Post by pinky on Sept 18, 2010 0:24:04 GMT -4
The 17th was Frasier and Ethel's first birthday!!!!!!!!
Based on the information I have September was my best guess, and since the 17th was already significant in my life I decided to make it even more significant!
So I sung them Happy Birthday in the morning, and since they are both voice-activated AND since they know the morning routine they came out for their piece of shredded wheat. This morning, though, they got a WHOLE shredded wheat square!
They are such good hams. . . . after their 8 months in the shelter they were overweight and in need of TLC, but they're both in the best possible health now.
Ethel is like Jayde was, feisty. She is down to 47 grams from 60, and she is far more active now. She does have the fluid pockets in her chest as her brother does, but they don't really keep her down. She'd much rather run than be held, and if you do too much of the latter you'll likely get a bit of a nip. She eats anything and everything with gusto. By accident I potty-trained her. . . . when it was really hot I put a ceramic mug in her cage for her to lie in, and, well, she started using it as a potty! (That, and her wheel!)
Ethel photos:
I like this one because she's grooming and bent completely backwards--look at her feet relative to her head!
And then there's Frasier. . . . I <3 Frasier!
For all his health problems he is Mr. Mellow Yellow. Unlike any other dwarf I've had I can cuddle him against my face without fear of being bitten, and I looooooooooove that. He still has high ketones in his urine, and maybe high glucose too, and he drinks and pees a lot and requires much cage maintenance, but he is far and away healthier than he was when I got him. He's now 58 grams, down from 83! He has more fluid retention than Ethel does, and it does slow him down some (he's not big on wheel-running) but he is a JUMPER! Imagine my surprise when I saw this:
I thought that what with his chest being large and heavy that he would never be able to jump, hang on, and do a pull-up, but if I hadn't looked in on him he would have been on the outside of that bin!
In addition to the urine and fluid issues he had a fungal skin issue that was treated successfully, and he had to have his scent gland expressed under anesthesia because it was impacted (and he was smelling to high heaven!). I think I have spent more on him than on any ham I've had, but it's been worth every penny. He eats anything fresh but is picky about what parts of the Hazel Hamster he'll accept.
More of Frasier:
You can see the fluid in these photos:
Adopting them was the best thing I could have done for them--and for me. They bring me such joy!
Based on the information I have September was my best guess, and since the 17th was already significant in my life I decided to make it even more significant!
So I sung them Happy Birthday in the morning, and since they are both voice-activated AND since they know the morning routine they came out for their piece of shredded wheat. This morning, though, they got a WHOLE shredded wheat square!
They are such good hams. . . . after their 8 months in the shelter they were overweight and in need of TLC, but they're both in the best possible health now.
Ethel is like Jayde was, feisty. She is down to 47 grams from 60, and she is far more active now. She does have the fluid pockets in her chest as her brother does, but they don't really keep her down. She'd much rather run than be held, and if you do too much of the latter you'll likely get a bit of a nip. She eats anything and everything with gusto. By accident I potty-trained her. . . . when it was really hot I put a ceramic mug in her cage for her to lie in, and, well, she started using it as a potty! (That, and her wheel!)
Ethel photos:
I like this one because she's grooming and bent completely backwards--look at her feet relative to her head!
And then there's Frasier. . . . I <3 Frasier!
For all his health problems he is Mr. Mellow Yellow. Unlike any other dwarf I've had I can cuddle him against my face without fear of being bitten, and I looooooooooove that. He still has high ketones in his urine, and maybe high glucose too, and he drinks and pees a lot and requires much cage maintenance, but he is far and away healthier than he was when I got him. He's now 58 grams, down from 83! He has more fluid retention than Ethel does, and it does slow him down some (he's not big on wheel-running) but he is a JUMPER! Imagine my surprise when I saw this:I thought that what with his chest being large and heavy that he would never be able to jump, hang on, and do a pull-up, but if I hadn't looked in on him he would have been on the outside of that bin!
In addition to the urine and fluid issues he had a fungal skin issue that was treated successfully, and he had to have his scent gland expressed under anesthesia because it was impacted (and he was smelling to high heaven!). I think I have spent more on him than on any ham I've had, but it's been worth every penny. He eats anything fresh but is picky about what parts of the Hazel Hamster he'll accept.
More of Frasier:
You can see the fluid in these photos:
Adopting them was the best thing I could have done for them--and for me. They bring me such joy!
