The kiln-dried pine shavings* I buy from Kmart are supposed to be dust-free. Lately, I noticed Mocha was looking unusually teary-eyed. Normally, this would make me think URI and would be important enough to head over to the vet for a look. But the first time I thought this, the vet found not bacteria in her nose, but mucus. So dust was irritating her (and was prescribed diphenhydramine/Benadryl). Last time, I think it was the hay dust that was bothering her. This time, I think it might be the dust from the shavings (they are ridiculously dusty). I made this contraption to help vacuum the dust out.

Look how much how dust was taken out! :O (in that little bowl)

(I think some shavings were caught by the vacuum, which blocked the dust from entering the nozzle, which is how I am able to show this picture to you now.)

WHY KILN-DRIED PINE SHAVINGS FROM KMART, WHYYYY??

*Pine shavings are ok as long as they are kiln-dried. Even if they have any strong odors (despite being kiln-dried), you can just air them just air them out in an open container for a few days, I found.

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In other news, Mocha has no longer been peeing calcium deposits. Some say the deposits are normal (they are just peeing out any extra calcium they don’t need). On the other hand, some say if they need to pee out the extras, it’s probably collecting in their bladders. Which can form sludge and eventually stones.

I’m not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, avoiding sludge sounds like a good idea. On the other hand, you don’t really want to have calcium deficiencies. And decided that since Mocha has had a very tiny stone before, she might have one again. And in her advanced age, she doesn’t need as much calcium as younger ones do. So along with her Uromaxx, I have been giving her a little (unflavored) Pedialyte and/or syringing extra water, just to keep her bladder flushed.