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Post by deguconvert on Feb 18, 2023 7:38:04 GMT
I am heartbroken for you and Pulla! I've not been able to be on for a couple days, and am shocked at the turn of events and how sudden her passing. I'm so deeply sorry for the loss to you and your wife, and to Pulla.
RIP Posso!
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Post by teemu on Feb 18, 2023 21:22:31 GMT
Thank you. I've been mostly just recovering today. I could not really sleep many hours per night when I had to look after Posso, so I feel a bit dazed still, from both the sudden loss and just the exertion.
Pulla has been confused and quiet for the day. He's very alert and wide-eyed, but at least is attempting to carry on. He's been asking for more attention, maybe both because he feels distressed and because he's hoping we could solve the mystery of where Posso is now.
After some time has passed and things calm down, I must start thinking of if I should try to get him together with Pipari or not. It feels really sad to see him alone there, especially with how much he enjoyed having a partner. Pipari, on the other hand, seems more than happy to be alone and has actually shown that she's willing to get dangerous over even just having to be in the same room as other degus, so I don't know.
But that's all for the future. I think awe have to all come in terms with Posso's absence first.
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Post by moletteuk on Feb 22, 2023 10:18:09 GMT
How are you and Pulla doing, Teemu?
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Post by teemu on Feb 22, 2023 12:40:50 GMT
We're doing mostly ok. Pulla seems to have accepted the situation and has not really shown any big shocks over it. My wife did tell me that one day soon after Posso's death, before I had woken up, he was sitting in a hay pile and crying by himself, but I haven't seen him doing anything like that. He asks for a lot more attention now and wants to be held more, but is doing things like before and eating and all. I guess he has experience dealing with being the only degu in the cage.
I've also been thinking about the possibility of getting him and Pipari together, but I'm really concerned that it would be dangerous to try. Pipari is quite special needs, and I still remember how she went straight for the throat when I last tried to have them out together (last year). Pulla also seems to really dislike her, and any time they see each other through the cage bars or anything like that, both immediately look like they're ready to fight...
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Post by yasmin on Feb 27, 2023 14:57:25 GMT
Very sad to read that Posso has passed on. May she rest in peace - and may you find comfort in knowing that you did all you could and that you did the right thing letting her go. (That is real love.) Sincere and heartfelt condolences.
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Post by moletteuk on Feb 27, 2023 15:45:58 GMT
I hope there is some comfort for you both spending time with Pulla.
I suppose you could try an extended period of having the cages side by side, even with a good distance between them to start with, to see if there was any softening in Pipari's attitude.
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 8, 2023 23:07:38 GMT
So sorry for your loss, Teemu. You did everything you could. I'm glad she had such a wonderful home with you and Pulla.
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Post by teemu on Mar 27, 2023 2:07:39 GMT
Pulla has become rather despondent. It's not like he's crying out or anything, but it's easy to see that being alone is hitting him hard. He's always asking for attention now, and only perks up when he can interact with people. He always wants to be picked up and just lies down on my palm quietly, or climbs onto my shoulder to huddle. This visibly improves his mood and after some time he'll be up for romping around the cage. But he is obviously sad and bored whenever I'm not picking him up.
It's really sad to see. It's good that I can be with him a lot of the time, but it's just not right that he has to be alone and lonely like this.
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 27, 2023 18:38:05 GMT
I feel for you and for Pulla, Teemu! It's so very hard to know they are grieving and not being able to alleviate it completely. At least when he is able to be with you, it is very helpful!
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Post by teemu on Mar 27, 2023 21:53:02 GMT
Yes, I really don't know what I'd do if I had to, say, go to the university every day. Now I'm only away from home for two days a week most of the time (digital work otherwise), and he's always waiting really keenly when I come home. My wife being here helps, and she does keep him company as well, but it really feels like he's now even more attached to me than before. He just doesn't want to be left alone.
If we had more space and out monetary situation was better, I would seriously consider getting a new cage and looking into getting him new cagemates. It's really shocking how hostile all the my degus are towards any idea of newcomers (except Pulla, who's more curious and tense than outright hostile), so there doesn't seem to be any hope of changing the current setups at all.
I guess I would be able to divide Pulla's cage again, since it makes for tolerably large cages side by side. That worked well when I introduced him to Posso. But if it doesn't work out, I'd have no real alternatives. So I'm not sure if there is any real fix to the situation. It's sad since he's still only less than 5 (I think he's turning 5 quite soon, but I don't have the exact date any more), and he's in good health all things considered. Too young to think about just permanently leaving him alone, at any rate. It'd be much better if I could do something about the situation.
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 27, 2023 23:04:06 GMT
I'm really sorry Teemu. That sounds tough.
Could you try a foster to adopt situation? Something where you could welcome another degu into your home, see if they're receptive to Pulla before making the placement permanent?
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Post by teemu on Mar 27, 2023 23:48:17 GMT
That's a good idea. I could of course ask if my local pet store would be willing to try it. I'm not sure if they still have some of the pups they had previously (they had two some time back), but they will likely have new ones at some point in the future if not now. I mentioned some time back that one of their workers has started breeding degus, and the pups that they had at the store seemed a lot more calm and social than the ones that came to them from Sweden (that is, all my current degus, some of whom are clearly a bit more troubled or odd than is the norm...). So I think that if they agreed to it, something like that could be a very good way to try.
I'm quite positive on Pulla being receptive to newcomers. He is tense and all, but I don't see him ever being aggressive when someone else comes close to his cage. Especially if they are young, there's a good chance that he might accept them - especially now that he's had some social training again.
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 28, 2023 10:07:58 GMT
I'm sorry Pulla is feeling the loneliness so badly, I hope you can figure something out that works for you and Pulla.
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