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Phoenix
Jan 17, 2004 13:04:16 GMT -4
Post by jeannie on Jan 17, 2004 13:04:16 GMT -4
Phoenix might be rising from the ashes again. Several months ago, the vet said he thought he had cancer, and treated him for mange, giving him ivermectin orally. The medicine seemed to cure his intestinal problems, and his skin improved, which led the vet to think he might have had an intestinal parasite.
Last week, I noticed he had one eye glued shut, and was clicking. The vet put him on Baytril (over the phone). The eye did not improve, so the vet saw him again 2 nights ago. He has been on a terramycin salve for the eye, and is still on the Baytril. This morning he eye was open and not as swollen, and the clicking is less noticeable. He weighs 5 grams more today (I weigh him regularly), than he did last week. I am hoping that he is just an old geezer who is starting to have minor ailments. His teeth were also trimmed the other night - they were out of alignment.
He still is pretty active and his pouches are full. He has never really acted sick during all of this, and he hasn't had a seizure in months. He may be reaching his end, but only time will tell. This little guy has outlived my expectations, time and time again.
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Phoenix
Jan 17, 2004 14:57:54 GMT -4
Post by dosergirl on Jan 17, 2004 14:57:54 GMT -4
he's a tough little guy. I can't imagine how all of that would make me feel let alone a little that is 1/100 my size
i'm glad to hear he is improving. i've been waiting to see an update on his condition.
he's so lucky to have such a great mom
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Phoenix
Jan 17, 2004 15:08:12 GMT -4
Post by jeannie on Jan 17, 2004 15:08:12 GMT -4
Phoenix says thanks and squawk! (He likes to make noise - always has.)
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Phoenix
Jan 17, 2004 20:45:31 GMT -4
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 17, 2004 20:45:31 GMT -4
he's so lucky to have such a great mom That's for sure. Best to him, and take lots of pictures while he is still perky. Hope he stays that way. Everyone here is fine after Ringy's sudden demise on the 7th - you never know when you're gonna go.
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Phoenix
Jan 19, 2004 17:04:49 GMT -4
Post by jeannie on Jan 19, 2004 17:04:49 GMT -4
He's not very handsome right now, so no pictures. His eye is not completely better, and the medicine has made his fur a mess around his eye.
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Phoenix
Jan 20, 2004 1:20:42 GMT -4
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 20, 2004 1:20:42 GMT -4
I meant for you. I wish I had taken more photos of some of my deparated ones, even when they weren't in tip-top condition. I didn't even have one good photo of Ted (Sam's brother) when alive; I do have some post mortem - all I have, basically. Salubrious wishes, Phoenix.
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Phoenix
Jan 20, 2004 10:35:34 GMT -4
Post by jeannie on Jan 20, 2004 10:35:34 GMT -4
Ah, I see what you mean. I have a lot of cute ones of Phoenix. I'll probably take some more.
I ended up taking pictures of Prancelot during his final days too. His little spirit still reigned. I remember the day he climbed up on top of his house, emaciated, with both eyes shut, as if to say "I'm still king of the mountain." It had been a while since he had been up there - Palahad had already taken over as top dog, but in the end Prancelot got to be king again, sleeping on top of Palahad with his tiny little body. When they get old, they look like pups again, and you can see the cycle of life. Perhaps he has reincarnated already - I just hope he's not at Petland.
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Phoenix
Jan 20, 2004 11:23:23 GMT -4
Post by calvinator1 on Jan 20, 2004 11:23:23 GMT -4
Phoenix will probably live longer than the rest of us. ;D
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Phoenix
Jan 21, 2004 0:55:18 GMT -4
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 21, 2004 0:55:18 GMT -4
>> but in the end Prancelot got to be king again, sleeping on top of Palahad with his tiny little body. When they get old, they look like pups again, and you can see the cycle of life. Perhaps he has reincarnated already - I just hope he's not at Petland. << Maybe we will come back as gerbils, dwarfs, or hams - hopefully not at Petco. When Ted the gerb was dying he was at one side of the tank. I said my farewells. When I found him in the morning, dead, and stiff, he was on the other side of the tank, in a hide box, with Sam sleeping on top of him. I found it affecting. For those who missed it, I posted a few new pictures of Sam in my latest gallery of photos in the members forum, and this time he is on my head and shoulder. (He's a big favorite).
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Phoenix
Jan 24, 2004 22:19:19 GMT -4
Post by jeannie on Jan 24, 2004 22:19:19 GMT -4
Here are some photos of the little patient today. He is back up to 48 grams (after bottoming out at 40g two weeks ago). I sent pics to the vet today, and he agreed that the eye is improving. Poor guy is still clicking, but he eats a lot and is running in the wheel a lot. He's now on sulfatrim, rather than baytril, and the eye salve.
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Phoenix
Jan 25, 2004 21:35:01 GMT -4
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 25, 2004 21:35:01 GMT -4
Awww. I thought of him yesterday and was hoping for an update. Best wishes, little guy. You rub salve into his eye?? He must enjoy that. The clicking is of course a worry, but the eating and running sounds good. Everyone here, after Ringy's demise, is fine, although Rainy is clearly elderly, but eats well. Odd how some of them forage, pouch, and hoard like mad (Theodora and Maggie, especially), while others almost never do. Stanley now hops onto my hand he is so calm. BTW, two hours ago I met in the grocery the lady who lost that yellow lab a month ago. She's in pretty bad shape, red-eyed and all. I'm trying to get her to volunteer at a pet shelter, if she won't (yet) get a new dog. I at least got her to go to the Dog Show at MSG; she'll see how she reacts to dogs now. Anyway, best to Phoenix. That second photo is really adorable.
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Phoenix
Jan 25, 2004 22:02:30 GMT -4
Post by jeannie on Jan 25, 2004 22:02:30 GMT -4
Phoenix is SO good at playing the little victim - he always has that "poor me" look. I really have some strange little friends in this apartment. As you can see, I sometimes miss with the ointment. I hope your friend gets a dog soon. That must have been hard
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Phoenix
Jan 25, 2004 22:14:25 GMT -4
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 25, 2004 22:14:25 GMT -4
Poor little me! Yes, that is the look. My friend, Mary, had other dogs who she loved deeply, but none were like Gerry; she was sort of her "animal soul mate", if such a thing exists - and it did for her. Gerry was really special with a connection to her that seemed more spiritual than anything else. I doubt if I'll ever have an animal like that, and maybe it is just as well as losing him/her would be devastating, but that issue is a discussion for another time, but I'll bet Mary would never trade her sadness now for never having had Gerry at all.
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Phoenix
Jan 25, 2004 23:30:48 GMT -4
Post by jeannie on Jan 25, 2004 23:30:48 GMT -4
"poor me" and "What now???" Phoenix squawked the whole way home from the store. Poor little guy had been dumped their by his previous owners, and was very sick, and clearly had a troubled existence. He still hasn't figured out that he is safe. He has one chip on his shoulder, but I still love him. You know how guys can be sometimes Gerry does sound like an animal soulmate. Speaking of which, wait until you see my VDay greeting to Puck. I think it will make you laugh. He's my soulmate.
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Phoenix
Jan 25, 2004 23:38:01 GMT -4
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 25, 2004 23:38:01 GMT -4
Puck will be wearing a baby blue diaper?? How about a Karen Carpenter song on the site for him? They seem especially apropos for V-Day. It still infuriates and amazes me anyone could have abandoned Princess after two years. "Too much work" to care for one hamster, or something. I'm so glad I walked in that day and saw biten Maggie. . .you know the story.
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