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Post by hpdegus on Sept 5, 2021 15:32:53 GMT
Tom is such a weirdo, I love him.
I heard this strange slapping noise while one of the rescues was running in the wheel just now. Look over and its Tom. Instead of running normally, he's kind of bouncing? And he just lets his tail hang loose so it smacks the wheel periodically.
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 5, 2021 16:51:04 GMT
Sounds 'interesting'! Definitely video if you get chance!
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Post by bouncy on Sept 6, 2021 11:33:09 GMT
Perhaps he's sprained his tail
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Post by hpdegus on Sept 7, 2021 0:55:43 GMT
I'm working on the video, but as soon as he realizes I'm there he runs for the door since he thinks he's getting treats!
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Post by bouncy on Sept 7, 2021 7:28:33 GMT
Oh, he DEFINITELY has you sussed!
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 8, 2021 9:02:54 GMT
Spidey sent him a memo!
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Post by bouncy on Sept 8, 2021 14:22:56 GMT
You may be right! It's how Spidey now uses the wheel - like a kind of trot!
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Post by hpdegus on Nov 2, 2021 23:45:02 GMT
Q has now lost weight too. As of 10/21 he was around 250, on 10/31 he was 238, and he was just 232g.
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Post by deguconvert on Nov 3, 2021 3:25:21 GMT
I guess there might be something up in general. Do you notice if they are eating less than usual? When you clean out their cages, do you find more food then usual, buried in the substrates? Do all their foods smell fresh and sweet? Are there any draughts in your new home? This may seem a very strange and out of the blue . . . but is radon gas an issue in your area?
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Post by hpdegus on Nov 3, 2021 10:23:14 GMT
I dont think I'm seeing any more or less food in general?
I've been putting a forage mixture in there every day, I know he's spending more time eating that than his pellets. Maybe thats contributing? I'll watch him more closely. And look at the forage info, I'm an idiot, thinking about it now it has dried peppers in it. He already had the start of cataracts, they've been developing for a while, so could also be diabetes? I can test his urine.
Another thing is that I've been putting the baby oatmeal/baby food mixtures into the cage all day while I'm gone. I dont think Q eats them, but I know Tom sometimes will. But I don't know what else to do, since that's all Ollie will eat.
I've also been using a swiffer wetjet to clean the floors down there every day because of the mice.
Well. Apparently the county I'm in has about 50% of people with homes above 2 pCi/L, with about 31% (of the total) being above 4 (recommended max level). So maybe. I'll ask my landlord if they've checked radon levels.
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Post by hpdegus on Nov 3, 2021 10:56:59 GMT
Took a look over the groups weight through the year. Both Tom and Q are around their January-March weights. For Tom this is more like January-April/May.
Toms weight also went down over the same time period, from 190 to 180g.
Edited: Newt (~250) and Pickett (209) have been holding steady over the same time frame. Their cages are right next to each other. The pups are actually closer to the door and vent. The rescues are closer to the closet (maybe mice visit more?).
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Post by moletteuk on Nov 3, 2021 16:29:52 GMT
Sorry, I'm not totally following you checking back on historical weights - were they reassuring overall?
I think it's possible that eating more forage could cause a readjustment in weight, but it shouldn't lead them to look slender, so you might need to use some judgement on that, which I realise will probably be difficult.
I don't think the peppers should be much of an issue regarding diabetes but it's worth a check since you have the sticks. Also, don't worry about the oatmeal because there is no way round it.
Can't believe you have the mouse problem again. Nightmare.
Wow, radon was a good shout from DC, definitely worth looking into.
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Post by deguconvert on Nov 3, 2021 21:47:50 GMT
God brought that to mind . . . the radon . . . all credit goes to Him. Apparently it can cause appetite loss, which seems to be one of the prominent side effects, among other things.
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Post by hpdegus on Nov 3, 2021 22:49:18 GMT
Sorry Molette, I'm not sure i was totally awake when I wrote that.
I don't know if they were reassuring honestly. Good news is that both Q and Tom are within their normal range. Bad news is that this is the low end of their range, which I only see in the later winter/spring time. This is normally when they start gaining weight.
Due to the surprise diagnosis for Pickett, unexpected weight loss is really freaking me out.
Yeah, I have to put the food in their cage. I really dont have a choice there.
Not a happy camper. I pay a lot of money for this place. I have mice. And the fact that someone removed the panel of my patio door is kind of freaking me out.
So I looked into the radon thing (good call DC!). The county I live in has high levels of radon in general. Good news, this place was purchased by a new management company last December. Assistant manager assures me that they tested the properties for radon before buying. They had to deploy mitigation strategies in a few townhomes that were above the acceptable level. She said she'd get back to me about my numbers. So hopefully I should be fine on radon.
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Post by hpdegus on Nov 8, 2021 1:05:13 GMT
Tom has lost a bit more weight (178g from 184g on the 5th) but I think that's to be expected. I think Ollie's passing has hit him a bit harder than it did Q. If Tom ever wanted a nap, Ollie was usually curled up somewhere so he could join him. Could also be the stress of the vet, or even the fact that I took all baby food out of the cage.
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Post by deguconvert on Nov 8, 2021 7:00:49 GMT
Grief could well be a factor. Just keep an eye on him. If he will take them, offer more cuddles. It is a really big adjustment for them all, as well as for you!
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Post by hpdegus on Dec 2, 2021 1:18:36 GMT
Happy gotcha day, bubs.
It's been three wonderful and fairly eventful years since I picked them up.
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Post by bouncy on Dec 2, 2021 9:52:09 GMT
Happy gotcha boys! You've done wonders with them, and turned their lives around!
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Post by deguconvert on Dec 3, 2021 8:53:20 GMT
Belated Happy Gotcha day, guys!!
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Post by moletteuk on Dec 4, 2021 20:25:09 GMT
Belated Happy Gotcha Day from me too!
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