Sunday, January 29th
Goodbye :(
Hi to all of Tugger's friends, family and fans. This is the Lap talking. I'm sorry we haven't updated the blog for a while. I know you've all been concerned about Tugger and I'd like to extend Hill Creek's apologies. As you may already know, we had to say goodbye to Tugger December 8. His loss hit us all hard, and I haven't been able to write about it until now.
As you know from his blogs, Tugger was very ill with pancreatitis. After his initial trip to VSH, he came home and continued to be very ill for several more days. After that he appeared to be rallying. He even took a few short strolls through the clinic and curled up in his favorite bed. The following weekend, though, he became icteric again, turning a most unflattering shade of yellow. We treated him as best we could here at Hill Creek, but he continued to become more ill. We trekked back to VSH with him December 7, and entrusted him in the capable hands of Dr. Gartrell, one of their internal medicine specialists. She examined him and performed another ultrasound, which showed that his bile duct was blocked. This was causing him to be yellow. They weren't sure if the blockage was inflammation from his pancreatitis, or an actual blockage (like from cancer or a stone). Their surgeons offered to perform surgery on him to find out and correct the problem if they could. We all got together here at Hill Creek and discussed all this. It was a very difficult decision, but in the end we decided not to do surgery. The surgery itself would have been very hard on Tugger, and he was already very debilitated. There was a chance he wouldn't even survive the surgery, and if he did, he would have a very long struggle to recover. We also had to consider that none of this addressed his pancreatitis, which could continue or recur. In the end, we decided that he'd struggled enough, and to put him through more would be selfish. We decided to end his suffering.
We brought Tugger back to his home here at Hill Creek. The afternoon was a tearful one, as many of his friends and family came to say good-bye. We euthanized him that evening, with his loved ones surrounding him.
It's been tough adjusting to life without our fearless leader's physical presence. I particularly miss him in the evenings as I write up my charts; my lap is very empty. Something tells me he's still watching out for us though, from the Rainbow Bridge.
We're not sure what will become of Tugger's blog yet. If anyone could continue writing from the great beyond, it would be the T-man. We may see if there are some pets amongst the staff here who could guest narrate.
Thanks to everyone for your love and support of Tugger. He was truly one in a million, and the best clinic cat we could ever have asked for.
Tugger on 01.29.06 @ 06:20 PM EST
Tuesday, December 6th
Me Sick--a saga
This was all written several days ago, but I have been too weak to get it into the computer. My minion...I mean #2...has had a sick computer and besides, she was way too busy trying to take care of me and all the other sickies at the hospital that she couldn't get these important words out to my loyal fans. So what follows is a saga in several entries--We can't change the date that the entry was made so we'll just put it at the top of each bit that I wrote.
NOVEMBER 22, 2005
A weak meow to all my fans. I've been feeling rather unwell this past week. You know how I love to eat, but lately whenever I ate it made me feel sick. This weekend I started feeling really badly, my tummy ached and I was rolling around on the floor in pain. Susan sat with me for hours, holding my paw and doing things to make me feel better. The doctors all conferred about me, and the Lap even got some special pain medication for me. As if my painful tummy didn't have them (and me!) worried enough, then my skin and the whites of my eyes starting turning yellow! First thing Monday they placed an emergency call to Dr. Lazenby, who does our ultrasounds and he came right over to check out my insides. It turns out that as the docs here had thought, I have something called pancreatitis. My pancreas is all mad and letting loose digestive enzymes into my belly, where they're digesting things they shouldn't. That's where the pain is coming from. The inflammation is blocking my bile duct, and that's causing me to be yellow. The team got me hooked up on IV fluids and lots of medications to make me feel better. Today, they put a feeding tube into my esophagus so that they didn't have to force feed me (I HATE that), but I can still get fed until I'm up to eating on my own. They tell me I need to keep eating, because kitties like me can go into liver failure if we skip too many meals.
Thanks to everyone for their kind thoughts and inquiries. A special thanks to Branford's mom, Chris Casey, for her very nice get-well card and my special neck wraps for my feeding tube. They're awesome!
I hope to be up and about again soon. Hope you all have a good Thanksgiving.
T-
NOVEMBER 23, 2005
Oh my loyal fans I fear this is the end! I find myself in a box and there's a bright light. Could it be? Could my nine lives actually be up?? I've so much left to do. I took a turn for the worse today and started having trouble breathing. My peeps hooked me up with some oxygen and drugs but I'm still having some trouble breathing. And now this bright light, what gives?
Later that night...
A weak and muffled meow to my loyal fans. Apparently T-man has at least one more life. It turns out the bright light was Susan shining a flashlight to make sure I remained stable as the lap whisked me to VSH (the Veterinary Specialty Hospital) in Cary. The box was so that I could receive oxygen during the trip. Thankfully the Lap didn't hit anything, I was a little worried about that oxygen tank during an impact!
So now I'm in an oxygen cage and being closely watched by the staff here. I'm feeling a little better but still pretty weak. They tell me I may be here for a few days. Better go for now, I need to rest.
NOVEMBER 24, 2005 TURKEY DAY!!
A slightly stronger meow to my loyal fans. I'm spending Turkey Day here at Chez VSH, where the prices are quite swanky but the turkey is sadly lacking. The service is impeccable though, so overall a paws up. I'm breathing better, so they've let me out of my oxygen cage. Being the giver that I am, I've been helping them out, holding paws and such like I do at Hill Creek. The staff here has asked me why so many people keep calling, as it interrupts their work. I've explained that my fan base is quite large, and word spreads fast on the T-network. I've spoken with #2, and she's coordinating my updates so that the staff here can do their important work. I've had several visits from my peeps. It was nice to see Deborah and Susan and #2. Thanks to all for their kind thoughts. They tell me that I may be able to come home in a day or two.
Back to today...
I'm afraid I have become quite tired loading all this onto the computer. #2 had to go off to do some Christmas shopping or some such nonsense (that is, unless she is getting something wonderful for me...!) and left me alone to work on this. She has some pictures she wants to share with you, but I will have to get her to do that as I really need a nap. Fortunately I have several sick days accumulated so Penny says it's OK if I lay out of work while I am trying to recover. We'll get back to the rest of the saga in the next entry. In the meantime please think positive thoughts for our ol' buddy here. This stinkin' pancreatitis has really knocked me back a few lives!
Tugger on 12.06.05 @ 11:06 AM EST
Friday, October 28th
SHOCKER--Discontinued insulin
Hello my loyal fans! The T-man is most upset today. I was chatting with the docs and they told me that they are going to stop making my insulin. Can you believe it? No one consulted me about this. Just because you silly humans don't need the insulin doesn't mean it needs to be taken off the market! I really must contact my senator about this...
But allow me to fill you cats and dogs in. Eli Lilly, the company that makes my insulin (lente, or L) is going to discontinue this product at the end of December. But for those of you diabetic creatures out there using this insulin, never fear. There are several alternatives for both dogs and cats, so give your veterinarian a call. She'll be glad to talk with you about the alternate insulin options and which would be best for your pet. The docs are planning to get together and confer on the best option for moi. In the meantime, I need to sneak onto the computer and compose a sternly worded letter to one Eli Lilly CEO. Seriously, would it have killed him to drop me an email during discussions about this??
Tugger on 10.28.05 @ 08:09 AM EST
Sunday, October 23rd
BETTER then the lottery
music: I'm In The Money!
mood: Rich!
Well my friends I have some good news to share. The T-Man has come into some money! OK, technically my receptionist Jen has come into this money, but c'mon. We all know she'll be using it to keep me in the luxuries to which I have become accustomed. I mean, what else would she use extra money for? This windfall was courtesy of Merial, the company that makes my flea and tick medicine (Frontline Plus) and my heartworm medicine (Heartgard). They had a contest which staff members could enter every month, and Jen won! We were all very excited for her. That reminds me, I must remember to leave her a catalog with my wish list items highlighted. I want her to spend her money wisely after all! Wonder if she'd buy me kibble...
Tugger on 10.23.05 @ 08:07 PM EST
Sunday, October 23rd
Newbies
Hello my loyal fans. Well, as you know the T-man is not always fond of change, unless of course it involves an upgrade to my collection of beds. Speaking of which, I must remember to leave the Christmas catalogs strategically placed on certain desks so that the minions know what to get me this year. Ah, but I digress. You may have noticed some new faces here at Hill Creek. I have been busily breaking in a new set of newbies, it's been most fun. Bridgette has started up front, and she is most attentive to my needs. Leslie works both up front and as an assistant. She makes a good maid and is ever so gentle with my insulin injections. And now there are two new food servers (aka kennel technicians), Jenny and Phil. Sadly they seem to have been thoroughly briefed in how to starve me, but otherwise they are quite attentive. Word on the street is that Phil does not eat turkey. Have you ever heard of such a thing? It's unnatural I tell you, but then again he's not a cat. His lunch the other day smelled quite yummy, even though it was turkey-free. I tried to convince him to share with me, but alas I was stamped! Never fear, I'll get him trained up in no time. You should be able to learn more about all the newbies soon in the staff section of our website. Please welcome them to the Hill Creek family next time you're in!
Tugger on 10.23.05 @ 08:56 AM EST
Saturday, October 22nd
Activating the ETS
mood: Quite pleased with myself
Well, in an ongoing effort to make sure the staff is prepared for any emergency I activated the ETS during Dr. Kat's first Saturday. Hmm, should I tell Dr. Kat she's spelling her name wrong? It seems rude to point it out, yet perhaps it's like when you have kibble in your teeth and would want someone to tell you. Oh, these are the questions that plague me. Sorry, where was I? Ah yes, the ETS (emergency Tugger service, of course!). So I wanted to make sure Dr. Kat was up to snuff. Well, as you know I'm diabetic, and diabetic kitties can sometimes “crash” if their insulin needs change and they don't let their owners know. I'd been doing pretty well, but I don't like the minions to become complacent. So after a good breakfast, I ran around the office like a crazy cat, chasing balls, running back and forth, meowing at everyone. After several hours of this, I'd managed to use up most of my glucose stores and get my sugar levels rather low. I timed it for about five minutes before closing, then began to vomit. Everywhere. I mean, projectile. It was AWESOME. The minions responded most excellently, asking me what was wrong, running for Susan. Susan, as a well-trained technician, knew that the first step would be to check my glucose. Sure enough, she found my glucose was in the low 40's (that's pretty low!). She told Dr. Kat, who sprang into action. They gave me Karo syrup to get my sugar levels up, and started me on some antibiotics (sometimes infections can alter a diabetic kitty's insulin needs). Susan tended to me all weekend, and the Lap called to check in too. All in all, I'd say the ETS was a rousing success. I should do this more often!
Tugger on 10.22.05 @ 02:31 PM EST
Wednesday, October 12th
Welcome to the new lap, er...I mean Doc!
Meow! I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I now have a new lap at my disposal. Allow me to backtrack for a moment, I'm not making much sense. As you may know, Dr. McKee has left our fair clinic for bigger and better litter boxes. No, seriously, she's relocating to the desert. I mean it's one big litter box out there. I will miss her greatly, as she was a big fan of us cats. I must say, though, her own kitties were a little strange. I hesitate to use the term anorexic, but if you saw them you'd understand. Apparently they're a breed called exotic shorthair cats. I call them Siamese with eating disorders. I think she brought them in to make me look bad.
But I digress. Must be hunger setting in, have I mentioned how little they feed me here? Oh, bother it's all this talk about eating disorders. Anywho, so #2 found us a new lap, I mean veterinarian. Her name is Dr. Terrell too, just like #2! Except they spell them differently. And more to the point, the new doctor's chair is conveniently located near my kibble bowl, just like the Lap's. I have yet to come up with a name for the new doctor, but I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, please be sure to say hi to her when you come to visit me. But don't make her get up if I'm comfy, OK?
Ah, must go. My magical kibble dispenser has turned at last.
Tugger on 10.12.05 @ 08:09 AM EST
Monday, October 10th
The cost of having fun....
mood: AAckk!
Meow to all my loyal fans out there. I've been doing a little reading with the lap lately. I like to stay current, you know. Anyway, as I was sitting on the lap's journal I came across an article about pet injuries. It seems that someone decided to make a list of the most common pet injuries, and what it costs to treat them. Thankfully, since I work here at the clinic my health care is covered as part of my salary. But for you cat and dog owners out there, it might be surprising to know how much an unexpected vet bill can cost. I've taken the liberty of copying the following for you:
Injury Average Treatment Cost
Fracture $1,740
Gastric torsion $1,737
Gastric foreign body $1,210
Antifreeze ingestion or poisoning $578
Insecticide toxicity $493
Multiple lacerations $442
Snail bait ingestion $424
Ingesting household chemicals $271
Single lacerations $205
Soft tissue trauma $196
Wild, isn't it? A single cut can run you over $200. And my friend Hansel (or rather his mom Deborah) can tell you about the cost of foreign body surgery-he's been through it twice! That's why it's a good idea to have a savings account set aside for your pets for unexpected things like this. There is also pet insurance for us dogs and cats, which helps out a great deal. If you'd like more information about pet insurance, give my groomers (I mean receptionists) a call.
Editor's Note: Tugger obtained his list from the May 2003 issue of Veterinary Practice News (the lap, aka Dr. Davis, is a little behind on her journal reading). The data was compiled from claims submitted to VPI, a pet insurance company, during 2002.
Tugger on 10.10.05 @ 06:13 PM EST
Sunday, August 9th
Poker-Face
Hello my loyal fans. I apologize for my negligence in updating the blog, my secretary has been away and unable to transcribe for me. While I can type myself, I prefer not to (it hardens the paw pads, you see). I mean seriously, what is the point of all these minions if not to cater to your every whim?
I wanted to answer some questions from a few of my pals out there about my gambling connections. You may have noticed there are some strange comments about Texas hold 'em and five card stud. Apparently my nightly forays onto the net have not gone undetected. Yes, it's true, T-man does enjoy dallying with lady luck from time to time. I'm not particularly proud of this vice, but I maintain that I know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away and know when to run. Incidentally, when to run would be when a very large dog looks at you intently and licks his lips. But I digress. I'm actually quite skilled in the art of the poker face (it's a cat thing really, humans don't quite get it). In fact, they changed the rules at the Poker Championship so that cats couldn't enter after I started winning big online. Coincidence? I think not.
So if any of you hip cats care to join me online for poker night, I'll see you at the tables. Meow.
Editor's note: Tugger is prone to exaggeration. We assure you that he does not, in fact, gamble with his own or company money.
Tugger's note: What they don't know won't hurt them, meow.
Tugger on 08.09.05 @ 03:00 PM EST
Tuesday, May 31st
Tasty Toxins
Hello my loyal fans. With the weather getting warmer, it seems lots of those humans are spending time in their gardens. Sadly with all my duties I don't get out much, but I do so enjoy nibbling on cat grass when it's brought to me. Well, I must confess I enjoy nibbling on all sorts of leaves and plants that I happen upon. I just can't seem to help myself, they're all so tasty! But as you probably know, there are some plants that are not just bad for the waistline, they're bad for our health and well-being to munch on. And it turns out that not only can we be poisoned by certain plants, even mulch can be bad for us! Apparently there is a type of mulch made from cocoa beans. As many of you know, chocolate is toxic to us cats and to dogs too. Well, the cocoa beans in the mulch have the same toxins as chocolate, and some pets find it awfully tasty. So tell your owners to be careful with what they use in their gardens if, like me, you have a taste for the great outdoors. If you'd like to learn more about what you can and can't nibble on safely, the Animal Poison Control Center has a great website at www.apcc.aspca.org. They have lists of toxic and nontoxic plants, and how to “pet-proof” the home. Your people (or you if you can get hold of their credit card) can also purchase their book on toxic household plants.
Well all this talk of gardens has made me hungry. I think the minions have “Tugger-proofed” all the plants, so I guess I'll settle for some kibble.
Tugger on 05.31.05 @ 06:01 AM EST
Sunday, April 24th
Over the Counter Medications
Now that all that basketball silliness is over, a little peep told me that maybe I should stick to my day job of helping CATS and DOGS instead of mutilating peeps...er I mean, making S'mores. So to that end I thought I'd telll you about an interesting conversation I overheard the other day. The Lap was talking to a client about pain medications. The client thought her dog was getting arthritis, and gave him a common people medicine for pain. Now as I'm sure you all know, we cats and dogs get aches and pains too just like you humans. And being concerned, many people want to give their pets something to ease their pain. However, it's important to remember that we cats and dogs are not furry little humans. Although veterinary medicine uses lots of the same drugs as human medicine, the doses and how frequently medications are given are often very different between people and pets. For example, the dose of a certain antibiotic is much higher in dogs than in people. That's because dogs absorb less of the drug from their intestines, so you have to give more of it.
We cats are very special in many ways, and one of those ways is in how we do (and don't) metabolize drugs. You see, we are obligate carnivores, meaning that we developed in such a way that we have to eat meat to get all the nutrients we need to be happy and healthy. As a result of this adaption, we do not have some of the enzymes that you people and dogs do. What does this have to do with pain medications you ask? Well, it turns out that these enzymes we don't have are the ones used to break down and excrete many pain medications and other drugs. So if you give us a pain medication that's perfectly safe for you humans, it can kill us. You probably all know that this is true for Tylenol. Even a very small amount will kill us kitties! It's very complicated, and that's why it's best to call your veterinarian before giving a kitty ANY medication that wasn't specifically prescribed for us. Your veterinarian went to school to learn all about these things, and (s)he can give you advice on what is and isn't safe for us.
Now I'm not as up on my dog facts, but my little buddy Daisy Mae tells me that there are some drugs that aren't safe for dogs either. For example, ibuprofen should never be given to dogs, she tells me. It turns out that even a low dose can cause a serious ulcer in a dog's stomach. If an ulcer is bad enough, it can eat completely through the stomach, which can cause a dog to be critically ill or even die! So the rule is the same for dogs as it is for cats, always call your veterinarian before giving us any medication that wasn't specifically prescribed for us.
Excuse me, I must be going. I heard my magical kibble bowl dispenser turn....
Tugger on 04.24.05 @ 03:34 PM EST
Monday, April 11th
Marshmallow Madness continued...
What a week! Game Monday, had to supervise a late night exploratory surgery Tuesday, recovered from that Wednesday, felt a little sick Thursday, and we had a party Friday! It's taken all that time for me to get back to to the Carolina-Illini peep game. For those of you who missed the tip-off, see the entry below.
Court action:
Illini fans!
Check out those Carolina Crazies!...Ooops or is it Cameron Crazies (Duke Blue Devil fans)?...I get so confused!
I don't know much about this silly game, but I think this clearly qualifies as a foul:
Ouch!!
Our injured guy gets a free throw...
And he makes it!
Apparently both the Tar Heels and the Illini had some concerns about the officiating and decided to talk to the ref abut it...
In the end, and I mean the very end, Carolina wins it 70-75. The crowds go crazy and swarm the court...
The Carolina team takes down the net:
More crowds:
Just wait 'til you see what happened next!
The Carolina fans decided to have a bonfire on Franklin Sreet in Chapel Hill to celebrate:
They drank A LOT of beer and some of them fell down...
They drank more beer and some of them swung on the street signs...
The fire got really big and some brave (um, I mean really drunk) soul decided to try to jump over it...
Unfortunately he didn't realize that peeps and fire are a bad combination...unless you're making S'mores...
Apparently some Illini fans were unhappy with the officiating. Something about "no one should get two fouls within 10 seconds?!" Once they saw what happened to the drunken peep in the fire, they decided to have their own "roast" of the ref. What followed wasn't pretty...
So you can see it was a CRAZY night in Chapel Hill. There are more pictures, which I will post on Hill Creek's website (www.hillcreekvet.com) in the photo gallery...just go to the bottom and click on the "Photo Gallery" link. The peeps..I mean people...are arriving for another day at work, so I'll have to sign off for now.
Hope you enjoyed the Peep show!
T
Tugger on 04.11.05 @ 06:38 AM EST
Wednesday, April 6th
Marshmallow Madness and the Peeps
Well Fans, it all started when The Lap found this cute little website at www.peepresearch.org. It included some pretty interesting information about how peeps (those cute little chick-shaped marshmallows you find everywhere at Easter-time) operate in the real world. She then found a giant stuffed Peep at the store which she proceeded to do a little more research on. She discovered that 1) Dogs are natural born enemies of Peeps, 
and 2) *(and I helped here)* that cats and Peeps get along pretty well.
The Lap found several boxes of those cute little squishy Peeps and left them lying around the clinic. Well, everyone around here had been talking about this March Madness or Arch madness or some such craziness, and on Monday night they all went home to watch "The Game" on TV. Well folks, I just have to say right here that I, moi, yours truly, DO NOT HAVE A TV. So what was I to do? Just sit around and twiddle my "thumbs" while everyone else was having a good time watching these "Tar Heels" and "Fighting Illini" (I still don't know what either one of those things are supposed to be)?? Well, I'm a little smarter than that, so I created my very own Marshmallow Madness right here, and it was just as good, and maybe even more exciting than that silly TV game. Just watch:
The tip-off (Carolina in Blue, Illinois in Orange):
Oops..the doctors coming. I guess it's later than I thought. I'll have to finish this in my next entry! Stay tuned...there's lots more action!
T
Tugger on 04.06.05 @ 07:44 AM EST
Sunday, April 3rd
Basketball Blues
Hail to the Blue...silk blue collar that is!
Hello all. There's been a lot of discussion about the clinic lately centered around something other than my fabulous self. It seems there is a game called basketball which has captured the staff's attention. Since they have not seen fit to give me a TV, I'm afraid I've only been able to keep up by listening to their conversations. It seems that The Lap is excited because her alma mater the Fighting Illini are doing quite well. Now who are these Illini I'd like to know, and why must they fight? Why can't they sit down and share some kibble like civilized cats do? Now #2 on the other hand, was all for her alma mater Duke. Apparently they go by the Blue Devils? Are they some sort of flea or tick species?? Those are the devils I'm most familiar with. I overheard them in a long discussion about which team I would favor. I'm here to dispel all myths and rumors and report that in general I do not favor this basketball. I have found that when people run around on a court with a ball, they cannot simultaneously offer me a lap. There are the people watching the game, of course, but they tend to get all excited and jump up, which again denies me a lap. I vote for less basketball and more knitting circles. Problem solved!
Tugger on 04.03.05 @ 12:51 PM EST
Sunday, April 3rd
Sissy-friss
mood: A little sad
Once again I have some sad news to report. Hill Creek has lost another of its grand old ladies. My good friend and grandmother-type figure Sissy has passed on. I think we must have truly been soul-mates, as she left for the Rainbow Bridge on my birthday. The doctors think she suffered a severe stroke, or may have had a brain tumor. Sissy was a good friend, and kept the front desk under control. She was always willing to share her kibble with me when the staff was being stingy (OK I admit sometimes she didn't realize she was sharing, but she never held a grudge). She was about 21 or 22 years old, which is pretty old for a kitty. Since she had a lot of life experience, I'd sometimes consult her on my bigger problems. She always gave me quiet consolation and occasionally we would curl up together for warmth and support.
The folks who came to the clinic sometimes only knew her by her plaintiff me-yowls (she was fairly deaf these past few years), but after explanation by the receptionists came to love and understand her as I did. I will miss her guidance, and her presence, but I know that she will always be a part of Hill Creek, and will love the memories I have of her…and her food bowl . My love to Sissy as she travels on to her final forever home.
T
Tugger on 04.03.05 @ 12:42 PM EST
Thursday, March 24th
Bringing in the new (Tugger) year
mood: Pleased but a little hungry
Well apparently my minions can indeed learn from their mistakes. This year my birthday was celebrated in appropriate style. As you know, my magical kibble producer was given to me early courtesy of Janetta. I enjoy waiting for the compartments to open, then pouncing on my kibble. I still maintain that the portions are downright miserly however. But I digress. So for my birthday the gang all got together and signed a lovely card which I enjoyed reading. I am also now sporting a handsome new SILK collar (only the finest for moi). There were also some fabulous new toys which I enjoyed batting about for a bit. The minions all provided laps aplenty to choose from during lunch. I didn't want to play favorites, so I did quite a bit of lap-hopping to keep them all happy. They all ate Deborah's brownie sundae concoction, but since I 'm watching my figure I contented myself with a small dollop of whipped cream (since it was my birthday). Afterward, it was time for a long nap!
Tugger on 03.24.05 @ 09:57 PM EST
Sunday, February 27th
Food and Females
mood: purrrr.....
It was quite a day for me today my fans. First, one of my housekeepers, Janetta, brought in an automatic feeder for me. The Lap set it up but put a stingy amount of kibble in each compartment. And the compartments take forever to open!! I can get a good 5-6 catnaps in between each one. Must speak to management.
But anyway, the real news is that my lady love Cleo came by for a visit! She's as gorgeous as ever. We said our hellos and then she was off again to her home. She left her scent behind though, saucy little minx. There's word on the street that she's taken up with another cat at her new home but I don't believe it.
Tugger on 02.27.05 @ 02:27 PM EST
Thursday, February 24th
Bonding and Birthdays
mood: All filled in, but not filled up!!!
There was some excitement today in the dental suite my friends. The Lap was using some nifty new tools to work on a dog named Brac. It seems Brac had a divot in one of his teeth where the enamel was worn off. The Lap explained to me that this can be very painful for dogs and cats (and humans), but if the tooth is otherwise OK, there's no need to pull it out. The Lap learned how to do this nifty treatment at the so-called conference she jetted off to Orlando for. When they got finished, the divot was all filled in and smooth. Pretty cool.
Now, back to me. As all my loyal friends know, my birthday is coming up. I overheard the doctors talking about getting me an automatic feeder. It seems that I am unable to control myself when I see kibble in my bowl and so I don't save some for when my glucose drops mid-day. I maintain that if these miserly people would put more kibble in the bowl, this wouldn't happen. But do they listen to the voice of reason? No, not even when it meows quite loudly!
Tugger on 02.24.05 @ 11:00 PM EST
Wednesday, February 23rd
Daisy-Mae
mood: Warm and fuzzy
A big meow to my fans. It's been a while, my apologies. I received a new bed for Christmas (2 stories!) which Deborah has kindly outfitted with fabulous blue cushions to accent my fur and eyes stuningly, so I've been spending quite a bit of time lounging and looking dashingly handsome.
Thought I'd introduce you to a new pal of mine.
Now I must caution you, she is technically a canine. Yes, I know it goes against all feline rationalization but being an ambassador of good will I embrace all species (except for that strange beast with the beak and the loud mouth that Penny allows into the office, he is unfathomable). Anyway, my new friend is a chihuahua puppy named Daisy Mae. She belongs to one of my housekeepers (aka technician) Stephanie. She is quite cute (obviously not in my league, but who is) and we make an adorable couple, as the pictures show. She likes naps too, who'd have thunk it.
 >
Daisy Mae is busy acquiring some pretty nifty accessories of her own. She's got a pup tent which is quite exciting, complete with flaps to fold up or down, depending on the weather and her mood. She, like me, is quite social and would be happy to say hello to you if you stop by.
Well, I'd better get back to my bed. Now for the big decision, top bunk or bottom for my next nap....
Tugger on 02.23.05 @ 07:59 PM EST
Monday, January 31st
Please help...donations needed!
mood: Famished
My friends, I may not have much time so I'll come right to the point. I need you to send me food. Lots of food. Remember how I told you they were switching my food to m/d? And I was all excited because it's quite delicious? Well apparently while my mind was revisiting the tasty aspects of m/d my ears neglected to pick up on the phrase “measuring out his food”. They've got measuring cups and spoons! And once I eat my “daily ration”, they won't give me more. Despite the ever-increasing frantic quality to my meows. Despite the fact that this “daily ration” wouldn't keep a small mouse alive. Mmmm, mousey...Despite the fact I'm diabetic!! They are evil I tell you, and I don't know how high up this thing goes. I think it's pretty high though. I've got feelers out to the White House, I'll keep you posted. Anyway, I hear someone coming so I'd better scoot. Just do what you can. As in cans of food....salmon, chicken, heck I'll even settle for tuna at this point!
Tugger on 01.31.05 @ 06:53 AM EST
Sunday, January 16th
"Catkins" Diet
Hello my loyal fans! No news yet from the conference, as I have been busy snubbing the lap. She has to learn that she can't just jet off to Florida without consulting with me first (aka taking me with her). So I've been hopping up into everyone's lap except her to get my point across. Meow. But never fear, eventually I'll forgive her and we'll make up and I'll get the dirt for you on what's new in veterinary circles.
In the meantime, I've heard a rumor that #2 is planning to change my food. Now at first I was rather worried, but then I heard that she's going to switch me to Hill's m/d. This made my whiskers tingle in anticipation, as I love that food. It's quite tasty you see. They gave it to me several years ago, but at the time I was able to con the kennel workers into giving me lots of it and I put on a few pounds. I reminded them all that I was diabetic, but they didn't listen and stopped giving me the delicious m/d. However, I've been keeping them busy with my diabetes lately-my blood sugar has been sort of out of whack and they're having trouble getting my insulin dose correct. The doctors explained to me that in addition to being delicious m/d (and other foods like it) is high in protein. We cats, being obligate carnivores, are used to eating lots of protein in our diets. However, traditional cat food have mostly carbohydrates, which are turned into sugar in our body. Too much sugar isn't good for a diabetic, so some researchers discovered that high protein foods help us diabetics regulate our blood sugar levels better. So this food is good for me as well as tasting good! I'll keep you posted on how my “Catkins” diet goes.
Tugger on 01.16.05 @ 06:18 PM EST
Thursday, January 13th
Veterinary conference, my tail!
Someone needs to start putting tracking devices on these doctors. First #2, now the lap thinks she can up and leave me for a week. I really must speak with our office manager about keeping me in the loop. I know they try not to burden me with details, but truly I feel I should be consulted on these scheduling matters. It appears that the lap has taken off to sunny Florida for a veterinary conference. Yeah, right! I checked the weather channel, it's been 80° and sunny all those days. Well my friends we'll see. I intend to have a long chat with the lap when she returns, and I'll be sure to find out if she truly was stuck inside listening to talks about how to help us cats...and OK dogs. So stay tuned, and I'll let you know about all the cool new things she learned.
Tugger on 01.13.05 @ 08:37 PM EST
Sunday, December 5th
There are no words!!!...
Heads will roll.
I tell you, #2 and I are going to have a serious sit-down if she ever gets back here. Once again she's gone off without my permission. Like she needs a vacation, what kind of stress does she have? I'm the one in charge of this clinic, I'm the one who has to keep track of everyone. But does anyone send me to sunny Jamaica? Of course not. The sun in your fur, litter box as far as the eye can see, cabana boy to bring me my kibble...oh no, let's not do that for me.
But I digress. So as I was saying, #2 up and leaves me this week. I'm telling you, she doesn't understand how out of control my minions can get. I mean, yesterday the lap decided to CLEAN MY EAR. WITH COLD, WET CLEANSING MATERIAL. MOST DEFINITELY WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. I voiced my displeasure most vociferously, and then proceeded to stare at her for approximately one hour with the affronted ear cocked horizontally for emphasis. She looked decidedly unrepentant.
So the word on the street is that #2 will be back Monday. Yes, that's where I have to get my information, since she did not see fit to discuss this with me herself. Never fear, I'll be waiting. ME-OW.
Tugger on 12.05.04 @ 07:58 PM EST
Tuesday, November 30th
String can be a BAD thing!
Well the lap was at it again the other night. I swear, she has something against sitting down and writing charts, thus providing a warm spot for the T-man to sit. Allow me to back up and explain. Over the weekend, Deborah (aka the bed provider extraordinaire) noticed that one of her kitties wasn't feeling well. His name is Hansel, and he is a kindred spirit in that he too enjoys his kibble to what some might say an unhealthy degree. They just don't understand us, do they Hansel? Mmm, food...Sorry I digress. Anyway, Deborah noticed that her kitty wasn't wanting to eat. He was also vomiting a lot. Now, there can be a lot of reasons why kitties vomit, but Deborah also knew that Hansel had a fondness for chewing on string. For those of you who don't know, string can be very dangerous for kitties. What can happen is that part of the string can get stuck around our adorable pink tongues, and the rest travels through the intestines, causing them to bunch up. When this happens, not only can we not get food through, but with time that string can actually cut through the wall in our intestines. If that happens, we can die very quickly! So luckily for Hansel, his family is very perceptive. His mom brought him to work with her Monday morning. #2 came in early to check him out and take xrays to see if we could spot a problem. #2, the lap and I got together and examined the xrays. They were very suspicious for a linear foreign body (the fancy term for string in the intestines). The lap checked under Hansel's tongue, and thought she saw something blue under there (it's hard to pull out our tongues while we're awake, we don't like that-i.e., don't try this at home!). So the lap's afternoon was blocked off for surgery. Once Hansel was anesthetized, they pulled his tongue out and sure enough, he had a piece of blue thread hooked under his tongue. Thank goodness I had my handy digital camera close by! In this picture you can see where the string is wrapped around the base of Hansel's tongue. There's also a cut on the edge of his tongue where the thread cut through it.
Well, long story short, 2 hours and 10 incisions into his stomach and intestines later, the thread was all out and I FINALLY had a lap.
While they were waking up Hansel, I made sure his recovery crate was comfy and cozy enough, and the heating pad was just the right temperature. The doctors laughed at me, but these things are important darn it!
Well, we all wish Hansel a speedy recovery.
Tugger on 11.30.04 @ 10:14 PM EST
Thursday, November 4th
Hollywood, Here I Come!
music: "You're So Vain"
Since I've been out of the writing loop, there've been some exciting events here at Hill Creek. The other weekend there was quite a to-do on Saturday. Midway through my morning snack some men came in with all sorts of equipment. They set up a little stage in the waiting room, complete with lights and a camera. Well, I knew that finally Hollywood had received my portfolio and was here to shoot my close-up. I mean, come on! We all know I'm destined for big things. Never fear, I'll never forget my most loyal fans when I make the big time.
Anyway, it turns out this must have been an open call of sorts. After we finished the daily appointments, clients kept showing up with their pets, who would take a turn on stage getting their pictures taken. So it turned out that these “Hollywood types” were actually pet photographers. I tell you, you take a few sick days and management pulls you out of the loop! I was so miffed at not being consulted that I sulked in a cabinet in the break room until my turn in front of the camera. I'm not sure they captured my best side, but I'm looking forward to seeing the results.
Now those of you who got your pictures taken, remember that the proofs will be in on Monday (November 8) from 4-6 PM. I'm not sure about all these copyrighting laws, but if I can I'll post mine for everyone to see. I know you all can never get too much of the Tugger!!
Modest as always, meow.
Tugger on 11.04.04 @ 09:21 PM EST
Wednesday, November 3rd
The Eyes Have It
mood: A little teary-eyed
Well, my fans I hope my typing is OK. I'm having a little trouble with depth perception, as one of my eyes is troubling me. Now I don't want to turn into one of those cats who's always meowling about his health, even though I now am the big 1-1. However, I like to share experiences with my friends and neighbors that I think could be helpful to others. I'm a giver, it's true.
Anyway, over the weekend Susan (she's one of my care-givers here, some would call her a technician) noticed that I was squinting a lot. Now at first she thought I was being fresh with her, and granted I can get a little saucy sometimes, meow. But she also noticed that my eye seemed red and swollen. Now being the very smart technician she is, she immediately contacted a doctor. Even though it was the weekend, and she was supposedly on her death-bed (yeah, whatever #2), Dr. Terll sprang into action and came in to look at me. They gave me some eye drops, which are helping my eye to feel better.
So I just wanted to let my fans out there know that eye problems can be emergencies. I mean, my eye problem turned out to be not so bad, but it got a doctor off her death-bed on a SUNDAY! The doctors here tell me that a scratch on the eye (called an ulcer) can often be treated easily if you bring your pet right in. However, if you wait, in addition to it being painful for your pet it can progress and your dog or cat could lose an eye!! Now I don't know for sure about you humans but we felines (and OK canines) only get 2 eyes to start with, so we prefer to keep them both thank you very much. So if your pet is squinting or rubbing at his/her eye, or if the eye looks at all funny bring your pet right in to see the docs here. Tell 'em I sent you!
T-
Tugger on 11.03.04 @ 10:56 PM EST
Sunday, October 31st
The Low Blood Sugar Blues
music: H-O-N-E-Y
mood: A little weak
Hello my loyal fans. I'm sorry I've been away so long from the computer. I could blame it on the continuing oversight of not giving me a logon to the Hill Creek computer, but I'm actually quite adept at getting around that particular little roadblock. Just don't let #2 know that or I might not be able to bid on that bed I've been watching on ebay.
But the real reason I've been out of the blog loop is that I haven't been feeling well. As those of you with diabetic pets probably know, even those of us who have been well regulated for a while can get out of whack at times. My insulin needs decreased, but being feline I couldn't communicate that directly with my humans. The excess insulin I was getting made my blood sugar drop too far, and so I didn't have much energy. I mostly just sat in my bed and gave the humans pleading looks to help. Thankfully, the perceptive staff here at Hill Creek realized I wasn't quite up to snuff. They checked my blood sugar and it was very low! They ran for food (canned, yum!) and the doctors adjusted my insulin down. A few days later I was back in the swing of things. The down-side of this whole episode is that I now have had to undergo a series of things called “glucose curves”, or as I like to call them “torture sessions”. Well, don't tell the doctors here but they're not really that bad. The techs take a drop of blood from me every few hours to see what my blood sugar does throughout the day. It's to make sure the insulin is doing its job, and that my blood sugar isn't staying too high or going too low. I make a fuss, because I get more attention that way. Hey, a cat's gotta do what a cat's gotta do, you know?
So now that the crisis is over and my staff here has once again realized the importance of keeping me happy, I hope to be able to communicate with you steadily once again.
I would just like to mention that my weakened state is no excuse for this sort of indignity, regardless of the close proximity to Halloween.
Tugger
Tugger on 10.31.04 @ 05:13 PM EST
Sunday, September 12th
The Cost of Living
music: "Money"
mood: Drained from thinking about all this
Hello fans. I wanted to share something interesting I saw in the paper today. Now as a rule I don’t read the paper, for several reasons. First, as you all know I am extremely important, not to mention busy, and so I just don’t have the time. Secondly, when I do cut back on a catnap to peruse said paper I find an astounding lack of feline coverage. Other than a few comics (“Rhymes with Orange” comes to mind), there is a startling lack of knowledge of things feline. You’d think the papers were geared to humans or something.
However, as I sat squarely on the paper today, my eyes came across a blurb on the cost of owning and feeding dogs and cats. I never worry about such things, as being in a vet hospital there’s no shortage of food around (although the help here is remarkably stingy with putting it in one’s bowl, meow). They always keep my medications stocked for my diabetes, and generally I live the lifestyle to which I am accustomed. However, this is something that those of you humans out there thinking about getting a pet should consider.
The paper said that the ASPCA estimates the cost for caring for a large dog for a year (including food, routine vet visits, leashes, toys, treats, etc) is about $660. For a small dog, it’s about $300 and for a cat (meow) it’s $350. Clearly those cats don’t have as many beds as yours truly. But I digress. You’ll also note that this figure only includes routine vet visits. I am here to verify that my doctors and health care team (aka my minions) see a whole lot of non-routine visits, including ear and skin infections, GI distress, metabolic and infectious diseases, limping animals, animals who’ve been hit by cars, attacked by other animals, and so on. Those bills can add up very fast! And did you humans know that there is pet insurance available? Come by the clinic and pick up a brochure if you’re interested. Tell them I sent ya’.
Now of course I feel we pets are worth every penny and more, but it is something to consider before you go out and adopt or purchase a pet.
Just out of curiosity I decided to compile a list of my costs for the year, and quite frankly, after you add up the food (and plenty of it!), the new beds, the litter (plenty of that too), my insulin and syringes, the new beds, the salaries of my custodial staff, my routine bloodwork and glucose curves, the new beds, the catnip toys, the new collars, um, did I mention the new beds?, my vaccines, my heartworm preventative, the new um beds, and the flea preventative, I decided that if Penny got a hold of it (she takes care of money matters around here) she might decide that I shouldn't get a new bed this year! She might even want me to get a part-time job! I put that list deep under cover (like under one of my beds) if you know what I mean.
All these numbers have definitely tired me out. I don't know how accountants do it. They must have to take an awful lot of naps during the day! I know I'm headed for one right now!
CU soon,
Tugger
Tugger on 09.12.04 @ 12:38 PM EST
Sunday, August 22nd
Charley
mood: Bewildered
Hello to all my fans out there. Hope this entry finds you nice and dry. I'm not.  But I'll explain.
Last weekend was quite exciting, as everyone was expecting Charley to visit. Now I don't know who this Charley is or who invited him, because they most certainly didn't consult yours truly. As we've discussed in past entries, not running things by me makes my whiskers twitch! #2 gave me some song and dance about not being able to control the weather. Now what, I ask you, does this have to do with our impending visit from Charley? Humans! You should've seen my employees scurrying about on Saturday. #2 placed all these bags filled with sand around the door. (I know, why put perfectly good litter-box filler into a bag and put it outside in the rain?? It's insane!) Then they put this big plastic sheet over the front door. They took my buddy Sissy away from her little den on the floor and put her in a GASP  CAGE...UP HIGH! They said it was to keep her from getting wet. I swear I don't know what's wrong with them. Anyway, I'm here to tell you that this Charley fellow didn't show, which seemed to relieve all the funny humans.
Now last night we had a pretty big storm with lots of rain and thunder and lightning. When I came out this morning there was water everywhere! The whole lobby was like a little lake! Seems to me it would have been smarter to put all that rain gear up last night instead of getting it ready for that no-show Charley. But then, no one asked me...AGAIN. I'll never figure out these silly people and why they do what they do. I believe I'll go have a bath and think about all this. Perhaps a few catnaps will help me get the perspective I need to figure these people out!
Yours truly,
T
Tugger on 08.22.04 @ 02:19 PM EST
Saturday, August 21st
The Rainbow Bridge
mood: Enlightened
Hello again my friends.
Before my dear friend Rosie left us she mentioned to me that she would see me at the Rainbow Bridge one day. I wasn't quite sure what she meant but I remembered that the people here often talk about this bridge when one of the furry spirits slips away. Frankly, I've never really paid very close attention because it's clear to me that there are no bridges in my domain, and so I couldn't see how it could be relevant to me. However, after Rosie's passing I decided to investigate this so-called "Rainbow Bridge" a bit more. It sounded intriguing, and I couldn't quite envision if it was a bridge painted rainbow colors, or what. So I started reading, and you know what? The Rainbow Bridge sounds like a pretty neat place. Apparently those kitties who I thought were gone forever have actually just gone to a beautiful meadow on the other side of the bridge to wait for their people to come and find them. That makes me feel much better about things! I have several friends who must be waiting there, so I'm glad to finally know where they are.
Still, I was confused, because it seems that people are often sad when their pet leaves for this special place. You'd think they would be happy! I asked #2 about it and she explained that people are sad because of the separation. It seems that animals who go to the bridge don't get to come back to visit, at least not in the way that they had been here before. I guess I won't be going there any time soon, as we ALL know that this place really couldn't run without me here.
It occurred to me that people and animals wouldn't be so sad when their friends go to the rainbow bridge if they could contact them there. I asked #2 if I could email my friends who are there, but she explained to me that unfortunately they don't have email or cell phones or any techno stuff at the rainbow bridge. She said it might interfere with the kitties (and, er dogs) enjoying themselves, and I can see how that could happen (do you know how annoying it is to have a cell phone ring in your ear when you're in the middle of a nap? Or to hear "You've got Mail" boom across the room when your just settling in to a nice meal?). So for now I will just be content that my friends are safe and happy. Even if I can't email them, I didn't hear anything about not being able to dream about them...which reminds me that it's about time for my late morning nap.
For your reference I have included a copy of the original Rainbow Bridge story, just in case you are not familiar with it. I have also included my favorite version which was written by one of my fans after her beloved kitty Nicholas went to the Rainbow Bridge. She read the original "Rainbow Bridge" story and decided that it sounded more like a dog's story. She thought (and very rightly so) that a kitty's story might be a little different. I hope you enjoy both stories. I did.
Tugger
In Loving Memory of Nicholas B. Martin
Dedicated to cats and cat lovers everywhere
The [Cat’s] Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When a cherished pet passes away, that pet goes to the Rainbow Bridge.
There are fields of sunny grass for our special friends to loll upon, if
desired. There are many trees for climbing and scratching, if desired.
There is plenty of fresh water and food for the most discriminating of
palates. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health
and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are whole and strong again, just
as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing: They each
rather miss someone special to them, who had to be left behind. They all
bask in various sunny spots, each contentedly surveying his domain and
occasionally chasing invisible prey, if desired. But the day comes when one
sits up, yawns, and stretches luxuriously. He licks himself a few times and
gazes into the distance.
His bright eyes gleam, his body rumbles with a deep, mighty purring. He
begins to amble away from the others. You have been spotted and when you
and your special friend meet, you scoop him eagerly into your arms, weeping
at this joyous reunion. He butts his forehead against your hand, rubbing
his cheek against you again and again. His purring rumbles throughout your
heart as you hold him close to you. You look once more into the luminous
eyes of your beloved pet and hear him ask, “What took you so long, anyway?”
Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together,
Never again to be separated….
By Leslie H. Martin
The original version:
THE RAINBOW BRIDGE
There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth.
It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its many splendid colors.
Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge there is a land
Of meadows, hills, and valleys with lush green grass.
When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place.
There is always food and water and warm Spring weather.
The old and frail animals are made whole again.
They play all day with each other.
There is only one thing missing.
They are not with their special person who loved them on Earth.
So, each day they run and play
Until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up!
The nose twitches!
The ears are up!
The eyes are staring!
And this one suddenly runs from the group!
You have been seen.
And when you and your special friend meet,
You take him or her into your arms and embrace,
And you look once more into the eyes of your trusting pet.
Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together--
Never again to be separated.
Tugger on 08.21.04 @ 10:45 AM EST
Monday, August 9th
Rosie
mood: Sad
Today was a sad day. We lost Rosie, a good friend and longtime Hill Creek feline resident.
Rosie was an exotic shorthair kitty who came here shortly after the hospital opened. Her owner passed away in 1998, and so Rosie and the other cat in the household went to a rescue group foster home. The other kitty was very sociable and went to a new home right away. Rosie, on the other hand, stayed under the foster person's bed for nearly a year, never showing herself or showing the least inclination that she wanted to associate with the rest of the world. After trying many things to try to bring her out, the foster home gave up and brought her to Hill Creek for euthanasia. #2 wasn't thrilled with the idea of euthanizing a perfectly healthy kitty and so she offered to keep Rosie at the clinic and see if she coud find a home for her. From the beginning Rosie lived in the boarding area and thrived there. #2 took her to a Petsmart adoption day, but she nipped the person who was interested in adopting her and pretty much that was the end of the attempts to adopt her out to someone else. Rosie stayed in the boarding area at Hill Creek and made lots of friends. She had a boyfriend for a while, who would board frequently. She visited with the other cats in boarding, and never seemed inclined in the least to expand her borders. I appreciated her because she was able to oversee a whole section of the hospital that I am only able to inspect once a week on the weekends. She never complained about her work and was always happy to have visitors. Because of her I was able to never worry about the boarding area, and could concentrate my efforts on the rest of the hospital!
A few months ago we noticed that Rosie was slowing down. The doctors did a thorough workup on her and discovered a tumor in her abdomen. It was decided that the stress of abdominal surgery was a bit too much for a kitty her age (she was at least 16), and so she was put on medication to help slow down the growth of the cancer. She had been doing pretty well, but in the last few days she wasn't feeling that great. Today the doctors noticed that she became very uncomfortable in the late morning, and let her slip away peacefully so that she wouldn't suffer.
For once this little entry is not about me, but about our friend Rosie who was a longtime resident and such a quiet but everpresent part of our life here. We will miss her and remember her fondly.
This is Rosie just a few days ago. She liked her little den and stayed in there a great deal the last few weeks.
Tugger
Tugger on 08.09.04 @ 09:55 PM EST
Saturday, August 7th
"Inappropriate Elimination"
mood: Whew! That was a close one....
Well, my friends, recently I witnessed first hand why it is so important to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are not acting right. Last week one of my kindred feline spirits almost lost her life needlessly when her owners decided that they had had enough. One of the two cats in the house was not using the litterbox, (and apparently this was a bad thing?!) so they took both cats to the animal shelter and left them there. Now, I can understand someone being upset about a few accidents in the house, but isn't that a little drastic? I mean, there can be lots of reasons that a cat might not make it to the litterbox (although thankfully I have never had that problem), but many of them are very fixable. Fortunately someone noticed that these two kitties were very sweet and took them out of the shelter to try to find out what was wrong and to find them a home. An exam and a urinalysis by a veterinarian revealed that one of the kitties had a HUGE stone in her bladder. Of COURSE she couldn't make it to the litterbox! Once the stone was removed from the bladder, Miss Sabrina started using the litterbox right away, and has continued to do so ever since.
This is Sabrina, the bladder-stone and "inappropriate elimination" survivor!
She looks pretty happy to me, and this is AFTER surgery!
I think I should mention this story because I hear folks discussing this problem with the doctors a lot. I always prick up my ears and listen in because I like to keep tabs on what's going on with our feline patients. They call it "inappropriate elimination'" ( I guess so that it sounds more professional, but we all know what it means). The doctors usually run some tests and do an exam to try to see if there is a medical cause for the problem. Sometimes they find a urinary tract infection, or a bladder or kidney stone, or an annoying disease called Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease. I've even heard that DIABETES can cause this problem! Horrors! If they can't find a medical diagnosis then they talk to the caregivers about other things that might make a feline not use the facilities (these are usually the more challenging cases). Apparently there are lots of things that our delicate cat-like minds can't handle and the best way we know to let our people know is to leave them a little present where they are most likely to find it...maybe in the middle of the bed, or in the bathtub, or in the laundry basket with the clean clothes! I've even heard of some kitties who have problems doing #2 in the box! Now that may be stepping over the edge a bit (literally  ). The doctors here know that sometimes when a cat is mad or stressed or unhappy in their living situation that they will do these things...but honestly, sometimes it's as simple as the kitty just doesn't like the litter or the litterbox they have available.
It makes me really sad to think of a beautiful and quite sweet feline losing her life over a bladder stone, but I'm sure it happens more than I care to think. If your kitties aren't going where they are supposed to please take them to the vet to be sure they are healthy before assuming it is a lost cause. We cats can be fickle, but not ALL of our problems are in our head! 
Tugger on 08.07.04 @ 10:26 PM EST
Sunday, August 1st
Constipation
mood: Quite regular, thank you!
My feline friends I have witnessed something quite disturbing here at Hill Creek over the past couple of weeks. We’ve had a number of fellow felines visit who were having trouble pooping. I feel it is my duty as a fellow feline to warn you all of what can happen if you don’t stay regular. Now we have talked before about the value of laxatone but I cannot stress to you enough why you should get your people to give you this if you’re feeling a little stopped up.
Let me share with you what happened. If only I had listened to the little voice that said to hit snooze and continue my catnap. But no, I decided I needed to get up and make my rounds of the treatment area. Oh if only I could turn back time. But I digress. So I saunter on into treatment and was first assailed by a smell unlike any other. I should have known to walk away, but my darn curiosity got the better of me. Onward I sauntered and my eyes beheld a sight that will be forever burned on my retinas. The Lap and #2 were in the middle of a procedure that almost defies description. They sat me down later and attempted to explain, but let me tell you I’ve got my eyes on both of them and my butt planted firmly on the floor.
Apparently there have been a number of kitties who’ve gotten stopped up lately and have come to Hill Creek for help. Now I’ve seen what happens to most of them, which itself isn’t too pretty. The doctor inserts a tube in their butt and squirts some liquid in there to help the poop come out (I believe their term for this craziness was “enema”). Well, apparently sometimes even that doesn’t help to unstop a kitty who’s really backed up. So I walked in on a “manual extraction”. Oh the horror. The docs worked together to go in and pull the poop out-aaarrrgghhh!! Thankfully the poor cat was asleep during the procedure; they assured me they would NEVER do that to an awake cat. But still! My eyes!!
So in order to prevent either of these things happening to you kitties out there, take your laxatone regularly if you’re prone to constipation. There are other medicines too if laxatone doesn’t work by itself, just give the docs a call. Seriously, don’t wait long, as I never want to see that again….it’s enough to drive me to catnip.
Tugger on 08.01.04 @ 08:53 AM EST
Friday, June 18th
Feeling much better, thanks
mood: NOT nauseous, and that's a GOOD thing
Good morning, friends. I have to apologize for being so long away from my blog duties. I have been quite ill for the last few days, and since #2 told me it isn't good to puke on the keyboard, I have been trying to steer clear of it. I appreciate all the words of concern for me from the staff and the gentle paw-holding that went on while I was recovering. I don't know WHAT I could have picked up or gotten in to (hmm...couldn't have been the gardenia blossom Deborah brought in to make the hospital smell nice. I mean I only took a small nibble of it before it was whisked away from me...) that could have caused such a bout of projectile vomit. Fortunately I didn't have to go too far to get help, and the clinic even provided me with a personal mop attendant to clean up after me wherever I went. MEOW
To all those kitties out there who have suddenly gotten very green around the gills this summer, the doctors first checked my bloodwork to make sure my blood sugar wasn't too low and that all my organs were working OK. Then they put me on an acid reducer (to help heal my throat since I was vomiting so much) and (of all things!) a dose of hairball medicine...every day for a week! Do your people ever make you do that? I've heard that some cats love the stuff, but  BLECH!!! Not my cup of tea. I asked about the wisdom of this regimine, seeing as I get some hairball reduction formula food every day, but apparently this time of year we felines are shedding a lot and grooming a lot and sometimes the food isn't enough to keep those nasty things under control. My advice to you if you don't want to have Laxatone all over your face is to stop bathing now! I realize it goes against our innately clean natures, but which would you rather have? A little extra dirt and fur or gooey brown stuff stuck all over your face?
Suffice it to say that I am feeling much better now, and fortunately my appetite was only affected for about a day, so I was not left in too weakened a condition. Now that I can approach the keyboard safely again I'm sure you'll be hearing much more from me.
I think I hear someone coming in the front door so I had better scoot. Breakfast time at last!
Tugger 
Tugger on 06.18.04 @ 07:16 AM EST
Saturday, June 5th
Smokers beware!
mood: Worried about my feline buddies out there
My friends, I feel it my feline duty to pass on some research that The Lap and I discovered the other day. The Lap thinks I’m just there for some moral support, but I do like to keep abreast of the latest research, particularly where felines are concerned. And the news in this medical journal was quite disturbing. There was a study done by Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. They found that cats who live in households with one smoker are TWICE as likely to develop a type of cancer called lymphoma. And if there are two smokers, that risk doubles. They also found that the contaminants from the cigarettes settle onto the fur of cats. Now, knowing cats as I do, I can tell you we are very clean creatures. As you may have noticed, we like to bathe ourselves often. Unlike you silly humans, we use our natural washcloths (aka our tongues). What the researchers found out was that when we do what comes naturally and bathe, these tobacco-related pollutants end up in our mouths, and we cats can develop several types of mouth cancer just from trying to stay clean!
I’ve seen some dogs and cats come into the hospital with mouth cancer, and I can tell you it is an awful type of cancer to get. The doctors here are always quite upset when they find it, and I usually need to comfort them after they’ve had to tell the owners.
So listen up you smokers! If you don’t want to quit for yourselves, think about your furry friends. Please don’t reward that unconditional love with cancer. Try turkey instead! Mmm, turkey…
OK, I’m officially getting down off my soapbox now. It’s not very comfortable anyway, I prefer one of my comfy beds.
T.
Tugger on 06.05.04 @ 07:59 AM EST
Monday, May 31st
Comments
My good people, as a gentle reminder I just wanted to point out that there is an interactive feature to this blog thing, and apparently no one knows how to use it. At the bottom of each of my entries there is a link which says "No Comments." I guess it is not obvious to all, but if you click on that link you can respond to me, or just say MEOW, or even start up your own conversation. Once you leave a comment, it will no longer say NO Comments, and instead it will say 1 Comment or maybe even 2 Comments. In this way we can communicate with each other. You see, #2 still hasn't set me up with my own email address, so until she does, this is the only way that my adoring fans can reach me through cyberspace. Please don't be shy, as this is the only way that I will know that any of you are out there. Apparently this is a very busy time for my employees, so the laps and pets have gotten a little sparse. I obviously need a LITTLE attention from SOMEONE, so PLEASE take advantage of this opportunity.
Meow,
#1
AKA
Tugger
Tugger on 05.31.04 @ 10:35 AM EST
Monday, May 31st
Newbies
mood: Satisfied with my findings
I wanted to let you, my loyal fans, know about some changes here at Chez Tugger (aka Hill Creek). Apparently #2 has been up to her old tricks and has gone and hired some new people. In general I find this a good thing, as there are more hands for petting, more laps for sitting, and more legs to run and fetch me my kibble. However, I was a little perturbed that the supreme commander was not notified of these new arrivals. #2 assures me that the slight was unintentional, that she did not want to bother me with these details since I had so much on my mind. Good egg, that #2.
Since I am supreme commander, though, I felt it my duty to welcome the new fledglings and to make sure they were up to my discerning standards. So I started Friday with Maggie, who is helping us out in the receptionist and kennel areas. I sidled up to her as she was eating (combining two of my favorite things, a lap and a food source). I asked her the basics—would she provide me with constant petting and a lap source, did she know where my food was kept and how I must-being diabetic-always be provided with food, and most importantly, did she like turkey? She laughed at a few of my questions, which was a little confusing as I was in complete earnest. But overall, she passed muster. 
We also have two new assistants (aka the needle-poking and maid-service people), Janetta and Katherine. So far I’ve only met them as they’ve given me my insulin injections (they’re doing just fine with that, I hardly feel it) but they seem to be shaping up nicely. I will need to take each of them aside in the next week or so, though, before those mean doctors and technicians tell them lies and slander, like I need to have my food limited and don’t need another new bed.
Well, now that you’re updated, be sure to come by and say hello to the new faces here. And remind them about where my kibble is located, would ya?
Tugger on 05.31.04 @ 10:22 AM EST
Tuesday, May 18th
Nip and tuck
music: "Like a Surgeon"
mood: Reconsidering my career choice...
As most of you know, one of my many jobs here at Hill Creek is supervising our surgeries. Thankfully, in this area I have a very competent staff so I merely have to check in on them now and again. There’s a lot of stuff they do to get a dog or cat ready for surgery. My technicians, Susan and Jennifer, went to school to learn how to do all this stuff and how to monitor anesthesia in our patients. I want only the best for my kindred spirits who come here for operations! The doctor and technician doing surgery check each animal out to make sure they’re able to undergo anesthesia and surgery. They also make sure each animal gets pain medication before and after surgery. I do not tolerate my fellow cats (and OK dogs too) being painful. Each patient also gets a needle in his or her arm (they call it an IV catheter). I can’t watch this as it diminishes my appetite, but I know it’s for the best. This way they get fluids during surgery to keep them hydrated and keep their blood pressure up. Also, in an emergency the doctor can give emergency drugs directly into the bloodstream.
What I really like best about surgery though is the crazy get-ups those doctors wear. First, they put on this fluffy cap and a mask which covers their nose and mouth. I just can’t understand that, I mean what if they get hungry? How does one munch on kibble through a mask?? It’s crazy I tell you. Then they wash their hands for what seems like three cat-naps. It looks a little obsessive-compulsive to me, but to each his own. Then they look really funny, because they very carefully put on a gown and gloves. Apparently this clothing makes them helpless, as they have to have a technician tie the gown for them, and then the technician has to hand them everything. They call it “sterile technique” but I think it’s just a power-play to force the technicians to cater to their whims. Not that that’s a bad thing mind you, I do it all the time. I just don’t like my turf being encroached upon if you know what I mean.
After surgery the doctor takes off her get-up and suddenly is able to work again. The doctor and technician wake up the patient and carry him or her to a cozy heated cage with a fluffy blanket. I usually check the cage out to make sure the blanket is fluffy enough for my discriminating standards. Someone comes by and checks on the patients periodically to make sure they’re OK.
So as you can see, we do quite a bit for our surgery patients. Not every hospital does all this, but then not every hospital is managed by my supreme self. Meow. Well, I’m off to see if they’ve ordered a cap and mask in my size as I’ve been asking for…
Oh! They did!! Don't I look mahvelous?? Meeeoooww!
Tugger on 05.18.04 @ 07:31 AM EST
Saturday, May 8th
Apparently some creatures have weight issues
mood: Hungry
So today in the middle of my late-morning nap (my second of 10 for the day, very important for me to get all my catnaps in) one of the doctors came out of an exam room all excited. I, rudely awakened, felt duty-bound to see what all the commotion was about. I tell you the life of supreme commander is not easy.
So it appears all the excitement was over a…dog. Specifically a dog named Rex Deese. Apparently this Rex lost 30 pounds in a year. This confused me at first, as sometimes that much weight loss can be associated with medical problems. But it appears that Rex’s mom and dad put him on a…I can barely get the words out….DIET. The thought of it makes my ample frame weak I tell you. I listened in intently after the “D” word. It seems that Rex, who is 11 (the same age as my fabulous self) and a retriever mix, was very arthritic. He had so much trouble getting around that his people were thinking of euthanizing him because they felt that his quality of life was very poor. But they talked with the doctors here who recommended that Rex lose weight to see if it would help. And boy did it ever. He was bouncy as a two-year-old lab. And that, my friends, is bouncy. A little too bouncy for my feline tastes, but to each his own. His parents are very happy, as were the doctors here. He doesn’t have any signs of arthritis now, and isn’t on any medications for pain. He has, as it were, a new “leash” on life.
Now I know what you’re thinking, because I thought it too. Diet, schmiet. I’ve tried them, they never work. Well, this one did. Rex’s people got a diet food made by Hill’s called r/d, and they were very strict about how much they fed him. If he got any treats or snacks, they took away some of his dinner (oh the horror!). They even extended this crazy plan to their cats, who have each lost 3 pounds. Now speaking as a cat I can assure you this is very good work. The doctors and staff here were all very excited and happy for Rex and his family. They even took pictures of him. Now why I wasn’t in the picture is still a mystery, meow.
The doctors here tell me that a pet food company, Purina, did a study on dogs (and why not cats I asked but was given no satisfactory answer, meow). They followed two groups of Labrador retrievers from puppy-hood on for almost ten years. One group was kept at an ideal body weight and the other was fed 25% more than the slim group. The group that was kept lean lived TWO YEARS LONGER!! The slim group also had fewer health problems, and needed fewer medications. These are things the doctors always suspected, but now there’s proof.
Well, all this typing has made me tired. If you’ll all excuse me, I’m late for my noon catnap. Meow.
Tugger on 05.08.04 @ 12:18 PM EST
Tuesday, May 4th
My work is never done
mood: Need you ask? Meow!
From my pre-blog journal
April 6, 2004
I’ve been a little neglectful of my journal lately, but with good reason. My second-in-command decided she would take a week off. Apparently she didn’t feel the need to run it by me first. Never fear, reprisals are imminent. In fact I feel a hairball coming up now.
So being left in the lurch this way, I had ever so many extra duties on top of my very full schedule. I mean I had to cut back on a nap. Not one of those quick 20 minute naps either. Oh the felinity. You wouldn’t believe what it takes to hold this place together when Number Two is away.
For example, yesterday on my surgical room inspection my stool was MISSING. It’s bad enough when I have to wait for Jennifer or Susan to put the stool in its proper place, but this was just beyond the pale. I meowed…TWICE. Jennifer gave me some song and dance about the groomer taking it. Um, meow? And then, insult to injury, she puts a BOX down for me to jump on. Granted, it fit my frame better than the stool but still! Well I didn’t stay long there I can tell you.
The only bright spot has been hanging out with my new friend Bubble. He’s diabetic too, and gets fed a delectable dish he calls 9-lives tuna. I call it little slivers of heaven. Bubble’s got an interesting sashay to his walk, which he says is from the diabetes. It’s getting better though I think.
Well I must be off. I mean SOMEONE has to run this place…
Meow.
Tugger on 05.04.04 @ 07:33 AM EST
Tuesday, May 4th
Single and loving it
mood: A little incredulous
What is it with people that they think I need a girlfriend? I mean, an adoring crowd, a soft bed, a full bowl of kibble, insulin shots twice a day, and a loyal subject to cater to my every whim…THAT’s what I need. Having a girlfriend would imply that I myself would have to cater to someone else, and I’m afraid that will never do. I have far too many responsibilities around here to be roped into something like that!
But back to people and their silly expectations. The other day they tried to do a little matchmaking between my voluptuous self and a svelte young raven-haired thing who recently showed up here. Apparently she was hanging out on “the wrong side of the tracks” (ie in the ROAD) and had been injured. She must have been lost for a while because she was covered in ticks and apparently hadn’t eaten for several days (the horror of which I can hardly imagine!). The doctors decided to let her stay here so that they can make her well and find her a good home. Well, #2 got the brilliant idea that this waif (they are calling her Maggie…something about some bugs that were in her wound I think) should be my girlfriend! (When do I get to have a say in these matters?) She brought her camera and got all ready to shoot pictures of us in some romantic pose. How ridiculous! Then they introduced me to Maggie, and to speak the honest truth, I just wasn’t interested. She just isn’t my type. (Do you remember Cleo? Now SHE was my type!) She's noisy and far too demonstrative with her emotions. But the humans persisted. They put us together in the glass room and watched us like a couple of monkeys at the zoo. This REALLY torqued me off. Was it not CLEAR how I felt the FIRST time I walked away? Oh, the impudence! Well, there AREN'T any pictures I can tell you! Fortunately Jennifer saw the mood I was in and let me out before any further damage was done, but I’m not sure I will ever forgive #2 for that one. Of course Maggie was just mewing away the whole time. I guess she wanted me to like her, but PLEASE. When sparks don’t fly, then there really just isn’t any point.
Deep down inside I wonder if I don’t still miss my dear Cleo. I’ve never really given my heart to anyone else. She was such a catch, and we could have made beautiful biscuits together for a long time. Hospital life just wasn’t for her though. She needed a different kind of excitement (the kind only a home full of loose animals and small children can provide), and I understood that. Occasionally she comes to visit me, and she gets her vaccines while she’s here. For now, that’s enough.
Single and OK with it
Tugger
Tugger on 05.04.04 @ 12:14 AM EST
Sunday, May 2nd
How hard is it to remember once a month?
mood: Just layin' around thinkin' about stuff
It looks like I’ll have to remind my staff about my monthly heartworm prevention again. They always have a lot on their minds, so I have to prompt them at times. Did you all know that we cats can get heartworms? People usually think of dogs getting them, and it’s true that dogs are the normal hosts for these nasty creatures. But cats, being the fabulous creatures we are, apparently can attract these things as well. It’s harder for us to get heartworms, but it can happen from mosquito bites. And the worst part is that often we can’t let our people know that we’re infected. And these nasty things can kill us! I don’t know about you but I’m not going out that way.
Now, being in charge of this hospital means that I don’t get outside ever. I just have way too much to do here! However, those mosquitoes do get inside, so my people want me to be safe. It’s cute how they worry about me. So once a month I get my tasty Heartgard treat. Fans, be sure to get some for your cats next time you’re in. Tell them Tugger sent you. Now if your cat really doesn’t like the Heartgard (hard to believe, but some cats don’t like the taste of beef I guess), my people here at Hill Creek have two other products for cats. The other products are Interceptor (it’s a flavored tablet) and Revolution (it’s drops that go on the back of the neck, and it is also flea and tick control).
I’d better go meow loudly by the calendar now to prompt their feeble human memories.
Tugger on 05.02.04 @ 10:44 PM EST
Saturday, May 1st
Farewell to a loyal subject
mood: A little sad :-(
Bit of a sad day for me today my loyal fans  . One of my favorite ladies-in-waiting (I believe you call them receptionists) has left us for another job. Although I love all my staff, Tammy holds a special place in my heart, as she is the only one who truly understands my food needs. Ah, my mouth is watering now just thinking of how well she piled the food into the bowl, artistically arranging the hairball-control sprinkles on top. She started the tradition of having a second food bowl for me up front. She understood that it is rather a long stroll to the back, and being diabetic it is important for me to have food available at all times. She never harassed me about overeating. Oh, and she seemed to interact well with my “fans” (others call them clients), but really those tasks were secondary to tending to my needs.
Well, I must go rest my paws. Do any of you have any idea how difficult it is to type without opposable thumbs?? And I still have to hack into the computer each time, as my second-in-command (aka Dr. Terll) has yet to get me official on-line access. I tell you, you visit one or two aquarium sites and use the company credit card once and they cut you off cold turkey. Mmmm, turkey….
Tugger on 05.01.04 @ 02:22 PM EST
Thursday, April 29th
Lies and Slander
mood: NOT amused
Hello folks. Hope all my fans are having a better week than I am. I don’t do this often, but I need to let off a little steam. Frankly, it’s been a very trying week. Now as you all know (being my loyal fans) I am an apple-head Siamese. I am NOT a “fat-head” Siamese, and I most definitely am not a “mixed breed” Siamese. Yes, dear fans, believe it or not these slurs have both been lobbed my way this week. Now I have nothing against mixed breed cats, some of my best friends and former girlfriends (ah Cleo…) are mixed breeds and quite stunningly beautiful (meow). However, I do belong to a breed and it has a name. Read your Cat Fancy people!!
So as you can see the week had not been going well. Then today, as I was trying to go about my duties despite the slander being flung my way, I heard all sorts of merriment from the office. Now I THOUGHT I had left #2 (aka Dr. Terll) in there to get some work done. So I sauntered over to see what was going on and found a whole group of my worker bees gaping at a….bird. Apparently my staff is more easily amused than I thought. This screeching plume of feathers had them entranced with his “I’m a pretty bird” and his “My name is Fiasco” routine. I mean please, if you have to announce yourself while hanging upside down in a CAGE then you have some issues. And yet my people would laugh hysterically at his every utterance. It was quite beyond my imagination. I managed to restore some semblance of order and get the lap (aka Dr. Davis) back to writing up her charts but it wasn’t pretty. I will never understand these crazy humans.
Well, I am off for a nice long cat-bath and then to bed. I can only imagine what tomorrow has in store for me.
Tugger on 04.29.04 @ 10:36 PM EST
Wednesday, April 28th
My Birthday
mood: Older but wiser
Here's a picture of me at my big birthday party LAST year (Click on the link). Oh well, at least I have the memories...and the photos!
From my "pre-blog" journal. (I was just waiting for the right time and place to publish this stuff!!!)
March 18, 2004
Well, another birthday has come and gone. I must say the big 11 was a bit of a letdown after the big 1-0. Last year there was a huge party just for me. Sure, they called it a “staff meeting” but really let’s be serious. That many laps don’t just appear for no reason. I also got a new bed and several cards. But this year, squat! AND I had to remind some of them it was my birthday!! It is SO hard to keep good help I tell you. I mean I had to follow Jennifer around for 15 minutes before she remembered, and then she insisted she had to take care of the hospitalized animals. It put me all out of sorts I can tell you. There were the various attempts to make up for their poor planning. The receptionists gave me a catnip toy…with SHAMROCKS on it. Did they think I wouldn’t know that St. Patrick’s Day was YESTERDAY? Everyone wished me a happy birthday, which was nice. And Dr. “the lap” Davis took me for a spin in her chair. I must say the wind in my fur was a nice sensation…I wonder if that’s why humans buy convertibles as they hit middle age? Now for those of you reading at home, your cats may not like being spun around in a chair. It’s not for every cat. But then, I am not your ordinary cat.
So the old 1-1 got me thinking that I should really have my bloodwork checked. My people are getting the word out to owners about the importance of checking blood and urine samples as we cats and dogs get older. I think they call it a senior wellness exam. Now I don’t relish the thought of being labeled a senior, but I am in the double digits now age-wise. After all, we cats age much faster than humans (but much more gracefully I must say). And I am diabetic after all. However, I just can’t see being held down for a blood sample on my birthday. I shall put a reminder in our computer system for them to do that with my annual exam.
Well, I hear someone coming so I’d better log off. A big “meow” to all my fans. I must go inspect the staff. There’s no telling what they’ll be up to without my superb leadership.
Tugger
Tugger on 04.28.04 @ 12:39 AM EST
Tuesday, April 27th
Ahh Spring!
mood: Feeling F(el)ine!
Well I must say that this balmy weather has put a spring in my step. I’ve even had a penchant to chase my yarn balls around the clinic. Sometimes for staff morale I’ll even play a brief game of “fetch” with them. It seems to amuse them no end (they’re so easily amused, it’s quite cute). Sometimes if I’m feeling extremely generous I’ll even do the fetching. However, there are definite rules to Tugger fetch. The ball must be thrown when I am ready, as demonstrated by rapt attention and dilated pupils. It must be thrown INTO the breakroom, and at a certain angle (I prefer it to be at about cat-head height). The Lap (aka Dr. Davis) seems to be a good study of this, and she tries to train the others.
As much as I am enjoying the longer days and mild weather, I am dreading the annual onslaught of the small biting demons. I believe the staff here calls them fleas and ticks. They’ve already begun their assault. Now being 11, I can vaguely recall the dark days before Frontline, Advantage, and Capstar, when we cats were subjected to untold horrors such as flea baths. I grow faint just thinking of it. I saw that the staff has stocked up on Frontline. It’s a very good product, I use it myself once a month (sometimes I have to remind them to put it on me). It gets fleas and ticks and is very safe. The doctors here tell me that’s because it works on a neurotransmitter that’s only found in insects, so there’s nothing for it to work on in us cats (or dogs or humans for that matter). Advantage is very similar but it doesn’t get ticks. Capstar is a pill that’ll kill those demon fleas dead in 30 minutes! It works great, but sometimes cats and dogs will start dancing around after they take it. That’s because those nasty fleas get all excited as they die and make dogs and cats very itchy.
There are a lot of other products out there that look like Frontline, but some of them have chemicals which can be bad for cats (we cats are so very sensitive, like delicate orchids). Some of these chemicals are actually in products labeled for cats. I’ve seen them come into the clinic, they tremble and shake and salivate and sometimes they even seizure. I say I’m worth the extra cost and safety of Frontline. But you cat and dog owners come in and talk with the doctors here, they’ll explain it all.
Well, I’m off to take a nap up front with the receptionists. I think they’re missing me. And of course it’s always a treat to my fans to be able to catch a glimpse of me. The staff calls my fans clients but really, what makes more sense that they come to a veterinary hospital for veterinary care or to see me??
Tugger on 04.27.04 @ 07:37 AM EST
Monday, April 26th
My first blog
mood: Pretty excited...Meeoow!
Hello friends—
My name is Tugger and I have just discovered this wonderful world of BLOG. MEEOOW My coworkers had told me a bit about it, but now that I have learned to get online (no thanks to the woman who calls herself boss around here…she hasn’t even given me my own account yet!) this opens up a whole new realm of opportunity for me. You see, I live at an animal hospital and due to my long hours and highly developed work ethic, I don’t get out much. Now that I have discovered blogging I can finally communicate with all of my fans and they can communicate with me!
For those of you who don’t know me (I’m pretty sure there aren’t many of you in that category…I see an awful lot of people each day), I am Tugger, a lilac point applehead Siamese feline, supervisor par excellence of a veterinary hospital in a small but growing town in North Carolina. You can read all about how I came to be where I am at www.hillcreekvet.com and click on “Office Cats.” Whoever manages the website placed me in that category (because, well, after all, I AM a cat), but they really should have put me in the “Staff” section. No one understands all the important responsibilities I have at the hospital, and if they really took any time to think about it, they would have put me on the right page. Be that as it may, I understand that sometimes people just aren’t quite as bright as they should be, and I usually manage to forgive them. Eventually. But anyway, if you read the section on me, you will learn that I have managed to hold down all of my many jobs at the clinic despite having the potentially debilitating disease diabetes. I am very lucky in that the doctors who work here seem to understand my condition pretty well, and even though it is annoying getting shots every day, I have learned that I feel pretty yucky when I don’t get them.
Enough about me (for now). You should know that I have two female friends who share clinic duties with me, but they don’t know how to type. Sissy and Rosie are both getting on in years and I don’t think they understand computer technology very well. I also have a myriad of people who work for me, although they prefer to believe that they work for the doctor who started the clinic. I’m not so sure about that, but as long as we all understand who’s really in charge, I can handle sharing the “boss” title. I hope that you will enjoy hearing about my daily adventures (and believe me it can get pretty exciting around here), cuz I love to tell stories. Meeeooow. This took a pretty long time to type and it took a lot out of me. Thank goodness for spell-check. I’m pretty sure it’s time for a snack and a nap!
Tugger
Tugger on 04.26.04 @ 01:12 PM EST
Tugger's Log Home
Tugger's Log Archives
Tugger's Biography
HillCreekVet Home
My name is Tugger. I live at an animal hospital and due
to my long hours and highly developed work ethic, I
don't get out much. Now that I have discovered blogging
I can finally communicate with all of my fans and they
can communicate with me!
For those of you who don't know me (I'm pretty sure
there aren't many of you in that category...I see an
awful lot of people each day), I am Tugger, a lilac
point applehead Siamese feline, supervisor par
excellence of a veterinary hospital in a small but
growing town in North Carolina.
Click here to read more about me.
You will learn that I have managed to hold down all
of my many jobs at the clinic despite having the
potentially debilitating disease diabetes. I am very
lucky in that the doctors who work here seem to
understand my condition pretty well, and even though
it is annoying getting shots every day, I have learned
that I feel pretty yucky when I don't get them.
I have a myriad of people who work for me, although
they prefer to believe that they work for the doctor
who started the clinic. I'm not so sure about that,
but as long as we all understand who's really in charge,
I can handle sharing the "boss" title. I hope that you
will enjoy hearing about my daily adventures (and
believe me it can get pretty exciting around here),
cuz I love to tell stories.
Meeeooow.
By the way, if you want to leave a comment, the password is "hcvh".
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