August Pet of the Month

Please join me in giving a big round of “ap-paws” for Theo and Ollie, who have been selected as our August Pets of the Month.
 
Theo first visited Rock Bridge Animal Hospital in July of 2010.

Theo Before
Theo Before
Theo had gingivitis and desperately needed to get his teeth cleaned, but was unable to be sedated because of the risk posed to his health by his obesity problem. At the time Theo weighed 18.28 lbs. That is 7.8 lbs. over the recommended healthy weight (10.5 lbs.) for Theo. This might not seem like a big deal to a human, but for Theo this means that he needed to loose nearly 50% of his body weight before he would be at a healthy weight.
 
Theo After
Theo After
Because he could not be safely sedated to have his teeth cleaned, Dr. Forbes sent Theo home with a diet regimen. Through the hard work and diligence of Theo and his loving mother, Theo was able to loose 3.28 lbs. over a two-year period. During this period Theo had gotten increasingly grumpy and was coping with the addition of his new little brother, Ollie. Theo’s recent weight loss meant he could now be sedated with minimal risk, so his gingivitis could be addressed and his teeth cleaned. During the cleaning it was discovered that there were lesions on his gums around his teeth, which were, according to Dr. Sappington, probably causing Theo a great deal of pain. Theo had 12 teeth removed. Theo’s mom reported that they saw an immediate
Theo and Ollie After
Theo and Ollie After
change in Theo’s behavior and demeanor. Though his patience for the kitten games that Ollie wanted to play were still being tested, they reported he became more active and was much more affectionate. It was obvious Theo’s pain and oral health had a negative effect on his weight loss goals by causing him to be grumpy and lethargic.
 
Since then Theo has continued his fight to become healthy and has lost an additional 3.25 lbs., bringing him to 11.75 lbs., only 1.25 lbs. over his target weight. Theo’s steps towards healthy living will ensure that he is happy and that he will be around for a long time
 
Ollie Before
Ollie Before
Ollie, Theo’s little brother, has also faced and overcome adversity in the health department. Ollie was adopted by his loving mother as a feral cat. Ollie was diagnosed with intestinal parasites, a respiratory infection, and suffered from severe diarrhea. The parasites and infection were treated rather easily with use of medication, but the digestive upset took a little longer. Dr. Forbes and Dr. Sappington were able to determine that the digestive upset was due to Ollie’s intolerance to food with a high carbohydrate content. By changing Ollie’s food to a protein dense food his digestive issue has been completely resolved.
 
Through the dedication of their parents, and under the care and supervision of Dr.
Ollie After
Ollie After
Forbes and Dr. Sappington both Ollie and Theo had made tremendous strides and are no doubt healthier cats than before. We look forward to caring for them as they continue to bring joy to us all for a very long time.
 
 
 
 
 
Theo and Ollie After
Theo and Ollie After