Clover soup

So, the story goes:

It's late afternoon, and the puppies are put in their crates to rest (and for safe storage while yard work is being done). Dogs all look great getting into their respective crates. There is no food/water in crate. And the puppies are only in their crate about 90 minutes.

As we approach Clover's crate to let her out, we noticed that she had two loose stools and she was covered in thick, foamy/stringy mucous (?vomit) with profuse discharge from her eyes (thick, stringy discharge) and long white/foamy saliva/mucous discharge from her mouth.

Clover didn't appear post-ictal (in the human sense) but was hesitant/shy (all of a sudden) with ears back, tail down. And when we called her to us, she came...but was 'cautious' and gently liked our outstretched hands.

We did not see her seize.

Of note, when we FIRST got her, we fed her formula. While eating, she DID seem to have muscular spasm of her legs, then had violent chills (but, to be fair, the formula was cold)!! After warming her up (and warming the formula) all the symptoms went away. And with dry food...there are NO issues.

Finally, you know about the whole "deworming" thing. She had episodes of coughing/gagging whereby her entire body would shake and she would just lie down. Her belly was distended (in normal 'puppy fashion'). I gave her the D-worm...twice...and all of that went away!!

After online consultation with a vet friend, it was offered that perhaps the puppy had a seizure due to a portosystemic shunt. She suggested we should get baseline labs and bile acids.

Well, if it happened again, (or we had have actually witnessed the seizure) then possibly. But, for all we know, the puppy just ate something "wrong" and had a bout of gastroenteritis.

So observation continues....

Lucky Clover

During a visit to our family's house, we met a dog.

As we exited our car, a medium sized black dog sauntered up to our car.  "Oh, LOOK!  You guys have a dog!"

Our cousin was quick to *correct* us:  "I do NOT have a dog!"

"Okay.  So whose dog is it?!" we inquired.

"I don't know, it just showed up about a few weeks ago.  She was obviously pregnant, and we felt bad for her...so we've been giving her food scraps and water.  Now, she won't leave...and she's living under our house.  And it appears she's had her puppies...but we haven't seen them.  They could be anywhere..." as she trailed off, looking out into the vast acreage they live on.

Exactly 5 minutes later, the kids FOUND the puppies...under a car.  FIVE of them, (initially...and a single puppy was found (later the next day) in the forest framing their land).

As we pull the puppies from under a little red car, the Mama dog comes over...and the puppies scrambled over to her for some nutrition.  Mama's teats were engorged, so I'm sure the puppies were ravenous.

"Looks like you have a dog now...AND some puppies!!"


Our cousin was beside herself, as this was the first time any of them had seen the puppies.  The Mama was last seen pregnant by her son 2 weeks prior, but her fiance' insisted it had at least been 3 weeks.  We were surprised that none of them seemed to CARE that there were puppies out there that needed to be found and cared for.

"I guess I'll go ahead and buy some anti-freeze for them to drink to 'deal with' this 'problem,'" she mumbled.

WHAT?!  You can't DO that, we insisted.

But she was convinced that killing the puppies was the only 'solution' for her.  "We can't afford all these dogs, and I certainly don't want 7 dogs hanging out on our property...pooping and attracting flies," she shared.
 

So (like suckers) we took one, 'saved one.'  We chose a girl (since we had 2 female dogs at home already).  It was St. Patrick's day, so we named her Clover.

Clover was approximated to be about 3-4 weeks old (according to my cousin and her family about the last time the dog was seen pregnant).  So we decided to formula feed Clover once home. 

Clover has adjusted to life in our household nicely.  There was an episode of cough/gagging...where she was looking very weak and appeared to be quite sick.  After a quick Google search, her symptoms appeared consistent with worm infestation.  And considering her 'background', that was not an unreasonable possibly.

So we went up to the feed store and purchased some D-worm.  Gave it to her.  And after a day or two, she was all better.   A week later, she seemed to have a mild recurrence of gagging/coughing - so she got a second dose of D-worm.   We also treated all the other dogs.  Following these two administrations of D-worm Clover's abdomen immediately went from being distended to normal.  And our previously "fat" puppy was all skin and bones.  Evenso, she appears healthy and happy.

And a week after her recovery, she received her first set of shots - administered by Ian.

Today, she is doing great.  Much bigger, shiny coat, playful, healthy, and friendly.   

She appears to be mixed with lab and pit to me.  Both are great family dogs, so we're hopeful that Clover and the family are in for a long great relationship.

Coffee - good to the last drop.

We are sad to say, that our beloved bunny Coffee, has died.  But her last day was spent roaming free in the grass, sunshine, and fresh air.

Yesterday, as we were cleaning the cages, Coffee was "restless."  She has always been a bit skittish and difficult to "deal with."  So much so, in fact, that the kiddos had trouble getting her out of her cage to play or what-not.  But this day, she was impossible!  So, we put the cage on the ground and opened the gate.  As she started to come out, we had a dog crate waiting.  She hopped from her cage, into the dog crate. 

Our plan was to just leave her there, clean the cages, and then move her back. 

Popcorn was already in the crate, so we thought this would be a great opportunity for mom and daughter to spend some 'quality time' together on Mother's day. 

Took us about 30 minutes to clean the cages.  And during that time, we noticed that Coffee appeared to be fighting with Popcorn.  She was mounting her, and "growling" at her.  So much so that I thought "OH NO!!  Did we mistakenly put the male black Rabbit (Pepper) in the cage INSTEAD of Coffee?!"

So I immediately went to investigate.  I opened the crate, and reached in.  And Coffee bit me!!

This time, she's not pregnant.  Nor is she unfamiliar with us.  We've hand fed this bunny for months (almost a year).

So we decided to let her roam our safe, enclosed yard.  Maybe she's frustrated being in the cage so much?  After all, the kids don't take her out as much as the others....

I took the crate to the backyard, opened the door...and she immediately hopped out.  Popcorn, on the other hand, did NOT.  So we moved Popcorn back into her (now clean) cage.  And everything seemed okay.

Later in the day, Ian went out to feed Coffee fresh veggies.  Coffee wanted no part...stomped her hind legs, "growled", and ran away. 

So we left the food in our outdoor rabbit hutch, with water, and an open door so she could come and go as she pleased.  The outside temperature was perfect in the 70s, and overnight lows in the high 60s.  Plenty of shade, shelters, and cool dirt available.  No predators present.  So we felt okay giving her a bit more space to move about. 

Towards the evening, we noticed that she barely moved from one spot.  BUT...maybe, she was afraid of the wide-open space that she wasn't accustomed to? 

***
This morning, we went out to check on her, and she was still in the place were we last saw her about 12 hours prior.  Stiff.  Dead. 

In retrospect, maybe she was ill?  I tend to think that she was actually older than we anticipated (with her cataract, perhaps she was elderly even?)  Nonetheless, Coffee is gone.

And then there were TWO. 

Snickers and Hershey

 Snickers and Hershey

Hershey - one of the male pups - went to a new home.  We were introduced to a new school friend by Dr. Altom, and they were looking for a male companion for their little Piggie, Snickers.  Snickers was all alone, and wanted a buddy.

I am happy to report that Hershey's new family LOVES him...and Snickers is SUPER happy to have a new BFF!

Winners all around!

Piggie Update

Guinea pig family: daughter, momma, Hershey, daddy, and Fudge

After our home vet visit, we immediately separated the males from the females.

The 2 male sons (pups) - Hershey and Fudge



The 'internet said' that guinea pigs are self-sufficient from day one (with regards to being able to eat/drink/exist independent of their mothers). We know how reliable the internet is, so we were taking a big risk when we decided to take the baby males away from Mom when they were 3 days old (same day that the genders were determined)!! However, I am proud to report, that all piggies are alive and thriving!!



Yeah, the female pup that stayed with her mother is a bit 'larger' than the males...

(L) Male Fudge; (R) Female - notice how much larger she is!


...but all are doing very well. AND the males are getting along nicely.

The Feed Store...

...sold all of the Kits!!

And are asking for more!!


But, we have two new puppies, and that's enough for us for now!


This is Peris with her new 'husband' Beignet (Beny).





And this is Clover (because we got her on St. Patrick's Day). We'll share her story in a later post.

Nothing like Hershey and Fudge to brighten up a day

Coconut has his 'boys' with him...and he is (now) happy (again).  HERSHEY, COCONUT, and FUDGE

Guinea Pig Depression - no more

Coconut is a mellow guy. Sorta slow. Wobbly. Big. And low-key. But, after we took him out of the cage so Camel could have the pups, he was alone for about a week. And during that week, the poor little guy became so "depressed."

Initially, he would come out of his house on a regular basis and squeak/whistle at us. Protesting his new living accommodations. Protesting being all alone. He was interested in the kids...happy to get out of the cage like never before. And after human interaction, he seem okay...for a day...

THEN, after a few days, he stopped coming out of the house. The little food dish was barely touched. The water didn't need to be changed everyday. And he stopped whistling.

Poor guy.

***

So it was chocolate to our hearts when, after the male pups were confirmed male and placed in his cage...he danced around. He purred, and he walked in circles around the pups. He sniffed, and chased, and seemed to actually kick up his heels.

Then he started eating again...and the water began getting low.

And he was happy!


INTRODUCING:  Hershey and Fudge - perfect remedy for a 'depressed' spirit.  

Two boys and a girl.

So, we had a vet home health visit thanks to our friend (Dr. Altom) and determined the gender of our piggies. There are two boys and one girl.

This is a FEMALE. Y shape, no 'penis'. No 'doughnut'




This is a MALE. With a penis at 12 o'clock, and a round doughnut surrounding the whole thing







Pup 1 is a BOY
Big trucks and everything 'boy.'





Pup 2 is a BOY
Pup 2 on Night Fury Toothless





Pup 3 is a GIRL
Pup 3 is the Princess




And this is Papa Coconut. Confirmation received that HE indeed has testicles, although he is too 'chubby' for his 'foreskin' to be retracted enough to actually reveal his penis - even for the veterinarian.

But there's the doughnut and the penis is felt inside of all that foreskin (which may be why the pet store folks got all mixed up).

The Three Little Piggies

Just as suspected...she was pregnant!!

"Was" being the operative word.

Welcome to the world little Piggies!!













Pup 1






Pup 2



Pup 3

Isn't it amazing how BIG they are. Those 3 Piggies look like collectively they occupy more space than their mother after a large meal. Fully developed, walking, eating "adult" food....

....much different from the Kits.

Fun facts:
Guinea pig's process of giving birth is called farrowing.
Boar: Male
Sow: Female
Pup: Baby
A guinea pig pack is called: Group

Carmel and Coconut

"I think Carmel (the guinea pig) is pregnant" was the text message.

***



For Christmas, we got Ian 2 guinea pigs. See, we only wanted one...but every source tells us "you have to get a least a pair, they're social animals and will get depressed if alone."

Ian holds Coconut on Christmas morning

We don't want to cause guinea pig depression...so we got two. Because it was so close to Christmas (and coordinating giving the gift of live animals is never easy) we had to get the GPs from two different locations. So they were different ages. And even though we checked their genitalia, because they were so different in every other obvious way (size, color, hair "style", temperament) we assumed the breeders knew what they were talking about...and allowed the GPs to live in their Town-home together.

Sure. It was a bit suspicious when we saw Coconut (the big one) mount Carmel (the small one)...but in all of my internet "research" I learned that the mounting is an exhibition of 'dominance' not necessarily sexual. And it's not terribly unusual, as 2 GP are 'getting to know each other' that one mounts the other...even if they're both the same gender.

***

Then yesterday, we noticed that Camel's "growing" wasn't just "bigger" but rather significantly *wider*. See, at first we attributed her 'rapid growth' to just being young...and with our excellent care and nurturing, she was thriving so well...and growing so quickly, that were were indeed doing good work.

But then...her girth is just ridiculous. And although we're still not *sure* she's preggers...I mean, come on!

So we decided to sell Cola, Flour, and Cinnamon (!!) to (another) feed store. Made a bit of money...and promptly purchased a few new supplies for the guinea pigs (because now we had to separate the two before she gives birth).


According to my reliable internet research, we should expect that she has 1-4 (probably 2) babies, and the stress of Papa around may cause pre-mature labor, or still-birth.


Now we have Coffee, Popcorn, Pepper, and the two GPs.


Next rabbit we'll get will (likely) be a Flemish Giant so our little guy can start participating in animal shows thru 4-H.

The kits get schooled

Show and tell at school today! The Kits get to experience kindergarten hands!!

$$ Buy Buy Bunny

Day 42. 2/21/12.

The feed store bought all FOUR of the kits that we were looking to give away/sell. It was nice to actually get a check doing something that you would have done for free! They are going to sell each kit for $45!! AND they don't sell rabbits to everyone. So we feel good that the kits will find good homes.

Since we frequently visit this feed store...we will keep you updated.

Ready to go...all boxed up.



Here we are at the feed store



Their new (temporary) home



Bunny display

As we were leaving the store managers say: "If you want to breed again in another month or two, we'll take those too!!!

I think our little guy has a new 'business.'

Forty Days and Forty Nights

It has been forty (one) days! 2.21.12

The kits continue to thrive, and seem to no longer need Mama's milk.
They've been moved out to the garage, and seem to be happier in some ways. Maybe it's just that they SEEM happier because when we do SEE them...they are so happy to see us!!

The time is drawing near...the young kits are almost ready to leave the nest.

Flour

Flour Feature




Flour then and now: from the smallest, tiniest, near-death kit TO the largest, funniest, most social young bunny.


35 days old





16 days old





6 days old