Silly Songs

The people on the ratlist all make up funny lyrics to songs that are about their rats. I started to do this too and made up a cute one to the tune of "Love & Marriage".

Neo, Neo
Neo, Neo
Fez and Franny make a trio
Cuz they have each other
They are happier than Lovers!
Neo, Neo
Neo, Neo
Three little ratties make a trio
Snuggling in the hammock
They never need to panic!

I visited Neo today and feed him some yogurt. He ate it by licking it from my fingers, I sang him silly little songs about ratties and his rattie friends, and he snuggled on my lap and bruxed. It seems as if he is getting better. Tomorrow I see Dr. Kanfer she will probably take another x-ray to see if his lungs are improving an hopefully wean him off the oxygen so he can come home.

NEO

How much is too much. How much should I spend on my pet rat NEO. He is sick again and at the vetrinarian. They did more x-rays, put him in an oxygen tent, gave him fluids etc. Less than a month ago I spent $500 on his foot that was all swollen. I don't want to loose him, but it could be a tumor and not a respritory infection, in which case there is nothing that can be done. How much more?

I love animals. I wish I could have more, my husband is adamant that we are up in numbers and need to reduce the quantity. I will just assume that we at at the limit and will get more when the number is reduced, only by death.

They are alot of work, but I don't mind. They love me and the feelings are mutual. They make me so happy. It is a feeling that is really undescribable. A joy. They are my true friends.

Kodiak is getting old, she is already 12. I worry about her, she is basicaly healthy. A little skin itchyness, and her back end is a bit stiff. It bums me out becuase she obviously limps after walks, yet she loves to go on them. Its hard to sneak Sprocket out and leave Kodders behind :(

When Dr. Dawson gets back from maternity leave I will take her in an see if she want to try Rymadyl or something. She is so hard to pill I hesitate starting the cosequin now. Maybe I should.

Stella

Friday the fledgling turtle dove wander away from the nest. She was siting on a branch near the nest, bobbing her head a bit like a big birdie! Mama dove was frantically trying to get her back to the nest and eventually did. I have not seen baby stella since Friday but mama has been sitting on the nest, daddy flying around near by. I assume that Stella is back in the nest safe and sound.

8 Puppies

Ann's Newfoundland Peanut had 8 puppies on 3/18. I was lucky enough to be at her house this weekend and was able to play and cuddle with these tiny little guys. She had 5 blacks and 3 lanseers (white with black markings). The runt was a little girl, Gwen, that was last to be born. She showed up about 6 hours after everyone else. I fell in love with her, and Ann wants me to have her. I know I can't, but I can wish....

Turtle Dove

There is a turtle dove nesting in the tree by the front door. Sunday there was half an eggshell on the stairs, but no mess, so no broken egg. But no peeps either, where are the babies? She is very diligent about sitting on her nest, and it doesn't seem like she has left for days.

We had a hummingbird nest a couple of years ago, there we two in the nest, but only one made it. We were there the day he took flight. We named him Frank and were sure that he came to the feeder in the back yard.

Tuesday, October 16, 2001

I had a dream about Bear last night. I was driving home from somewhere, the road was winding and it seemed as if there was snow about. It was dark out. I was talking to my passenger, a female, not sure whom she was, about how I hoped that Bear would be home by now. She was telling me she didn’t think she would be there until later in the week.


We pulled up and I got out of the car, and Bear was lying on her side. She looked dead, then I called her name and she jumped up and began wagging her tail and I cuddled her telling her how glad I was to see her. I wanted to walk across the street to where the house was and suddenly I had three dogs, I held Bear and Kodiaks collars with my right hand and in my left hand I held another dog. I was not sure who it was, but now I think that it was Rusty, my Brittany spaniel.


I held tight to all of them as the cars zoomed by, an unusual thing for Tahoe, if that is where I was. The headlights glared, and as soon as the road was clear we walked across, home. I woke up.

Million Dollar Rat

So it turns out Weds night when I got home from work poor Neo's foot was HUGE, swollen and ugly. I immediately rushed him to the ER vet (sirens blaring in the background), waited 2 hours spent $100 and was told "hmmm, it's not broken." The vet said well you can use some warm compresses, but no meds.(GEEEE)

By Friday his foot was no better so I took him to my vet, or at least "the exotic fill in vet" while mine is on maternity leave. We
decided to leave him there so that more x-rays and test could be run. (can you hear the cash register in the background?)

I picked him up at the end of the day with the same diagnoses, however lots of treatment. Baytril, Vibramycin, in case it is an
infection, prednisone, to reduce swelling and cool compresses, pain medication in case he needs it.

His pulse is good and heart looks normal so it is not edema from organ failure. She also aspirated a small tumor he has on
his side and sent it out for a pathology study. (still hear that register$$$?)

Sunday, only 2 days later swelling is significantly down on his foot (YEA!) and he is trying to put weight on it. He feels sooo much better. The Vet calls and says that the pathology on the tumor was not very conclusive but we should take it out since there were some spindle cells. I agree and he goes back Wednesday for a recheck. We have to wean him down off the prednisone before the surgery. (can you hear that register with the sirens this time!)

I am a bit worried about the surgery since he is about 750 grams (fat). The tumor is only about the size of garbanzo bean. My husband has nick named him the million dollar rat.