Another Week Comes to a Close!

Whew!  Another busy, busy week at In-Sync Exotics!!

We started the week with a posting about Spike's Day at the Vet.  Spike, our former Poetry cougar, traveled to the vet because we were concerned with how he was walking. At first, his gait did not concern us, since Spike is almost 17 years old, and we thought he might be having some age-related issues. However, once Spike started to walk around like he had inebriated hind legs, we knew something was wrong. While Spike had no difficulty running and playing, we noticed he did have issues walking around at a normal pace.

So Spike, Vicky, and Paul made the trip to Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine, located in College Station.  Is was a long day for all, but we discovered what was ailing our cougar.  Click HERE to read more about Spike's trip to the vet!

On Tuesday, we shared with our readers what Jasper, our new bobcat, likes to eat a night.  For several days, Jasper refused to eat the raw meat, bones, and treats we provide all our bobcats.  Thankfully, Vicky was able to solve the mystery of our finicky feline's favorite food.  Click HERE to read more on this story!

Okemo, a tiger from the now closed Wild Animal Orphanage, is loved by many volunteers and staff.  Just look into his soft eyes and listen to him gruff as he greets people and you'll know why is has a lot of supporters! 

As many of you may know, our beautiful Okemo is battling a serious health condition.  Okemo was diagnosed as having squamous cell carcinoma that spread to his jaw bone--it is literally eating away most of his jaw bone. In this posting, we provided our readers with an update on Okemo's medical condition.  Click HERE to read more about Okemo and his latest health challenge.

Yesterday we sent out a public P-A-R-T-Y invitation to our blog readers (that includes you and yours, of course!) announcing our Big Birthday Bash scheduled for June 16th from 11am - 4pm.  This is a great event for the entire family, so be sure to mark your calendar and make plans to attend this special birthday party with the cats!

Since we still had a few items  left on our Easter Celebration Wish List, we thought the "b-day bash" would be extra special if the cats received some birthday presents from the same list now retitled "Birthday Bash!"  We have updated the wish list link with just the items our animals would love to play with during the Birthday Bash.  Click HERE for the list!  So far, a few gifts have already been purchased -- THANK YOU!! Yea!!!   We would love to see every animal receive a special  "b-day present" this year, so  please consider gifting an egg, ball, big chew toy, or X-large Kong for our wild ones!  They simply loved their Easter presents and we'd love to see their faces when they first see their birthday presents too! Thank you!

We would also like to say THANK YOU to the individuals who donated towards Spike's medical care!  We truly have the best supporters!  If you would like to contribute towards Spike's medical care, please click HERE.  Spike says "thank you" for helping him during his time of need!

Thank you everyone for helping us keep our animals fed, watered, housed, enriched, treated, and loved!  Your donations and gifts makes a difference in the lives of animals who truly needed a second change at loving life again!

Just a "few" pipes for the
"Fast Track Cheetah Habitat!"

If you have been following us on Twitter and Facebook, then you know we have received the construction materials for our cheetah's "Fast Track Habitat" and we are ready to build Sam and Kodi's new home!  If you would like to be a part of this momentous occasion, we would love to have you come out and help us begin construction of their new home this weekend!  Work begins at 10:00am, weather permitting, and will continue until we close for the day.  Many thanks!

Well, this concludes this week's blog postings!  We hope you have a safe and wonderful weekend and remember to treat MOM to lots of good food and fun!  We are open this weekend, so bring MOM out to see the cats -- the visit should certainly bring a smile to her face!  When MOM is happy, everyone is happy, right?

Be safe everyone!

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It's Time to Have Some Fun!!

We are having a P-A-R-T-Y and you are invited!

Every year we celebrate In-Sync Exotics' birthday in June because we want to honor Ranger, who was born in June; Kenya, Vicky's first tiger was brought home in June; and  to celebrate the conception of establishing a non-profit organization dedicated to caring for rescued exotic felines in, you guessed it, the month of June!  

If you missed our Easter Celebration, then here is your chance to come out to In-Sync Exotics and party with the cats!!

We want like to make this birthday extra special this year, but in order to do so, we need your help!  We still have a few items left on our gift wish list that our animals would love to play with during the party!  If you would like to give our animals birthday presents this year, please click here or on the wish list icon found on the upper left side of this blog page!

Gifts like...

and

and

... will make our animals very, very happy!  You can either have the gifts shipped directly to us or you can have them shipped to your own home. Either way, we will put out all the toys received during the Birthday Bash Party so you can see your birthday gifts in play!

If you make purchases from our Amazon Birthday Wish List, we will receive a 4-7% referral fee!  A win-win for the animals and In-Sync Exotics!

So be sure to spread the word--we are having a P-A-R-T-Y and everyone is invited!  Come out for the free ice cream and cupcakes, stay for the fun, but most importantly, wish our cats a very,happy birthday as they have much to celebrate this year!!


If you would like to help us with this special event, we could really use your help--no experience necessary! We need volunteers to help us with the craft tables, game attendants, and we really need several talented individuals willing to paint faces!  To volunteer your services, please contact Vicky via email.

Oh, and don't forget to let us know what your reaction to this announcement by clicking on one of the reaction buttons below.  We'd love to hear from you, so feel free to comment and don't forget to share this exciting invitation to your friends and family!  Thank you!!

http://www.insyncexotics.blogspot.com/2012/05/its-time-to-have-some-fun.html

Update on Okemo, Our Handsome Tiger

As many of you may know, our beautiful Okemo is battling a serious health condition.  Earlier this year, Okemo was seen by our veterinarian because of a swollen jaw.  We cleaned and shaved  it so our vet could see the swollen sac found on the right side of his chin. Since the sac was filled with fluid, our vet lanced the sac allowing the accumulated blood, pus, and bone shavings to drain from his wound. Once the wound stopped draining, our vet thorough cleaned the area and took x-rays of Okemo’s jaw. We also drew blood from Okemo and both his blood and culture samples were sent off to be tested for any abnormalities.

Early March, we received Okemo's culture results, and sadly, our beautiful Okemo, who has been through so much already, was diagnosed as having squamous cell carcinoma that spread to his jaw bone--it is literally eating away most of his jaw bone.

Normally, tigers with this type of condition may have up to six months to live. Unfortunately, we don't know when Okemo became ill. Our vet believes he may have been sick for quite awhile prior to his arrival at our sanctuary, so we have no idea how much "time" he might have with us.  Our greatest concern was that his jaw bone would eventually dissolve, making it almost impossible for our tiger to live a normal life.

So, you can imagine our concern when we noticed a dark spot on the inside of Okemo's jaw.  Once again, we asked our vet to come out and examine Okemo.   After close observation, our vet told us some really bad news--he believes Okemo's jaw may be broken. 

The break is not noticeable and unless you were familiar with Okemo's eating habits, you would probably never know he was having problems with his jaw.

As horrible as this news sounds, Okemo seems to be taking life in stride.  He does not appear to be in pain.  He still loves to eat, albeit we offer him softer meat so that he does not aggravate his condition by chewing or tearing at his meals.  He loves chuffing and occasionally "marking" people as they walk past his quarters or the playground--both activities seems to give Okemo pleasure!  He enjoys relaxing on the playground and is often seen sunbathing and grooming himself.

Our vet said  that so as long as Okemo continues to enjoy life, we will not intervene.  However, if the carcinoma metastasizes to his lungs, impairing his ability to breath, we will have no choice but to reassess our options at that time.

Please say a special prayer for Okemo--he is such a special tiger who has won the hearts of our volunteers and staff.

Comments are welcome and please share this posting with friends and family.  Thank you!

O-kemo, O-kemo 

How beautiful your whiskers

O-kemo, O-kemo 

How wonderful your stripes!

I love you soo very much,

You fill my heart with joy.

O-kemo, O-kemo 

How beautiful your whiskers

O-kemo, O-kemo

How wonderful your stripes!

~ As sung by Vicky to Okemo each night!

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http://insyncexotics.blogspot.com/2012/05/update-on-okemo-our-handsome-tiger.html
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