Paws at Peace

09/17/2026

We have gotten a lot of requests for our shirts, so if you’d like to purchase one, please fill out the attached survey before October 1

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevPaTDsoU1EJhW_lIscBiYyl1Yh5_bYO3zSwSpBoXpgadvpw/viewform

09/10/2026

This study is a good reminder that all senior pets should have annual to bi annual visits to their vets and yearly bloodwork is SO important even if you think your senior pet is healthy.

We want them to be happy and healthy as long as possible, so routine veterinary care is so important

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟭𝟰-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆?

A recent JAVMA study looked at 129 cats aged ≥12 years that their owners reported as being in good health or clinically stable.

Here are some of the findings:

𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲: 82 of 82 cats with teeth examined (100%) had dental disease. 40 of these 82 cats had moderate to severe disease.

𝗢𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲: 63 of 81 cats (77.8%) had orthopedic disease.

𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀: 75 of 81 cats (92.6%) had some degree of muscle loss. At the same time, 39 of 83 cats (47.0%) were overconditioned, showing why body condition score alone may not reveal loss of lean muscle mass.

𝗖𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝘆𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 54 of 128 cats (42.2%) met the study's criteria for findings consistent with feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome. None had previously been reported to have FCDS.

The diagnostic testing was also revealing.

𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲: Of the 104 cats that could be staged using available blood and urine data, 80 (77%) had findings consistent with CKD. Of those 80 cats, 49 (61.3%) were newly identified.

𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: Of the 125 cats that had blood pressure measurements, 56 (44.8%) met the study's definition of hypertension. Of those 56 cats, 54 (96.4%) were newly recognized, and 30 (53.6%) had severe hypertension (≥180 mm Hg).

𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘆𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗺: Of the 127 cats with total T4 measurements, 17 (13.4%) had concentrations above the reference interval. Of those 17 cats, 11 (64.7%) were newly diagnosed.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁:

Owners often didn't notice the changes associated with disease.

Among the 45 cats with CKD and available owner questionnaire data, 34 (75.6%) had no owner-reported change in urination.

Thirst was even harder for owners to recognize: only 1 of 78 owners reported increased water intake.

𝗦𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲?

A cat appearing normal at home does not necessarily mean there is no clinically important disease.

The authors support a proactive, prioritized approach to senior feline screening. When a complete diagnostic workup isn't feasible, they identified several particularly informative assessments:

• Thorough physical examination
• Urine specific gravity
• Renal parameters
• Total T4
• Blood pressure

𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: The study included two cohorts: 46 cats enrolled in 2022–2023 and 83 cats enrolled in 2024. The 2024 cohort underwent more detailed physical examinations and owner questionnaires, while diagnostic testing was performed across much of the overall study population. As a result, the denominator varies depending on the assessment being reported.

Study cited in the comments:

08/25/2026

We have had the privilege of meeting so many wonderful families through Paws at Peace who have loved their pets so deeply. ❤️ We know that opening your heart to another animal after saying goodbye can be a big decision, but we’re hoping that maybe there is a family we’ve met along the way, or someone who follows this page, who is ready to welcome a new little member into their home.

Meet Remy and Mags. 🐾

Remy is a little grey girl who came into the LaPorte shelter while we were working. She was tiny and needed to be bottle-fed, so naturally, she came home with us.

Then, just a little while later that very same day, Mags arrived. He’s an orange boy who was in pretty rough shape, including having maggots coming from his backside (which is how he earned the name Mags 😬). Naturally…he came home too.

Our youngest sister, Rose, not a veterinarian, but easily recruited into kitten foster care, has been raising these two for the past few weeks. They have come a LONG way and are now happy, healthy little kittens who are ready to find families of their own. ❤️

They will need to be officially adopted through the LaPorte County shelter. We’re not sure whether they have made it onto the shelter website yet, but if you are interested in Remy or Mags, please reach out and we can help get you connected and navigate the adoption process.

They do not have to be adopted together, although we certainly wouldn’t complain if they were. 😉

Maybe one of these little lives is meant to be the next chapter for a family we’ve had the privilege of meeting through Paws at Peace. ❤️🐾

07/23/2026

Vote for your favorite!

(Mishawaka is the right answer) 🤫

07/20/2026

A beautiful reminder ♥️

07/16/2026

✨ Scheduling Update ✨

Dr. Katy and Dr. Jessy will be unavailable for appointments from July 24 through August 2. We also have very limited availability between now and then, so if you feel your pet may need our services in the coming weeks, we encourage you to reach out as soon as possible.

We appreciate your understanding while we take a short break to recharge and spend time with our family.

Thank you for trusting us to care for your beloved companions during such an important time.

07/07/2026

If you need a dog or cat please visit Laporte’s Shelter. My team and I have altered nearly 40 animals in the last 2 weeks and we’re going back again soon!

06/09/2026

05/27/2026

Recently, we helped a dog named Leo pass peacefully at home surrounded by the person who loved him most. After his appointment, one of Leo’s neighbors reached out to us because she was so touched by the experience and wanted to pay it forward by helping another family seeking our services. With her permission, we wanted to share her words:

“ A special thank you to Paws at Peace for the respectful and kind care that they gave to my friend and her beloved dog, Leo. Those of us who have had the honor of sharing our life with a pet know the heartbreak when their lives are ending. The grief and sorrow we feel is only surpassed by the joy they have brought to us. Making the decision to euthanize is, in my opinion, the final act of love and having the ability to do so in the comfort of their home is a gift. Wanting to remember and celebrate the life of Leo, please use this small donation to assist another family seeking your service. “

Donations like this are placed into a small fund that we can use to help families who may not otherwise be able to afford at-home euthanasia services, or families who we feel would especially benefit from the comfort of saying goodbye at home. We are incredibly grateful for the kindness and generosity shown in Leo’s memory.

05/18/2026

We wanted to share a gentle reminder that at-home euthanasia appointments usually cannot be arranged on an emergency or immediate basis. We understand that scheduling an appointment in advance can be an incredibly difficult and emotional thing to do, and many families hope they will “just know” when the time is right. Unfortunately, because we are often booked ahead and spend extended time with each family, we are not always able to accommodate urgent same-day requests.

One of the most helpful things you can do is begin having conversations with your regular veterinarian about quality of life before your pet is in crisis. Declining quality of life is often gradual, and planning ahead can help avoid stressful situations where your pet may be uncomfortable while waiting for availability.

We also have several resources available on our website about quality of life and the euthanasia process, and we are always happy to email quality-of-life assessment tools to anyone who may find them helpful.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your pets’ lives and stories. ❤️