Sherman passed while I was at the hospital. I didn't want to help him to the bridge because despite the fact he had total back end paralysis he dragged himself around and up the side of his cage like nobody's business.
A big black and white rattie boy, he was a real dream as a pet. He didn't like most rats, but for some reason he took a shine to Luke, his cage mate that preceeded him in death. Sherman was almost twice as big as Luke, but Sherman liked the fact Luke liked to be his blanket. Sherman was 43 months old. He came here a lone rattie boy. Patches and Nona also came from the same home. He lived with Luke until Luke passed away.
Rest in peace little Sherman, you'll have your little Luke blanket again.
The lives of the lovable vermin of F.A.T.E.
Showing posts with label -d_Sherman(r). Show all posts
Showing posts with label -d_Sherman(r). Show all posts
Friday, February 5, 2010
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Luke Is Helped to the Bridge
Sadly, I had to help Luke to the bridge. I was cleaning the cages and noticed that Luke was having a really hard time. He's been battling respiratory illness on and off for some time now. His chest appeared to barely expand anymore. I am very upset over this. I knew Sherman, Luke's cage mate, was going to have a hard time with this.
I pet and talked to Luke as he slipped away. He was then prepared to be taken to OHS for private cremation.
Luke was adopted with his brother Owen. Owen was also about 6 months older than Luke. Owen passed not long after he came here due to respiratory issues. It all happened rather fast!
Eventually, Luke and Sherman were introduced. Both being intact males, I had to be very careful. They hit it off right away. I was amazed. Sherman didn't like anyone else I had tried to introduce him to before.
When I left, Sherman was huddling in the front corner of his cage. Sherman is actually considerably older than Luke--Sherman is almost 3 years old. He is still very spry and big and cuddly. It was hard leaving him home while I came to California on vacation. I'm hoping he is ok. There wasn't time to arrange for him to stay with someone else. My husband is taking care of the little guys but I know that it is hard to spread yourself so thin with only one person there. I don't have anyone to put with Sherman. Sherman was actually very hard to find a buddy for. I was amazed that he and Luke hit it off. Luke, half the size of Sherman, used sleep on top of Sherman like a rattie blanket.
Rest in peace little Luke! You will be missed.
I pet and talked to Luke as he slipped away. He was then prepared to be taken to OHS for private cremation.
Luke was adopted with his brother Owen. Owen was also about 6 months older than Luke. Owen passed not long after he came here due to respiratory issues. It all happened rather fast!
Eventually, Luke and Sherman were introduced. Both being intact males, I had to be very careful. They hit it off right away. I was amazed. Sherman didn't like anyone else I had tried to introduce him to before.
When I left, Sherman was huddling in the front corner of his cage. Sherman is actually considerably older than Luke--Sherman is almost 3 years old. He is still very spry and big and cuddly. It was hard leaving him home while I came to California on vacation. I'm hoping he is ok. There wasn't time to arrange for him to stay with someone else. My husband is taking care of the little guys but I know that it is hard to spread yourself so thin with only one person there. I don't have anyone to put with Sherman. Sherman was actually very hard to find a buddy for. I was amazed that he and Luke hit it off. Luke, half the size of Sherman, used sleep on top of Sherman like a rattie blanket.
Rest in peace little Luke! You will be missed.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Ratties Move....New Cage Purchase
Libby has been moved to the downstairs BC-6. She is living next store to Bella. Bella has been moved from the home with the 5 girls. They do ok, but Bella has 4 tumors and Libby needed a friend. Bella was ok with the other group of girls but she was not so bonded that she didn't like the change. She seems to love having a part of a cage to herself and still be able to visit with Libby.
Libby also has a small tumor and she is also pretty old. :( So they are two little old ladies that hang out side-by-side in their hammocks.
Mimi and Junior were moved back downstairs into a BC-6. Junior still gets a bit nervous around a lot of noise but he so enjoys hamming it up when he knows you're looking at him. These are the 2 I hope to put the 2 spayed girls with. Mimi is also spayed of course.
Sherman and Luke are in the lower BC-6. They have lots of fun. I've thrown in lots of newspaper in all of the cages and they've gone to town with making nests. It cracks me up to see the 2 boys in their hammocks with newspaper all around them. They have blankets too but it must be something about the paper. lol
Upstairs, the BC-7s are waiting to be cleaned. Remi is currently hanging out downstairs while this is happening. Remi will be moving into a split BC-7 with Cricket on the other side. Hopefully they will get used to each other so the divider can come out. Potter and Joey are also in a carrier waiting for the BC-7 (they used to live in a BC-6). I've downsized the room to 2 stacks of BC-7 and moved all of the BC-6 downstairs. Of course the 4 custom multi-leveled cages are still up there.
Trixie, Pixie and Boo have moved into Tickle Tower! (Remember Boo is neutered.) So far so good. Since Libby has moved downstairs, she was living in the upper level of the Tower, there was more room to move the 3 in. Boo doesn't know quite what to do. The tower has lots of stuff for them to play in and hammocks to sack out in. Sadly, the matriarch, Shäst, has really slowed down. I'm hesitent to move her though. I put everthing she needs on the level she stays on. Although water is available on all levels. She spends most of the time in the hammock. I don't want to move her out because her friends Lucy and Nona are good company for her and take care of their old friend.
I did purchase a used Quality Cage, BC-11 1/2 cage from a private party. I went to Quality Cages and purchased a stand, as shown in the picture. I also had extra doors made for easier cleaning. I also need to purchase 2 more doors to cover the nest box holes, but that is not a problem! Turns out they made a new product for the chinchilla cages. It is a powder coated metal shelf. So I got 3 of those to try out in this cage. I'll see how they work and might order more, maybe even wider shelves. It's so exciting. The cage is very big, but if I keep it downstairs, which is where it will eventually end up, I can just roll it out the front door to clean. Currently, this cage is in storage.
Anyway, it has been very busy at the village.
Libby also has a small tumor and she is also pretty old. :( So they are two little old ladies that hang out side-by-side in their hammocks.
Mimi and Junior were moved back downstairs into a BC-6. Junior still gets a bit nervous around a lot of noise but he so enjoys hamming it up when he knows you're looking at him. These are the 2 I hope to put the 2 spayed girls with. Mimi is also spayed of course.
Sherman and Luke are in the lower BC-6. They have lots of fun. I've thrown in lots of newspaper in all of the cages and they've gone to town with making nests. It cracks me up to see the 2 boys in their hammocks with newspaper all around them. They have blankets too but it must be something about the paper. lol
Upstairs, the BC-7s are waiting to be cleaned. Remi is currently hanging out downstairs while this is happening. Remi will be moving into a split BC-7 with Cricket on the other side. Hopefully they will get used to each other so the divider can come out. Potter and Joey are also in a carrier waiting for the BC-7 (they used to live in a BC-6). I've downsized the room to 2 stacks of BC-7 and moved all of the BC-6 downstairs. Of course the 4 custom multi-leveled cages are still up there.
Trixie, Pixie and Boo have moved into Tickle Tower! (Remember Boo is neutered.) So far so good. Since Libby has moved downstairs, she was living in the upper level of the Tower, there was more room to move the 3 in. Boo doesn't know quite what to do. The tower has lots of stuff for them to play in and hammocks to sack out in. Sadly, the matriarch, Shäst, has really slowed down. I'm hesitent to move her though. I put everthing she needs on the level she stays on. Although water is available on all levels. She spends most of the time in the hammock. I don't want to move her out because her friends Lucy and Nona are good company for her and take care of their old friend.
I did purchase a used Quality Cage, BC-11 1/2 cage from a private party. I went to Quality Cages and purchased a stand, as shown in the picture. I also had extra doors made for easier cleaning. I also need to purchase 2 more doors to cover the nest box holes, but that is not a problem! Turns out they made a new product for the chinchilla cages. It is a powder coated metal shelf. So I got 3 of those to try out in this cage. I'll see how they work and might order more, maybe even wider shelves. It's so exciting. The cage is very big, but if I keep it downstairs, which is where it will eventually end up, I can just roll it out the front door to clean. Currently, this cage is in storage.
Anyway, it has been very busy at the village.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Sprite Medicine Dream Girl
Well, poor Sprite is battling chronic respiratory illness and will be on meds for life. But I have to say she is a dream to give medicine too. She grabs the syringe and holds it while taking the medicine. She is the ONLY one that does this. I don't even have to pick her up. I just need to open the door and call her and she runs to it and drinks it all up like a good girl. So I have Sherman the potty training rattie boy and Sprite, the medicine girl. And of course Joey, abscess boy. Which by the way the last abscess treatment appears to look good so far. Pixie's growth was a sebaceous cyst. It is unknown if it will abscess now. Dr. B said it was not a sterile environment and he did the best he could to get clean tissue but as it had ulcerated and it was on the leg, there wasn't much skin to pull. So far that appears to be doing ok. She is on antibiotics too.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Sherman and Joey Status Update
Well, they got their antibiotics and pain medicine again this morning. Sherman also had his wound flushed and packed again. They are both good boys. Both indulged in a little "nervous" bruxxing. However I held Sherman for quite some time after, since his treatment is a bit more traumatic, and he contentedly bruxxed and boggled for me the whole time. He is such a big love bug.
They'll get their meds and treatment for the next couple of weeks. Joey has a hard lump on his abdomen that I have to monitor. This is unrelated to the surgery but something the doctor noticed after he had his abdominopelvic region shaved for surgery.
They'll get their meds and treatment for the next couple of weeks. Joey has a hard lump on his abdomen that I have to monitor. This is unrelated to the surgery but something the doctor noticed after he had his abdominopelvic region shaved for surgery.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Joey and Sherman's Day at the Vet
I had to bring 2 boys in to SWAH today. I was getting Joey neutered and Sherman was getting an abscess taken care of. Both came through just fine.
During Sherman's appointment, I mentioned meeting a "Hermaphrodite" rat and seeing one at the show with extra fingers. Dr. Surrency was going to be doing the neuter on my little boy later that day.
She called me after it was done. Turns out Joey had smaller than normal testicles and he had 3. They had to make an extra long incision so he is getting antibiotics but I thought that was odd and kind of ironic that we were talking about abnormalities...um uniqueness such as this earlier.
While Joey was getting neutered, his cage mate Potter got to come with me today. We stopped by my office and visited people. And we freaked out our HR department. I brought him down to meet the VP of HR but she wasn't there and one of the supervisors was asking if I wanted to
leave a message. And just as I was about to answer, Potter poked his head out of my sweatshirt (he was on my shoulder between my shirt and sweatshirt). She jumped, and yelped..."OMG Kimber". Of course others were there to laugh at her--and she laughed at herself too. :-)
Potter just twitched his whiskers and then ducked back out of sight.
Ah well, everywhere else we went he was hugged and pet and cuddled.
We even popped into Quality Cages to make a payment on my order so he got more cuddles there too. He was so polite, he only peed on me.
During Sherman's appointment, I mentioned meeting a "Hermaphrodite" rat and seeing one at the show with extra fingers. Dr. Surrency was going to be doing the neuter on my little boy later that day.
She called me after it was done. Turns out Joey had smaller than normal testicles and he had 3. They had to make an extra long incision so he is getting antibiotics but I thought that was odd and kind of ironic that we were talking about abnormalities...um uniqueness such as this earlier.
While Joey was getting neutered, his cage mate Potter got to come with me today. We stopped by my office and visited people. And we freaked out our HR department. I brought him down to meet the VP of HR but she wasn't there and one of the supervisors was asking if I wanted to
leave a message. And just as I was about to answer, Potter poked his head out of my sweatshirt (he was on my shoulder between my shirt and sweatshirt). She jumped, and yelped..."OMG Kimber". Of course others were there to laugh at her--and she laughed at herself too. :-)
Potter just twitched his whiskers and then ducked back out of sight.
Ah well, everywhere else we went he was hugged and pet and cuddled.
We even popped into Quality Cages to make a payment on my order so he got more cuddles there too. He was so polite, he only peed on me.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Sherman and Joey
Well, Sherman and Joey have to go to the vet this Friday. Joey is scheduled to be neutered and Sherman has developed an abscess on his back during his tussles with his cage mate Luke.
I hope this all goes well. Next Friday's appointment is not so sanguine. More on that after that happens.
Sherman and his buddy Luke love the cube and hammock. Although Luke has "rearranged" the cube. He sleeps between the fleece and the flannel. Little bum. Sherman, on the other hand, sleeps on TOP of the cube.
I hope this all goes well. Next Friday's appointment is not so sanguine. More on that after that happens.
Sherman and his buddy Luke love the cube and hammock. Although Luke has "rearranged" the cube. He sleeps between the fleece and the flannel. Little bum. Sherman, on the other hand, sleeps on TOP of the cube.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Sherman, Nona, and Patches aka Ace
I'm just posting some shots for families that I got some of my ratties from. Sherman, Nona and Patches all came from the same family. Sherman hasn't bonded with any ratties. Patches has bonded with new rattie Spot and Nona has bonded with her cage mates some time ago.
Sherman is peeking out to check out why I opened the door. He moved too fast because he was sleeping in his hammock!
Patches, is checking out to see if any good food is bring brought in since I opened the door. He is bonding with his new room mate Spot. He's a playful little guy that likes to play tag. He had mites when I got him. I treated him with Revolution and he has been doing great! Mites are common and rats may live their whole life with them and never give off any real indication.
He also had frequent loose stool, but now that he has been put on a pretty restrictive diet, he has been doing great. Rattie IBS. :-) I have a cat that suffers from something similar and he is on a restrictive diet as well.
When Spot's sister Pip is spayed, she'll be moving in with them. That will be in another month or so. Meanwhile, she is recovering from a partial tail amputation due to a degloving incident prior to my acquiring her.
Here is Nona with her room mates--kind of reminds me of the more bars campaign from the ATT commercial. From left to right, Precious (hairless), Nona, Shäst, and Lucy. Open the door Mom!
Sherman is peeking out to check out why I opened the door. He moved too fast because he was sleeping in his hammock!
Patches, is checking out to see if any good food is bring brought in since I opened the door. He is bonding with his new room mate Spot. He's a playful little guy that likes to play tag. He had mites when I got him. I treated him with Revolution and he has been doing great! Mites are common and rats may live their whole life with them and never give off any real indication.He also had frequent loose stool, but now that he has been put on a pretty restrictive diet, he has been doing great. Rattie IBS. :-) I have a cat that suffers from something similar and he is on a restrictive diet as well.
When Spot's sister Pip is spayed, she'll be moving in with them. That will be in another month or so. Meanwhile, she is recovering from a partial tail amputation due to a degloving incident prior to my acquiring her.
Here is Nona with her room mates--kind of reminds me of the more bars campaign from the ATT commercial. From left to right, Precious (hairless), Nona, Shäst, and Lucy. Open the door Mom!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Neutering, Pictures, Zeb, Tweek, and Cage Arrangements
It has been very busy here. The room will be completely done and photos taken by mid February. I'm so excited. I'm taking 3 rats to get neutered on 2/6/2008 so they can live with some of my ladies. Sherman who is already here and 2 boys I will be picking up on Friday. 1 already had a pass here because he is from the same family as Sherman and Nona. The other two get a pass because they are up on the list for pet/breeder or food and it is a 5 week old pair, 1 boy and 1 girl. It is this third boy that will be neutered so he can continue to live with his current cage mate with the larger groups of rats.
Zeb had surgery to remove lumps from his body. Turns out the lumps were lumps of infection, e. coli, and something else. He has to take 3 weeks of two different kinds of antibiotics. Poor little guys.
Tweek, rejected snake food, has settled in with her two new roomies, Sprite and Ruthie. It is to this cage I will attempt to introduce Sherman, and the two new boys and the little girl to. The cage would then be expanded to a 4 level + a balcony cage. I will have 3 such cages set up. The freed up large deluxe cage will be used to house the 2 babies that have to live downstairs and the cage they are in will be sold to offset the cost of getting some of the babies fixed. (The cage is a different caging system I don't really care for.) The two baby ratties that are coming Friday also come in that same caging system, and that cage will be sold as it is unneeded and will be used to offset the cost of fixing the little boy.
Saturday I sold one of the "other" cages and used the proceeds to buy some supplies for the mice cages and the new gerbil cage. I made the mice real cages instead of that Critter Trail crap. They love it. I also made a more gerbil friendly one for the new gerbil we adopted at OHS. Poor little guy has had a hard life. So now he is having fun in his new home. Gerbils are VERY low maintenance pets and are fun to watch.
On Friday I hope to get a mini-fridge to keep medications in so that I don't have to keep going downstairs to get it and then bring it back down. I intend to bring one of my dressers in the room to use there as a place to weigh the little ones and sit the fridge on it.
Other than this, been busy at work and in class.
Zeb had surgery to remove lumps from his body. Turns out the lumps were lumps of infection, e. coli, and something else. He has to take 3 weeks of two different kinds of antibiotics. Poor little guys.
Tweek, rejected snake food, has settled in with her two new roomies, Sprite and Ruthie. It is to this cage I will attempt to introduce Sherman, and the two new boys and the little girl to. The cage would then be expanded to a 4 level + a balcony cage. I will have 3 such cages set up. The freed up large deluxe cage will be used to house the 2 babies that have to live downstairs and the cage they are in will be sold to offset the cost of getting some of the babies fixed. (The cage is a different caging system I don't really care for.) The two baby ratties that are coming Friday also come in that same caging system, and that cage will be sold as it is unneeded and will be used to offset the cost of fixing the little boy.
Saturday I sold one of the "other" cages and used the proceeds to buy some supplies for the mice cages and the new gerbil cage. I made the mice real cages instead of that Critter Trail crap. They love it. I also made a more gerbil friendly one for the new gerbil we adopted at OHS. Poor little guy has had a hard life. So now he is having fun in his new home. Gerbils are VERY low maintenance pets and are fun to watch.
On Friday I hope to get a mini-fridge to keep medications in so that I don't have to keep going downstairs to get it and then bring it back down. I intend to bring one of my dressers in the room to use there as a place to weigh the little ones and sit the fridge on it.
Other than this, been busy at work and in class.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
A brief update on the gang...
Well, I've been very bad about keeping up with this thing. Ruthie came through her surgery just fine. She is ready to be introduced to two other girls, Sprite and Tweek.
Right now, Sherman is on my shoulder, bruxing away. He is a single cage fellow. I've yet to find him a cage mate he will tolerate. I tried to introduce him and Tickle, but Tickle is too set in his ways. So they both live alone.
I found a lump on Zeb's abdomen. He has an appointment on Monday to get checked out. I'm hoping it is just a hernia and not a tumor. We shall find out.
Other than that, we might get a new gerbil tomorrow. Depends on if I can get around and make him a cage tonight. We do have room for a gerbil and he is NOT a socialized little guy so he would do okay here since I provide gerbils with sanctuary more than anything. I have a little girl named Cocoa. I provide lots of card board tubes, toys, a huge habitat, a sand bath, and fun stuff to dig through. Gerbils are low maintenance and very cool to watch.
I have to get back to cleaning, just wanted to pop a note on here.
Cheers!
Right now, Sherman is on my shoulder, bruxing away. He is a single cage fellow. I've yet to find him a cage mate he will tolerate. I tried to introduce him and Tickle, but Tickle is too set in his ways. So they both live alone.
I found a lump on Zeb's abdomen. He has an appointment on Monday to get checked out. I'm hoping it is just a hernia and not a tumor. We shall find out.
Other than that, we might get a new gerbil tomorrow. Depends on if I can get around and make him a cage tonight. We do have room for a gerbil and he is NOT a socialized little guy so he would do okay here since I provide gerbils with sanctuary more than anything. I have a little girl named Cocoa. I provide lots of card board tubes, toys, a huge habitat, a sand bath, and fun stuff to dig through. Gerbils are low maintenance and very cool to watch.
I have to get back to cleaning, just wanted to pop a note on here.
Cheers!
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