Doing what? I want to know. Hellllloooo? Where's the staff person duty? Cam's not up. Place the ad again: Need webmaster ASAP! Wheek! [Right at this very moment Willie has decided that he needs some attention so he jumped up and is sitting in front of the computer monitor. As you can see from the photos he takes his various self-appointed jobs very seriously. In one he is welcoming Suki and in the other he is testing out the new pad that Jen made for their basket.]
Way to go, Suki! Wheek! [Suki for some reason absolutely loves taking her meds from a syringe. She practically yanks the syringe out of my hand the way that Bear used to do. So far there is no display of runny eyes or nasal discharge. She has two more days to take her antibiotics.]
Because, that's why! Wheek! [The huts that Jen makes are multifaceted. They are meant to be used as housing where a guinea pig or two can take a rest or hide out. However, I have found that they are easy to airlift a guinea pig out of the cage and that they may be used in high-sided carriers when visiting the vet. If the huts are open on both ends they are great for using as a tunnel to get from one place to another or to run through when running laps around the cage.]
I heard a sneeze! Why did Suki sneeze? I want to know! Wheek! [Suki seemed very well-cared for and healthy and had been for a month prior to coming here. She sneezed quietly a couple of times since she was with Dolly and Kira. Not sure if adjusting to a new environment and having Kira go after her briefly during bonding caused her resistance to be down or if it was all along and it did not surface until after the bonding session. It's possible that it might be the hay since part of it was dusty. I shook the dust out and will order some bluegrass from Kleemama's to see if that helps. Even though there are no other signs of a respiratory illness I will give Bactrim and liquid Vitamin C preventatively for a week in case it is needed. Very young/small guinea pigs can go downhill very quickly and I do not have access to a vet until next Saturday at the earliest. The attached photo shows Suki in her larger cage this morning with her cage pad and hut made by Jen and tunnel made by Windespirit. She loved running back and forth between the tunnel and hut! Click photo for a larger image.]
Jasmine's photo above was chosen as being the most creative in Jen's Custom Craft's May contest. I've already ordered another hut with the gift certificate. ;) Thanks to the judges and to Jen! :) It is one of my favorite photos and the one that I chose to put on the cover of the Guinea Pig Fun photo book. All of the photos entered may be seen here.
Helllllllllllllloooooo???? No chasing and attacking Suki! Call the ASPCA, now! Time out for Kira! Wheek! [I tried to bond Suki with Kira and Dolly last night and it seemed to go well at first. However, after a while Kira decided that she wasn't into sharing. I think that being separated from her mother, aunt, brother, and then loosing her sister was a bit much for her. She is at ease only with older females and Dolly is the only one who has worked out long-term.]
"I'm allergic to hay." Hellllllooo. Heard that one before. Wheek! [Someone I work with told me yesterday that he had to get rid of his guinea pig because he was allergic to hay. I knew he had a hamster that he takes excellent care of but I didn't know about the guinea pig. I told him that I could take her and try to bond her with Kira and Dolly or try to place her myself or through the local shelter who was looking for guinea pigs to place. My co-worker must have interacted with her a lot since she is very friendly and sweet and does popcorns and runs laps around her cage. She only weighs about 340 grams so she is quite young. I renamed her Suki and she is in quarantine although he had her for a month and she appears to be very healthy. I'll need to keep an eye out for any weight gain that might indicate that she is pregnant; hope not.]
1. Licorice got to make a special trip to the vet since he appeared to be walking strangely and I thought that he had broken his leg and that it had fused. Fortunately he was "healed" the day before the vet visit but he got checked out anyway. He and Fluffy are still doing well together in the same cage and Licorice is gaining weight steadily. [Photo above is of Kira, Licorice's sister. Click to see a larger image.]
4. Kira and Dolly are doing great together. I think Dolly is an older pig and unlike Kim, she thinks Kira is a good cage mate to have around. They sometimes do laps through their open-ended huts although they both seem to think that it's cool to sleep on top of them! Kira is eating more now so that is nice. Both are very sweet guinea pigs. [Photo is of Dolly.]
7. Bella is in time out right now. She was out and about and was quiet for a few minutes and I found out why. She decided to eat some of the rubber baseboard. Not a good idea. (Part of the baseboard was blocked off now she while have no access to it.) She is a very sweet and user-friendly interactive rabbit. If you are interested in adopting her, let me know.
