All About Our Pets(Pics, Advice, Etc)

Veterinary Science Graduate Certificate from UofI
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JaynaAli said:
They don't have to touch the animals. You take her out of the carrier when you reach the front of the security checkpoint, send the empty carrier through the xray machine, and carry her in your arms through the metal detector (you don't use the newer thing where you raise your arms over your head). When you get through the metal detector, you'll be pulled aside while still carrying her and get both of your hands swabbed for explosives. Once the test is done they'll say you're good, you can put her back in the carrier, and be on your way. It took maybe 5 minutes all told? I was nervous with my dog but it was all pretty fast and efficient and I was flying out of a large airport early in the morning when it was very busy. It was a little awkward changing hands I was holding the dog in while they were swabbing me but it was ok.
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Thank you so much for the details. I really appreciate it!! :D If I had a "normal" cat I think I would be less worried, but alas...
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@serher in that case, I'm wondering how your cat might react to various changes in cabin pressure (e.g., ascent, cruising altitude, descent), and loud mechanical noises (e.g, nose gear retraction, ailerons, PA system, etc.), and many other unusual sensations (e.g., take-offs and landings) and unfamiliar smells (e.g., aviation fuel, other passengers)?

Any thoughts or ideas?

By the way, one of my best friends is a commercial airline captain who loves cats. We talk about flying all the time.
 
One thing I did that was probably overkill but during take off and landing I fed her little bits of treats to get her to swallow and equalize the pressure because I didn't know how the pressure would effect her ears and I'm a worrier. When I travelled with her I only got my hands swabbed on the way back at security, so that won't always happen. If you can, try to have a harness/leash with the least amount of metal possible to reduce risk of setting off the metal detector. Also don't bring any canned food if you can help it... my cat was on Rx food on the way back and I had a can with me and security threw a fit about it being over 3 oz. Finally, during my layovers, I always go find a quiet hallway or empty gate to sit in rather than staying where it's busy and just walk over to the gate right when it's time to board. If you are going to sedate, make sure you do a trial run before you fly to see how they react, and make sure you give it with enough time for it to kick in while they are still relaxed at home, because if you try to give it once they are stressed it doesn't have nearly the effect as if you give it when they are still chilled out.

@serher
 
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Oh and I also cover the carrier on all three sides except the one facing me whenever we are sitting at a gate, or on the plane, just to help her stay calm.
 
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All of you are so helpful! You made me a lot less worried cat parent :p Thanks again.
 
Doctor-S said:
@serher in that case, I'm wondering how your cat might react to various changes in cabin pressure (e.g., ascent, cruising altitude, descent), and loud mechanical noises (e.g, nose gear retraction, ailerons, PA system, etc.), and many other unusual sensations (e.g., take-offs and landings) and unfamiliar smells (e.g., aviation fuel, other passengers)?

Any thoughts or ideas?

By the way, one of my best friends is a commercial airline captain who loves cats. We talk about flying all the time.
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My cat is deaf so I guess the noise is one less thing for her to be scared about :p Thanks for all of the thoughts. Aloha gave a good suggestion for altitude changes.
 
serher said:
Do any of you have experience flying with a cat? I was curious if flying back and forth between school and home (maybe twice a year?) is too stressful for them? I assume it depends on the cat, but if anyone has any experience or tips that would make it less stressful I would love to hear!

I present you with a kitten picture in exchange for your input (thank you!)

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I'm so sorry I can't answer your question, but I just wanted to say your cat is super cute!
 
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serher said:
All of you are so helpful! You made me a lot less worried cat parent :p Thanks again.
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My cat's a pro at flying. I doubt she likes it, but she shows no signs of stress. She just chills in her carrier under the seat in front of me, and resumes peeing/pooping/eating as soon as I get her to our destination.

Aloha and Jayna gave you some good advice about going through security, and I have one more thing to add: whenever you fly (whether you're with your cat or not) you can ask TSA agents to screen you separately. I did that when flying with a bunny, and it was definitely lower stress for both of us- she didn't have to be carried through security and I didn't have to worry about her hopping away since we were in a closed room. If you're worried about going through security, I recommend getting to the airport early and doing that the first time. However, since your cat likes her carrier (mine does too), you may find it faster and easier to just carry her through. Since security can be a little chaotic, my cat is fine with me holding her and she's eager to go back in her carrier once we're done.
 
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Here's some floof overload for your enjoyment. Pory is getting a dental this week, probably pull her last 4 teeth lol

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serher said:
My cat is deaf so I guess the noise is one less thing for her to be scared about :p Thanks for all of the thoughts. Aloha gave a good suggestion for altitude changes.
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@serher have you placed your kitten in her cat carrier, and then taken her for an extended drive in a car?

That might give you some initial clues about how she might react to motion, while being in a cat carrier, in a moving car.

It's not the same thing as flying, but it might be a worthwhile experiment at this time.
 
Me: petting Lil Mac, kissing him, and giving him chin rubs
Lil Mac: purring, reaching his paws out, and oh yup he's definitely just eating my hair right now

Sometimes I think I'm nuts to love this cat as much as I do :laugh: :rolleyes:
 
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Sorry to thread jump, seems more appropriate here for pet-related stuff and I need to get it out of my brain.

So just passed the 72hr mark post-gigantic meloxicam overdose. I feel pretty emotionally exhausted. Pup doing well clinically (I think exhausted from all of the hospital jumping) but renal values slightly up at 48hr mark so continuing to fluid support and will recheck tomorrow AM at work. He spent the night at one of our big referral places where they had to put a medial saph catheter because his poor stubby legs were blown or wouldn't feed. Came home late last night after 12hrs at work and then dropping him at overnight place and just bawled. I'm just so ready for this all to be over so he doesn't have to wear his cone or sit in his crate/a cage all day and can go on to live a normal dopey puppy life.
 
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that redhead said:
Sorry to thread jump, seems more appropriate here for pet-related stuff and I need to get it out of my brain.

So just passed the 72hr mark post-gigantic meloxicam overdose. I feel pretty emotionally exhausted. Pup doing well clinically (I think exhausted from all of the hospital jumping) but renal values slightly up at 48hr mark so continuing to fluid support and will recheck tomorrow AM at work. He spent the night at one of our big referral places where they had to put a medial saph catheter because his poor stubby legs were blown or wouldn't feed. Came home late last night after 12hrs at work and then dropping him at overnight place and just bawled. I'm just so ready for this all to be over so he doesn't have to wear his cone or sit in his crate/a cage all day and can go on to live a normal dopey puppy life.
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I missed the initial post but ew. I'm sorry about your pup, and fingers crossed for happy kidneys!
 
Took my best girl to an ortho/sports medicine specialist this afternoon for ongoing gait abnormalities and lameness issues that I haven't been able to solve. Overall it was a "good" diagnosis (sartorius strain, not joint pain), but I'm still a little heartbroken. Rest (no agility :( ), muscle relaxants, and a few weeks of PT and hopefully we can start training again. I hate that she's getting older (10 this year) and I hate that this issue is keeping her from doing things that we both enjoy.

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cowgirla said:
Took my best girl to an ortho/sports medicine specialist this afternoon for ongoing gait abnormalities and lameness issues that I haven't been able to solve. Overall it was a "good" diagnosis (sartorius strain, not joint pain), but I'm still a little heartbroken. Rest (no agility :( ), muscle relaxants, and a few weeks of PT and hopefully we can start training again. I hate that she's getting older (10 this year) and I hate that this issue is keeping her from doing things that we both enjoy.

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@cowgirla she's a fluffy little cutie-pie!

Although you may be feeling a little heartbroken right now, imagine how happy you'll both feel when she's feeling well enough to do the things you both enjoy.

Hope your best girl feels better soon!

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cowgirla said:
I missed the initial post but ew. I'm sorry about your pup, and fingers crossed for happy kidneys!
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Thanks :) Renal values down today but still just a touch over normal. I pulled his IVC and will recheck early next week I think. We're over 100hrs out and he is still doing fine clinically...I feel like I still can't relax but if he were anyone's dog but my own I'd probably tell people to just be patient, recheck and monitor for signs. Sigh.
 
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Throwing away alll anonymity (as if I had any anyways) for this but I need help. I'll be entering this contest Win a custom halter if your horse has the coolest Irish-themed name but I need help choosing a picture. I've shown my horse as Bailey's American Cream, a bad joke on Bailey's Irish Cream. Here are a couple pictures that I can't decide between.

I have an aaaawwwwwe picture, an ironic picture, an action picture, and a professional picture

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Balesofhay said:
Throwing away alll anonymity (as if I had any anyways) for this but I need help. I'll be entering this contest Win a custom halter if your horse has the coolest Irish-themed name but I need help choosing a picture. I've shown my horse as Bailey's American Cream, a bad joke on Bailey's Irish Cream. Here are a couple pictures that I can't decide between.

I have an aaaawwwwwe picture, an ironic picture, an action picture, and a professional picture

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Third one! Fourth one is good too, but I think the third is most visually interesting.
 
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Balesofhay said:
Throwing away alll anonymity (as if I had any anyways) for this but I need help. I'll be entering this contest Win a custom halter if your horse has the coolest Irish-themed name but I need help choosing a picture. I've shown my horse as Bailey's American Cream, a bad joke on Bailey's Irish Cream. Here are a couple pictures that I can't decide between.

I have an aaaawwwwwe picture, an ironic picture, an action picture, and a professional picture

View attachment 216838 View attachment 216839 View attachment 216841 View attachment 216842
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I still like them all and am bad at decisions hahahha:laugh:
 
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Balesofhay said:
Throwing away alll anonymity (as if I had any anyways) for this but I need help. I'll be entering this contest Win a custom halter if your horse has the coolest Irish-themed name but I need help choosing a picture. I've shown my horse as Bailey's American Cream, a bad joke on Bailey's Irish Cream. Here are a couple pictures that I can't decide between.

I have an aaaawwwwwe picture, an ironic picture, an action picture, and a professional picture

View attachment 216838 View attachment 216839 View attachment 216841 View attachment 216842
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@Balesofhay I like all of the photos.

The 3rd photo features an action-oriented activity (which I prefer) and the 4th photo is simply horse-lovely (look at that carefree toppled mane)!

I wish you the best of success!
 
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Coopah said:
There's a stripe on your butt. Did anyone else immediately focus on that? Also I love the third :love:
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You mean the fullsest section of my breeches? Kerrits are weird like that. They seperate the full seat panels
 
I need ideas for bunny day enrichment toys/treats.

My little black lop is on the hyper side compared to her sister. She wants to chew up everything and dig holes in their rug. I'd like to get her to stop destroying rugs though (at least until I finish a base for their pen). I gave them a little shelf so they can jump up and down. I gave them a tunnel to run through. I've given them cardboard to tear up, which they seem to like. They're not very interested in non-chewing toys like little plastic tossing toys/balls.

What I'm going to try this week is making them little paper treat bags filled with hay and some dried papaya or yogurt drops. I can throw it into their pen or hang it from the top like a little rabbit pinata.
 
Jess Monster said:
I need ideas for bunny day enrichment toys/treats.

My little black lop is on the hyper side compared to her sister. She wants to chew up everything and dig holes in their rug. I'd like to get her to stop destroying rugs though (at least until I finish a base for their pen). I gave them a little shelf so they can jump up and down. I gave them a tunnel to run through. I've given them cardboard to tear up, which they seem to like. They're not very interested in non-chewing toys like little plastic tossing toys/balls.

What I'm going to try this week is making them little paper treat bags filled with hay and some dried papaya or yogurt drops. I can throw it into their pen or hang it from the top like a little rabbit pinata.
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My bunny was similar, and she absolutely loved phonebooks and cardboard boxes.
 
Jess Monster said:
I need ideas for bunny day enrichment toys/treats.

My little black lop is on the hyper side compared to her sister. She wants to chew up everything and dig holes in their rug. I'd like to get her to stop destroying rugs though (at least until I finish a base for their pen). I gave them a little shelf so they can jump up and down. I gave them a tunnel to run through. I've given them cardboard to tear up, which they seem to like. They're not very interested in non-chewing toys like little plastic tossing toys/balls.

What I'm going to try this week is making them little paper treat bags filled with hay and some dried papaya or yogurt drops. I can throw it into their pen or hang it from the top like a little rabbit pinata.
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We would stuff TP tubes with hay, and it would keep our bunnies pretty entertained.
 
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Working lines?? What working lines? I got a slacker...
 

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Well, my dog's surgery is scheduled for April 11. I'm really upset that I can't be there for her. My mom intended on waiting until summer so I'm glad she actually told me what was going on, I told her just to get it done ASAP. What started out as a lipoma on FNA turned into a mass that tripled in size over a month or so and two other lumps popping up out of the blue. We haven't discussed lipomas in any classes yet so I don't quite know if that's normal or if what we thought was a lipoma is actually something worse. Chest rads are perfect. It's just scary to come home to a dog with a massive lump on her side that was significantly smaller just a few weeks prior.
 
pinkpuppy9 said:
Well, my dog's surgery is scheduled for April 11. I'm really upset that I can't be there for her. My mom intended on waiting until summer so I'm glad she actually told me what was going on, I told her just to get it done ASAP. What started out as a lipoma on FNA turned into a mass that tripled in size over a month or so and two other lumps popping up out of the blue. We haven't discussed lipomas in any classes yet so I don't quite know if that's normal or if what we thought was a lipoma is actually something worse. Chest rads are perfect. It's just scary to come home to a dog with a massive lump on her side that was significantly smaller just a few weeks prior.
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@pinkpuppy9 sorry to hear about your dog and sending you lots of kind thoughts! Glad your Mom told you now, and wondering if your dog's DVM wanted to aspirate any of the lumps before April 11?
 
Doctor-S said:
@pinkpuppy9 sorry to hear about your dog and sending you lots of kind thoughts! Glad your Mom told you now, and wondering if your dog's DVM wanted to aspirate any of the lumps before April 11?
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From what I was told, it sounds like the doctor said to just go ahead and take them out (at least the one that keeps growing, which is the one we aspirated already). At least this way they'll be sent out for pathology so we can know for sure what we're dealing with.
 
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Thought I would share this picture of my ridiculously spoiled cat named Darcy. She has a suspected bladder infection and gets to go the vet today. This week is going to be one of the busiest of the semester and I was counting on today to prepare. I asked her if she could've waited until next week to get an infection, but she wasn't having it. :p
 

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