Bad Month

The last few weeks have really hit my animals hard... not to mention my wallet. First I lost my beautiful hamster. Then my baby guinea pig ended up with a respiratory infection. Shortly after that I discovered blood in one of my hedgehog cages and after examining my hedgehog, Pinball, closely I found what looked like a really nasty sore on the corner of his mouth. Pinball went into the vet for some emergency surgery to remove this oral tumor the very next day. Last night my male apache betta passed away while I was at work. I also discovered blood in my chinchilla cage once I got home from work. So first thing this morning, my violet chinchilla, Hope, was taken to the vet. He believes she has a urinary tract infection and has prescribed Baytril for her. So at the moment I'm medicating three of my animals. At this rate I'm going to have to take another part time job just to pay all my vet bills.

Oral Injections

Storm, my little guinea pig, hates when I try to give her the Baytril medicine that I got from the vet. For the first few days I ended up with more Baytril on me than inside Storm. I tried adding some apple juice to the medicine. Then I tried adding applesauce and mashed banana on the end of the syringe, but nothing seemed to work. Finally another animal lover shared a technique with me that really worked. I now get out a towel and place Storm in the middle of it. Then I wrap her up like a burrito so that she can't fight with me. I then flip her upside down and use one hand to hold her head in place. The syringe is placed just behind her teeth and in the medicine goes.

Freak Accident

Sad news spread quickly early Labor Day Monday as many learned of the death of TV naturalist Steve Irwin, "The Crocodile Hunter". Irwin had been killed by a stingray's barb through his chest in a freak diving accident off Australia's northeast coast while filming a new documentary.

Steve will be sorely missed in the animal world. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family today as they deal with their grief.

Sneezing Pig

My guinea pig, Storm, has been doing a good bit of sneezing lately. I decided not to mess around and get her in to see the vet right away. So after work today she went for her first visit. Sure enough the doctor said she had a nasty respiratory infection. I was really glad I took her in to get some meds for her. She got an injection of Baytril and I will have to follow up with oral injections twice a day for awhile. Hopefully this will nip the infection in the bud.

RIP Miracle

On my way to the animal hospital this morning, Miracle, my hamster, passed away in the car. I guess she didn't even have enough strength left to make the trip to the doctor. It made me feel horrible that I wasn't able to do something for her. It was also very difficult to turn around and have to go to work while leaving her little lifeless body in my car. I hope tonight that she is in a place where she can run free with all of the other hamsters.