Baby and Elf as a pair were given to me when Flower was euthanised . I still miss her
They came to my care on the 17th of sept 2005 saturday
Initially both pups were just about alike , new scared and both of them had red eyes
However once seperated their characters became apparant.
Baby is aptly named . Baby was named after a cow in one of the LittleHouse Books .Hes docile and a seed spitter like Tim
Elf is edgy and very much like Shadow my sister's late WW .Hes a Tuber_holic if there be such a word . The world is his Tube and he would be more than happy if his dwelling was nothing but tubes
This page will be updated as and when there is gossip to share
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March 2006
Both my babies are grown up now .Elf remains defensive . I have trained him to get into a much when I tap so that I dont reach him and grab at him which he hates .
Baby is ok . Tame and only nips if startled .hes an illegal pee-r
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28th July
IM rather tired . I was up at pre dawn because sometime during the night my slightly more aggressive hamster ELF .. well his cage door busted open and he dropped into the Tub of the hamster Baby who was below . Lets just say they mauled each other.Both were bloody . I managed to clean them up with chlorhexidine 0.05% .
I contemplated bringing both to the vet even though I had funds for only 1 . But elf tried to nip me once he had settled in and I couldnt bring them both in their travelling cage .The habitrail is still unwashed so I couldnt use that either. in the end only the docile 1 made the trip and i explained the situation to the vet as elf didnt want to come out
The vet gave them both Baytril( 2 weeks ) and an anti-inflamatory thing ( 5 days ). And instructed that I should hold them so by the jaw so that they wouldnt nip . She also mentioned that if the other one got worse I would have to bring it in
Both have been medicated and are resting
2nd Aug
today is the last day of the antiinflamatory meds... the antibiotics continue for another week and a half
the hams are doing ok
the bruises are still visible
the scabs have formed and I think healing is on its way
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3rd august
heat wave
considering that i live just one or two degrees above the equator its hot and HUMID too
talk abut menopause heat intolerance in the tropics
tune : let it snow
oh the weather outside is frightful the heat is not delightful
id love to roll round in snow
let it snow let it snow let it snow
the heat goes on its scorching
enough to light some torches
before I get too old
let it snow let it snow let it snow
when i finally get to see
what the big old deal snow is about
i will climb up unto a stump
jump splat and roll on towards town
it doesnt show signs of stopping
this heats enough to rot me
id love to roll round in snow
let it snow let it snow let it snow
mei
( poor hammies)
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Today the 10th of AUg 2006 is the last day of antibiotics for both hammies
they seem to have go tthrough the spat ok and I dont think there is any infection
30th sept
DD sang one line over and over Sing a son of Baby .. ( tune sing a song of sixpence ) .. Baby BTW is 1 of my hamsters
i mentally made up the rest :
sing a song of Baby a pouch full of poo .
4 and 20 black bits got from his loo ,
then the pouch was emptied upon my DDs lap ,
what a dainty dish he gave in 20 seconds flat
from my SH blog :7th Nov 2006
Baby is showing signs of age . hes 14months now and abit sickly
except for a bit of discharge that sticks fur about the eye there isnt any other outward sign of ill health
im guessing its an internal issue . not much that a vet can do . I hope hes not on his way out yet . Im feeding him baby food and softened cat food bits from his hamster feed
a vet once told me that aftera year they sometimes specially the dwarf hammiesget internal tumours and sometimes you can oly make them comfortable and hope for the best
3rd Jan
Baby and elf must be middle aged now . I got them in september 05 so they must be about 16 ++ mths now
Elf is still nippy but has tamed to a stage where he chews the bars to get my attention.. stops to see if Im coming and then does it again until i come get him out . Today he climbed out of his habitrail onto my palm .
His majesty likes neck rubs . do it wrong and he nips or nibbles as though to say : EH YOU more to the left .. and if you get it right he half shuts his eyes
Baby had an episode where his skin was giving him trouble . I cleaned him daily with chloroxehidine 0.05% ( sp ?) and it seems to have helped . His fur has grown back. I realised it was probably irritatin from piddle illegally deposited because he once came out of his cubby with his head wet
Hes sweet . the more docile of the two and the other day rested on DDs bed
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8th Mar 2007
The story may be ending soon for Elf
Hes on his way out as I type . This afternoon he was in hsi tube and when I tapped he didnt wake and rush out for the tit bit as he normally would have . I cant be sure of his exact age . He was of pet shop stock and a gift
When I went to look upon him in the evening he was non responsive. Still alive but not responding . I think he can sense someone he knows is carrying him
I have laid him to rest on a pile of toilet paper . Sadly the land below is state land and IM not allowed to bury critters there . It wil be a rubbish chute burial when the time comes . He was on my belly just now but as the eveing draws to a close hes back in his cage as I had to wash up and run the laundry
Its sad but there is nothing I can do for him but coo once in awhile
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9th Mar 2007
Elf died yesterday
he was in the tubes all day yet when I discovered him in the evening dying he was by the door of the cage . I think he wanted to be found .
as I spoke to him in his last hours I suspect he heard but couldnt respond
Today I had the dreaded task of bleaching and washing his furniture in prep for the next hamster .. i miss that little stinker .
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Baby had a strange discharge coming out of one ear . turned out it was a yeast and bacterial infection . he was given some drops and an oral med thing
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for the 7th of May 2007
over saturday I discovered a lump
it felt like a mass . solid. I was uncertain if it was fluid filled or solid but to me it felt solid . if it was fluid it could be drained and treated because it might have been am impacted cheek pouch
the vet confirmed it was something solid he felt it and said its not likely that it was fluid . I had a talk with him . i told him that if it was something that was fluid id opt for treatment and trying to save it . but if it was solid ( ie a possible tumour ) granted that the animal was old Id opt for euthanasia
it wasnt worth having him go through a biopsy because it was traumatic .. and a surgery well at this age rodents dont take too well to GA
the vet laid down options before us . 1) to treat it with antibiotics on the off chance that it COULD be an infection .. or 2) to euthanise if i felt that it was going to affect his quality of life .
so i pondered over letting Baby live out his lifespan but he was already slowing down .. i opted to euthanise
they slow down when they feel pain and depression when they cant eat normally . what would have happened Im guessing was that in time the tumour would get bigger and he would starve
My heart for sure is aching .I think I will just bleach out his current set of used furniture . the rest in the bag should be ok for Elven to continue using
mei
you put your right foot up and shake it all about
then you do the hokey pokey and turn yourself about ...thats what its all about
OH HOKEY POKEYYYY ( shake it momma)
click on the ABOVE picture to get to spoiled hamsters