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We love our pets!

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dutchrvl:

Claudia is adorable, and I love the faceplant  :mrgreen:
See my 14-year old Tommy
And my sweet, funny, and veritable purr-machine Sophie turned 13 yesterday!

Morituri:
Today I went to a Petco (US chain store, sells pet-related products) to get our two cats some flea drops and some catfood.

As happens, I guess, about three days out of seven, they had animals from the local animal-rescue shelter penned next to the check-out line where customers can hopefully fall in love with them and give them homes. 

But today, the adorable kittens were frolicking in a pen with an equally adorable sign above it: 

"Fresh, locally-grown, Organic Kittens."

I had a chuckle and asked the bloke behind the counter about it, and he says it definitely makes a difference in that more of the kittens find homes when the sign is up.

Hey, if it works.... 

Morituri:
The same guy tipped me to a thing I'd not have guessed exists.

A food additive adored by health food enthusiasts and reputed to treat a number of ills when ingested orally....
https://www.amazon.com/Diatomaceous-Earth-Food-Grade-10/dp/B00025H2PY/ref=sr_1_5

is also a pesticide suitable for home insect control and (if you are careful to get the food grade stuff) safe for direct application to your pets as a flea powder.
https://www.amazon.com/Bonide-Products-121-037321001218-Diatomaceous/dp/B00PWX6H8O/ref=sr_1_21

Yes, those are literally the same product.  99+% pure diatomaceous earth with no additives, fillers or diluents.  Uh, since that's actually silicon dioxide, I really have no idea what the 'Organic' claim in the first product description means.  That's not 'organic' in ANY interpretation of the word I understand.

Apparently this is also sold in a "pool grade" or "filter grade" purity for some other applications, and those should NOT be used for either of the above two applications because it contains impurities (which can be poisons) or bits that might not be finely enough powdered - which could possibly act like tiny bits of fiberglass if inhaled.  Food grade product is free of both.

I had known about diatomaceous earth for pest control for some time, but hadn't appreciated how COMPLETELY harmless the food grade variety really is to us mammals.

This is just silicon dioxide - which is to say, a type of powdered rock one hundred percent inert with respect to our digestive enzymes and body chemistry.  I have no idea what benefits the foodies think they're getting out of this, they might as well be swallowing a marble.  This stuff is safer than garden dirt.

Except to chitinous insects.  The powdered bits are sharp and just a bit harder than an insect's shell.  Once a bug gets some of this powder on its shell,  whenever it moves the stuff abrades the shell - until it wears thin enough for water to evaporate through and the bug dehydrates.  Kills 'em dead in an average of 3 hours.  It's not a 'poison' as we understand the term, because its action is purely mechanical.

But we mammals can eat it by the spoonful if we want.   It's hydrophilic, and with water sticking to it the sharp abrasive bits aren't exposed.  Because our digestive system isn't bone-dry, it gets wet and that makes it inert.  It can't do anything to us.  Well, except make us excrete water so we have to drink a bit more. 

Welu:
The family dog is going in for surgery next week to remove three tumours and also get spayed because otherwise they'll grow back. It's riskier than normal because she has a couple conditions but the main one is with her oesophagus so there's an increased chance of vomit and regurgitation. If that happens she could get pneumonia and that could be very bad for her.

I'm hopeful but terrified.Trying to be optimistic but I'm the one who's pushed for her to go the vet to get the growths looked at then I'm the one that pushed for the surgery and if she does die I'm terrified my mum will never forgive me. I know it needs done because there's other bigger risks if nothing is done but still gonna be very scared until we get her back.

Tova:
All best wishes, Welu. It's tough, but I believe you're doing the right thing. Don't let go of that.

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