Smuag

My cat is about 5 years old, and notoriously not a friendly cat. We get along well enough, but she was abused as a kitten (by another family). About a six months ago, my mother (who was home most days) noticed that she was having uncontrollable spasms in her back right leg. I of course took her to the vet, who diagnosed it as a localized seizure but said that since it was so infrequent and not severe that we didn't need to look into medications for her unless it worsened. Well, we set up our screened in porch for the first time this year and let the cats out and I noticed that she could no longer see the birds sitting at the feeder only about 8 feet away from where she was sitting. She could hear them, but she was not looking in the right direction or reacting to their movements, and became frustrated and angry (which she took out on the other cats that WERE reacting to the birds).

The trouble is, she is terrified of the vet. If we take her in for an exam she gets so stressed out that she gets violently ill, shakes or goes completely limp like a rag doll, and the vet says her heart rate is through the roof. I know that she needs to go in, but I'm not sure if the vet will be able to tell us anything because of how her fear affects her physically. I'm starting to suspect that she has a nervous system problem, and that the seizures and eyesight are related issues.

Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas on what this might be, or how to get her to relax so the vet can do an examination that is not contaminated by her off-the-charts anxiety?

My brother has moved into his first apartment, and has been looking into getting a tank for a while. I thought Christmas would be a good opportunity to get him one, and I have found several deals on Craigslist. What should I look for to know that the tank is in good shape? I'm afraid of buying a tank, only to fill it with water and find out that it is improperly sealed or has other problems. I would not be buying fish for the tank.

I'm supposed to be planning a family reunion, and they want to rent a swimming platform. I'm pretty sure that is NOT possible in Maryland- but I can't even find someplace to buy one! The only thing I'm coming up with is the swimming platforms that attach to boats. Any help?

I'm supposed to be planning a family reunion, and they want to rent a swimming platform. I'm pretty sure that is NOT possible in Maryland- but I can't even find someplace to buy one! The only thing I'm coming up with is the swimming platforms that attach to boats. Any help?

Well, my friend got her fish today. Although I told her that the only thing suited to a 5 gallon tank was a betta fish she came back today with 4 goldfish and a zebra danio. There are so many problems with this, and I've tried explaining them to her but I don't think its going to sink in until the fish die. Since the tank is filtered (rated for a 5 gallon, not double filtration like goldfish need), how long can these fish last?

I already have a healthy, happy betta here at college with me but my friend wants her own tank. However, she wants something different from a betta. I've already explained that whatever she gets will need at least five gallons and a filter, possibly a heater. But what else can live in a five gallon tank?

I have a pattern to knit a anglerfish (the fish from Finding Nemo with the glowing thing on its head) and I would like to actually make it glow, but I am unsure how to go about it. In theory, it work like on of those sound boxes in the Teddy Bears where you click it and it goes on or off. Does anyone have any idea how to do this?

I discovered a 55 gallon tank in the basement of my parents house, and was given permission to take it. It needs a new hood, base, and filtration system but the main thing I am worried about is that I have never had a tank this big. Prior to this, I have only had a 5 gallon tank.

I am excited to get the tank set up, but I know that for tanks this size cycling is very important. Can anyone tell me how to properly cycle a tank?

My ten year old black lab went to the emergency vet today becuase he collapsed. When we got there, we found out that he has advanced lymes disease and arthritis. Please don't judge us, we treat our animals very well. He simply wasn't showing any symptoms, and hiding the excruciating pain he must be in. Until he collapsed, there was nothing out of the ordinary about his behavior. My question is, since he will always have joint problems for the rest of his life, what ways can we make him comfortable? He is already on medication from the vet.

I have a small tank with a single betta in it. I have been told that he will survive just fine over the 4-5 days that I am gone without food, but I do not think that the room will be warm enough and I am frankly unwilling to leave any animal without food for that long.

I want to bring him home (I only live half an hour away) but I don't know how to transport him. Should I just leave him in the tank as it is and drive home? Or should I put him in a smaller container and empty the tank for transportation?

Thanks

Last night I was bitten by my Uncle's dog. I was holding my three year old cousin, which is why I did not fend off the dog. Thankfully, I was wearing jeans which seems to have blocked most of the bite. It did break the skin in two places ( I wouldn't consider them puncture wounds as they are rather shallow), but mostly I just have MASSIVE bruising. Since I know the dog was not vaccinated, and has probably never even seen a vet, how concerned should I be? I put hydrogen peroxide on the wound, and ice for the swelling, but others have expressed concern about rabies (which I know the dog didn't have) and distemper.

During the terrible blizzards we've been experiencing, our dog started bringing us freshly killed rabbits. He has NEVER hurt another animal before, or even showed any interest in chasing the rabbits before (we live in a very rural area). Since the storm, I have been very worried about leaving him alone with our cats. He has always been good with them, but I'm worried that he won't be able to tell the difference between a tasty rabbit and a innocently sleeping cat! Any suggestions as to what i should do? Why would he start hunting now of all times?