Animals Unfolded

By my own admission, I focus on end-of-life and the process of death with both humans and companion animals a lot. As one who has come to specialize in caring for senior and geriatric pets -- especially dogs -- I find myself walking alongside families as they navigate these periods of life with their pets. I’m okay with that, and I do it because I have a desire to. Pets, just like humans deserve to die with as much comfort and support as possible. Though I had a few experiences with client’s pets meeting the end of the lives in the year’s past, in 2011 I had a deep dive into the lives of two other families. As a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com, I covered their journeys with end-of-life care and home euthanasia , which were both facilitated by local house call veterinarian Dr. Cathy Theisen. The power and intimacy of those conversations is still not lost on me. Before too long, I’d be in the midst of death much more closely and with rapid-fire succession. I would see my fathe...

One of the first things that I notice when meeting a family with an older pet, or one receiving palliative and hospice care, are the ways that the humans have implemented ideas to address the animal's changing needs. It's typically a combination of things designed to enhance mobility, prevent any falls and comfortable rest. I'm always happy to see the creative and thoughtful strategies that families use to accommodate their pets with time-tested tricks, and even some terrific new products on the market. Safety first, is the mantra when it comes to our pets, but something that is too often overlooked—and vital nonetheless—is the need to ensure the safety of the persons handling and interacting with the pet. I’m happy to say that in all of my years caring for pets professionally, especially geriatric companion animals and those in end-of-life, I’ve not been bitten. But it’s not luck: I’ve employed safe rules of engagement. The truth is that animals that are living w...

Subcutaneous fluid therapy is something that a veterinarian may prescribe being done at home for cats. And while it's fairly easy and straightforward to in theory, when you get home and have to set about doing it on your own, it's not uncommon to feel all thumbs because your furry friend isn't as cooperative as you might like.  Though conventional wisdom might have one think that doing fluids in a comfy, relaxed space, like on the couch in the living room makes sense, it certainly does if things are working well. But if that's not the case, one of the things that I suggest is that families consider doing fluids in a smaller space, like a bathroom. In the video below, I offer more tips that can help your cat be more amenable to getting fluids at home, promoting more success for the long term.  Lorrie Shaw is a freelance writer and owner of  Professional Pet Sitting . She has been a  featured guest on the Pawprint Animal Rescue Podcast,  talking abou...

I had to laugh with a client a few months ago as we chatted about attending one of the first puppy classes with her new little one. “One of the other people in the class asked the facilitator, ‘How much water do I need to bring for my dog? I don’t want him to get dehydrated.’ I was thinking, ‘What?’ The class is about an hour long. Bring water? That seemed a little much,” she said. The attention on sufficient water intake for the pup wasn’t surprising to me, given the world’s current hyper-fascination with staying hydrated. Water bottle in hand, shall we sally forth and delve into some perspective on the hydration needs of pets? Water is indeed necessary for optimal health, and though there are basic guidelines for healthy pets, the amount that a pet requires if they’ve some special needs will vary. In the latter case, you'll need to chat with your veterinarian. A pup's needs can differ slightly from an adult dog's, so ask your vet.  Adult dogs in good heal...

Changes in a pet's behavior, appearance, weight and willingness to eat are very clear signs that something is up. But that's not the only thing that's an indicator. The way that they smell—and my focus here, the way that their mouth or breath smells—can be an equally important signal that there's a problem. It's important to remember that aside from the occasional bout of halitosis or after eating something especially smelly, like tuna, what comes out of your pet's mouth shouldn't smell offensive. If the odor is foul or smells sweet, a visit with the vet for an exam is most definitely in order.  The most common culprits Periodontal disease is the most common source of stinky breath in pets—and it's preventable. Regular brushing at home is helpful. So is ensuring that pets have professional dental exams, cleanings and any treatment (performed under anesthesia) performed by a veterinarian or even a Board Certified Veterinary Dentist , is a ...

I don't pass judgment on those who decide to forgo a life intimately shared with pets day-to-day. It's not for everyone. Having pets demands a mindset and resources that one might not be able to tap in to now or ever.  There's a level of commitment, understanding, patience, time and thinking ahead that must be summoned. And it compels resources outside of that: the financial means to support a pet, an ability to provide a stable home, reasonable access to options when decision-making needs to be employed. Also necessary is a willingness to set aside one's own needs so that an animal friend can be put first, both in the minutiae of daily life and when big things happen. Not everyone can handle this. But still, people with pets persist in their judgments of people who choose to live life without them. So, I'm going to do my best here to shift the direction of the sun so that the proverbial shade is casted more thoughtfully.   Consider that there might be m...

A few weeks ago, I had commented in a post that there was something that I'll do differently with the next animal members of my tribe— I'll invest in pet health insurance—but that's not the only thing.  I'd have any pets in my future microchipped from the start. Having had hospiced both members of my companion animal tribe within the last year and half, I'm mindfully taking my time before welcoming another. I have to say that when my pets joined the family, the first of which was nearly 20 years ago, things were different. These days, we have more tools and knowledge to advocate for pets, and to keep them happy and safe. And an easy part of that is microchipping .  The fact is, pets can't speak for themselves if they're separated from their guardian, but a microchip can—and volumes so. The chip, as they are referred to, contains the registered owner's contact information. Though not tracking devices (like global positioning devices, or GPS),...