Ruby Likes Her French Toast

I am glad Scentsy bars are non-toxic. It smelt a lot like breakfast downstairs and Garrett said that Ruby's breath smelled like syrup well..... she had fun in my Scentsy bar stash I discovered, especially the French Toast. She didn't eat any really, just more chewed up the containers but still.... Ugg. Child....

Just Wanted to Share

So we moved one of their cat towers to the sunroom and they love it. I just wanted to share this photo because I love how Sydney is positioned.

She Deerly Loves Ruby's Pool

So yesterday a deer walked through our neighbor's yard and then onto ours. The deer then proceeded to drink from Ruby's pool. When Ruby discovered what I was looking and taking pictures of, she came over. I mean, what could be more important than taking pictures of her? Ruby immediately wanted to go outside. When I didn't let her out, she eyed the doe until she was out of sight.

Now I have another reason to keep Ruby's pool full.

Study Buddies

For some reason my posts weren't uploading yesterday so I am going to try again.
Yesterday was my first day of homework. I would work on my homework during my one hour lunch breaks but I really needed to be on a computer. So yesterday was my type up homework, submit, and take tests day.

Ruby and Emmy were great study buddies and were very supportive.

Ruby's Remedies

Life has been busy for us here. Last week I had my college graduation ceremony and started summer quarter. Yep, going back to college after I just left.

Yesterday Ruby was "on the hunt" as our neighbor called it. She was playing ball and came back without a ball. After told to go get her ball, she disappeared into the woods. 25-30 minutes later she was back home on a leash. My parents were petsitting and this was quite an adventure. Heads up kind neighbors, Ruby likes hiding her balls in the woods after running across your property. Apparently our bushes and woods aren't good enough.

Anyway, here is what Ruby's allergy regimen looks like. 2 tablets (total 50mg) of Benadryl in the morning and 2 tablets at night. The peanut butter, which is free of Xylitol (toxic to dogs!) is great for covering up her Benadryl. Then she gets 1 tablespoon of the coconut oil in the morning and 1 tablespoon at night.

It seems to be working too!

Walk to End Epilepsy 2015

So Ruby and I went to a fundraiser walk benefitting research and a day camp for children with Epilepsy. Well, I thought it was a 1k walk. I was very wrong. So we found out at the start of it that it was a 5k. Ruby and I completed it in under 1 1/2 hours. Not too bad.

 Chillin' in the car waiting for it to start

The t-shirt is white this year

A before walk photo. Look at those eyes!

Ruby is such a good sniffer

All tuckered out.

And so she found herself a stick. :)

Like Peas and Carrots

Alright. So Ruby hadn't been eating her dry food. One day she would eat a little so I would become not concerned. Well, yesterday she hadn't touched her food at all. All she was going off of was her can of wet food, coconut oil, and peanut butter with her Benadryl. Obviously she wasn't pooping as much as she should have or usually does.

As you may remember, Ruby has a grain allergy. I am in the process of switching her over to non-grain food.

*Update!!! Successfully switched over to grain free treats!!!*

So I gave her some new food on top of her current food, starting maybe 3 weeks ago. She gobbled up the new food. Success!!!! so I thought.

Back to yesterday:

I had them mixed in the same bowl going on for 3 or so weeks. Makes sense right for switching dog food brands right? Well.... On a whim I decided to separate them.

I put the new food in one bowl and kept her current/old food in the existing bowl. So once I separated them....

BAM!!!

Ruby went to town! She ate all of the new dog food that I had just separated and then went to work on her usual food.

I am happy to say that Ruby ate all of her dry food and wet food and is back to pooping 3 times a day!

People think I am weird for getting excited for when she poops, but we came a long way from when we first got her. Parents of furchildren and human children totally understand what I am talking about. Not pooping is a concern.  We were spoiled when she pooped more than once.

So I am excited that based on today, I say that we are back in track.

Moral of the story- she does not like different types of food touching each other.

Ruby The Guard Dog

Ruby and I were at PetsMart yesterday and she was in a mood. I mean, good grief. She didn't want any big dogs by her and would snarl at them. Not my usual Ruby.

Anyway. Whenever we go to PetsMart she always does something hilarious. This time she was barking at a giant fake dog hanging from the ceiling. The giant fake dog was hanging from the ceiling as part of their system for distinguishing the dog area. She kept going and going, barking and howling.

Well, I know I am safe from giant fake dogs hanging from the ceiling. You make me feel so much safer Ruby. Good job!

Still Losing Fur

So Ruby has been losing more and more fur. As you know, the Benadryl has helped her stop scratching so that is good. I am still concerned and so yesterday I took her to Banfield. All of my furchildren are on Banfield's Optimum Wellness Plan Active Prevention and I highly recommend you look more into it. So I went there with Ruby to see if they had any room for walk ins. I had decided beforehand that just talking with a vet tech and having them take a look would be fine. So there was no room for walk ins but I was able to get a vet tech.

She knew what she was doing and was very familiar with the breed. So she started from scratch; brought out a flea comb. No fleas. She checked out Ruby's fur next. No sign of mange or irritated skin- her skin was pure white. I told her what the vet had said about grain allergies and skin allergies and the Benadryl amount she could take.

That vet happened to be there so she went in the back to talk to her. So Ruby's new plan consists of:

Morning:
2 - 25mg tablets of Benadryl
1 Tablespoon of Virgin Coconut Oil

Night:
2 - 25mg tablets of Benadryl
1 Tablespoon of Virgin Coconut Oil

She also recommended a shampoo with oatmeal, but I already have one.

Ruby is going in in 2 weeks for her Lyme booster vaccine, so if she is still losing fur, perhaps do a skin scrape at that time.

So I have my plan and today is the first day I am doing the entire process.

Total bill/cost: $0!!!

Yep, walk ins/appointments are covered under the plan and so are free.

Ruby versus Sydney

So it has been awhile since I posted obviously.

Ruby has a new fascination with getting to the kitty side of the living room. That side has their litter boxes, food, water, etc. Just when we think we blocked off the way she was getting in, she proves us wrong. I can't believe how small of areas she can get through.

So....

Because of her getting over to the cat side and eating all of their food (which I am very displeased about) Sydney is having issues. Sydney is my sensitive furchild. I already told you that if it gets too hot she doesn't intake enough water. Sydney is also very sensitive to her privacy. Ruby broke that privacy and so Sydney made that clear to me by peeing on her chair. Yes, she has her own chair. This chair is set up with a plastic bag over the seat cushion and a pillow case on top. Why? Because she always pees there when there is an issue. Hopefully this won't happen again for awhile.

National Best Friends' Day- Throwback Time

So today is supposedly Best Friends' Day. PAWS of Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap County posted this old photo of mine.

This is Cindi (dog) and Oliver (cat). They both have passed away but now I have a new cute pair. I don't think I have posted this picture before.

Ms. Ruby and Ms. Emmy.

Why Did The Deer Cross the Road?

Early this morning Garrett let Ruby out to go potty. There  was a deer in one of my brother's canopies. Ruby took off and so did the deer. She chased it down our tiny road until it went into the main road. Luckily she stopped there and came back.

So if anyone asks you why did the deer cross the road...

You can answer...

To get away from Ruby!

Hot Day

Good grief it is hot! Plus, grass pollen is up which is not making me happy. I have been cleaning inside this afternoon so I have been free from sneezing. This morning was aweful!

Here is Ben mid-yawn during his hot Sunday nap.

Benadryl for Ruby!!!! Success!!!!

After getting one dose of Benadryl yesterday, there was an immense reduction in her scratching. I only saw her scratch once! She got a dose at 9 am and then I gave one to her around 5pm. She had just retrieved her ball from the bushes and started to try and scratch and lick a spot so I gave her the second dose. After Benadryl, nothing. Benadryl is the trick for her thank goodness! Now her fur can grow back. And oh, no scratching at all today except for the bush incident. ;)

Benadryl for Ruby- Day 2

So I gave Ruby her second dose of Benadryl, though her first for the day. I was having no luck with hiding it in treats or pilling her. So I tried peanut butter. I was really against using peanut butter since Garrett has allergies to peanuts and I am not sure how sensitive it is. My thinking is that I use peanut butter 5+ hours before he gets home. That way the peanut butter should be out of her system and out of her saliva. So I figure that by the time he gets home and she can lick his face, it should be safe.

Caught in the Act! Ruby and Destruction Derby!!!

So last Saturday I went to Destruction Derby with Garrett and one of his coworkers. At the end of the events for the night, they throw stuffed animals up into the bleachers. I actually got 2.... I thought.

I get home and guess what happens? Ruby claims them. Now they are both Ruby's toys.

I finally got a picture of her yesterday spotted paw! (instead of red handed since she has paws and they are spotted.)

Adopt a Shelter Cat Month- Spotlight on Benjamin

Benjamin!!!!

I wanted a new kitten, and I wanted it to be a boy. We still had Sydney and Emmy, but I was missing a boy furchild since Oliver passed away. I convinced Garrett and we went to the Kitsap Humane Society. It was definintely kitten season! There were so many but many were medium to long haired and Garrett has allergies to cats. Yep, you read that right- allergies to cats of which we have 3. I wanted a kitten that day and I found one that was available...only it was more of a medium haired. Garrett had been looking around and found this little one, though I forgot his original name. Benjamin played with his fingers and Garrett knew that he was the one. So unhappily, we wanted until the next day when he would be off of stray hold. You bet that we were there before they even opened! This is serious stuff I tell you.

His first Halloween! He was a dinosaur.

So we adopted him and he had an immediate name change. Man, Benjamin was quite and still is, full of energy. It had been awhile since we had a kitten, like 1 to 2 months old kitten. Things were going well, the girls were accepting him. However, he started coughing, sneezing a lot and was wheezing. So I brought him in and the thought was an upper respiratory infection since those are common in shelters. Benjamin was put on antibiotics but it was not working. So he had this going on as well as worms. The worms were taken care of immediately with some dewormer so I just needed to watch the sneezing and coughing. I wasn't worried about the worms with the girls. They were on Revolution which protected them against the worms he had. Also, I have all the furchildren on an Optimum Wellness Plan so they get dewormers routinely, I think every 6 months, I don't recall. Having them on a plan is the best idea ever and I save so much money.

Benjamin at his first appointment! So tiny!!!

Anyway...

So the antibiotics weren't working and he was getting due for more boosters. They didn't wanted Benjamin to get the boosters since he wasn't in the greatest of health. Dr. Guzman at Banfield gave me options- xray his chest or blood work. I chose blood work. Dr. Guzman explored every option of what his blood could be tested for and thank goodness he did. So, feline kennel cough is extremely rare. I mean extremely rare as at that time, they didn't even have a test for it. Luckily, Dr. Guzman tested his blood work against the dog kennel cough. And bam! That was what was wrong. Benjamin got on medicine and got better in time to stay on schedule for his boosters. What a crazy start to life for this kitty.

Purse kitty!

It seems like the kennel cough has had no impact on him. Benjamin likes going on walks- yes, he walks on a leash. However, he prefers to walk where he wants to walk. Benjamin has a cute little harness and everything. So I was into doing fundraiser walks and it got boring doing them myself so Benjamin inspired me to get a stroller.

Someone likes the stroller!

Walk to End Epilepsy

Benjamin liked baths for awhile. One time he was getting a bath and then the water temperature suddenly changed which caused him to have a seizure. :( 

Now he only gets wipe baths.

Benjamin likes going on car rides!!

 In daddy's truck when he was younger

I almost want to say he has calmed down a bit, but that would be a lie. He loves playing with Ruby! It started off with him just wacking at her, but now they actually play. As in chase. I think he was upset at first because he wasn't the youngest anymore.

Checking out the hermit crabs

Aww... A cat's life.

He kept it on! Kudos to Ben!

Emmy is definitely Ben's favorite play buddy. Occasionally he plays with Sydney, but she is a lot more vocal than Emmy about when enough is enough.

Monkey Ben!

Bird watching.

Benjamin has also taken an interest in our tortoise, Harvey.

After watching one of those reality shows, I think Swamp People or whatever Benjamin wanted to go alligator hunting. We have a fake alligator head and he climbed up the shelving unit and brought it down. Copy cat! Cat... get it? **cheesy joke**

Benjamin does not have a hard time at all getting into trouble. Let me show you!

Yep... all by himself.

It took me awhile to figure out how he pulled that off

After knocking a lot of trucks down, he needed help to get down.

Enough said...

He has a bunch of fun moments too!!!

Super kitty!

Making sure that I don't miss a spot. ;)

Well, we thought it was hilarious. He doesn't seem happy but he was actually purring. Go figure!

Watching The Voice.

Benadryl for Ruby - Day 1

As you may know, Ruby has a grain allergy. The doctor said that since it is a grain allergy, she has a high chance of having other allergies especially skin. So I was told that I could give her Benadryl 25 mg - 2 tablets twice a day. I hadn't done the Benadryl since the doctor said when needed and she hadn't been needing it.

Well, recently Ruby has been scratching more and is starting to lose fur or at least decrease the amount of fur in those areas. She doesn't have fleas and grass and tree pollen has been extremely high so... I decided it was time to crack out the Benadryl. Ruby got her first tablet tonight and will get more tomorrow. I am not going to do the full dose as I want to see how much she really needs. Also, I got her some dog shampoo that contains oatmeal. Yes, a grain but hopefully the calming of the oatmeal mix will calm her skin instead of irritate it. May as well give it a try since I don't know if her grain allergy is intense or not. She has some food that has grain in it and only really has bad gas so it doesn't seem extreme. I will find out soon enough after she gets a bath won't I? But who knows, maybe the Benadryl will keep that kind of effect from happening.

We will see....

Adopt a Shelter Cat Month- Spotlight on Emmy

Emmy!!!!

We adopted Emmy in 2010. I had started working at Ridgetop Animal Hospital a couple months earlier and after seeing all of the furchildren, wanted more of my own. So I convinced my husband, Garrett, to let us get another cat. So before I went to work, I stopped by the Kitsap Humane Society. There I saw two kittens- at the older age of kitten, and both were not available for adoption. They didn't have any paperwork because they were on stray hold. I asked someone why there was no paperwork and they went in the back to find out. The staff member came back with paperwork for both of them. I was looking to adopt a girl and I was going to name her after Emmy Rossum who played Christine in The Phantom of the Opera movie. After I had sent pictures of the two choices to Garrett and he said it was up to me, I decided on Emmy, and when the paperwork arrived, was relieved that Emmy was a she. In fact, she was released off of stray hold that day. And Pow! We adopted her.

Emmy joined our family and brought youth to our gang. These are the earlier pictures of Emmy with Oliver (left) and Sydney (bottom). I am not sure if Oliver (at that time 14) and Sydney (at that time 4) was quite ready for the increase in activity, but they accepted her anyway.

Emmy was the first cat that was added to the family while Garrett and I were together. I already had Oliver and Sydney, so there was a special bond between them.

She definitely showed her spunky character right away!

Trying to attack the hermit crabs

Drinking from a water bottle lid

 Cat tower rope fun!

Not hiding very well

I started fostering kittens for the Kitsap Humane Society and even though she was young, Emmy still took them under her wing.

When Oliver passed away, Sydney and Emmy got closer. I think that if Emmy wasn't there, Sydney would have distanced herself from everyone.

Emmy going on a "walk" and trying to eat grass

Emmy is now a lot bigger, though her veterinarian says that she is still a healthy weight for her body structure. Garrett disagrees and I just say that she has more to love.

Benjamin joined our family last year and there hasn't been a dull moment since! I don't think Sydney (at that time 7), and Emmy (at that time 4, almost 5), was expecting a 1ish-2ish month old, but they definitely get along! 

Emmy is definitely Benjamin's favorite play buddy. Though sometimes she has had enough and hisses and wacks at him. She has to do this a couple times before he moves on.

Trying to attack the moving wand

One of the cutest photo of the both of them in my opinion

Emmy on the sneak attack!

Going on a stroller ride together (yes, that is Harvey in the basket)

We also have a tortoise named Harvey and Emmy has sure taken a liking to him.

Ruby came into our family this year and it is amazing how well they do together, They groom each other, play chase with each other, Emmy sleeps between her legs and on her head (thank goodness! Mine finally gets a break!), etc

My early morning sleeping buddies (yes, that is 6:43 am)

Yep, Ruby's paw.