Animal Pain And Suffering Often Go Unnoticed

 

MeOW  Welcome to Service Cats and Everything Feline on Furidays. Each week we tackle questions and topics you’ve suggested. If you’ve missed any posts in this series or want to re-read one or more, you can always find them on our Training Tips and Everything Feline page. If you have questions or topic suggestions, purrlease leave them in the comments below or send us an email via our Contact page. Last week we started a mini-series on Pet Food Ingredients and what you need to know about the food you’re buying and feeding your pets. You can read it here. It’s unfortunate that this has to be such a confusing topic and that money and not the health of animals are what drive the pet food industry. That being said, mommy’s had a very heavy heart this week and is hijackin’ today’s post fur another very ‘purrtant subject. Me will be back next week with Pt. 2 of our Pet Food Ingredients mini-series.

 

Please understand, this is not a pity me post. The point of this post is to hopefully help you understand how amazing and miraculous our furry family members are.

 

    

 

 

 

     Hello everyone, mommy A here. As most of you know by now, Raena’s annual medical appointment didn’t turn out quite like we had planned. Altho’ I am certainly happy that we finally have an answer as to why her eyes have been bothering her for her entire life; I’m furious it took so long. After all, I’ve taken her in several times a year every year trying to find out why they were so irritated and trying to find a way to help her. Yes, I know it’s not my fault and I’ve done the best I could with the information I had. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t blame myself to some extent. That’s on me, but most of you loving pet parents totally understand where I’m coming from.

 

     Raena’s diagnosis is that she has a mild case of Entropion, which can be successfully treated with surgery. That means her lower lids fold inward causing the small hairs to scratch her eyes constantly. This is a very painful condition. I ought to know. I had an eyelash embed in my eyelid once and had to have surgery to remove it. Before it was diagnosed however, the pain was almost unbearable. You can’t stop blinking, which causes the cornea/eyeball to be scratched over and over again and the eyes to water. Wiping the discharge hurts even more, because the hairs are pushed into the cornea even more. I had only 1 eyelash scratching mine and it was found within 2 weeks of it embedding in the lid. But those 2 weeks were miserable. It affected my mood, and everything I did. I could barely see out of the affected eye, and everything hurt, sunshine, lights, sleeping, blinking, etc..

 

 

 

 

     Another issue Raena has is a mild case of gingivitis and plaque build up. We won’t know until she has a dental if there are other issues going on such as, tooth resorption or some other periodontal disease. Having been through my own dental issues recently, I know what that kind of pain can be like and how it can affect everything in your life. Both of these conditions are fairly common in both cats and dogs, and can and should be treated. 

 

     Basically, Raena has been in enormous pain her entire life. Why is that so remarkable you ask? Well, I love my girls more than anything in this world, and over the last few days I thought about how much they love me. And then I thought about all the furry family members out there, including the ones who are being abused by their not so loving families. Whether you believe our animals love us because we’re their source for food or because they choose too is irrelevant because the truth is, even when they’re in enormous pain and discomfort, they will still love us and try to please us.

 

 

 

 

     Over the last 2 1/2 years of Raena’s life, she has endured Service Cat Training while living in constant pain. Never once did she get angry or refuse to train. As always, she’s willing to please and puts forth every effort to complete whatever task she’s given. Even on days when her eyes were so gunky she could barely open them, she was always right beside me doing whatever she could to make my life easier. She’s always there for a snuggle and purr. There have been many days when she couldn’t open one of her eyes at all, and still, she was ever present to alert or massage or whatever might be needed.

 

     It makes me so angry to think about, but an abused animal will show love and devotion to their abuser, the person who hurts them. With halloween approaching my thoughts race to those animals who through no fault of their own may be tortured or killed just because. My thoughts go to those animals who have been rescued from perilous situations and regardless of their physical pain still have the capacity to love and try to please us humans.

 

Be our voice. Take away our pain.

 

 

 

     Animals are so good at hiding their pain, we humans often take their medical conditions for granted. I’ll be honest and tell you that I feel horrible and disgusting for making Raena continue to suffer so that we can try to raise the money needed for her surgery; because when it happened to me, I wanted it fixed ASAP. I guess the point I’m trying to make today, is to stop thinking of these “common” ailments as trivial. The animal is in an enormous amount of pain. If it were you suffering, you wouldn’t want to wait and see, or put off procedures for weeks, months or years. If you suspect an animal is being abused, don’t keep quiet, please be their voice. And, keep your pets inside during the halloween holidays. You can read our halloween safety tips here. Remember, animals hide their pain, so if you’re given pain meds for them, give them as prescribed, don’t rely on your animals to tell you they need them. Didn’t they suffer enough before the procedure?

 

 

     Part of the reason Raena has these problems are genetic. Backyard breeders care more about the money than they do the animal’s health. But even respectable breeders can sometimes be at fault. Attempts to breed more desirable traits or appearances often come with a cost to the animal’s overall health. Yes, we need help paying for Raena’s surgery and dental. As promised, below you’ll find the vet’s estimate.

 

 

 

     Because Raena has a semi “smashed” face, blood work really isn’t optional, so we need the whole $261.58. This total doesn’t include any possible extractions, and we certainly hope and pray that she doesn’t require any. We also ask that you keep her in your prayers. Anytime anesthesia is used, there are risks. Certainly, those risks increase  for animals with the shorter noses (smashed faces). Her appointment is November 15th. However, if we get the money before then, we’ll schedule her in sooner. I don’t want her to suffer any longer than she has too. You can help by donating to our paypal at: lexi.dezi@yahoo.com. If you’d prefer, you can donate directly to our account by calling Carter County Animal Hospital at: 580-226-1001. The account is under Audra High. Please, hug your fur babies a little longer and tell them how much you love and appreciate them. And if you suspect they may be ill or having problems, see the vet immediately. Just because they don’t act like they’re in pain, doesn’t mean they aren’t. Don’t let them suffer.

 

Fank you mommy. Pain and Suffering come in many forms, and just cuz ya’ don’t see it doesn’t mean it ain’t there. We’re blest to have a mommy who cares and tries to do whatever she can to help us and make sure we stay healthy. We really ‘purreciate all of you and fank you fur your help. Me also wants to remind you that you can ketch up on any post in our Service Cats series by clickin’ the links on our Training Tips and Everything Feline page. Don’t furget to ask your questions and post topic suggestions by leaving a comment below or sending us an email via our Contact page. Fanks fur your patience and allowing us to deviate today. This is a topic that deserved attention. Me will be back next week with more food ingredients you need to know ‘bout.

 

Put on your mask and get ready fur sissy’s pawrty!!!

 

 

And don’t furget, Raena’s throwin’ me a Venetian/Rio Carnival Themed Birthday/Gotchaday pawrty on Wednesday November 14, 2018. Put on your masks and send your fotos to our email to be included in the festivities. We’re gonna have a contest fur bestest mask/costume. We’re also joinin’ Comdey plus fur Feline Furiday today. 

 

 

 

Do you know what signs to look for when your pet is in pain?

 

 

 

 

Till the next time………………………………………………..Be Blest!!!

 

Dezi: Vibrant Blue 

Mommy A: Black

 

 

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

 

Deztinee and RaenaBelle