HAPPY 19th BIRTHDAY, AprilPearl! Since I can't sing it to you in person, this will just have to do!
Happy birthday, to you! Happy birthday, to you! Happy birthday, dear AprilPearl! Happy birthday, to you - AND MANY, MANY...MORE!!!
May all of your heart's desires come true, may your cutiepie Mushu eat his meds happily and completely, and may he live a long and fun-filled life with his loving and devoted Mum!
I know that today has been extremely hard for you since it is never easy to see someone you love not up to par. The fact that you were so preoccupied with caring for and worrying about you furball is a true testament to the extreme love that you have for him. Never, EVER doubt that you are a wonderful Mum. Whenever self-doubt starts to trickle down into your head, look back to this time and you will forever realize that you are doing what a truly selfless Mum would do. You are giving of yourself completely and thinking of the well-being of your furry baby. Mushu is truly lucky to have you just as you are truly lucky to have him. That is the true meaning of love!
I absolutely LOVE the last pic of you feeding Mushu. He looks so extra snuggly and cuddly! Oh, how precious he truly is! I am so sorry that you had a hard time with medication take 2. All we do is try our best and that you most certainly did. It would make sense to try his favorite mushed bananas to help the medicine go down. Unfortunately, it really is a trial and error on what will be the best disguise and most tolerable food for the meds. Thankfully, you were able to give Mushu his meds via syringe again, though. I know it is most certainly less ideal, but he needs to take them to get better and you are doing it out of deep concern and love for him. Hopefully, each day will be easier. Fingers crossed, as usual!
Concerning the not eating much of the mix, I think it is nothing to worry about at this time. It seems like he is eating quite a bit of his appeasement treats willingly. Therefore, he still has an appetite. Which is a definite good sign. I am so happy that he is eating well.
It is also a good sign that he is able to run in his wheel last night. That means that he still is energetic enough. I agree with you that he should probably wait until he is better before he gets any floor time roaming opportunities. He will need to rest to get his strength back, too.
Mushu is a true fighter, and he definitely still loves to eat and run so please try to not worry (although I know this is much easier said than done, of course). I think each day will be better because he is getting another dosage of his meds regardless. That can only mean that he has to be getting stronger and healthier by the day. So, pat yourself on the back, give your mum a hug, and give Mushu a cuddling because today was a success when it all comes down to it. Have some fun today because you truly deserve to be happy and celebrate your momentous 19th birthday! Be sure to enjoy you perfect early birthday gift - I know you will!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
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"...she fell into a deep sleep, and dreamed the dreams of the dreamtree." ~Stephen Cosgrove Mum to Duchess. Fur Angels Eros007, Arwen, Hinata & Snickers 4Ever.
Last edited by dreamtree1234; 04-30-2017 at 12:54 AM.
Glad you're managing to get the antibiotics in to Mushu even if it is stressful though it's a shame he wouldn't take it in his banana At least if you're getting it in to him quick with the syringe then the stress should be minimal, especially if you offer him a tasty treat after
I wouldn't worry too much that he is cuddlier than usual. My Pasha wasn't really cuddly at all, but he changed after his first trip to the vets (after a couple of days of sulking) and got a bit more cuddly. I think he decided that compared to the vet I wasn't so bad afterall lol.
Hope you manage to enjoy your birthday, sending you hugs and give Mushu a hug from me too please
__________________ Bossed around by Artie, Spartacus, Snapdragon, Feliks, Veikko & Delphia.
Boris, Pasha, Jaska & Max playing at the rainbow bridge, forever loved. https://www.instagram.com/wehave3hamsters/
Happy Birthday AprilPearl.
Myself & Dreamtree have done Birthday Threads for you, we posted them close together.xx
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Mom To Gorgeous Noah
Over The Rainbow Bridge - Master Harvey 2 years & 5 months, Twinkle 'The Diva' 1 year & 8 months, Archie 2 years & 3 months & Xena 2 years & 9 months. Forever loved by T-Liz.
dreamtree: Just wanted to take a moment to thank you for how wonderful you are. Really, your posts have made me feel better at times when I really needed it. Your birthday message was so kind and I smiled reading it. Basically, you're an awesome caring person and I'm very grateful to you.
BorisPasha: Thank you very much. I will pass on the hugs when I can. Unfortunately, Mushu has started becoming more skittish now, which I fear is due to his daily syringe feeding
ThinLizzy: It was so thoughtful of you (and dreamtree too) to create a thread and I was very surprised and touched, so thank you. I really appreciate it!
I want to tentatively say (and hope that in doing so I don't jinx things) that Mushu seems to be out of the woods. In honour of that, here is his namesake (the dragon, Mushu, from Mulan), shouting "I live!!)
His cold hasn't gotten worse, which is what I had feared would happen. And (touch wood) the sniffling seems to be gone or almost gone. He's looking shinier again I think, he's putting on weight and is now 123g, he took all his mix last night and he's running on his wheel still.
Mushu was even able last night to use his playpen, although I didn't want to risk free roaming at that point. Here he is doing his best impression of a tank in the replacement hideaway Zooplus eventually sent for his Alaska's platform (after many emails) but which he ignores when in his cage:
Now, on to the not-so-great news. Medicating him continues to be a traumatic experience for the both of us, and I think Mushu is starting to be afraid of me. As of this morning, I have tried:
- Giving the antibiotics straight
- Hiding them in porridge
- Hiding them in babyfood
- Flavouring them with Ribena
- Hiding them in wet cat food
- Hiding them in puréed banana
- Dipping the end of the syringe into puréed banana and, later, babyfood
All to no avail. Only the syringe feeding method works. But it also upsets him. And, I think this is setting the taming process back because he now associates people with being held down and forced to take disgusting medicine. He jumped off my hands for the first time. Fortunately, he didn't fall far, but it hurt me to know that he is so scared. And he doesn't come to the door to climb out and see me anymore. Quite rightly, he doesn't trust me. I think we will have to start all over at square 1 with taming him again. Or, maybe even square minus 10, considering he was so friendly when we first got him.
It breaks my heart because I feel as though even though he is still here, I've lost him. I know I'm so lucky that he is getting well, but I wish things could have been different. Can anyone with experience of feeding their hamster icky medicine tell me if they ever hit used to it? Or, if they ever forgave you?
Last edited by AprilPearl; 05-01-2017 at 03:23 AM.
Glad to hear Mushu is doing well I loved that video of his being a tank lol, what a character he is
I wouldn't worry too much about him being a bit reluctant to come to you at the moment. I think that's only natural that he'll be cautious no matter how friendly he was before the cold.
I've not got much experience with hamsters - only 10 months so I'm still quite a newbie - but I don't think hamsters hold grudges. My Artie was a rescue ham and he had an abscess in his mouth. It was our first time having to give antiobiotics and he was most definitely not happy about it. We didn't manage to disguise it in anything and had to persevere with the syringe. He was really quite a vicious (understandable really) little boy when he arrived and the daily dose of syringes and baytril didn't help. He's still quite a meanie but he's a little less ferocious than he was. I would say that given Mushu was a happy boy and has been friendly since you got him I'm sure he'll forgive you and be just as friendly again once he's better and gotten over the experience. You might just need to take things a bit slower with him until you've regained his trust but you'll get your Mushu back
__________________ Bossed around by Artie, Spartacus, Snapdragon, Feliks, Veikko & Delphia.
Boris, Pasha, Jaska & Max playing at the rainbow bridge, forever loved. https://www.instagram.com/wehave3hamsters/
AP, yes sadly with the taste of baytril, only the syringe method is the certain way of vital medicine going down. Yes, as a result, he will be suspicious of you. It was unfortunate that this illness occurred so soon after you got him and it will set taming back. You will have to go back a bit. Let him settle for a couple of days or so after baytril days are over. Then he realises that you coming to the cage does not equal meds. Take things gradually again. He should not bear grudges and you will be able to win him over again. Treats always help!
Thank you BorisPasha and Coco61. I am trying to be rational about this, but I guess I am so emotionally involved that it makes it difficult. What matters is that Mushu gets better. And I will do anything to ensure that that happens.
I have mixed news again this evening. Mushu was calmer about being held, which was good. Although hiding medicine in the baby food failed, at least I can still use it to bribe him now!
His coat is definitely returning to its old shiny self again, whereas it had been getting a little more dull, which I have read could have been a sign of illness. It's also getting longer, however. That's not so great because he is getting tangles and I don't want to stress him out right now by brushing him.
Mushu is still visibly nervous though, and I heard some more snuffling this evening which concerned me. I've got to keep going with the medication, I know. Of course Mushu is upset, who wouldn't be if someone kept holding them down and forcing them to eat horrible stuff for no apparent reason? Somewhat analogously, I hated taking medicine as a child - my mum would literally have to chase me around the house in order to get it into me. So, I can empathise to an extent!
Edit: Just been in to see Mushu and he climbed out of his cage door twice to see me. It's enough for me to hope that he is coming to trust me again.
Last edited by AprilPearl; 05-01-2017 at 01:31 PM.
He is such a gorgeous little thing! His coat is bery shiny and almost golden. He has such a sweet littke face and you are lucky he sits in your hand that way. My monster refuses to sit still. I'm sure Mushu wont hold it against you, after all he knows you love him and are trying to help him get better. Give him a get well squidge from me x
Re: Mushu the Fluffy
At least if you're getting it in to him quick with the syringe then the stress should be minimal, especially if you offer him a tasty treat after 
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