Sigh. It just never ends.

I´d be interested to know what kind of up-tick rescue workers and other involved animal workers have noticed in homeless pets ... not to mention pets not receiving the vet. care they need or being put down despite having treatable conditions -- owners just can´t afford the necessary treatment.

There are a lot of sad animal stories out there.

I had our youngest Boxer to the vet on Thursday and was told then that 0buzzardCare is going to hike the cost of vet care, as well as cause a shortage of medicine. A lot of medicines used for humans are also used for canines. I suppose the same is true for felines?

My vet told me that they just don´t know yet what the full impact of it will be.

As broad as the definition of "medical devices" (come on-exam gloves?) is, it´s not just pet veterinary that will be affected. Think the entire livestock industry. That´s your food, you carnivores.

This will sure smack some liberals who backed obamacare.

you have to pass it to know what´s in it.

We´ve started taking the children to the vet for most issues.

What´s the big deal ?

They´re fine.

We were told the bill needed to be passed in order to find out what was in it. Well, well, well, we´re finding out, aren´t we? Vet visits are becoming increasingly expensive, even for the yearly exams. We have two dogs; I just spent $470.00 this past week for their yearly check-ups, everything normal. I never would have thought to even ask whether this atrocious bill would affect veterinary care.

This is a matter on no concern for Obama. He eats dogs, remember?

Perhaps the fools in the congress can float a bill that DEMANDS that Bo be on the same plane as obama when they are both headed to the same destination. Same for obama´s family. One destination, one plane. That should save some money for the population that obama is so intent on making into slaves to service his grand ambitions.

Not fair! I didn´t vote for Obama, and neither did my cats.

So, I guess PETA will get their wish and a lot of pets and potential pets will be put down rather than sent to loving homes because people don´t have the money to keep them.

Democrats are the Party of Death. And they actually think that gives them the moral high ground. We live in Bizarro World.

Many, many thanks for this post, OP. Two of our cats need "medical devices" used by humans (syringes, needles, winged infusion sets, IV fluids, etc.) so this is a definite head´s up to stock up--heavily. (If your state doesn´t require prescriptions for these items but your pharmacies do, try thrivingpets.com.) Suggest you ask your vet for an open-ended prescription for regular pet meds--ask pharmacist for the longest sell-by date, stock up, keep in fridge, renew well before you´re out of those meds.

I´ll keep giving our cats the best food I can to keep them in good health as long as I can. The following are my choice for our cats. It would seem dog food from the same manufacturers is probably of the same quality. Chicken and turkey are better protein than other forms, less strain on the kidneys. Phosphorus levels in these foods are some of the lowest. Don´t dismiss them because of price--your pets will eat less, plus their output is lower!

Best I´ve found over the years:

Solid Gold Chicken, Turkey, White fish & Liver (all in the same can)
Wysong Chicken Gourmet
Authority (sold at Petsmart): Chicken & Rice in Gravy; Flaked Turkey or flaked chicken
Organix Organic Turkey & Organic Spinach; Organic Turkey, Brown Rice & Chicken

If you use dry:

Now! Grain Free Turkey with Duck Adult
Wysong Nurture with Free Range Pheasant

Petfooddirect.com has these foods at the best online price (except for Authority), and sometimes free shipping is available; Amazon has begun carrying some of them too.

If you´re near a PetSmart, Authority is probably the best price for your budget.

Contact me offline if you need further info.

Thank you so much for the info, #11. I´ve printed it out.

Wait, wait....

You´re supposed to FEED cats ?

For 40 years we´ve been making them live off the mice and rats and snakes and vermin around the farm.

Who knew ?

One thing to think about, #11. According to my vet, turkey is not good for dogs. He says that he treats numerous dogs every year at Thanksgiving because their owners have given them scraps and the turkey causes them to vomit.

Didn´t know that, #14--I´m afraid we´ve been a cat house (ahem!) for about 25 years now. Just when we think about getting a dog another stray or rescue cat turns up.

I wondered why turkey would bother dogs so much and found this at dogtopics.com:

Rich, fatty foods such as turkey skin and dark turkey meat are difficult to digest and can cause vomiting and diarrhea in your dog, and in extreme cases, pancreatitis.

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas and can be lethal for your dog. Mini Schnauzers are particularly predisposed to pancreatitis.

Eating turkey hasn´t affected our cats but that´s not to say it won´t affect other cats. Maybe cat food makers use white meat, but still it´s something to think about if your cat upchucks and there´s no hairball to point the finger at (although chronic renal failure has clear but often foamy vomit as one of its symptoms).

Meant to remind y´all: take gifts to your vet and the staff for Christmas (home-made cookies are often welcome) with a card saying how much you appreciate them.