emptied their bowls, but it's rather time consuming and the diet timing transition is frustrating (I've done it, my cat made sure I suffered as much as he did).

Also I would never make a home diet without the blessing of a good vet. I know it's not a DIY. I also know not to feed them anything raw.

If you really want to go down the homemade road, there are resources out there that allow an owner to make an actual nutritionally complete diet at home. Your vet should be able to help you figure it out/point you to legit sources if you both decide a homemade diet is best. Just keep in mind that homemade diets are very labor intensive and often more expensive than a manufactured diet that may have the same clinical effect (and higher end manufactured diets are going to be tested and undergo quality control). I would consider consulting a veterinary nutritionist and/or internal med specialist before making this jump if it were me. For the particular resource I'm familiar with, our internal med service recommends it pretty rarely and only for clients they feel comfortable with in terms of the dedication to sticking to the exact recipe every.single.day. Same resource also requires a veterinary prescription to access the info anyways.

 

[WildZoo]

So the little barfer went to the vet. I won't go into what I'm currently having to do to afford these things. Blood work came back and she doesn't have hyperT, DM, kidney failure, or UTI. Her eosinophils are the only thing up.

She's doing better than I thought as far as hydration and weight goes. Hydrolyzed diet comes tomorrow and she's starting steroids for probable IBD or that other word I'm trying not to think about. But the vet says these things tend to go better in cats than in people.

In any case, I will be calling the vet about what I do to manage 2 cats who were free fed to having 2 different diets, and how to transition from one food to a new one. The internet is overly annoying to use for this sort of thing.

Not vet advice, but I got a lot of out reading what you guys were saying about how you feed your cats. If anyone wants to share anything they know about feeding cats as an educational topic....

In any case, you guys helped me process all this stuff, so thanks.

Second what pp said basically. My older kitty is on a specific(ish) diet and several meds that go in her food, so I went the automatic feeder route. Mine are...quite a bit more expensive than the one pp posted, I probably should have shopped around more

You will hear this from your vet for sure, but make sure you transition to the new diet slowly.

 

[cdo96]

Petco officially announced that they’re no longer carrying food with artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It starts January 2019 and by May they won’t carry them anymore.

Thoughts?

 

[SkiOtter]

Petco officially announced that they’re no longer carrying food with artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It starts January 2019 and by May they won’t carry them anymore.

Thoughts?

Artificial preservatives or preservatives in general?

 

[WildZoo]

Artificial preservatives or preservatives in general?

Artificial preservatives
https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/c/betternutrition-ingredients

 

[JustPaws]

A lot of the purina pro plan wet cat foods have "artificial flavors" so they are just going to drop that whole line?

 

[cdo96]

A lot of the purina pro plan wet cat foods have "artificial flavors" so they are just going to drop that whole line?

I think they’re going to keep it. They made an exception for artificial preservatives in ProPlan/ Science Diet Urinary for cats.

So I’m just trying to figure out which companies this affects. Hopefully this means some of the “Taste of the Wild” and Rachel Ray diets will get taken down, but I doubt it

We will remove titanium dioxide from most products by May 2019, with the exception of Pro Plan and Science Diet Urinary formulas for cats, as there is not yet a suitable artificial-free formula to address this common health issue faced by 1 in 10 cats.

 

[Caiter92]

Artificial preservatives
https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/c/betternutrition-ingredients

Several of the artificial flavors listed are derived from fruit or plants, but can be commercially produced. Interesting that they're including them on there.

 

[Caiter92]

So I’m just trying to figure out which companies this affects. Hopefully this means some of the “Taste of the Wild” and Rachel Ray diets will get taken down, but I doubt it

TBH it's likely going to lead to their stores carrying more of those products, since many of them are already made without "artificial" ingredients.

 

[JustPaws]

I think they’re going to keep it. They made an exception for artificial preservatives in ProPlan/ Science Diet Urinary for cats.

So I’m just trying to figure out which companies this affects. Hopefully this means some of the “Taste of the Wild” and Rachel Ray diets will get taken down, but I doubt it

I read that as they are keeping the urinary formulations. But what about all of the other flavors? I actually think it will mean some of expensive specialty foods will stay. In my opinion that is bad because they may have wild variations in their products with smaller production lines. It also may drive the "fresh" or "raw" market because they can say "look we only have these specific ingredients" and I think owners will treat them like canned food and not like fresh food with very short expiration dates

 

[cowgirla]

After 6 weeks of crate rest and 6 weeks of rehab, this doofus got a clean bill of health and the okay to slowly increase to unrestricted activity! Finally! If he didn't get the okay for more exercise, I was contemplating strangling him since he's driving me nuts.

 

[SkiOtter]

After 6 weeks of crate rest and 6 weeks of rehab, this doofus got a clean bill of health and the okay to slowly increase to unrestricted activity! Finally! If he didn't get the okay for more exercise, I was contemplating strangling him since he's driving me nuts.

HES SO PRECIOUS. Glad he can go exercise more!!

 

[grebes4lyfe]

HOW IS MY PUPPERS SO LARGEEEEEEE I LOVE HIM

 

[grebes4lyfe]

He loves the snowwwww

 

[cowgirla]

Today is my Thanksgiving since I had to work on Thursday.

My dogs say "the kitchen smells like turkey. we should be allowed in!"

 

[PrincessButterCup]

Today is my Thanksgiving since I had to work on Thursday.

My dogs say "the kitchen smells like turkey. we should be allowed in!"

All of them are perfect but the middle puppy face looks so frickin happy. I love it.

 

[PrincessButterCup]

He loves the snowwwww

Awwww!

 

[SkiOtter]

Today is my Thanksgiving since I had to work on Thursday.

My dogs say "the kitchen smells like turkey. we should be allowed in!"

I love them all omg

 

[cowgirla]

All of them are perfect but the middle puppy face looks so frickin happy. I love it.

Ivy is always happy. Even when she is causing trouble, picking fights and being a witch- she does it all joyfully haha

 

[orca2011]

Just panicked and took my dog to work to get a second set of hands on his neck as I’m worried he has a unilateral mass. Unfortunately my friend agreed with me so now I’m a mess and already thinking of all the worse things. He’s going to get a neck ultrasound tomorrow so I’m really hoping it’s nothing. I need it to be nothing.

 

[Doctor-S]

Just panicked and took my dog to work to get a second set of hands on his neck as I’m worried he has a unilateral mass. Unfortunately my friend agreed with me so now I’m a mess and already thinking of all the worse things. He’s going to get a neck ultrasound tomorrow so I’m really hoping it’s nothing. I need it to be nothing.

@orca2011 ... sending good thoughts to you and your dog today! Hope it's nothing, too.

 

[orca2011]

Radiologist didn’t find anything and surgeon doesn’t think my cat needs a second procedure right now!!! All is good again!!!

 

[Polocrosse2017]

We got a new house dog! Tipsy is special needs and has had a rough life. The housemother adopted her and now we get to play with her. She had entropion surgery and had major skin issues. The old house dog passed away of old age so it is nice to have a dog again. She is 4.

 

[JaynaAli]

When Winston was diagnosed with an insulinoma back in July, I decided to get a portrait painted of him. It took just shy of five months for the artist to finish it and send it to me, but it arrived today and I love it! It's bigger than I envisioned in my head, but it doesn't look quite so huge when it's up on the wall.

 

[SkiOtter]

When Winston was diagnosed with an insulinoma back in July, I decided to get a portrait painted of him. It took just shy of five months for the artist to finish it and send it to me, but it arrived today and I love it! It's bigger than I envisioned in my head, but it doesn't look quite so huge when it's up on the wall.
View attachment 242940

ITS BEAUTIFUL OMG

 

[that redhead]

Wow, that is gorgeous! Handsome little guy

 

[Doctor-S]

My cat's automatic pet feeder has become a kibble "slot machine" ... and when it dispenses kibble, it even "sounds" like a slot machine.

Cat is fascinated with the feeder and thinks that staring at the feeder will speed up the "jackpot" prize.

It doesn't ... but she stares at it anyway, waiting and hoping!

View attachment 243093

 

[JaynaAli]

Oh, I've been looking at getting that feeder in the semi-near future! Do you like it? I am thinking I'll get either that one or possibly the slightly fancier one with the wifi feature/app that also lets you feed on demand. I like that those two do up to 12 feedings per day. My dog has an insulinoma...he's doing great now, but has his tumor grows and his blood glucose drops lower I will need to feed him more frequently. It'll probably be nice to have one of these to do automatic nighttime feedings without having to wake up.

 

[SkiOtter]

My cat's automatic pet feeder has become a kibble "slot machine" ... and when it dispenses kibble, it even "sounds" like a slot machine.

Cat is fascinated with the feeder and thinks that staring at the feeder will speed up the "jackpot" prize.

It doesn't ... but she stares at it anyway, waiting and hoping!

View attachment 243093

Just wait until she figures out how to get a paw up into the slot and push the next round of food out or figures out how to tip the top off! My sisters cat is a hungry dingus and has tried multiple different feeders and has broken or outsmarted them all

 

[KCgophervet]

Oh, I've been looking at getting that feeder in the semi-near future! Do you like it? I am thinking I'll get either that one or possibly the slightly fancier one with the wifi feature/app that also lets you feed on demand. I like that those two do up to 12 feedings per day. My has an insulinoma...he's doing great now, but has his tumor grows and his blood glucose drops lower I will need to feed him more frequently. It'll probably be nice to have one of these to do automatic nighttime feedings without having to wake up.

I have that one for my cats, and I love it. I also have a splitter on it so it divides the food for all my cats but you can control the amount down to the 1/8 cup, multiple feedings a day, on a timer, holds a lot of food, and has both battery back up and a plug in for power. Cats don't harass us for food in the mornings now and we can make sure they're fed if we go away for the weekend. Basically love it.

 

[KCgophervet]

Just wait until she figures out how to get a paw up into the slot and push the next round of food out or figures out how to tip the top off! My sisters cat is a hungry dingus and has tried multiple different feeders and has broken or outsmarted them all

It's on like a belt that pulls the food up and around. Would be pretty hard to break into

 

[JaynaAli]

I have that one for my cats, and I love it. I also have a splitter on it so it divides the food for all my cats but you can control the amount down to the 1/8 cup, multiple feedings a day, on a timer, holds a lot of food, and has both battery back up and a plug in for power. Cats don't harass us for food in the mornings now and we can make sure they're fed if we go away for the weekend. Basically love it.

Okay, crazy owner question and maybe more difficult to answer because you have cats and I have a dog, but do you feel like it's affected your relationship with the cats at all? Because Winston comes to me to beg for dinner and stuff and I don't want to change that bond, for lack of a better term. Its probably a silly thing to worry about that wouldn't even matter, but something I've wondered about. Partially why I was thinking about using it just for the nighttime meals (when we get to that point, BG is low normal with three feedings a day now) was so I could still be the one to feed him the other times.

 

[SkiOtter]

It's on like a belt that pulls the food up and around. Would be pretty hard to break into

That’s good!!

 

[KCgophervet]

Okay, crazy owner question and maybe more difficult to answer because you have cats and I have a dog, but do you feel like it's affected your relationship with the cats at all? Because Winston comes to me to beg for dinner and stuff and I don't want to change that bond, for lack of a better term. Probably a silly thing to worry about that wouldn't even matter, but something I've wondered about. Partially why I was thinking about using it just for the nighttime meals (when we get to that point, BG is low normal with three feedings a day now) was so I could still be the one to feed him the other times.

So we still give the cats 1 meal a day as well (wet food), but they actually don't often beg us for food. Honestly, one of our cats (my original kitty) has always been super cuddly so nothing much has changed there. The other two cats (my husband's original pair) have never been as big on cuddling but they still do as much as they did before (if that makes sense). Honestly overall I don't think much has changed in that department. To be perfectly honest I sometimes wish we had one big enough for our dogs because they (well just the husky/lab mix) get SO ANNOYING around food times, it would be nice if they weren't bugging us for it. But he's also a pretty cuddly dog and I give him enough treats that I think he'd always feel the love for me.

 

[Doctor-S]

I purchased the automatic pet feeder after reading comments posted by @kcoughli - thanks! The feeder is sturdy and seems to be well-designed. So far, it has worked well and my cat is still lovingly and affectionately bonded with me.

I elevated the feeder so my cat would not bump her head on the feeder spout when she is eating; and I replaced the metal feeding dish (that came with the feeder) with a wider glass dish. Of course, cat had no problem dining on kibble when the feeder was not elevated and the metal dish was used - I just wanted to make sure her dining experience was carefree and cozy, that's all.

The feeder dispenses 1/8 cup of kibble twice a day: the first time at 4:30 AM, and the second time at 5:00 PM. The rest of the time, my cat receives canned wet cat food. She is unable to pry any kibble from the feeder spout despite multiple attempts directed at the spout and lid. Now, she simply waits for the feeder to dispense the kibble at the scheduled times.

I also bought the orange embroidered "indoor only" cat collar after reading comments posted by @britzen and @WildZoo - thank you!

 

[deleted955608]

Not my pet, but I am making sweaters for a friend's rats. If any of you have small animals and want a sweater for them, let me know.

 

[JustPaws]

Not my pet, but I am making sweaters for a friend's rats. If any of you have small animals and want a sweater for them, let me know.

OMG how adorable @cdoconn

 

[cdo96]

OMG how adorable @cdoconn

He would 100% kill me if I tried that with Apple! LOL.

 

[JustPaws]

He would 100% kill me if I tried that with Apple! LOL.

 

[ziggyandjazzy]

I purchased the automatic pet feeder after reading comments posted by @kcoughli - thanks! The feeder is sturdy and seems to be well-designed. So far, it has worked well and my cat is still lovingly and affectionately bonded with me.

I elevated the feeder so my cat would not bump her head on the feeder spout when she is eating; and I replaced the metal feeding dish (that came with the feeder) with a wider glass dish. Of course, cat had no problem dining on kibble when the feeder was not elevated and the metal dish was used - I just wanted to make sure her dining experience was carefree and cozy, that's all.

The feeder dispenses 1/8 cup of kibble twice a day: the first time at 4:30 AM, and the second time at 5:00 PM. The rest of the time, my cat receives canned wet cat food. She is unable to pry any kibble from the feeder spout despite multiple attempts directed at the spout and lid. Now, she simply waits for the feeder to dispense the kibble at the scheduled times.

I also bought the orange embroidered "indoor only" cat collar after reading comments posted by @britzen and @WildZoo - thank you!

I didn't see the original posts about this but Jasmine is wearing an orange collar that came free with the Dr. Elsey's litter lol. Her old Star Wars one had gotten all fuzzy.

 

[SkiOtter]

I didn't see the original posts about this but Jasmine is wearing an orange collar that came free with the Dr. Elsey's litter lol. Her old Star Wars one had gotten all fuzzy.

Kitty convicts!

 

[orca2011]

My kitten is turning into a problem child. She prolapsed her rectum twice yesterday in a very short period of time so she had a purse string put it. I slept all day today since I worked overnight last night and tonight and then woke up to her having poop stuck on her butt and several piles of vomit. Think she’s transiently a little backed up/vomited from straining. It’s unclear why she’s straining but could be a combo of her weak body wall and presumed parasites as she has a high eosinophil count. Her pelvic fractures aren’t constricting her rectum enough for us to think it’s that. Deworming her and have her on lactulose right now.

 

[that redhead]

Happy third birthday to my little boo (tail not pictured here!)

 

[SkiOtter]

View attachment 244069

Happy third birthday to my little boo (tail not pictured here!)

I loves him
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEAUTIFUL BABY

 

[cowgirla]

Apparently my dogs melt when I put hats on them :-D

 

[JaynaAli]

Someone met Santa today at Bass Pro Shops! I realized that in 9 years, despite wanting to, I'd never taken him for Christmas photos. Since this might be his last Christmas (but hopefully not!), I decided it was worth standing in line with lots of kids.

 

[SkiOtter]

Someone met Santa today at Bass Pro Shops! I realized that in 9 years, despite wanting to, I'd never taken him for Christmas photos. Since this might be his last Christmas (but hopefully not!), I decided it was worth standing in line with lots of kids.
View attachment 244359

Awwwww!!!!!! He’s so precious!!! I’m glad you took him for photos. Now I wanna take my dog and hope she is nice enough

 

[patriciakim08]

Hi, I'm not sure if this topic is already covered. But I was curious on how students attending schools across the country from their homes handle their animals when traveling back and forth during breaks. What have you all found best asides from boarding the pet while you're gone or flying them in cargo?

 

[JaynaAli]

I know there are several threads on this if you try various things in the search function. Short version is that classmates often look out for another and the ones staying local may help out. Or you board them or find some other type of pet sitter.