there’s nothing quite like
January 20, 2007 l 2 Comments
Bending over to pet two love-starved bunnies, and having a cat jump on your back. It’s tough being a zookeeper.
sexy rexy
January 4, 2007 l 3 Comments
the mousey boys
January 3, 2007 l 1 Comment
Take a look at Chuck’s feet…(larger image)
2006, a year in review
January 2, 2007 l Leave a Comment
We started off the year with, what else? Health problems. Scully, Miko, and Steph were having urinary tract inflammation and infections with no known cause; antibiotics and stress relief just weren’t doing the trick. The vet gave us the blanket diagnosis of FLUTD, and wanted to try a diet change. I agreed, only I wanted to try a raw diet rather than the prescription dry food the vet had in mind. We made the diet transition at the beginning of March, and haven’t had a single urinary tract issue since! The cats’ coats are softer and shinier, they’re at ideal weights, and their teeth are sparkley white. The odorless poops aren’t too bad either.
In the midst of all the hubbub over the girls, the mice both started chattering and sneezing. The first vet we saw diagnosed them with allergies, but after getting input from other mouse owners, I sought a second opinion. Dr. D, treated them for upper respiratory tract infections and said that it may likely be a flareup of the mycoplasmosis bacteria all mice carry. I learned a lot about medicating mice. Over the past year, Martin has had regular flare-ups while Chuck has remained relatively healthy. Both mice get their Green Mush supplement every day to help them stay healthy and strong. Dr. D recently got married and moved to Vermont; the mousey boys and I will definitely miss her.
Mid-February we experienced a power outage during one of the coldest nights of the year, which everyone made it through just fine. And in March, Rex celebrated his seventh birthday.
Then in April, big news. Prince John, one of Scully’s kittens that we adopted out in October ‘04 would be returning to us. While I know my parents weren’t thrilled about adding yet another resident to the zoo, it’s been so wonderful having him home. He’s sweet, goofy, and loves being at the center of attention. Introducing him to the girls has been a long and sometimes frustrating process, but we greet the new year with a fully integrated kitty clan. It’s been worth it.
Things quieted down for awhile until June, when Peanut began showing signs of a head tilt. Poor baby had just celebrated her sixth birthday, and we didn’t know that this illness would change things forever. What was a minor head tilt progressed to a full blown vestibular disorder. She was treated with oral antibiotics and began showing signs of improvement and for awhile stayed on a ‘recovery plateau: no better, no worse‘. Dr. G told us that while Peanut was adapting well, she wasn’t showing any clinical improvement. It was a blow, for sure. But at our next visit, one month after the first signs of a problem, the vet felt we could forgo any further invasive treatments.
Then came the August heat wave, and the stress of the rising temperatures and a cage move brought back her symptoms full force. After two weeks with absolutely no improvement it was back to the vet. This time Dr. G recommended a much more aggressive approach. I was feeling good about our chances for success. Less than 24 hours later, Peanut began choking on her pellets and had to be rushed to the emergency vets. I was sad, scared, and frustrated. We rolled with the punches, as we always do, and I learned a lot about caring for disabled rabbits. Peanut had a long road ahead of her. There were hand feedings, baths, and learning how to stand, walk, and wash herself all over again. She was a fighter, and she made me proud.
Somewhere in there, the kittens turned two, the mice turned one, and Beeper turned seventeen. Life rolls along…
Rex saw the vet in September for an abscess on his toe. I guess all that attention Peanut was getting made him jealous. Even with the minor bump in the road (or toe, as it was) things continued to go well for all the residents of the zoo, and the fall brought many more positive changes.
So where are we now?
The cats are happy, healthy, and more or less tolerating each other. The rabbits, despite health trials and advanced age, are incredibly spunky and love life. The mice are well into their middle age, and while I have decided to take Martin off medication, they are content and leading quite comfortable little lives.
Let’s hope 2007 is somewhat less eventful…
