It's been so beautiful out the past couple of days and we woke up to it snowing. School was delayed, then cancelled. I decided to go to work and as I was driving, I was wondering why school was cancelled because it really wasn't that bad out. Covered all the mud I have though.

Sad news. I got an e-mail from the breeder I was hoping to get a puppy from. Turns out she only had two and the female died during the dew claw and tail clipping. Must have had a bad heart, poor thing. And I had been working on Glenn and he seemed to be softening a little.

My bunny with the broken back is starting to decline. I took her to the vet to have her ears cleaned (bunnies clean their ears with their back feet) a week later, she was leaning like her equalibrium was off so I brought her back. The vet was shocked with how much wax she had again and did another cleaning, with a flushing and a shot of anti-inflamatory. She looked better for a day and went down again. The vet said she really has a will to live and as long as she keeps eating, she's not in pain. I keep expecting her to be gone in the mornings and she keeps surprising me.

Hope everyone is well, warm and dry.

-- Anonymous, March 08, 2004

Answers

Better you than us here in Maine, Dee :-)!! Actually, southern New England has received way more snow this winter than where I am. We just have some patchy snow left in the woods and 40+ degree temps...but MUCHO MUD!!!! So sorry about the puppy and your bunny!! It's amazing how strong the will to live is in some creatures.

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2004

Snow is virtually gone here, just humps where it was piled up. We got rain last week, but Julie got snow -- about 12" one day and 5" a few days later.

I haven't been around much. I haven't felt chatty. I don't really now either, but I just felt I should check in. I guess that was so that I could find out about John. :-(

I've been depressed lately. I found a kitten that I could not resist -- and believe me, I've resisted kittens right and left for years -- just before Christmas and before I was going on vacation for a couple of weeks. I was going to take him and leave him in the care of my pet sitter, but then he came down with ringworm, so I left him with the rescue group.

When I returned, he seemed to be over the ringworm so I brought him home. He chose the name Alex, and it was just completely his name. Fortunately, I kept him in quarantine because of the ringworm, as he soon spiked a fever. After numerous vet visits, tests, x-rays & ultrasounds, etc., it became obvious he had some obstruction in his intestines. Surgery was done -- we were thinking he had swallowed something -- but it turned out to be lymphoma that was already spreading through his body. He was only six months old.

I didn't want him to suffer anymore, so I let him go. Biopsies of the tumor and lymph nodes showed FIP, despite previous tests being negative. I was afraid of that from the start, having lost a kitten to it about 25 years ago.

I don't think the other two cats will be affected. It is virtually always kittens or immunocompromised cats that get it, and they had no direct contact with him, and I was very careful with hand washing and disinfecting and wearing different clothes.

So I have been feeling blah and depressed for several weeks. It was amazing how bonded I was to him. I felt from the moment I saw him that he was very special.

Then I lost my favorite cockatiel in a matter of hours. He developed a respiratory infection and died as soon as I got him to the vet. The next night, my mother had a severe gallbladder attack. Without going into a lot of detail, it wasn't looking good for laparascopic surgery, but she lucked out. They were able to do it that way, instead of the "open" surgery. So she is out of the hospital and doing fairly well. I was in Rockford while this was going on, and it was quite a tense time! I was afraid she was going to be my "third death" since they all seem to come in groups of three!

The woman is nuts though -- she's trying to go to Florida on Friday. She was supposed to go on Sunday, but that was the day she was being discharged from the hospital. My cousin would be going with her if she goes, but I think she ought to stay home and take it easy. There is no telling her what to do, however! :-/

The geese have been flying north, and the songbirds are singing. I heard a chickadee giving their summer call. I think spring is sprung, but it is very early spring, if so. Hard to believe that in less than 4 weeks we will be back on daylight saving time! It just is not right that standard time is only 5.5 months of the year!

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2004

Oh you guys...so sorry to hear about your critters...so hard to deal with their illness and loss. I'm so blown away that despite all the amazing veterinary medicine, it still comes down to life and death issues all by themselves.

This past week or so I've taken our indoor rescue kitty (we got him at 13 and have had him for a year +) in for cardiac ultrasound, abdominal ultrasound, and chest rads, plus geriatric workup, etc. He's got a very thick left ventricle and septum and some weird looking dotty stuff in his pancreas. It helps when you work for a vet specialist, of course, but nonetheless the recommendation was for vet cardiology referral and workup for our cat. Sigh...at what point do we say, gee, he's a 15-year-old cat who has had the benefit of a good life (since his original owner wanted him put down at 13 and the rescuing vet said no way). Or at what point do I say, gee she's a 13- year-old ewe who's had a good life (my oldest sheep, Claudette), etc.

I hate suffering...by all critters. But inevitably, it sometimes happens. I am glad to know people like you folks who are sensitive and do your very best to make your critters comfortable. My heart goes out to you.

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2004

And Joy, I'm glad to hear that your mom is doing well!!!

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2004

Gee Joy, sorry about your kittie.

-- Anonymous, March 11, 2004

Hey Dee!! Did you get any of this last snowstorm?? Any more leads on a puppy?

-- Anonymous, March 17, 2004

Ahh, just 8 inches with some more coming down right now. But it's really weird because I really don't mind it since it is warm outside. They said it should be around 50 this weekend.

I have some feelers out for a puppy but nothing positive yet. Wierd, that puppy died, my betta fish died, and my bunny is dying (she is still hanging in there. Eating wheat bread soaked in water, carrots and greens only now) Maybe I wasn't destined to get a puppy.

-- Anonymous, March 17, 2004

Sorry about everyone's critter troubles!

As for me, I know this sounds terrible, but I can't wait till my Pyr goes to the great beyond! I certainly wouldnt want any critter to suffer, so we take good care of her, but her presence in our lives right now is a major pain. She barks constantly, brings mud into the house with her huge feet, her shedding is a constant irritant cuz I ususally wear black (shoulda got a Newf!). I find those fine hairs everywhere, and literally have nightmares about one of them finding their way into my muffins and some customer finding it. The backyard is no fun cuz of her ruining everything just cuz she is too big. So remember when you get a pet to consider the posibility of changes in your lifestyle, since they are with us a very long time!

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2004