A New Way to Support the Sanctuary

There's an easy way you can support the sanctuary animals! We've signed up with GoodSearch.com, which allows the sanctuary to earn while you use their Yahoo powered search engine.

I've been trying it out, and it works very well. Just go to www.goodsearch.com, and in the second box down, type in "Golden Hearts Animal Sanctuary" and click "verify". Then, search away. There is a feature that even allows you to track how much the sanctuary has earned.

Every little bit helps, so please, give it a try, and if you like it, spread the word to your friends and family!

Kitty Update!

A couple of the boys have ongoing medical issues that we're hoping are either resolved or will be soon. Here's a run-down on who we're watching ~

Scooter - this afternoon his purse-string suture was removed, and hopefully his rectal prolapse episodes are over. His medication (Lactulose) has been increased, he's back on a low residue diet (which produces low stool volume), and he's spending a good part of his day in the main house so we can keep a close eye on him.

Leonard - has been slowly dropping some weight. He had lab work done last week and an abdominal ultrasound looking for cancer, hyperthyroidism, or a heart-related cause. His heart looks great, the Atenolol dose he's on is working well. That leaves us with the potential diagnoses of intestinal lymphosarcoma (yuck, don't want that one!) or tapeworms that we haven't seen yet (much easier to fix).
As he's the primary groomer of all cats, we're first eliminating the parasite possibility with a dose of Droncit. Reweighing him in a couple of weeks will determine whether we need to proceed with an endoscopy to look for cancer.

Swope - (still working on his name!) had completely quit eating over the weekend, in spite of the antibiotics and pain meds he was taking for his mouth. We began subcutaneous fluids daily as well as force feeding. After much research, and talking with Dr. Booman, we opted to try a steroid injection, treating him as a stomatitis kitty. This is more of a "shotgun" approach to dealing with the problem, but we felt he just wouldn't do well at this point with anesthesia and the subsequent healing from a biopsy.
He got the injection Tuesday afternoon, and now he's feeling great! He's eating, drinking and feeling much more comfortable. There are potential side effects we have to watch for, but the benefits far outweigh them. If he continues to improve, he'll receive a second injection in a few weeks, then start on oral meds which will taper over the next month. He will also stay on antibiotics to combat infection too.

He's Got A Hearty Appetite...

And a pretty big mouth too! This is Ballou quietly requesting his dinnertime meal (not!) Most of the kitties start asking for dinner about 3:30-4:00 in the afternoon, and dinner is at 6pm, which never changes. I believe they're hoping I forget someday and maybe feed twice!

It took Ballou a whole week to figure out the routine, he chimes in during the early afternoon requests, then like everyone else, waits till later. I still don't have pictures yet of his post-meal bath time, he gets embarrassed easily!

A New Face With An Ouchy Problem!

This sweet face belongs to Swope, a kitty first on the euthanasia list at the Grayson County Humane Society in Kentucky. He arrived in California last week on Monday evening, and I picked him up Tuesday afternoon. This is his first photo opportunity since he's been here.

How'd he get cross-country? Does he know where the cheap gas prices are? Does he have a secret transporter device? Kentucky Beth (there are 2 Beths - 1 in Kentucky, 1 in Florida) and I have been e-mailing back and forth about this guy trying to figure out what's going on with him. I told her if there was ever an opportunity for him to come to California, he'd be welcome here. She found one! It turns out that her family friends Robert and Carla had a direct flight from Nashville to Los Angeles, so Swope packed his bags for a whirl-wind day of adventure! They kept him overnight until we could meet the next day so he could come home to the sanctuary.

Swope has inflamed gum tissue and a tongue ulcer that makes it really difficult to eat. He's a senior citizen by all accounts, with a (low) estimated age of 15 years old. He's had lab work and a cardiac ultrasound since he's been here to make sure it's safe for him to have anesthesia ~ and he can!

He's pretty handsome, isn't he? He's not particularly attached to his name either ~ any ideas for a new name?

Wow It's Warm!

Here's wishing everyone cool summer breezes as the weather continues to heat up across the country. At an unseasonable (and unreasonable) 112 degrees today, I found myself praying to the rain gods while trying hard to keep everyone cool. All critters fared pretty well, with the Cabana kitties getting the worst of the weather (if I just had a fan big enough to cool the entire outdoors!) All of the dogs and most of the Cabana cats received cooling baths this afternoon, and the only complaint came from Hot Rod, who thought that was the dumbest idea I'd ever come up with!

How Can Someone This Cute...

Cause such an uproar that dinner is delayed? (Only by a couple of hours!)

Scooter had a rectal prolapse happen late this afternoon, probably an hour or so before dinner tonight. He had an emergency visit to our veterinarian Dr. Booman (who fortunately was available) and we managed to "put everything back" and put in a purse-string suture. This allows stool to pass, but should keep the bowel inside where it belongs.

Scooter will be on antibiotics and subcutaneous fluids for several days. He's also now moved in to an extra large dog crate in the kitchen (where he spent many days as a kitten) so he can be closely monitored and receive 6 small meals a day (he's hatin' that part!) He'll have to have an x-ray or ultrasound in the next 24 hours to make sure that he doesn't have an intussusception, a serious condition in which the bowel telescopes inside of itself.

We're also discussing surgery for him also. This is, unfortunately, the third time this has happened, and the problem is incrementally worse each time. The surgical fix is an abdominal surgery to go in and actually tack the bowel to the abdominal wall so it physically stays in place. With his deformities, general anesthesia and surgery are an especially big concern. We'll keep you updated as we know more information.

A Boy Named Ballou

This handsome boy, Ballou, arrived late this afternoon after a long journey with his rescuer Beth. Their adventure began very early this morning in Florida ~ yes, Ballou has now traveled coast-to-coast, making friends and racking up those "frequent flyer" miles! Thanks to Beth, the folks at Delta airlines, and Beth's friend Paul, Ballou's adventure to his forever home is now complete.

Ballou looks like pretty much any other handsome black cat you would meet, that is, until you watch him eat. Due to an accident earlier in his life, part of his tongue was amputated, leaving him unable to groom himself or eat mashed up canned food (he needs the can shape so he can grab it to eat it!) His forever home in Florida turned out not to be the case, and Feline Friends has been working hard to place him during the heat of kitten season. When asked if he could live here if they could get him here, I said "Why not?" (Maybe Phoenix would consider grooming him instead of herself!)

He's pretty shy, and I'm sure trying to figure out what the last 24 hours we're all about, so here's a picture of him before he left Florida, contentedly "making biscuits" with his paws. I hope that with some time, he will learn there are many friends here who can help him stay clean!

Visitors!

It was a warm yet exciting afternoon for the animals today. One of our Friends of the Sanctuary stopped by to visit, meet the animals, and best of all, deliver chicken jerky treats! Thank you, D.C., the dogs are still wagging their tails!

Thanks For Your Patience...

Our phone troubles are over and you may now leave a message if you need to!

Phone Troubles...

If you've tried to leave a message for us at the sanctuary over the last several days, we're having phone troubles, which should be resolved by tomorrow. If you call our phone number, it will let you know how to reach us. Thanks for your patience!

Fidelity Leaves Us...

But will forever remain in our hearts. Our "Head Dog in Charge of Cats" lost her battle with kidney failure and chronic sinusitis, and passed away at home last night. She was surrounded by her human, canine, and yes, even some of her feline family. The picture above is one of our last trips to the Del Mar dog beach, where she introduced Luna to the ocean and swimming!

She also leaves behind a large void in the daily sanctuary operations, which now takes 3 dogs to fill ~ Maverick, our Aussie, is now in charge of cats, Luna is Sanctuary Ambassador, and Quincy is in charge of keeping me out of trouble.

This morning, as I went out to care for the Cabana Kitties, I noticed all of the Hibiscus I planted along their yard was blooming ~ proof to me that "Diddle" (her nickname) is still watching over all of us, especially her kitties!

San Diego County Fair Pics

Here, finally, are our pictures from this year's booth at the San Diego County Fair. This was taken before the fair opened on Saturday. We had an excellent location near the entrance to this new building, so Luna, pictured in this photo with me, spent a long weekend as Sanctuary Ambassador. She and I had a 12 hour shift, including the early morning set-up. I really thought she'd be exhausted after such a long day, so Scooter took a bath in preparation to work on Sunday. When Sunday morning came, Luna was at the door, ready to go ~ sorry Scooter, how could I say no? This was a wonderful weekend, with the opportunity to share the sanctuary's purpose, stories of the animals, and to answer questions about special needs animals. To those who we met ~ thank you, it was a pleasure!
Special thanks to Sandra, the sanctuary's treasurer, as she and her Aussie Jake spent almost all day of both days helping out in the booth. As a large wind came through the building on Saturday, she even caught the display before the entire row of booths collapsed! Luna thought Jake was a pretty handsome guy too (he's pictured in the crate taking a nap). Both dogs got to see chinchillas for the first time too, which provided endless entertainment!

Looking For A Weekend Outing?

Stop by and visit Luna on Saturday and Scooter on Sunday at the San Diego County Fair! It's a fun way to stay cool along the coast!

We will post pictures early next week!

Now He's Got A Fan Club!

Scooter expects fan mail any day now! And he tells me he'll read and reply to every letter, signing it "Scooter, GHAS Ambassador". Scooter and I, along with Dr. Booman, our regular veterinarian (and my boss!) hit the road Friday night to do a presentation for a troop of Junior and Senior Girl Scouts in Oceanside. Dr. Booman spoke about animal laws, environmental hazards and careers with animals. I, on the other hand, had laryngitis, so Scooter did most of the talking! We told the girls about the sanctuary and its variety of residents. Scooter demonstrated his charm; they were surprised he doesn't expect sympathy, he just wants to have a chance at life (and to play!), just like all of the animals here.

This is just the start to our educational outreach programs. There may be no living with Scooter, now that he's a star!

Road Trip!

Look for Scooter, Luna and myself at the San Diego County Fair Pet Care Center on Saturday, June 17, and Sunday, June 18.

We are hitting the road to spread the word about the joys of living with senior and handicapped pets, and offer ideas and resources for people who live with pets in their "golden years".

Come by and introduce yourself as you enjoy the 2006 fair!

Healing Touch for Animals

Healing Touch for Animals is incorporated into every animal's wellness program at the sanctuary. What is it? From the website and brochure:

"Healing Touch for Animals® / Komitor Healing Method, Inc. (HTA/KHM) uses bio-field therapies – recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) – to integrate, balance and clear the energy body. It works by releasing endorphins to establish a deeper relaxation and state of being, allowing the body to function at a greater level. By allowing muscles to relax, circulation is increased, sending more oxygen, nutrients, and hormones into the body to support healing...HTA/KHM Techniques work on all levels of the body: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. These techniques allow the animals to come into a deeper instinctual presence and knowing of their body."

It's a wonderful way for all of our residents to relax and work in to daily life here. I, along with Sandra, the sanctuary's Treasurer, were able to attend a Level 2 (of 4 levels) seminar at the beginning of May. We work in class with dogs on day 2, horses on day 3, starting every level with a lecture the first day. The photo above show how happy and relaxed one of the horses was by the end of the day; we saw a whole barn of performance horses snooze as feeding time rolled around at the end of the day! Please visit their website to learn more ~ our animals highly recommend it!

Sweet 16!

Sweet Fidelity turned "Sweet 16" years old a couple of weeks ago, so I thought I'd share a picture of her enjoying her Birthday treat. Every critter gets to enjoy a birthday celebration, with kitties receiving a tuna treat, dogs receiving a grilled chicken treat, and goats enjoying grain. Yes, we even sing "Happy Birthday"!

The day a new resident moves in becomes his or her "birthday"; we feel everyone deserves the chance to be fussed over as we celebrate life and spirit, surrounded with love and treats!

Geez, I Can't Even Get A Nap Around Here...

At least that's what Fidelity says! Fidelity has always been in charge of raising cats, welcoming cats, playing with cats, and everything else cat-related. Here she is trying to take a nap, because at 16 years old, it's okay to do that, when along comes MeiLi wanting to share the bed and nap with her. Maverick actually spends most of his day watching (or quietly trying to herd) MeiLi, giving Fidelity a much deserved break from kitty care.

Time to Catch Up!

It's truly hard to believe June is here, yet the sudden onset of summer weather confirms it! It's time to catch you up on everything that's been going on here at the sanctuary.

Steve & I continue to improve existing structures on the property in order to create comfortable living quarters for our special residents; we do all of the work ourselves, with help from wonderful friends. We also fund it ourselves ~ your donations do indeed go strictly to food, litter, medication, and veterinary services for the animals.

The Kitty Office Staff are enjoying their newly finished office and outdoor enclosure. In order to handle urinary incontinence and the resulting sanitation issues, the room was repainted in bright glossy paint, the carriers used at feeding time and for kitty beds were given a bright coat of paint, and the floor was recovered in an easy-to-clean vinyl. The enclosure was expanded outside, doubling it in size, bringing it up to the house; the kitties have a door and ramp, and can go in and out at their leisure! Now, if I could just get them to take phone messages!

The photos above show the new office, complete with the fish tank (the stand was turned around to make a cat hiding spot), and the armoire keeps all kitty paws out of the computer, printer, and makes sure they won't be sending unauthorized faxes! The crates are used to separate everyone for morning and evening feedings, as they all have different dietary & medication needs. They make great beds too!

Our great hunters Scooter & Marci found a frog lurking around their enclosure last night. They gave chase, so he stopped once there was a chain link fence between them! Drying litter boxes also double as a shield when you're huntin'!

This is MeiLi enjoying the smaller outdoor exercise yard we call "Shiloh's Yard", and enjoying a nap with Steve. We found during her laryngeal exam that she had sinus passages that were incredibly tiny, due to scarring from chronic disease. Her biospy showed evidence of feline herpes virus causing the sinus problems, so at this point she will stay on steroids for inflammation, cyproheptadine (an antihistamine), and chinese herbs to thin mucous and act as an antibacterial agent.

At this point, we know that she has a finite number of comfortable days remaining. She has her own room with a Hepa filter running constantly, she gets plenty of lap time (she likes Steve's the best!) and she's even decided that the dogs are okay. We take it one day at a time, and treasure each of those days!

A Very Busy Week (Or Two!)

It's been pretty busy here lately, so here's one large blog to give you an update to everything!
~ April 28 we welcomed MeiLi, an elderly Siamese from New Beginnings for Animals in Orange County, here into her own room at the sanctuary.

~ My dad has been out to visit and help with projects. He brought his 3 young adult Labs with him; they enjoyed a vacation filled with digging in the dirt and wrestling, while dad's mechanic and construction skills were put to good use! Thanks dad!

~ May 1st was Scooter's 1 year birthday. Happy birthday little one!

~ Yesterday brought exams at the internist for Leonard and MeiLi. Leonard's heart is responding to his medication, so he'll stay at his current dose and have a recheck in 3 months. MeiLi also had an exam. She came to us with a lung cancer diagnosis, so we asked Dr. Slusser to review her records; he wanted to test her for Cryptococcus, a fungal infection to rule it out too.

~ Today we received MeiLi's blood results, which were negative. She's scheduled to have anesthesia next Thursday to have fine needle aspirates and cytology done.

~ Today Luna had an exam and urinalysis. She's started losing bladder control while lying down. She doesn't have a bladder infection, but does have at least 3 vertebrae along her spine which are causing discomfort. She'll have an x-ray next week to see if these are arthritic changes or something more serious. In the meantime, she's taking Rimadyl as an anti-inflammatory medication.

~ Friday through Sunday brings the wonderful opportunity to attend a Level 2 Healing Touch for Animals course in Tucson. This leaves the sanctuary critters in Steve's capable hands. Next week I will have pictures of MeiLi, the Tucson course, and more from the sanctuary!

Leonard Gets His Results

Leonard returned from his cardiac ultrasound appointment today with a diagnosis and some medication! He has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle. His heart has to work harder than it used to; there is no cure, but the condition can be managed with medications designed to help ease the heart's workload. Leonard is starting a medication called Atenolol, which is a beta blocker (just like humans with heart disease!)
Dr. Slusser will be rechecking him every 2 weeks until we get his medication adjusted correctly. It's a good thing Leonard doesn't mind car rides!

Leonard Gets A Check-Up

Today, Leonard saw Dr. Booman for a routine senior check-up (though he doesn't consider himself a senior). He thinks he's just "Sweet 16". He's lost a little weight and he'll need to have his teeth brushed too as he has some gingivitis. His heart rate was slightly elevated even when he was relaxed, plus he had a murmur which was new. So, we decided to run some lab work that includes a thyroid level too. As wonderful as he is, he kept his good nature even during the blood draw, purring the entire time!

Older cats are prone to a couple of disease processes that have an elevated heart rate as one of the symptoms. Hyperthyroidism is very common, as is primary heart disease; the murmur can be a symptom or can be as a result of an elevated heart rate. He has an appointment next Friday with our internist Dr. Slusser for a cardiac ultrasound.

We're hoping for a condition that can be controlled with medication. As you can see in the photo above, he just doesn't have time for much more than that, it would cramp his style! When we got home, he really wanted to patrol the yard and make sure everything was okay, but had to settle for checking all the beds and food bowls inside as it was raining (and rather hard too!) If all goes well and his health is good, we will continue working with him on his pet therapy certification.

Shop, Shop, Shop!

You can now help support the animals and spread the word about the sanctuary with our Golden Hearts gear!

CafePress both produces the items and handles the ordering, payment and shipping process. There's no cost to us, and, for every item sold, the sanctuary makes about $2.

You can find:
~T-shirts
~Sweatshirts
~Dog t-shirts
~Teddy bears
~Tote bags
~Coffee mugs
~and more to come!

Here's the link:
http://www.cafepress.com/ghas

A New Name!

Well finally, we have a new name for the new guy. Thank you for all of your suggestions! We've decided to call him "Bob". He answers with a hearty "baaa" when we're outside and say "Where's Bob?" He's pictured above on a walk stopping to munch on some weeds. He walks on a lead better than many dogs!

Seeking Sanctuary

We receive several requests weekly from people looking for help with animal situations, that is, until yesterday...

Our dogs began the "something is going on, you better get out here" bark yesterday afternoon. I made it outside in time to witness a dog push his way in at the front gate and trot up the driveway to the house. A beautiful male yellow Lab/Greyhound mix greeted me. I guess he'd heard rumors about the great toys and fine cuisine!

He and I walked our neighborhood, drove our neighborhood, and then posted "Found" signs. He had incredibly good leash manners, but was camera shy, so I didn't get a picture of him, doggone it! He had a hearty meal, then snuggled down on a comfy orthopedic bed with blankets for the night. We resumed our search for his family this morning.

The lesson here ~ microchipping works! The wonderful folks at TriCity Veterinary Clinic scanned him this afternoon and we found a chip that was registered with San Diego County Animal Services. So, after a little detective work, his family was found! It turns out that "Diego" walked over a mile before he decided to stop at our place, and he's wandered before.

A large part of what our organization does is educate the public about pet care, so here was a wonderful opportunity. Diego's reunion with his mom was the chance to offer ideas in keeping him home, reinforce the need for a collar and ID, and suggest registering the microchip. It was wonderful to see a very happy dog on his way home to his 4- and 6-year old kids!

The Downtown Kid

There's a new kid at the sanctuary, from downtown (L.A. that is!) He came from the LA county shelter in Carson. In the photo above, he's getting his first peek at his new home. I'm pretty sure there aren't many goats (or pastures) in the city limits, so the sanctuary was quite a surprise for him!

The information about him is scarce, we only know he was impounded. Our best guess is he was going to be the guest of honor at someone's upcoming Easter meal ~ agh! He's very well-socialized with people (and dogs) much more so than goats, and walks on a lead too. He may have lived tied out in someone's yard or in close quarters with people ~ only he knows for sure!

After he's neutered, we will introduce him to Billie and Violet. He's pretty handsome, so hopefully it will be love at first sight! And then, there's the hard part ~ any ideas for a name?

Quincy

I awoke to a big surprise this morning. Quincy, who is one of our 4-legged sanctuary staff members, suffers from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks itself. He has been maintained very well on medication for the last year.

His disease is now flaring again, causing the inability to move his neck, or open his mouth more than the width of my finger. At least there's one bright side for Quincy ~ he gets canned food, and gets to be my velcro dog, with me at all times until he's feeling better. The down side ~ large doses of Prednisone and Chinese herbs, and more blood work.

Poor guy, what a way to welcome spring!

It's Never Easy To Say Goodbye...

But we had to once again today. Our wonderful Aussie, Buddy, lost his 3 year long battle with Degenerative Myelopathy. He was not only the caretaker of all incoming sanctuary residents, but also had a long career as a search and rescue dog, and introduced me to his dad! His charming personality and smile touched everyone he met. His stubborn streak, while helpful in search and rescue, would often drive us nuts when he was at home. He was a gentle, kind, wonderful boy and we will all miss him....

Phoenix

Sometimes the best intentions can still lead to trouble. Phoenix and her red raw skin have improved tremendously while eating her hypoallergenic rabbit and rice diet. But, having been on it for 2 months now, we were hoping to see her scratching stop. It's decreased, but still a large part of her daily routine, so we made the decision to change her diet to a different protein/carbohydrate source to see if that woud indeed solve the problem. A teaspoon of the new diet, duck/green pea, caused this poor sensitive girl 2 days of vomiting and diarrhea, and even more scratching! Agh!

The other kitties are not feeling too badly for her, after all, now they get to eat a new flavor of canned cat food! Phoenix is staying on rabbit/rice, with no more diet changes, however slight. Scratching aside, she's looking quite gorgeous these days ~ she'll be ready for her summer bikini in no time!

Just Another Day

One thing is for sure ~ most days are never dull around here! Scooter has added more to his daily diet regime. He had a rectal prolapse this afternoon, a big problem for a little guy! With some time and patience, we were able to correct the situation and he was on about his day! He'll have to stay on canned pumpkin, lactulose, and add laxatone too to keep everything moving through like it's supposed to.

Melody didn't want Scooter to be the only one needing extra attention. As she won't say what happened, I'm left to speculate. Somehow, probably in one of her many wrestling matches, she received quite an abrasion on one of her remaining mammary glands (ouch!). It's a raw, open sore that makes me cringe ~ but she was very accepting of the need to clip and clean around it, then apply antibiotic ointment. She will be sporting a t-shirt for a couple of days so she leaves it alone.

It's truly never boring!

Sun Bath, Quick!

Rocky decided to duck out between clouds today and take a quick sun bath. He, as do many of us southern Californians, worship the sun, and can't stand when it's gone for a couple of hours, let alone during an actual rainstorm! We'll all be very content when the rain has passed and we can once again enjoy bright sunny days!

It's (Not) Lonely At The Top!

This is the scene I found when I went out to feed the Cabana Kitties this morning. I ran back to get the camera, so on my return trip, Leonard thought he needed to get down to visit. He and Hot Rod were sleeping together in what is considered the best spot in the house. It has a view of everything ~ the doors, the food bowls. Who could ask for anything better (except a larger bed)?

Rainy Day Schedule

We've had a pretty dry winter so far this year, and all of the animals have been quite pleased! When actual rain clouds settled in over us, we knew "rainy day schedule" must be instituted, so kitties and dogs alike spend the day indoors ~ not nearly as fun as outside can be!

There is a series of storms that are finally reaching San Diego county, making the feeding and cleaning chores more difficult for me, and adding to the boredom of several restless animals. I wonder if any of them would be interested in watching Scooby Doo movies to pass the time....

Jim Leaves Us...

The "Head Kitty in Charge of All Things Feline" passed away last night. Though he had lost quite a bit of weight during his battle with intestinal lymphoma, he continued to eat pretty well and still spent his days watching "his boys" (Rocky and HotRod) play in the yard. On Saturday, he was even outside taking a dirt bath.

Sunday found him spending his entire day inside at the top of the cat tree, still purring but only licking at the Fancy Feast juice. That night, I gave him the usual medications and some subcutaneous fluids, as I had been doing daily to keep him hydrated. In my heart I knew that he was nearing the final hours of his time here with us, so he and I used HTA (Healing Touch For Animals) and flower essences from Shining Spirits to keep him comfortable. He passed away surrounded by our love and in his favorite place, with his friends. I wouldn't have it any other way for him....

Super-Duper Scooter Neuter!

Today was the big surgery day for Scooter ~ known around here as the "Super-Duper Scooter Neuter" Day (try saying that 3 times fast!) Scooter is finally 6lbs and as healthy as he can be. He only had one testicle drop like it was supposed to, and the other one is up in his abdomen. We waited a long time to see if the second one would also drop, so he could have a normal surgery, but it wasn't to be. In the perfect world, he would have an abdominal exploratory to locate the second one, but concerns about his anesthesia tolerance dictate that's not to be. We have to wait and see for sure if the remaining one is producing hormones, but for now, we're willing to take that chance when the alternative could have serious consequences.

Tonight, Scooter's running laps through the house like nothing ever happened, though he is careful not to jump up on anything. I'm sure that with some extra treats, he will heal in no time!

Eye Surgery For Luna

Luna had minor surgery today to remove a tumor on her eyelid. She had one in the past which was removed from the same location ~ her left upper eyelid. They're benign growths, but annoying, because once there's one, more seem to follow. This particular growth really bothered her ~ she's rubbed the hair out around that eye entirely. The change in her body condition over the last few months allowed the eyelid to roll in, so it and the growth rubbed on her eye itself. She had immediate relief as it was removed under a local anesthetic.

I'm happy to report that she's doing great in spite of having to wear an Elizabethan collar for a couple of days so she leaves it alone. I'm not sure that she absolutely hates the collar, as it makes it easier for her to carry several toys at once ~ she uses it as a big scoop!

Morning Conference

I couldn't resist the opportunity to share a rare moment when both Aussie staff members are quietly hanging out together. Maverick (in the foreground) and Buddy help keep things running here ~ they're in charge of the dogs (Fidelity's in charge of cats). They make sure daily exercise, including wrestling matches are carried out, and team up to make sure meals are fed in a timely manner. Buddy has been training Maverick to uphold his high standards, as he's slowed down considerably these days. Maverick has so much energy, I hope Buddy encourages him to switch to decaf so I can keep up with him!

Thinking "Outside the Box"...

Can be a daily occurance when dealing with special needs animals. Creativity is always helpful when deciding many things. There's everything from the "how best to move an 80lb. dog with back trouble" situation, to the "I think the cat ate the bedsheet" situation.

Today brought the need for creative thinking for Marci. She seemed to be having more difficulty breathing than ususal. We're always watching her, looking for distress that signals an emergency, but today's episode wasn't critical, just different. Our daily routine includes twice daily litter box cleaning, and I noticed in the afternoon the box was empty. As I started thinking about her and her condition, many of her organs (including her colon) are sitting in her chest. If her colon's a little full, there's that much less room for her lungs to expand.

So what's our remedy for breathing difficulty for Marci? Adding more canned pumpkin (for fiber) and a drug called Lactulose to her diet. It draws moisture into the stool so it's softer and easier to pass. I'm happy to report that a few doses of Lactulose remedied the situation, and Marci is back to her old self. She will remain on it life-long, along with Scooter, so everything continues to work well.

The Verdict Is In

Luna's lab work is all finally back. The titer that checks for Myasthenia Gravis was negative (we decided it's good to double-check). Her CBC showed that she's anemic and her chemistry panel shows she's hypothyroid.

Hypothyroidism in dogs can cause many symptoms ranging from weight gain and sluggishness to poor hair coat to, in some cases, anemia.

After consulting with both our regular vet Dr. Booman and our internist Dr. Slusser, Luna will be starting on Soloxine, a thyroid medication, then we'll recheck her blood values in a couple of weeks to see if they've improved. Lucky girl, pills mean extra treats!

Hot Dog(s)...

What do you do when is February and 85 degrees outside? Nap of course. I couldn't resist a chance to photograph some of our Goldies in "action." Quincy is on his back in the background, with Melody right beside him. Fidelity, the sanctuary matriarch (and almost 16) is lying on the Canine Cooler beds. They'll be well-rested for dinnertime!

Luna's Vet Day

Luna got to pay a visit to our internist Dr. Slusser in San Diego today. She's lost energy and body condition recently, and has had two episodes of regurgitating food after going to sleep at night.

We did a chest x-ray to make sure nothing had changed with her heart as she has a slight murmur. The x-ray was also used to check for a megesophagus (an enlarged esophagus) which is a tell-tale sign of myasthenia gravis, a condition that causes overall muscular weakness.

The x-ray looked great! No change in the size or shape of her heart, and no megesophagus. So now we've ruled out a couple of potential causes, leaving many more to check for. Next up ~ lab work!

Birthdays!

It's birthday time at the sanctuary! The day an animal comes to live here becomes his or her birthday, and we celebrate with tuna for the kitties and chicken for the dogs (diets permitting!) We sing "Happy Birthday" and all critters get a treat!

This week, we celebrate two birthdays. Quincy (the Golden) is one of our canine "staff." He helps greet all new dogs and cats and makes sure they know where the tennis balls and nylabones are located. Quincy turned 5, and we're happy to have him with us, as he suffers from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which affects dogs in very much the same way it does people. He takes Chinese herbs in addition to vitamin supplements, Prednisone, and Imuran to keep his disease in check. Happy Birthday Quincy!

The two-legged staff member who also earns a verse of "Happy Birthday" is my husband and chief handyman, Steve. He is in charge of many things, from construction projects to handing out treats. Happy Birthday Honey!

Vet Visit Day

Today was recheck day for Jim and Phoenix with Dr. Laflin at Cardiff Animal Hospital. Jim is losing weight slowly, but is otherwise doing as well as a kitty with lymphoma can be. She was impressed that he's eating well and still very active. He has added a second homeopathic remedy and a gemmotherapy liquid to his daily regime.

Phoenix impressed everyone as she is not only growing her hair back, but is much calmer and seems happier being "just a cat." She has started a new homeopathic remedy called "CalCarb" to continue her healing process. She will also be starting some digestive enzymes to assist in food absorption.

As we had afternoon appointments, the kitties were just happy to know that a trip to the vet didn't cause a delay in dinnertime!

Jim's Cabana for Seniors

It's about time to show you pictures of "Jim's Kitty Cabana for Seniors". It's a 10' by 12' insulated building, with solar powered lights and fans, a small porch and over 1000 square feet of fenced yard with a roof to protect from predators (and prevent escapes).There are also dogloos (or catgloos!) outside for those kitties who enjoy outside life more than sleeping inside. Inside, there are kitty condos and hiding spots, as well as music playing on their own radio! Most of our kitties reside here, while those who need more personal care live in the house, spending time in smaller fenced play yards. It's not a bad way to spend their "golden years!"

Good News & Not So Good News

Good news for Phoenix ~ no more sheet! Everything looks good for her, and she's promised to eat only cat food from now on!
The not so good news ~ Jim's lymphoma has progressed and he now has a mass in his intestine. It explains why he's dropping weight and having good and bad days. His disease is considered drug resistant, but we'll keep working with Eastern medicine to make his remaining time with us as comfortable as possible. He's still enjoying playing in his yard and spends his days patrolling its perimeter and taking dirt baths; we're blessed to have him in our lives and will enjoy all of our remaining time together. Jim is in the picture above enjoying the cabana yard!

Phoenix Gets an X-ray

If there were any lingering doubts about whether a cat would eat cloth, we've got the answer. Yes. Phoenix did in fact eat a large piece of jersey knit sheet, and it's making its way through her intestine now. We've all got our fingers crossed that it passes on its own. It's now too far along to be removed by endoscopy, so Phoenix would have to go to surgery. Since she's feeling good still (I don't know how, because boy do I have a stomach ache) we've opted to wait a couple of days and recheck her. I hope she sticks to my dietary recommendations from now on!

A New Hypoallergenic Diet

Phoenix felt that there should be more to eat than her rabbit & rice diet. She decided to supplement her diet by eating a bed sheet covering one of the cat beds, leaving a hole in it the size of her head ~ don't try this at home! She's not sick yet, but we're expecting a tummy ache soon. She'll be heading to the vet tomorrow for an x-ray to make sure it's moving through. At least, as you can see, her skin is looking better!

Pepper Poses for a Picture

Here, finally posing for the camera, is Pepper and she would like you to notice that her food dish is empty!
She's really enjoying her new accomodations, and is especially fond of sitting in a chair on the front porch of the kitty cabana. Now if that food dish would just stay full!