Make Sure Your Pet is on Monthly Parasite Prevention

Springtime means nicer weather. It's great for spending time outside with our dogs! And the cats can go out and bask in the sun or hunt. (Side note: I don't advocate having outdoor kitties but I am a realist - there will always be people that have them or cats that simply won't BE indoor cats. So lets take EXTRA care of them - they are exposed to SO much more than pampered indoor cats!) It also means, internal and external parasites. There are a few excellent products out that that protect your pet and YES, your family too!

First of all, the external bugs - fleas, ticks and mosquitoes.  
Fleas can carry diseases (like the bacteria that causes cat scratch fever) and in large numbers, can cause anemia in a dog or cat (esp puppies/kittens!). Ticks carry all sorts of nasty diseases. Where I practice, Lyme is the number one thing we see being transmitted by our tick population. Every day I diagnose at least one dog with it- many are not clinical but have been exposed. Dogs and cats can act as transport vehicles for these bugs and thus expose your family to those same diseases. 

A variety of different ticks

Mosquitoes carry heartworms. I have seen it in this area (as previoulsy discussed) but also remember that many pets are brought up from the south (a hot bed of heartworm disease).  each year to rescue groups. 


I don't work for any drug company, but I will say there is a great product out there that repels all three of those things on your pet. This is available only through your veterinarian. There are a few other ones that work pretty good - except in cases of severe flea or tick infestations.


The bottom line is it easy and SAFE to prevent with a monthly topical preventative.


The internal parasites - including heart worms and intestinal parasites - are also easily prevented with monthly dewormers. These products are very safe and effective.  Some intestinal parasites are zoonotic (they can be transmitted to humans). These tend to be more of a problem in children since they put things in their mouth without washing their hands. Some of these parasites can cause severe problems in humans.  


There is simply no reason why your pet shouldn't be protected!
Remember prevention is usually cheaper and healthier than treatment!


Here is an article that discusses this a little more:
Pets and Parasites

Just an Observation

I notice everywhere I go,many times pets  come up in conversation. People can be talking about ANYTHING and invariably before long they are trading stories about their dogs or describing the antics of their cats.  This just happened to me in church this AM as I approached two ladies. 


I suppose I shouldn't be surprised considering how many households have pets. Certainly, I am not sorry they do - it's good that people value their pets and enjoy their company and the stories they provide us with! 


I will admit to cringing though because quite often I hear things that are either not good medically or behaviorally, or find that people are seeking medical advice from sources other than their veterinarians (THE trained pet professionals!) or even that I may be called upon to diagnose a pet unseen. Trust me, I won't. Go to YOUR vet! If you aren't comfortable with them, find someone you can develop that relationship with!


It's a good reminder that you NEVER know who is around listening. I try to keep that in mind too - when discussing ANYTHING!

Breed of the Week: Newfoundland

I like this picture since it gives you an idea of size!

These dogs are truly gentle giants. They are very sweet dogs!  Due to their large size, however, they are not for everyone. Since they reach between 100-150 lbs, careful consideration must be made before purchasing one. Don't let your heart lead the way when you see this:

They look like little teddy bears! 


The main things to consider with them:


1. Size = $. Anything that you will need will cost you more - food, medications and surgical procedures (more anesthesia!!).


2. They do require quite a bit of coat maintenance - regular brushing, etc - otherwise they will get heavily matted leading to  skin issues


3. They can be prone to ear and skin problems 


4. Another BIG one is bloat or GDV (gastric dilatation and volvulus) - a life threatening condition where the stomach dilates with air/food/fluid and twists on itself leading to shock and death in a short time. Some owners will have the stomach pre-emptively tacked - esp at the time of a spay or neuter. 


5.  Hip dysplasia - as with any large breed dog this is genetic and CAN be screened for, highlighting the importance of selecting a reputable breeder!


6.  Heart issues - congenitally they can have a defect calling subaortic stenosis that can cause sudden death even in young dogs (why your vet wants to check that puppy, as it grows, at each booster visit!). 


7. Another congential problem in this breed can be a defect that can cause them to form cystine stones in the urinary bladder.


8. Lifespan: 9-10yrs 

They come in a variety of coat colors - though most people  have only seen the black ones

Time is Valuable

First let me say that I did not forget to blog yesterday but Blogger was down for maintenance all night. 


After working in several veterinary practices over the years AND having been a patient at more than a few "real" doc practices myself, I've come to some conclusions about appointment times. This comes from real world experiences I've had.


The main thing is that you train your clients to behave how YOU want. You either reward bad behavior or you have rules in place that you stand by and therefore, reward good behavior.


I feel silly for even saying this stuff because I do NOT behave in this manner with my own doctors, but apparently it needs saying:


If you are fit in to an already full schedule and YOU are late, do not DARE complain and say you want things rushed along. OR that you have other appointments. Be grateful that the doctor is even staying for you (ie, it's the end of the day) or that you are not simply rescheduled for being late. I do not rush MY exam and treatment of YOUR animal. 


Don't wait until late Friday afternoon to call about your dog that's been vomiting for days! Really. First of all, it's not really good for the dog and now, while we may do some diagnostics in the office, you MAY have to take her to an overnight care facility (read that spend more $). 


On that note, some practices pretty much let the client determine when they want to come in which NEVER works. Sure, it's fine to accommodate to an extent but we need to be aware of what is already scheduled or those that have scheduled already may be stuck waiting (not really fair to them unless there is a TRUE emergency!). 


If you are running late pick up your cell phone and call please.  These days there is little to no excuse for not even making a phone call. Simply not showing up at all - esp if you are a "new" client - is absolutely a perfectly acceptable reason to be fired as a client before you even become one. If you can't even have the decency to show up to a first appointment - sick pet or not - don't bother.


Let me tell you: I've been told by some of MY own doctors - if you are 5+ minutes late - we WILL cancel you and you will have to make another appointment. In some cases you can be charged or NEVER given a Saturday appointment again. Good for them. I don't give THEIR staff crap over it either. They have busy, full schedules. It's life. Giving them grief over it will certainly not help ME out. So being nasty to the staff at a vet practice will certainly not buy you any good will.  And why should the clients that did show up on time and with the correct number of pets (gotta love those that brought along "Fluffy" because they just wanted you take a quick peek at her) be penalized!

The Heart of the Matter

Cats get the short end of the pet care straw.  Now, of course, there are some wonderful cat owners out there. These people truly understand the immensely wonderful relationship you can have with a cat. They know that cats do seek and love affection as much as dogs, often in different ways, but sometimes JUST like dogs!

What's wearing on me is how often I see cats that haven't been to a vet in years. These people sometimes have dogs too. And quite often, they bring the dog in regularly but not poor kitty.


While Americans own more cats than dogs, far less is spent on cats in terms of healthcare.


There are several reasons for this:
1. they don't realize that the cat is sick - cats do hide illness quite well
2. the attitude of "it's just a cat" and my dog is my best friend
3. they think because kitty doesn't go out, she's fine


What has brought this to my blog is that in the past few days, I have seen 2 cats that hadn't been to a vet in years and now had a significant heart murmur. One cat was young and was just in for a check-up. The cat was a little less active overall. THAT can be hard to tell since cats sleep the majority of the day! This cat MAY have cardiomyopathy and needs a cardiac ultrasound. If he does, he may benefit from some medications. The owner may be surprised to see his activity level change if that's the case.


The other cat had a problem that will require anesthesia and a surgical procedure AND now also has a heart murmur. Who knows when either of these cats developed this. AND as with other health issues - the longer things go on, the worse it generally is - harder to correct/fix or so much damage has been done we are limited in our ability to prolong or delay progression of a disease.  


Inside only cats need yearly check ups too. We see dental disease, skin issues, heart problems, abdominal masses, and the list goes on - especially as they get to be >8yrs old. Weight loss is a BIG indicator of many things in the cat but how can we know if the cat is now 9 yrs old and hasn't been to a vet since 2 yrs of age???  

Happy Birthday

Since it's my birthday and apparently I AM getting old (ie beyond sleepy at 9:30pm after a pretty normal day), I am giving myself the OK to NOT blog about anything today! 


I will say this (and it relates to dog birthdays): 1 yr does NOT equal 7 years. It is truly dependent on many factors, the most important being size.


An 8 yr old Great Dane is at the END of his life span (for the majority of his breed). An 8 yr old chihuahua has another 8 years to go!   There are other factors too - genetics, care, diet, etc.  It's like people: you all know some that are 45 and look 28 and others that are 45 and look 65. Same thing with dogs.

Fat Dog Spays

(sarcasm) Today reminded me how much I miss doing mature, fat dog spays. (sarcasm)


Conventional teaching tells us to spay a dog before her first heat cycle to significantly reduce the risk of mammary cancers (and it does!). There are some vets that recommend letting the dog go through one heat to help other things mature appropriately - bone/muscle structure being a top one - esp in large breed dogs or working/field dogs. 


If you follow the latter protocol, this means the dog WILL be larger and sometimes overweight. If the owner brings the dog in soon after that first heat and she's at a good body weight, your vet will be happier.  However, here are some reasons that doesn't happen:
- they "forget" 
- don't see the importance
- never get around to it 
- wanted to breed her but never found a male
- thought she was too old to spay (never too old to spay..a pyometra - serious uterine infection- can hit at any age.) It usually is an older dog with potentially OTHER health issues. Now you will HAVE to do a very expensive complicated spay!


Overweight dogs just make the procedure longer  (longer anesthesia) AND potentially more problematic (which yes, is MY problem) but can be totally avoided. AND you are preventing a host of other health issues (diabetes, joint issues, etc) later on in life. 


Today also reminded me how grateful I am that I am an experienced surgeon and was able to deal with the more difficult aspects of the procedures and remain calm. 


Just remember to keep your dog from getting overweight. While you may know some of the health benefits, you may not have considered the effect it can have on a surgical procedure.  


Oh and spaying does NOT make a dog fat (after all, I wouldn't be writing this if all UNSPAYED dogs were a good body weight!) - feeding MORE calories than she burns does. Her metabolism WILL decrease with AGE and spaying so please decrease her calories after surgery (before if she's already a chunk muffin!). If you are not sure, ask your vet (don't go by the chart on the food bag - ANY food bag!).  

Moms of All Species

In honor of Mother's Day, I thought it'd be fun to share with you how long some of the moms in the animal kingdom carry their young until they give birth (the gestation period).


Let's start with our household pets:
Cats :   58-65 days
Dogs: 62-64 days

So for them, we generally just say 2 months.


Horses range from 330-342 days (nearly 1 year!). The range is due to the difference between  heavy and light breeds with the heavy ones carrying shorter times.  Llamas are also pregnant this long - 330 days. 


Pigs: 112-115 days (approx 4 mos).
Sheep: 144-151 (this is breed dependent) - meat breeds have a slightly shorter time than wool breeds.

Rabbits (those little reproductive machines!) : 30-35 days.


Here are some figures for wildlife:


Camels: 419 days (over 1 year wow!!)
Deer: 197-220  (6-7 months)
Giraffe: 420-450 days 

African Rhinoceros: 530-550 days (ouch! no wonder they are grouchy?)
Panthers: 90-93 days (so just one month longer than a domestic kitty!)

Kangaroo: 38 days (but remember the joeys spend a lot of time after in the pouch as they grow!)
Reindeer: 210-240 days
Porcupine: 112 days
Hippos: 225-250

Happy Mother's Day!!

Altered DNA?

Here's a question/remark I've heard over the years on occasion.


The owner of a certain dog breed - let's say a German Shepherd just to get an example - chooses not to spay the dog and instead breed her. Because, while she hasn't done any preliminary screening for major known genetic diseases, we ARE after all, facing a dog shortage! Oh yeah and she's cute and sweet. 


Anyhow, the unspayed dog lives with an UNNEUTERED Pit Bull. Guess what happens? Oh they thought they kept them apart long enough but no..


So, now facing whelping (which they've never dealt with), they bring her in for an exam and some advice. In the process of discussing this with them, they express their desire to eventually get PUREBRED German Shepherd pups. 


The question is:  Will it ruin that now? Now that's mated with a dog that's NOT a German Shepherd? 


??????


Since when does mating/breeding/becoming pregnant BY a certain breed change the DNA of the mother?? It's like they think her uterus is someone laced with cells of NON BREED of CHOICE dog now. I don't get it. If you (in this case you are a white female) become pregnant by a Chinese guy one time, had his baby, then 3 yrs later met a Hispanic man and had a baby with him, would baby number 2 be Chinese?? AT all?? Um..you know the answer right???

It's Not a Worm

Hey, I had to do something in honor of Cinco De Mayo..or  Sinko de drinko :) 

I'm talking about "ringworm" which is actually a fungal disease that veterinarians refer to as dermatophytosis. 


This is one of those things that clients often ask about. 
They mistakenly think it is a parasite because of the name.  
There are a variety of organisms that cause this. Some live in the soil while others live on humans. A few species cause disease in our pets and those can be transmitted to people.


In pets, we often seen areas of hair loss and scaly patches of skin. Cats are a bit different (they always are trust me!) and have more varied appearances than JUST what the dog shows us. It is more common in kittens, whose immune systems are still developing. Immunity has been shown to be involved in who gets it and who doesn't. It is important that any cat with ringworm be tested for Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Viruses. Making things even more challenging is that sometimes cats can CARRY it without showing ANY lesions. 

This cat has some classic lesions of irregularly circular hair loss on the head

I have only acquired it from a cat once despite handling definite ringworm cases numerous times. It only caused a mild rash that went away with some topical treatment. 


In our pets, it is generally treated with topical sprays/baths and sometimes oral anti-fungals. In my experience, I do not recommend oral medications in kittens. They seem to have trouble metabolizing the drugs - not surprising considering cats have some disadvantages when it comes to their liver's ability to deal with some metabolic processes.  I feel a bit better about giving them to adult cats but still try to avoid them.


I found a few pictures that show how ringworm lesions in humans appear:  Ringworm slideshow Of course many of these lesions are NOT caused by the pet forms. I know I never had lesions like that, nor did any of the technicians I know who had gotten it from cats. For us, they were little tiny red raised itchy bumps.  Of course, if you suspect this, you need to see YOUR doctor, not me. If you see lesions on your cat then call me! 

Where Do I Start?

Today was a crazy day that spiraled downward as the day went on. It has left me exhausted to the point that, for the first time since starting this blog, I nearly forgot that I hadn't written anything for today. Thanks to Chris for reminding me!


I don't have anything pre-written or saved so I'm going with the day. All of you who want to see what ANOTHER day is like in the world of veterinary medicine, here we go.


After our weekly staff meeting (communication - a good thing I highly recommend to ALL vet practices - but rarely have seen), I had 4 appts within a 40 minute period. They were all animals with problems. As one of the vets (she's an owner) said, it's nearly impossible to recover from something like that - ie, I was facing being backed up ALL day from this. I can be efficient YET thorough and we DO Have a great staff but still, time is still a finite resource. 


Side note: It was nice of her to realize THAT is not realistic or acceptable scheduling!! She was not happy about it (this WILL be addressed) and there were definite ways to have made it work better. 


One of the appointments (and one is all it takes), was a new client with a very sick dog. The dog had never been to a vet and never had one drop of a vaccine in her life. She had parvo - a very preventable disease we have excellent vaccines for! AND to make it even more prolonged, there were VERY limited funds. This is upsetting on many levels - for the dog, for the client and for us. We couldn't move the dog to another room because we now had diagnosed it (via a quick in house test) with a HIGHLY contagious disease. We couldn't put any other dogs at risk. The dog has a VERY guarded prognosis even WITH IV fluids, antibiotics and supportive care. A staff member has taken over care of the dog. If the dog lives, we will find it a home. 


I quickly changed and disinfected myself before moving on with the day. A sweet young lady brought her 10 yr old pit bull mix  in for hind limb lameness and pain. I had just seen her a week or so ago for front limb lameness. We were all thinking Lyme disease but the test was negative. I still don't know for sure what is going on here..the only "good" thing is that osteosarcoma (bone cancer) doesn't jump from leg to leg. We'll see how she does on some medications (x-rays were taken last week and were normal).


There was an un-neutered cat with an abscessed foot that needed to be admitted for sedation, neutering, cleaning of his wounds, etc. There was the 15yr old cat that had previously had TWO brain surgeries and now has an eye problem (what an amazing owner this lucky kitty has!!). 


In the midst of all this, Chris appears (after I simply texted him that my day was sucking big time!) with a Venti Nonfat Hazelnut Mocha from Starbucks (my favorite!!). I swear he read my mind! It was pretty much the only lunch I had so it was a God-send on many levels! 


Let's see..oh there was the sweet pregnant (by her littermate) cat that was in for a pre-surgical exam -- this happens more often than you think. The funny part of this appointment was that the tech was holding the cat whose tail was up as her butt was facing me..and I got sprayed by kitty anal glands. The way the whole thing happened it "appeared" as if she pointed and aimed at me. I know she didn't and we had a good laugh about it. Luckily it was on scrub top #2 of the day AND I had a top to change into for a meeting I had after work. Another good reason I always carry perfume on me too!!


Then there was the diabetic dog that had an appointment JUST for blood work that turned into a visit that required a doctor and extensive nursing time.  There was another tech only appointment that needed a "quick" check of a skin issue. Later in the day, I saw ANOTHER dog - a sweet 5yr old Rottie mix - that hadn't been to the vet in years either. She DID have Lyme disease and was febrile and really not feeling well. Ideally she should have more blood work run especially if she doesn't eat in the next few days.  Another limited funds issue. 


Oh, I almost forgot this: In the middle of the chaos I took a call from what I thought was one rescue group but it turned out to be something else.  THAT ended up being another 10 minutes gone.


In any vet practice one of the most important things, especially with sick animals, is making people aware of the costs of any diagnostics and treatments. THIS alone can take time as some team members may not be as able to come up with an estimate as others. Then there's the back and forth if the client can't pay for x, y or z. They need to find friends or family who can or apply for CareCredit. 


And while we don't want to seem like all we care about is money, it's amazing the number of either 1) payment agreements there are or 2) the amount of product people have walked out of the hospital with AND have not paid for.
THAT is not ok. Staff still wants to get paid each week - and we can ALL understand that. The electric company will need to get paid to keep the lights on, the lab and suppliers expect to get paid. I dare anyone to go into a grocery store and buy $150 worth of food and tell the cashier, "I can put $50 down today but I'll pay the rest in 2 weeks when I get paid." You know what, there are definitely people that WOULD but many would NOT. In any case, the grocery store would laugh at you, let you take what you PAID for and re-shelve the rest! 


What makes this even more "fun" is that clients aren't always upfront with you about their financial limitations. AND of course, all of this takes time and causes even more backing up of appointments. 


Owning and running a veterinary practice is so much more than medicine and surgery. You can be really good at those things but it's all the other stuff that can really be a challenge. 

Happy Anniversary to ME

On the one year anniversary of MY gallbladder surgery, I thought it would be appropriate to tell you that we DO see gallbladder (GB) disease in pets too. 

I couldn't find a good normal dog gallbladder photo but this drawing gives you the idea of what  normal is supposed to look like.

First, let me tell you (and I'll date myself here) when I was in veterinary school, we didn't really discuss the topic I am about to get into: GB mucoceles. I even went back into my medicine AND surgery notes and there is NOTHING on this.  It may have been mentioned in passing in a class, but certainly not anything to really "make sure I remember." 


I think there are several reasons for it: we were JUST starting to use ultrasonography as a diagnostic modality AND we didn't "know" what it was at that time. We weren't "looking" for it.


So what IS it? It's an accumulation of mucous within the GB that is caused by dysfunctional and proliferating mucous producing cells. We don't know WHY it happens. In people, it happens for a different reason - usually due to an obstruction of the bile duct. In dogs, this is not the case. 


We just don't see stones, or choleliths, in dogs and cats, like we do in people. I won't say NEVER but I've seen them maybe once or twice and it was on an xray I took for a TOTALLY different reason.  


The dogs that have these come in with vague signs of illness or NDR (not doing right). These include mild inappetance to complete anorexia, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea. These signs can be chronic and even waxing/waning (the dog gets better, then worse, then better, etc). 


Of course, those signs can mean about 3,000 things (ok, I didn't REALLY count but you get the idea). So we start with blood work and maybe an xray (depending on history and physical exam findings). In many cases, we will find abnormalities in liver values and white blood cell counts (not all the time of course!) 


All dogs with the above findings will not get an ultrasound. First of all, as stated before, there can be many causes to the above signs and lab findings. If there is abdominal pain we are more apt to pursue further diagnostics. If there are certain things in the patient's history we also may go down that road. In many cases, there is a financial constraint. And since there is often response to "generic" therapy used for "gastroenteritis" type signs, most people don't wish to go further..unless we have a relapse. 


When an ultrasound is done, what is found is what is  described as looking like a "kiwi." You can see that it does!

Admittedly they don't ALL look this classic. But there is a definite difference for the trained ultrasonographer versus a nice normal gallbladder. 


Most of these DO respond to medical therapy that includes antibiotics, antiemetics (to stop vomiting), liver support supplements and diet. 


There is always a danger of GB rupture however and in those cases, the patient can go south very quickly. Certainly some cases, especially those that don't respond (again, BEST monitored with a recheck ultrasound) will require surgical removal of the GB. 


This is what they look like when removed:

Just for fun, and since I'm sharing part of ME with all of YOU in this blog, here's what a normal human gallbladder does NOT look like (despite what a whole bunch of docs and normal tests say!):

Yep, MY gallbladder...we parted ways 1 year ago today.  I don't  miss it!
FYI it's not supposed to be big and white!

Thanks to my wonderful surgeon, Dr. Peter Rovito, for : respecting the fact that 1) I have a brain (one of the few docs that didn't treat me with disdain when they found out I was a veterinarian) and actually KNOW and understand anatomy, physiology and disease processes  2) I know my body and also for knowing that 3) Normal tests do NOT equal NO disease and 4) Exploratory surgery has immense value!! 

Plague is Not Just a History Lesson

The plague I am speaking of (since that word does not imply a specific disease) is the bubonic/pneumonic plague.The bacteria that is responsible for this potentially fatal disease is Yersinia pestis. The difference between bubonic vs pneumonic is in the signs/symptoms and the mortality rate.  In cats,
these signs are often fever, lethargy, pneumonia and/or lymph node inflammation.  The "bubonic" form refers to lymph node enlargement and severe inflammation. The pneumonic form refers to the lungs. 

Many of you in other parts of the country (including my northeastern PA friends) may not be aware that we even have "plague" in this country. They think it's a thing of the past..that dreaded "Black Death." You know, the one of Middle Age lore where cats got blamed as "evil" and mass euthanized. What they didn't know was that it was carried by rodent fleas and killing the rodents primary predatory - the cat - was actually counter-productive!  It is transmitted by the bite of the flea, which often can go unnoticed.


For those living in the desert Southwest, this disease is very real. It's primarily a concern for cats that spend anytime outdoors. Dogs are at risk too. Since our pets are great little flea transporters you can see how this can pose a risk to other pets and humans.  This is a wonderful reason for pet owners in those states to use year round flea preventatives. We have some great ones out there now.  


It's also important to note that rabbits and some wild carnivores can also carry these fleas so hunters or others who come into contact with these species need to be aware of the potential exposure.


There are cases where humans have contracted it due to the pet bringing a diseased flea into the home, as well as a few where they acquired it directly from a cat via respiratory droplets. These cats have the pneumonic form.


Veterinarians practicing in these areas are aware that this needs to be on the differential list of possible causes of why kitty isn't feeling so good. In fact, vets are at risk in these states simply by doing their job. 


It was back in the news recently again: 
Plague cases in New Mexico

Sahara, A True Beauty

I, like most pet owners, am absolutely biased when it comes to my "kids." However, even within my household of critters, I find that I have favorites in different ways.


Sahara is a truly gorgeous cat. Her beauty takes my breath away at times.

Ok. Is this not FREAKING adorable????

One day, at a practice I was working at, a very young kitten (<2 mos) came in seizing. I was NOT the veterinarian that took care of her so the initial history is spotty to me. I do know she was purchased from a pet store and brought into a home. It was at this home that the seizures started.  


She quickly became a rabies suspect. Anytime we have a neurologic case and most ESPECIALLY in an unvaccinated animal (she was too young for the vaccine) we HAVE to put Rabies on our differential list (list of possible causes of said process).  The vet that took care of her got her seizures under control and we had her for observation.


She did well with us and continued to resume normal kitten activities and behaviors. 


As a bit of time went on, some additional information came out: namely, she was dropped by small children and her seizures were likely caused by head trauma! Thank God we didn't just euthanize her!


Anyhow, the staff kept bugging me. Somehow, whenever a kitty needed help, they came to me. They must've seen me as a sucker :) I am proudly one. Ask the 5 other felines in the household. In any case, her truly sweet nature drew me in. 

So, without MUCH coaxing (no, I mean it..Chris is as bad as I am!), I brought this little long haired sand colored kitty home. But what to name her? I, like T.S. Elliiot, believe a cat's name is a very important choice.   


I knew her name needed to be:
1) Descriptive of her feminine ways
2) Descriptive of her coloration 
3) Unique


So, believe or not, the internet helped me out here. I had all sorts of names: Tiramisu, Saffron, Meringue..gosh I can't remember them all. Yes, I DO love food names! But I wanted one that really felt right. I found a cool website for Pet Names that allows you to enter some basic data and search some topics. Chris and I spent an ENTIRE weekend speaking names. One of us would like one but the other wouldn't be "sold" on it. Sahara HIT It dead on! It was feminine and described her beautiful wispy sand colored coat. Yes. She is our sweet Sahara.

Sahara has shown us several major personality traits:


1. Sweet. This cat does NOT have a mean or hissy bone in her body
2. Groomer. She grooms EVERY other cat's head and also the dog's back. She frequently tries to rub against Eggroll looking for a return lick. He doesn't "get it."
3. Chirper. She doesn't meow, she chirps.  It's cute. Unless it's 3am.