Dr. Laritson's Cat Tales

Dr. Laritson

Spencer Stories Second Edition

After a lot of requests, I’ve decided to pass along some more anecdotes involving our Bengal cat named Spencer. For those of you that missed the inaugural edition, Spencer was a foster cat “just for the weekend” in order to get his medication and wounds cared for. That was 2 years ago this past August and he hasn’t left yet! (In the first edition, I think I said 3 years
ago, I guess it seems like a real long time already.) He has an insatiable drive for food, especially anything that might involve butter. Like in the photo below, a pot of mashed potatoes is included in his list of favorites because they are made with milk and butter. But he is by no means limiting himself only to those types of items. The other day, as my wife was gathering the dry ingredients for pancakes, measuring each, and putting each back in the cupboard in an attempt to prevent cat thievery, she turned around to find Spencer with his head buried deep in the mixing bowl. Now remember, only dry ingredients no milk or eggs yet. Of course she yelled at the naughty Bengal who only left the scene when she started towards him, and as he ran away, he puffed clouds of flour from his nose and mouth like a flour breathing dragon.

Spencer is not above garbage picking. We routinely find him digging through the garbage if someone forgets to close the drawer. He has his favorites, like any meat scraps, so those go out to the garbage can in the garage immediately, but one item that he loves is the wrapper from the butter. We have found those licked clean in various hiding spots around the house. Lately, he’s even resorted to licking the box that holds the sticks of butter!

Spencer now has had a huge change in his life. No he hasn’t been banished to the basement, although that sometimes sounds like a good idea, but he does have to share his house with a canine. A big yellow Lab to be exact named Winnie. She is a foster as well, at
least still officially, although I fear another foster failure like Spencer, especially after being the cover family on the FVHA magazine. Spencer has made the transition remarkably well. He was even going to visit the dog frequently when we first got her and her kennel was down in the basement. We thought it was so cool that he was really curious and not afraid at all. Well, like most things with Spencer, his rapture wasn’t due to having a dog, but to having access to her food bag, which we found he had turned into a self feeder. He had very discreetly chewed a hole into the back of the bag so we couldn’t see it, and helped himself every time he went to “visit” her! Needless to say, he developed a rather large belly before we figured all this out. Now his efforts are being thwarted by a Sterilite plastic bin with a locking cover, but he still tries daily to figure out the lid lock. And as long as I give him a
kibble of her food every now and then, he is content to allow her to remain in “his” house. In fact, last night, both of them were working on the food bin together, joining in a common effort to
obtain more food. A brotherhood of sorts is developing between them in their quest for extra calories. When one gets something to eat, the other is not far behind. At least they are getting along, perhaps too well.

September is Senior Pet Health Awareness Month

By David Gagnon, DVM

 

 

 

We all, at one time or another, have had (or will have) older pets.  When are our pets considered “seniors”?  Hard to say exactly, though in dogs we can estimate around 7-8 years old, and in cats around 8-9 years old.  Just because your pet is considered a senior, that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily time for him to slow down or show his age.  Some energetic animals will finally become more mellow, but not all.

Cats and dogs age much faster than humans do, and the rate even depends on the size of the animal.  Larger dogs age far more quickly than small ones, so our “rule” about the age of seniority does vary.  Upon entering their golden years, the likelihood of developing certain conditions increases.  Some animals become arthritic, some develop hormonal abnormalities, while others grow tumors… the list goes on.  That’s not to say your pet’s quality of life will diminish, or that we can’t always treat these conditions.  But this is a particularly important time to keep a close eye on our furry friends, and consider being proactive in looking for changes.


My name is Rikishi, and I will be 14 years
old September 30!  Thank you to the doctors
and staff at KVC for helping to keep me
healthy all these years!!


Checking bloodwork, looking at radiographs (x-rays), evaluating blood pressure, and doing a urinalysis are all great ways of gathering information about your pet’s health.  Dogs and cats alike can benefit from a wellness screen.  What we hope for is a completely normal result in all aspects, which not only rules out many diseases, but also gives us an accurate baseline in case we need to repeat any test in the future.  If we stumble upon something that is unusual, we can jump on it as early as possible.  This may involve something as simple as a change in diet, or something as advanced as surgery to remove a previously-undetected mass.
 
 Our team at Kaukauna Veterinary Clinic believes strongly in preventative medicine, and early treatment when needed.  Being proactive in your pet’s healthcare can provide you with peace of mind in knowing your best friend is in good health, or that we can maintain a good quality of life for a long time.  Ask one of us about our senior wellness plans and which tests are available for your dog or cat. 

In any older pet, ultimately, the time will come when you know they just can’t go any longer.  Whether due to disease, or weakness from arthritis and old age, things will decline.  It’s at that time that it’s necessary, albeit difficult, to consider euthanizing.  It’s our final way to pay them with our love, and allow them to slip away quietly and peacefully, with dignity and comfort.  Although it’s not an enjoyable service, it’s out of respect for our animals that we can give this to them.

Dr. Laritson's Cat Tales

Dr. Laritson

Spencer Stories

Many of you have heard some of these tales that I’ve shared over the years about our newest cat, named Spencer, but at the urging of several individuals, I agreed to put some on our blog.  So, if these are repeats to some of you, bear with me.  Depending on how these are received, this may be a regular segment of our blog, or perhaps a one time rambling about a peculiar cat.

A little background about Spencer first.  He is a foster failure.  He came to our house because he needed his wounds attended to post-op and had to have his antibiotics all weekend.  That will be 3 years ago next month!  Like a house guest that has overstayed his visit, Spencer has remained.  Now I’d like to say I let him stay, but the truth of the matter, like many households, is that my wife and kids wanted him to stay.  My opinion was that we should try to find him a home as soon as he was back on his feet.  However, during his recuperation period, he was allowed to interact with our other cat, which was still young and thought that a playmate was a great idea!  When time came to send Spencer away, our other cat now had a best friend and I had to reluctantly agree to keep him. 

I say reluctantly mainly due to his behavior.  You see, while he was recuperating in our basement “hospital,” he was very shy, didn’t want to be held or cuddled, didn’t play or purr at all--a relatively easy decision in my mind as to whether or not to keep him.  There are so many other wonderful cats in this world that need a home, why keep this one.  Perhaps it is this reasoning that Spencer and his behavior torments me the most!

Spencer is a Bengal cat or at least that’s what was told to the shelter when he was dropped off.  He looks like a Bengal and hunts like one as well.  He can be very vocal and loves to eat.  And it is these last 2 traits that seem to get him into the most trouble.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention his other trait—he is very smart!  He has figured out not only how to find a new home, but also how to get what wants.  He is also very persistent.  So all of these traits combined leads to a unique cat.  One that I didn’t appreciate early on, but like mold, he is growing on me.

He loves food.  He has a butter fetish!  I have caught him chewing on the cardboard wrapper that the sticks of butter come in.  Our butter has to remain in a cupboard, on the second shelf, no less, or he will help himself.  Recently he has acquired a “smash and grab” style in sneaking butter.  He waits until a back is turned, then jumps up, grabs a mouthful of butter and runs away to eat it.  Now Bengals are big, agile cats.  And Spencer is both, with an ability to jump and surf the counters with the stealth of a hunter.  So when he grabs a mouthful of butter, it’s about a quarter stick.  Sometimes the only way to know that he’s been up to no good is to find a chunk missing and the grooves from his fangs in the remaining butter.  He also loves anything that is made with butter, from toast to bakery.  He loves donuts and cakes.  One birthday cake recently while cooling was found to have a large chunk missing from one edge when we came back to ice it.  A container with donuts is also preferred hunting for Spencer.  He pushes the box off the counter where it opens up when it hits the floor, and he darts in to grab his prize.  I’ve come running from the family room at the sound of a crash only to see him running away with a whole donut in his mouth.  He is very reluctant to give up his prize.  We have to chase him around the house, him growling the whole time and our family yelling out instructions to each other trying to cut off his escape routes.  Needless to say, now bakery also goes up in a cupboard, and also on the second shelf!

He is a hunter.  While most normal cats may pounce on your feet under the covers when the move, it’s usually just a playful game.  Spencer doesn’t really play.  He hunts.  So when he decides that there is something moving under the sheets, he attacks.  His pounce and bite has drawn blood.  Blankets are a must on our bed now to try to prevent this.  Like some cats, flying insects are also fair game.  His housemate loves to spend an hour tracking and batting at a fly that has managed to get into our house.  But Spencer, once he sees what the other cat is doing, quickly and silently stalks the fly and attacks when in range.  In a matter of a second he catches the fly and eats it! All the while the other cat is watching and wondering what happened to his toy. 

Over the years, Spencer has become a member of our family now.  He is a unique cat, both in his looks and behavior.  He has many other naughty habits, which will have to wait for the next installment (if there is one), but we love him (most of the time).

World Pet Memorial Day 2014

What Mica Meant to Our Family

By Dr. Ron Biese 

 

     Mica was our first “born”.  She was a female Golden Retriever that we purchased from a breeder.  The stud dog, her father, was a patient of mine and I knew him well.  He was a beautiful and sweet dog.  Mica was just shy of 50 pounds as an adult which was perfect for us.  We had plenty of time to train her as a puppy, because we didn’t have children yet.   She was an awesome dog!  I know that most owners feel that way about their own dog.  However, she was the most obedient dog I have ever seen.  I could put her in a sit or lay stay and she would not move until I released her.  Our family often joked that she would probably die in that position if I never released her.  One day I was giving her a bath in the basement and I had forgotten a towel to dry her with.  After I was done bathing her, I discovered the error of my ways.  I told her to stay in the tub and I ran upstairs to the second floor and came all the way back down, and she was still in the tub and had not moved.  She would often come to work with me and I would tell her to lie under my desk.  She would stay there all day until I was done.  She would get a little antsy at 5:00.  We were convinced she could tell time.  

Mica was very close to our children as they grew up.  It was so special to see how gentle she was with them as they were toddlers, but as they grew older, she would rough house with them all the time.  We never worried about her getting aggressive with our children or with anyone for that matter.  

                                                

She was quite healthy her entire life, but when she was nearly 14 years old she became very ill with a bleeding mass in her chest.  We made the horrible decision to euthanize her.  That was a very difficult day for us and our children.  

That evening we sat around telling funny stories of her.  We laughed and cried for hours.  This helped us get through this difficult time.  We know how tough it is to lose a pet, but pet lovers would chose no other way. 

 

Gus

By Dr. Kurt Rossebo

June is the month of World Pet Memorial Day.  It is a strange but interesting fact that almost every one of us can recall all our pets, even from our early childhood.  Dogs, cats, gerbils, hamsters, rabbits, birds, even fish and turtles.  We often have many photos of us and our pets, which only serves to revive many memories and strengthen the bond we already have with our lost companions.

The reason for this is simple: unconditional love. We only get this from our pets, especially dogs and cats that often seek our love as well.  Unconditional love is also the reason that losing a pet can be so difficult for many.  So, World Pet Memorial Day is truly every day.  We miss them always, and even though memories may bring a tear to your eye, they most certainly will warm your heart and bring a smile to your face.

                                                                                Our Weimaraner Gus was
                                                                                a big goofy dog and we miss him!

 

                                                                                                                   

Rex

By Lisa Lambie, Veterinary Assistant

There are many reasons I miss my dog Rex.  But I suppose mostly I miss the many ways that he made me laugh.  He was such a goofy dog.  I got Rex when he was 7 months old and my son Ross was 9 months old and he was so good with him.  They grew up together and were best buddies.  Ross could do anything to Rex and he just took it, hair pulling and all!  At the vet clinic he got a crazy nickname and was lovingly known as Rexy Boy Boy.  Cancer took him way to soon at the age of 8.  He is missed everyday.  Sometimes I think I hear and see him yet.  I know that is not possible, but I like it.

Rex

Fat Boy

By Gail Adams, Receptionist

I got Fat Boy in July of 2000.  He was the last kitten in a litter at a local farm.  I should have taken that as a sign as he was trouble from the start.  He would hide under the stairs and attack our ankles as if he was taking down a Gazelle.  We DID NOT get along for the first few months.  Thanksgiving of that same year I became ill with pneumonia and he would lay on me and never left my side which changed my feelings completely for him.

He was very welcoming to every cat I brought home from that point on.  He even "nursed" a 5 week old kitten until his nipples were raw just to make her feel secure.  I realize a male cat doesn't produce milk, but the kitten didn't care.

I have a hundred funny stories I could tell you over his 14 years, but the funniest thing was when he felt I had made him wait too long for breakfast.  While I was sleeping, he chewed my bangs OFF.  I had to come to work looking like a 2 year old that had cut her own hair.

January 8, 2014, he left us.  I will never have a cat that will bring me as much joy and wonderful memories as he did.  I miss him so much.

Niketa

By Tricia, CVT

Our family has had many wonderful pets over the years so it's hard to pick just one to remember on this day! The last dog we had to say goodbye to was Niketa. He was very affectionate and our most laid back Siberian Husky.  He was very well mannered and nice and quiet unless we got him excited enough to give us a big ole Husky howl.  Everyone thought he was a great dog and was always asking if they could take him home with them.  He was very gentle with my daughters who grew up with him and each new cat & dog we brought into the house.  Well, OK, maybe he had fun chasing our cats when he was a young pup, but he never harmed them.

I have had to make the incredibly hard decision to send previous pets to the Rainbow Bridge, but making the decision for Niketa was the most difficult of all of them. We do have many funny memories of him though!

        

                              

Hannah

By Laurie, Kennel Staff

Our Family was truly blessed to have Hannah in our lives for 14 1/2 yrs. She was an inspiration and has taught us so much. Hannah was a cancer survivor, losing her snout at age 10 and then living 4 1/2 years longer. It was not cancer that took her from us.  She had amazing perseverance, bravery and strength. She endured through every difficult obstacle that life dealt her with dignity and grace.  How many can say they had a dog missing a nose and 2 toes, she was unique, a one of a kind.  Not a day goes by that I don’t think of her and shed a tear, but now those tears bring a smile. A piece of my heart has left with her.  RIP our Sunshine Hannah

      

                               

Remembering Shellane’s Autumn Krystal today

By Diane, LVT

Krysta was the first Doberman Pinscher we had and she was the best dog anyone could ask for. She was a very gentle (somewhat shy!) soul who loved everyone she met, knew when to show her protective side, and was a great friend to my young nieces and nephews. We were so very blessed to have her for just over 13 years (despite several serious health scares) and we were devastated when we had to make the decision to put her down. There are very few days that go by that I don’t think of her and I still miss her so much, even nine years later. We have heard that every family seems to get that one perfect dog and for this family, Krysta was that dog.

                                       Krysta - November 13, 1991 – February 10, 2005

 Always in our hearts….

Remembering My Pets Growing Up

By Dr. Gagnon

My only pets growing up were dogs, and I was lucky enough to have seen them live to ripe old ages of 16 and 14.  As they aged, it became apparent that they were slowing down, they couldn’t “hold it” as long as they used to, and they became gray in the face.  Does having an old dog make it easier or harder to say goodbye when the time comes? I don’t know.  In a way, you can see it coming and you have time to prepare yourself.  On the other hand, you’ve developed such a long-lasting and meaningful relationship that being without them is painful to even think about.

My first dog was Holly, named because she became part of the family on Christmas when I was little.  She was the kind of Labrador everyone wishes they had: kind and gentle, with lots of personality.  One of our favorite things was seeing her hop anytime we pulled out a bag of popcorn.  She loved it!  I was in high school when my family made the decision to say goodbye because of arthritis and kidney problems.  We buried her in our backyard, and planted a holly bush over her.

A few years prior to Holly’s passing, we picked up another Labrador Ella, named after the jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald.  Ella and Holly had become great friends over the years, so Ella was noticeably sad when Holly was gone.  Ella was a spunky little thing with lots of energy and determination, but never a mean bone in her body.  I was in veterinary school when it was Ella’s time to go, so I had a more watchful eye when problems arose during her old age.  It was hard to see her decline, but it helped in knowing when the time was right to put her down.  She’s buried right next to Holly.

I’ve never forgotten the good days, and the memory of their passing is something that always sticks with me.  That said, many of us feel an emptiness that can only be filled with another loving pet.  There’s no replacement for those we’ve lost, but there is certainly room for more pets to enjoy.