Say hi to the ham

[rasputin]

Havix Bodewell, a very curious black bear, has come to live with me.



Now I suppose I can post on this end of the board as well.

Can't decide whether to call her familiarly by Havix or Bodewell, but I've had to call her by the whole name twice -- she's inflicted two free-flowing "welcome wounds" on my finger and palm.

Havix was alone in a tank at the pet shop when I went shopping for a few odds and ends. The associate was down on her, didn't know what sex she was, and said she would let her go for a penny.

Havix opens only her left eye -- can't tell yet whether the other eye is injured or just squinted.

I seem to accumulate one-eyed and squinty pets -- couldn't let this underdog be undervalued any longer -- she gets to be my one and only hamster.



Any suggestions on how to deter a hamster taking tastes and bites?

[jeannie]

She's very pretty! Maybe that eye will clear up. What kind of bedding did they have her on at the pet store?

[rasputin]

They had her on pine -- urgh!

I've got her on Carefresh (regular) until I can get aspen under her, or find someone carrying Carefresh Ultra.

She is quite inquisitive, and gets herself up places in her cage that she can't comfortably get down from. On these occasions only, she seems grateful for a hand to step down onto.

[Die Fledermaus]

Very good job rescuing her!!

I gather you successfully sexed her.

The significance of the name is. . .??

All of mine, no matter how confident, are always a little reticient about stepping on the soft flesh of a palm - it does not seem secure to them, but eventually they hop on with a little verbal encouragement, and occasional a little tap on the tucchus!

All of mine right now are in the Rodent Room with my one electric heater keeping them toasty while I sit here with gloves on in this brutal, frigid weather! ;D

Congratulations joining the hamster brigade.

>> she's inflicted two free-flowing "welcome wounds" on my finger and palm. <<

No photos??

[dosergirl]

HAHA i think that you are the only one who takes pics of their wounds Tom.
Your new baby is so sweet.

Will you not go to Petco, James? Cause they have carefresh ultra but i know some people won't go there. That's where i go, but i don't have any other option. you would think in a city as big as LA there would be tons of places to go.

Now you can start breeding hamsters too....haha i'm sure Daredevil has longed for the lovin' of a little girl,,,if he's anything like his dad.

[rasputin]

There will be no further breeding in this apartment by non-humans. Daredevil will have to take care of himself, unless he's willing to take good care of fourteen little clones.

I don't have a Petco hereabouts -- Louisville has PETsMART and Pet Supplies Plus and Pet Supermarket, but no Petco.

Havix and I will have to check the chains again -- been a long time since I had to scout out new beddings.

[calvinator1]

TEXT

Sounds like a regular gang of pirates. What's a collection of pirates called? ;D

[tinksgliders]

Have you tried to open the icky eye? It looks like there isn't an eye under the lid...

Congrats on your new little furrbutt, James!!

[jeannie]

Perhaps the eye will clear up now that she is off the bad bedding.

Little Phoenix has conjunctivitis in one eye - the vet saw him last night and said he could have an internal growth that is causing the problem. He's on a terramycin salve for the eye and baytril for the upper respiratory symptoms. It could be that he is an old geezer and won't improve, but time will tell.

Tom, if you send me photos you take of yourself during your final moments, I will post them on the board for you ;D

[rasputin]

No piccys of the wounds -- maybe I have never told you guys before, but I have no right hand -- makes it damn hard to take pics of the left. I'd rather have no pics to show for the drama than have to take them with my nose...

Havix was a likeable character whose story I never wrote, but once intended to. Bodewell is a wishful nod toward her future -- hoping she has an auspicious one. I still don't know for certain which she'll be called regularly -- probably Havix.

[rasputin]

OK, got out the gloves and had a little closer look at Havix's eye -- it's just a socket, as far as I can tell. She won't stay still enough to be positive, and she squeaks if I try to hold her still, but it looks like she's literally one-eyed.

No apparent infection or inflammation, but I'm giving a small-dose of daily OTC antibiotics and supplementing her food with vitamins because of her newness and apparent unease, anyway.

I also got Havix a ComfortWheel to run on -- she doesn't seem to care for the third-rate runged plastic wheel that came with her cage, and I don't think I'd like it either, in her place.

[Die Fledermaus]

Jeannie said:

Perhaps the eye will clear up now that she is off the bad bedding.

Little Phoenix has conjunctivitis in one eye - the vet saw him last night and said he could have an internal growth that is causing the problem. He's on a terramycin salve for the eye and baytril for the upper respiratory symptoms. It could be that he is an old geezer and won't improve, but time will tell.

Tom, if you send me photos you take of yourself during your final moments, I will post them on the board for you ;D

? The "final moments" after Zeb finally sinks his incisors into my carotid artery - or would the jugular vein suffice?

You haven't updated Phoenix? How's he doing??

At least I'm doing better after sneezing and sniffling like crazy a few days ago. I wanted to see if I could feed some squirrels last night at the park a mile away - a quick slow jog. But as bundled up as I was I had to abort halfway there - no ski mask, and the only exposed bits of skin (the center of my mug) were seriously freezing. Glad I didn't need to take a whiz in that weather; it would have flash frozen and broke off.