Peanut with her favorite toy
July 26, 2006 l Comments Off
life at the zoo
July 23, 2006 l Comments Off
Peanut was sleeping on her side tonight. She looked as though her head was tilting to the right and she decided to stop fighting it and just roll over already. Even though she’s lively and affectionate, little things like that are hard to deal with. I feel bad that I haven’t been consistent with TTouch, which seems to help her balance and tilt issues.
Chuck is still doing well, loving the Green Mush, and hardly scratching at his eye (he does still squint, but not excessively) Martin is also doing well. He’s on antibiotics, not because he’s sick, but because we want to head off his all-too-frequent respiratory infections. I’ve also started giving him Green Mush in the hopes that it will keep him healthy for a long time to come.
The process of introducing PJ to his mom and sisters has been mostly successful, with only a couple incidents of aggression from Steph, who doesn’t appreciate her brother’s forward manner, even if he does just want to play. We’re going to try introducing him to all three cats at once, to see if it changes the dynamics and maybe mellows the boy out abit.
update
July 18, 2006 l 4 Comments
Chuck’s eye is completely cleared up! He has it fully open, no squinting, weepiness, or itching. The honey, Green Mush, and (most importantly) continued prayers are making a huge difference for my mousey boy.
this is the part I hate
July 17, 2006 l 3 Comments
Chuck the mouse isn’t feeling well. Since it would seem I’m the one that takes in animals with bizarre and/or chronic health conditions, it makes sense that I would have a mouse suffering from seasonal allergies.
He’s had a watery eye since March, the beginning of allergy season here in New England. Just recently, with the hot, humid weather and overabundance of mold, pollen, ragweed, you-name-it-we-got-it, Chuck’s allergies have flared and he’s in misery. He’ll dig into his right ear then scratch the skin around his eye until it bleeds. We had a dog with seasonal allergies that behaved the exact same way. Of course, we could give the dog Benedryl. But this is a 40 gram mouse. Medicines are too strong and too risky to attempt.
So I’m taking a homeopathic approach (giving him raw, locally harvested honey and Green Mush), an antibiotic ointment for the scratches on his face, and lots of treats and kisses. I’ve been wanting an air filter for awhile now, and this may be the catalyst to get one sooner rather than later.
But right now, at this moment, there’s nothing more I can do for him. And it’s killing me. I worked third shift last night and I’ve been awake for over 24 hours, yet worry robs me of sleep. I think the only thing I can do now is pray for him. He’s not terribly ill, but he’s certainly not feeling well and I am concerned about my mousey boy.
playing in the dirt
July 15, 2006 l 3 Comments
(ignore the “ghost” mouse – it’s pretty bad when he’s too active for the fast shutter)
I’ve been using dirt as a bedding in the mice’s cages for about a month now and I couldn’t be happier. Neither could the mice – they love their dirt! I honestly don’t think I’ve seen them this active and interested in their environment since I got them.
The dirt (potting soil) controls odors very well (even for stinky boy mice) and aside from making sure that my boys have fresh food, water, and dry bedding, cage cleaning is only required every two weeks or so. And yes, the mice are still clean and white despite their new living conditions.
How to Use Soil as a Pet Rodent Substrate
Both links were written by a member of the RMCA forum who introduced me to the idea of dirt (thank you, Ayo145). I’ve also started using dirt in the rabbits’ litterbox (under the grate, of course; otherwise the digging might get messy) and I’ve found that it masks the smell of urine for far longer than any other litter I’ve used. I’m sold on soil!
Word to the wise: avoid my mistake and don’t buy a soil too high in peat moss. It is very moist, and in warm, humid weather, very prone to growing fungus. Eeewww!
Of course, the fact that it’s completely compostable doesn’t hurt either.
bunny babies
July 12, 2006 l Comments Off
Peanut update
July 10, 2006 l Comments Off
Hopefully, this will be the last major update for awhile.
The bunnies had their check-up with Dr. G this morning. He checked Peanut over, asked some questions, and said he doesn’t think she needs anymore invasive treatments, just continue with the TTouch and let her be as normal a bunny as possible. He also said that he’s been treating another rabbit with vestibular damage for 8 years! She’s ten now and just as sassy as ever. It was encouraging to hear that. I’m really happy with how well Peanut is doing and confident that she will continue to do well.
However, with that comes the reality that Peanut may not ever be “better”. I hesitate to say that, because she’s vibrant and happy and I love her to pieces just the way she is. But, and this is a big ‘but’, she cannot do all the things she used to. Like jumping up onto the furniture, or binkying around the lawn. She gets very easily disoriented when she is picked up, and I have to hold her until she “finds” the floor again. Changes to her environment have to be minimal because she can’t judge whether or not things are safe, and even temporarily moving the litterbox freaks her out.
Like I said, though, I love her. This is just a new season in our lives, and Peanut is adapting to it with her typical dignity and ‘tude.
Not to mention, she won’t need to see the vet for another 4-6 months, and that makes her very, very happy.
photo post
July 9, 2006 l 1 Comment
Peanutter
July 7, 2006 l Comments Off
Well, it’s been almost a month since Peanut first showed signs of a head tilt and was treated for an ear infection. Since then, the infection has cleared up and the tilt has all but disappeared. Yet Peanut is still wobbly, uncoordinated, and struggles with balance, which points to the possibility of long-term vestibular damage.
I should add that Peanut is eating and drinking very well on her own, she runs around the pen, she grooms herself and Rex, she sleeps completely sprawled out, and she is not in any way acting listless or depressed.
Part of me wants to buck the Western medical model of treating the symptoms rather than the whole, while the other part of me feels like a bad bunny mom for not pursuing every possible option for a “cure”.
You see, I’m not convinced she needs to be cured. Yes, she struggles with certain things. And yes, it breaks my heart to think she might never leap or binky again. But that doesn’t seem to bother her much at all.
I just know that I wouldn’t feel right forcing even more invasive treatments on her when she is doing so well. So for non-invasive treatments, I’m looking into TTouch. The site has specific rabbit instructions and success stories as well. I think both my senior bunnies could benefit, but Peanut especially.
Their annual exam with the vet is this Monday. I’ll post another Peanut update then.
sneaky boy
July 6, 2006 l Comments Off
Yesterday, PJ managed to get into my room with the other cats. I didn’t realize it until I looked around and couldn’t find him. And there he was, standing near the doorway, just looking around.
But the most amazing thing was that the other cats weren’t doing anything. Not that I gave them a chance to, of course, I swooped PJ out of there as fast as I could. Their reaction to each other is a very good sign. So good, that we’ll be having face-to-face introductions sometime today or tomorrow.
*fingers crossed*
