Thank You, Fill-In Statements, and Thimble and Astrid

Thank you for the kind comments and condolences after the loss of my sweet pup Astrid. I appreciate it and you all so much.

I'm just popping in today to share the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. I will be sharing a Friendly Fill-Ins post tomorrow, but after that I will likely be taking a blogging break until next Wednesday, when I share pup Astrid's full memorial post.

Below are the fill-in statements for tomorrow. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. Eating _________ makes me _________.

2. I don't mind paying extra for _________.

3. _________ was the best part of my summer.

4. I can't wait to _________ this autumn.

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Around here, Thursdays are usually posts starring my tabby girl Thimble. So, also in honor of my sweet angel Astrid, for today I'm sharing a couple old photos of Thimble holding paws with Astrid. I've always loved these photos.

Rest in Heavenly Peace, My Sweet Astrid

Yesterday we said goodbye to our sweet, ornery, perfect pup Astrid. I love and miss her so much I can't even put it into words.

I'll be posting a full memorial post for my sweet old gal next week, probably on Wednesday, as that has almost always been pup Astrid's day of the week for posts here on our blog. I will be continuing that.

I do want to give an explanation of what happened, as I know you all love Astrid as well and I want you to know how the dreadful decision was made yesterday.

Since last December, Astrid has had a right-sided head tilt as well as occasional unsteadiness on her feet. Her vet saw her multiple times since then, and since her symptoms stayed steady and didn't progress for roughly 8 months, we assumed she had idiopathic old dog vestibular disease, which isn't caused by anything malignant. She indeed might have had just that in the beginning, but we'll never know.

Two weeks after getting a good grade at her exam in July, with excellent lab work results as well, Astrid had a pretty significant vestibular episode. The worst of the symptoms actually did improve throughout August, but Astrid never returned to her normal self completely. When I look back now, I can recognize some of the early, small signs of what ultimately took her from us. She also developed a lot of anxiety and restlessness over the past few weeks, and increasing and adding various meds did little to nothing to help.

On Monday night, Astrid took a turn for the worse. She was incredibly anxious and restless, and she began displaying very distinctive head pressing on her right side. If you've ever seen head pressing in a dog, it's very concerning and distressing, and it's a very bad sign. She also started acting as if she couldn't properly use either of her right legs, and she very suddenly started acting blind in her right eye. I'm sure I don't have to tell you all how bad those signs are. We finally got her to sleep that night by upping her gabapentin, and she seemed to actually rest well enough once the dose of that kicked in.

Astrid's usual vet is out on Tuesdays, which made me incredibly anxious, as I genuinely value his input. But, we saw my second favorite vet yesterday. We had to carry Astrid in on a stretcher, as she couldn't walk on her own, and that was an awful experience in and of itself. The vet did an exam and said that her main guess for Astrid's quick decline was, unsurprisingly, a brain tumor. She agreed that Astrid was head pressing to the right and that her right eye was not reacting to stimuli properly. And she also had recently developed excessive muscle atrophy on the right side of her head, another bad sign. She was also clearly distressed, and she'd been anxiously panting for hours. 

We made the heartbreaking decision to end Astrid's suffering. She was clearly in extreme distress. She'd always been a very independent dog her whole life, and being unable to walk or go to the bathroom on her own did not offer her the dignity she deserved. My sister and I were with Astrid the entire time, telling her how much she always has been and always will be loved, and how amazing she made the past 12 years for us.

I'd be lying if I said I haven't been going through all the guilt and thoughts of "I wish I'd had more tests done on her" and "I wish I'd known sooner" and "I wish I'd tried this or that". I know that's normal, and it happens every time, but I can't help but worry that I didn't do enough for Astrid. That said, I know that I didn't want her to suffer, and I didn't want to prolong her distress for my sake. I love her far too much to do that.

I love you always and forever, Astrid. Always. I will never forget you. Enjoy all of that running and jumping in heaven without pain. Until we meet again, my sweet girl.

A Heartbreaking Update on Astrid

Hello, friends.

Pup Astrid has taken a turn for the worse. She's been struggling with vestibular disease on and off for many months, but she's now displaying other seemingly neurological symptoms that are very concerning. There are various other issues going on as well, and I have no idea what is related to what, but she's not doing well. She has an urgent care appointment today at 4 pm, and the reality is that I don't know if the outcome of that appointment will be a good one.

I'll let you all know if we have to say goodbye to our good old girl Astrid. My heart is breaking.

Mancat Monday with Evan's One True Love

Today, Evan would like you all to meet his one true love. Her name is Food Bowl.

Isn't she stunning?

Evan admitted that his beloved was looking a little scant in those photos, but don't worry, because I fixed that right away.

Happy Monday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

We still have flowers blooming while enjoying some gorgeous autumnal weather. Not to mention Halloween is just around the corner. Or something like that. All that to say, I'm in the mood for a doodle like this today, so here you go.

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is all about those windows. After all, as the temperatures cool down this autumn, we might find ourselves craving some fresh air. Before opening any windows, though, be sure to inspect screens and take any and all precautions to ensure that no furbabies escape from any open windows. If you have an escape artist, perhaps block their direct access to windows, such as by putting something in front of the window that will prevent them from getting right next to the screen. Also never leave furbabies unattended with an open window, but instead monitor them closely when windows are open. Perhaps this all sounds like extreme measures, but a lost furbaby is a devastating thing, and it is always better to be safe than sorry.

That's not all we have on those windows, though. Also keep in mind the health of your furbabies as well as yourself when windows are open. Does your furbaby or yourself have asthma? What about allergies? If your kitty or pup has any such respiratory issues, open windows might not be an ideal thing. Allergens, dust, dirt, and all sorts of debris can enter through the window screen with the aid of the wind. This debris can lead to asthma attacks, itching, scratching, and other potential side effects in furbabies who do have asthma, allergies, or other similar medical issues. So, though open windows can be very enticing when the weather is cool and crisp, never forget to take into consideration all potential side effects.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Eerie Toys

Hello, friends! I'm sorry for yet another late post. My laptop is yet again at the repair shop. A different repair shop this time, though, because after four failed attempts at fixing the physical issues my laptop has been having since March, I gave up on the original repair shop. Though my laptop works great and functions faster than any computer I've ever had before, it's quite literally coming apart at the seams. It's actually even worse since I brought it home from the first repair shop just 3 weeks ago. So, I took it to a new repair shop, which I only learned about after they recently fixed my sister's phone. Within seconds, this new place had diagnosed my laptop's issue, explained it to me, and ordered the new parts required to fix it. I won't have my laptop back until the middle of next week, but I'm hoping at least this time it'll be fixed for real.

All that to say, we're now ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us! My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. I define success by _________.

2. _________ was an awkward moment.

3. I learned to _________ when I was _________ years old.

4. I can only _________ so much _________ before I _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. I define success by happiness.

(Things like money mean nothing if a person is unhappy. So, I would say a person is successful if they've achieved happiness in life. If they get up every day and enjoy their life, what they do, where they are, and that sort of thing, then I see that as a successful person.)

2. Going to work with cat pee on my pants was an awkward moment.
(I once dropped Evan off at the vet on my way to work, but he peed on me as I handed him over to the vet tech. I needed to get to work, so I went as I was. Don't worry, though, my mom brought me a clean pair of pants to change into. I did have to explain the situation to at least one coworker who noticed before my mom arrived with the fresh pants, but I work in a small, chill sort of place, so it certainly could have been worse. It did still feel awkward, though.)

3. I learned to sew when I was about 7 years old.
(I was roughly 7 or 8, but somewhere in there, my mom taught me to sew. For a number of years, she showed me how to sew on buttons, make pillows, and all that jazz. Unfortunately, I didn't keep up with it and my sewing skills have all but left me. I could sew on a button or make a small repair if needed, but the reality is that since I failed to keep my skill honed, when I need clothing and such repaired, my seamstress of a mom fixes it for me. Bless her.)

4. I can only watch so much true crime TV before I start feeling anxious.
(I'm indeed one of the folks who watches true crime documentaries. It's probably a morbid curiosity sort of thing, as well as the intrigue of the forensics of it. That said, I tend to go on true crime TV binges, but then I'll suddenly hit a wall. I'll start feeling anxious watching them, after seeing so much murder and mayhem, and so then I won't watch any for weeks or months. I'm currently on one of my true crime hiatuses after watching a number of them in a row last month. The last one I watched was about a child abduction that was never solved, and it was heartbreaking, so I had to take a break.)

Now it's your turn!

To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!

You can also click on the badge below to add your link.

You are also welcome to complete the fill-ins in the comments below,

or in the comments on Ellen's blog, 15andmeowing.

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Eddy noticed that our Halloween decorations went up in the house. So, she decided to join in and pull out some of her spooky toys.

Don't mind the yellow crayon. She apparently deemed that creepy enough to join the tombstone.

Happy Friday to all!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

As I mentioned yesterday, we are having what feels like autumnal weather. I love it. Astrid loves it. The kitties love that it means lap time. I love that as well. It's just all around wonderful. It has me even more in the mood for true autumn and Halloween, so here you go.

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is about none other than snakes. Depending on your location and the types of snakes, it might be baby snake season, or it might be the time when snakes are prepping for hibernation. In such cases, more snakes might very well be out and about and therefore pose a risk to furbabies and humans alike. Of course, not all snakes are dangerous. However, some snakes could indeed pose a risk or could be venomous. The types of snakes that are around of course depend on the area in which you live. So, it might be wise to a bit of research on the types of snakes in your area, and to also research which ones are dangerous to animals and humans. All in all, though, if in doubt, monitor your furbaby when they are outside to ensure that they don't run into any snaky danger. If you do see a snake, remove your kitty or pup from the area, especially if you know the snake is dangerous, but also if you are unsure of the risks it might pose. If your cat or dog is bit by a snake, do not hesitate to seek veterinary care to help ensure that no toxic reaction or infection results.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Sunbathing Blurs

It's Thursday, so you better believe Thimble is here and ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, as is often the case, Thimble is grateful for her favorite sunny window seat. She especially loves when that belly of hers can bask in the sun. It makes her so very excited, which is why today's photos are more or less bloopers.

This next one is even more of a blurry blooper, but I thought Thimble looked so very cute in it nonetheless, so here you go.

Thimble hopes you're all enjoying some sunshine just like she is!

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And now, of course, we have the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I define success by _________.

2. _________ was an awkward moment.

3. I learned to _________ when I was _________ years old.

4. I can only _________ so much _________ before I _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

The weather here is gorgeous. It's like autumn, and I love it. I've also decorated my house for Halloween, and I'm planning out this year's Halloween drawings. All that said, I'm in an autumnal and Halloween mood, and so how about this flashback doodle for today?

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is about those mushrooms we often seeing growing all over the place this time of year. The honest truth is that the majority of mushrooms that we see growing outside don't pose a huge risk to our furbabies. However, a small population of them are a real danger. What's more, it's often difficult to distinguish between the different types of mushrooms, especially if you don't know all that much about these fungi. Therefore, especially if you aren't familiar with types of mushrooms and the level of risk they pose to your furbaby, do be sure to monitor your furbaby when they are in your yard, on a walk, or anywhere mushrooms are growing. Prevent your kitties and pups from gnawing on and ingesting any mushrooms, so as to ensure they are safe from any hazards certain mushrooms might pose.

Woof Woof Wednesday: Cool Weather and Calming Drugs

Hello, friends! While pup Astrid isn't having nearly as many vestibular issues as she was a couple weeks ago, we're still trying to find a new normal for her. This last vestibular flare landed her with a lot of anxiety and restlessness. She's especially restless at night, and no longer wishes to sleep through the night without whining or pacing. Medications that cause sedation either make Astrid agitated or make her act like her legs are wet noodles, so they've been ruled out as options. She is on gabapentin for her arthritis, but the doses that could help calm her more also cause the aforementioned agitation and wet noodles for legs. And so, after another discussion with Astrid's vet, we're starting her on fluoxetine (Prozac).

All that said, Astrid is at least so very happy with the weather we've been having. She loves cool weather, and I don't blame her one bit for that. Tomorrow through this weekend, we're expected to have gorgeous weather. It's going to feel like autumn, and I can't wait to give Astrid lots of time outside.

Astrid hopes you're all enjoying cool days like she is!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I'm planning out and working on some of this year's new Halloween doodles. In the meantime, here's a kooky something or other I scribbled up last year.

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Tip of the Day

As part of our autumn series of pet safety tips, we recently mentioned keeping school supplies out of your furbaby's reach. In addition to this, there are further potential dangers that might pose a risk especially as the weather cools. One such hazard is, as you all certainly know, antifreeze. Without going into the chemistry of it, coolants such as antifreeze contain components that are highly toxic to cats and dogs. At the same time, it also can smell or taste sweet and enticing to our furbabies, making it all the more dangerous. For such reasons, try to avoid all emergencies by simply keeping antifreeze, and other similar products, hidden away where your cats and dogs cannot reach.

We'll also mention one more toxic group of products that is often more commonly used once the weather cools. We're referring to rodenticides. When the temperatures outside start to lower, critters like mice might very well try to find ways to enter our homes in order to find warmth. This might result in some people using rodenticides. However, these products can be highly toxic to our furbabies. Not only is it dangerous if a cat or dog finds and ingests the chemical itself, but they can also become sick if they ingest a rodent that has eaten the rodenticide. All of that being said, it is likely best to avoid using rodenticides altogether, to ensure that your furbaby is not affected by them at all. Of course, keep in mind that snapping mice traps can also pose a risk, especially if they contain  enticing cheese or peanut butter and are somewhere that your furbaby can potentially access. One safer option is to look into using humane mouse traps, such as catch-and-release types. Of course, it is still wise to place these somewhere hidden away to avoid complications with your furbaby.

As lovely as autumn is, it can still pose risks to our kitties and pups. As the seasons change, think of any and all new products that you might be using. Then, consider how such products might affect your furbaby and their health, and then only use and store them in manners that keep your furbaby safe.