Charlie's thread - Page 194

cypher · 02-01-2017, 04:48 AM

Enjoying his home comforts then

A nice cosy bed & food close to paw is probably most of what Charlie wants right now, it's great that he's still enjoying his food.

Pebbles82 · 02-01-2017, 06:34 AM

Thank you Cypher and Boris Pasha. Yes when he's in bed he's the old Charlie - with his ways and looks. I guess he is more comfortable there and can express his personality. I put a piece of cucumber near his nest too and the little nose poked out again to investigate. He might have been out as well when I didn't notice as I think the baby food has been licked. It's all a bit uncertain but I'm getting used to a hammy who likes to have breakfast in bed right now

He seems happier in his nest and struggling when out of it.

Flax seeds are also supposed to be a pain reliever. As Charlie wasn't interested them I've got some flax seed oil coming and will add a drop of that, as well as the EP oil and manuka honey, to his porridge. He likes the porridge with the bit of honey and the oils just mix in and don't taste of anything really.

Pebbles82 · 02-01-2017, 10:55 AM

As the feeding is going well I'm going to get some White Willow bark and see if he chews on that as well as the dandelion and burdock roots. It's a natural pain reliever and no contra-indications for any existing conditions he has. It's where aspirin is made from but unlike aspirin it doesn't aggravate the gut.

cypher · 02-01-2017, 12:01 PM

Fresh flax seed oil actually has a lovely flavour but a lot of the oil you can buy isn't that fresh & can taste quite bitter & rancid so it's worth getting a good one, or capsules stay fresh longer than oil in a bottle, just thinking that if Charlie doesn't appear to enjoy it that might be why, hope he does.
A little bit of willow to chew on is a good idea too although if he goes for it might be an idea not to leave much in the cage for long, the herbal properties are quite potent for a ham. Less is more maybe?!

Coco61 · 02-01-2017, 12:06 PM

Breakfast in bed is good, a nice luxury. So long as he is eating and drinking and gets to his potty, then he must be managing. If he stopped using the potty and just wee'd in his nest, that might show he is not himself. Otherwise Charlie is an elderly ham now and some indulgence is just fine.

Thin Lizzy · 02-02-2017, 03:41 AM

Hey Serendipity, your entry photo of Charlie in March photo contest isn't showing.

Pebbles82 · 02-02-2017, 04:40 AM

Oh thank you Thin Lizzy. I was having real problems with Photobucket last night when doing the February thread (took hours!) and I noticed a couple seemed to be missing. Will sort it

cypher · 02-02-2017, 05:51 AM

That's happened to me before now & you just have to wait it out, 3 days was the longest but they do reappear eventually!
It is an adorable photo, got a peak before it went down

Hamsterita · 02-02-2017, 09:42 AM

I can see it now! So I suppose that it's fixed.

On the other hand, as I said on february's thread, I'm glad to see you doing this month, I hope we can see more of charlie!

Pebbles82 · 02-02-2017, 12:33 PM

Thank you Hamsterita! (And Souffle for fixing the photo).

Charlie and I are in a new routine. Charlie likes staying in bed and if that is what he is happy and comfortable with then that is what he can do from now on. We have a new feeding routine. I put a little baby food lid right in front of his nest door - he pops his nose out when he's ready and eats. When he's finished and wants the baby food lid moving out of the way he picks it up in his teeth and bangs it on the side of the house until I come and take it away again. We repeat this morning and evening alternating porridge, baby food and science selective. I also put his veg and extras in front of his house and they disappear. And I'm scattering his hamster mix in front of his door too. He must come out at some point as he is using the potty. I'm not sure if he goes as far as out of the house to the water bottle though, so he has a dish of water in his house. He sleeps and eats and seems fine doing that. I quite like the bit of different interaction we have now. And am feeling like a servant to a Lord - but on the other hand he deserves every little bit of attention he gets because he has earned it and is not well enough to do things himself.

Having said that he doesn't seem unwell - he seems disabled. I wish I could get him a little zimmer frame or wheelchair or something.

It encourages me that he has a normal appetite and he clearly does not want to go anywhere - if he did I think he would tell me.