For those who were wondering how Astrid did today, her fecal test for parasites came up pristine! No coccidia! No Worms! Despite the chew holes, Dr Iverson and I went over her with a fine tooth comb and could not find a single louse! Guys, this is the single BEST conditioned pigeon I have EVER recieved! Alert and hungry right out of the crate with the BEST muscle tone of any pigeon I have ever purchased! Baskar Anjappan is her breeder, and if this is typical of his birds, then I'd recommend him to the moon and back for any one looking to get into raising Old German Owls.
For those who were wondering how Astrid did today, her fecal test for parasites came up pristine! No coccidia! No Worms! Despite the chew holes, Dr Iverson and I went over her with a fine tooth comb and could not find a single louse! Guys, this is the single BEST conditioned pigeon I have EVER recieved! Alert and hungry right out of the crate with the BEST muscle tone of any pigeon I have ever purchased! Baskar Anjappan is her breeder, and if this is typical of his birds, then I'd recommend him to the moon and back for any one looking to get into raising Old German Owls.
A clear guide to what happens during in-home pet euthanasia in Kitchener and how the process supports pets and families.
The article walks through what typically happens during an in-home pet euthanasia appointment, focusing on making the process as calm and predictable as possible. It explains that the visit usually starts with a conversation, where the veterinarian discusses the pet’s condition and answers any last questions before proceeding.
From there, the process is described as gradual and gentle. Pets are first given medication to help them relax and fall into a deep sleep, minimizing stress or discomfort. Only after this step does the final injection take place, ensuring the experience remains peaceful.
The piece also notes that owners are given space to be present in whatever way feels right to them. Practical details, including what happens afterward, are often arranged ahead of time so the moment itself can stay focused on the pet rather than logistics.
Well, that was a traumatic experience for all of us. :(
The worst, by far, happened before we even got there. I ended up having to transport the kittens to the vet in three containers, and having to corner all of them with way more angst than I’d been hoping. I tipped the Bennet Box into one carrier (yay for the Bennet Box being super skinny -- but Bennet managed to cling to the inside for quite a while before finally going into the carrier. Then I had to chase down Tico and Winter in the bathroom, wearing heavy gloves, and there was hissing and claws and scrambling and attempts to crawl underneath the door. Poor things.
I took them all downstairs and drove them a few miles to the vet. The med tech took us to an exam room and tried to weigh them all. Bennet stayed on the scale about two microseconds before scramblehissfleeing into the corner. She tried to climb all the walls of the exam room in succession before hiding behind the computer tower on the floor. Tico was fortunately better behaved, and Winter was docile throughout.
They all turned out to be between 2 and 2.5 lbs, and I also learned their sexes. Bennet is a girl of healthy weight (not underfed! not malnourished! yay!), as is her sister Winter -- and Tico is a fat, fat boy. I was told that the advice to let them eat as much as they want multiple times a day might not apply to him.
Bennet’s feisty/scaredy nature (depending on whether she’s currently feeling cornered) is apparently typical of calicos. The vet told me they are one of the least social types of cats. The vet told me to just be patient with her and make her feel as safe and comfy as possible -- don’t move the Bennet Box, don’t push too hard. Same with the other cats -- don’t rush them overly. She said they’re somewhere in the 6-8 week range (as I suspected), and that if I’ve only had them 4-8 days, they’re coming along quite well (in that they let the vet and the techs handle them mostly without complaint).
The vet said, “Oh, wow, they look so healthy -- and I don’t see any fleas! ...Ahahaha, no, wait, actually, there are tons of fleas. Never mind.” They got kitten-safe flea treatment and deworming meds (I took in stool samples on the recommendation of several readers, but the vet said we might as well just deworm them, though they’re running more tests on the stool). They also got their first round of vaccines, and two of them got blood drawn so they could be tested for FIV and feline leukemia. The third (you’ll never guess who) had to be swaddled in a towel for most of the exam and treatments, and she certainly was not interested in having blood drawn. It’s fine, though -- if any of them have any of the conditions they’re testing for (which are rare), they probably all do.
Tomorrow I have to remove all the bedding and vacuum the guest room and generally do my best to de-flea the place. Tonight, though, the vet said it could wait -- so I brought them home, put out fresh food and water and opened up the carrier (the vet put them all in the same carrier to come home). They’ve been staying in there and hiding for well over an hour now, staring at me through the mesh with haunted, accusing kitten eyes. Someday the sardines I put out will probably lure them out, though.
I expect that this will set back attempts to socialize them somewhat. But I feel better having taken them in, and they will eventually feel better for my having done so. And the vet successfully picked them up by the scruffs of their necks, so maybe I can do that next time (a month from now) and avoid some portion of the trauma of catching them. (Also, hopefully by then I’ll be able to pick them up in general without freaking the hell out of them.)
Just got back from the vet. My little Borneo had a weird swelling on her side. The vet pulled some fluid from it and it was clear, so she said it was probably just some kind of cyst that she wasn't concerned enough to even do a culture on (it was very small). She told us to keep an eye on it and bring her back if it got any bigger. The fluid the Dr. pulled from it actually almost completely deflated it anyway. Second was the little retic banana queen who had some swelling on her nose, we figured it wasn't anything too threatening (retics have a bad nose rub reputation even though I've never witnessed her doing it) but brought her in anyway. The Dr. actually believed it was the first signs of mouth rot, and sent us home with antibiotic injections. She seemed pretty surprised we had even spotted it to begin with. I'm just glad being paranoid paid off in the end. Anyway, still waiting on some tests back from something else, so I'll update when those come back. Even the smallest abnormality should be investigated by your exotics vet IMO... Hope everyone is having a good day/night/morning (wherever you may be in this world).
Taking your pet to the vet can be stressful for you, but more so for your pet. Here are some tips and general advice that will help to make your vet visit a successful one!
Get your pet used to being touched.
It is important that you get your pet used to having his paws touched (for nail trims especially!), having his tail lifted, having his ears examined, abdomen palpated and mouth looked at. Try doing “practice” exams at home with your pet; examine their ears and mouth, touch their feet, belly and tail. Getting Fluffy acclimated to being touched will help out the doctors when they are examining him. Also, the vet tech will be thankful for a well-behaved patient during a nail trim!
Get your pet used to car rides.
Sometimes the car ride to the vet can be just as stressful as the vet visit itself! Take Duke on long car rides, preferably on a straight highway where there is not much stop-and-go or turns. Car sickness is very common with pets (including my kitty, Pipple). Often, pets that suffer from car sickness will vomit, defecate and/or urinate. Some cats will “yowl” and pant. Also, if you are transporting a cat or small dog, use a carrier and let them get used to being in the carrier. ALWAYS have your pet secured in the vehicle, whether it be in a carrier or strapped in with a pet seat-belt!
Try to keep your hands to yourself...
Unless the vet asks for your assistance with your pet. I know it’s tempting to want to pet your fur baby and comfort them, but sometimes this will stress them even more and they may snap at you, not realizing that the hand belongs to mom or dad. We just want everyone to be safe and we don’t want Fluffy to think that YOU are the “bad guy”.
Be prepared!
If you are a new client, bring records from your previous vet. Write down any questions or concerns that you may have about your pet so that the vet visit will go as quickly and smoothly as possible! Make notes about any abnormalities in your pet’s behavior, appetite, etc. We depend on you for information about your pet (if only they could tell us what is bothering them!). Also, if a stool sample is needed for your fur baby’s visit, bring one in that is as fresh as possible (Fluffy will appreciate it!).
These are just some general tips and ideas on how to make your vet visit successful. Every pet is different, so make adjustments based on how your pet reacts to certain things. One more thing... relax. If you are stressed, your pet can sense it and they will be stressed too (more than they already are!).
Of course, if you ever have any questions or concerns, give us a call! We look forward to seeing you and your beloved pet!
