February 2010

5th February 2010

Back again after the Christmas break and two litters at once. The babies are going to new homes this weekend, I have a long weekend off work, and stuff is getting done.

First of all, I'm trying introductions between my rehome boy, Jet, and two girls Maisy and Moselle. So far so good. That leaves Angelina and Araminta, the two old ladies on their own. I'm hoping that I can get them reintroduced to their two former cagemates, Effra and Wandle, and the three of Effra's baby girls (Lea, Moss and Amber) who are staying here. I'm also planning to introduce my two keeper boys, Derwent and Trent, to their new cagemates this weekend.

23rd February 2010

Swift has gone, and I still can't quite believe it. I found a discharge on their bedding last week and thought she had pyometra. Took her to the vet who could feel a large swelling that felt more like her bladder, but the discharge was thick and lumpy so we decided to go for an op to investigate. It wasn't pyo, it was a tumour obstructing her bladder, so she wasn't brought round. She was only 18 months old, full of life and in wonderful condition.

I'm finding it difficult not to breed another litter in reaction. I'm depressed at losing Swift and want little babies to play with. But I don't need a litter now, that's not the plan.

Thankfully I should be getting babies soon from another breeder. The mum's being mated up around now, so in another couple of months or so I'll have little girls to play with.

27th February 2010

More bad news I'm afraid. Chloe has a mammary lump. I'm hoping to get her into the vet next week, but it's not a 'right away' problem so it can wait until I have time. Phoebe has yet another neck abscess and is looking very sorry for herself. Barny looks generally unwell but I don't know what is wrong with him.

Then I got the news that one of the 10 week old kittens had been put to sleep by the owner's vet. Both of their kittens had been cold and unresponsive, but one was a little worse than the other. The vet put one to sleep and gave the other antibiotics, and the treated one was almost completely better by the next day! Would the first have survived if she'd been treated? It's not a useful question to ask, but I can't help thinking it and neither can her owners.

Just to add a little good news to balance things out, I now have my stroppy rehome boy, Jet, living with eight girls. You can see the change in him already. He's coming across more like a normal rat, running round at playtime, coming back to the cage when called, and only grazing me with his teeth rather than his usual stapling technique. I've actually seen him sleeping in a rat heap too. So, so pleased for him. I wonder if I'll ever be allowed to cuddle him?