RatCreature (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ratcreature) wrote2008-09-15 10:50 pm
ratcreature) wrote2008-09-15 10:50 pm
art comms (and rat health update)
First, some art comm linkage (even though I suspect most interested people will already know of these):
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
yuletart, a multi-fandom art exchange, has started with the nomination process for this year's fandoms. For the next couple of days only the participants from last year can suggest fandoms for this year, but soon it'll open up to new participants. Since I suggested fandoms I guess that'll mean I'm going to do a holiday exchange again this year. Meep.
Also,paintedspires recently got an overhaul and reopened as an SGA flash art community. The first challenge has been posted, and you should all join or at least watch.
In less happy news the antibiotic didn't work on my rat Krümel, and Ignatz has been making rattling breathing sounds for a few days now as well. So I had to bring two rats in to the vet today, and now have to make both swallow a disgusting syrup twice a day. Which is supposed to be easier than bringing them for frequent injections, so the vet wanted to try this first, but unlike the previous antibiotic this one is a tough sell. It's originally some sort of children's antibiotic, and supposedly sweet, but it must taste horrid anyways.
I still remember that one of my previous rats fought against swallowing it with incredible bursts of defiance and strength even as he was really weak and sick. It has a cloying smell, and unlike the previous plain bitter antibiotic it's impossible to just mask it in something (at least when I previously tried to trick rats into eating it nothing worked and today mixing it with jam didn't work on Krümel either), so I have to give it directly into their mouths. Anyway, I've given both one dose so far, and they aren't quite as resistant as my last rats, but not thrilled either. Ignatz was fairly cooperative, and only struggled mildly against the syringe (without a needle of course) pushing it into his mouth, and swallowed most, but Krümel pretends I want to murder him and struggles accordingly. He also tries to spit out whatever I get into his mouth. At least he has not tried to bite me (yet).
If he would lick the parts that get into his fur not all would be lost, but he cunningly wipes his snout on something absorbent to remove as much of the hated syrup as possible without having to touch it with his paws or lick it, so I get syrup on everything but the rat. Because the vet already had problems to give him his earlier dose I had increased the amount in the syringe in anticipation of only a portion ending up vaguely in my rat's mouth, so I hope in the end a sufficient amount got swallowed, but who knows. Despite having had some practice by now, I'm still not proficient at this.
At least with generous bribery Krümel still let me cuddle him for a bit later when any sign of the medicine was out of his sight and range of smell, but he still decided to nap in the cage this evening rather than curled up next to me as usual. So clearly I'm not forgiven, and it is only the first day. :(
Anyway, if you could cross your fingers for this second antibiotic to do the trick (and for me to be able to get it into my rats twice a day for the next ten days in the first place), I'd appreciate it.
yuletart, a multi-fandom art exchange, has started with the nomination process for this year's fandoms. For the next couple of days only the participants from last year can suggest fandoms for this year, but soon it'll open up to new participants. Since I suggested fandoms I guess that'll mean I'm going to do a holiday exchange again this year. Meep.Also,
paintedspires recently got an overhaul and reopened as an SGA flash art community. The first challenge has been posted, and you should all join or at least watch.In less happy news the antibiotic didn't work on my rat Krümel, and Ignatz has been making rattling breathing sounds for a few days now as well. So I had to bring two rats in to the vet today, and now have to make both swallow a disgusting syrup twice a day. Which is supposed to be easier than bringing them for frequent injections, so the vet wanted to try this first, but unlike the previous antibiotic this one is a tough sell. It's originally some sort of children's antibiotic, and supposedly sweet, but it must taste horrid anyways.
I still remember that one of my previous rats fought against swallowing it with incredible bursts of defiance and strength even as he was really weak and sick. It has a cloying smell, and unlike the previous plain bitter antibiotic it's impossible to just mask it in something (at least when I previously tried to trick rats into eating it nothing worked and today mixing it with jam didn't work on Krümel either), so I have to give it directly into their mouths. Anyway, I've given both one dose so far, and they aren't quite as resistant as my last rats, but not thrilled either. Ignatz was fairly cooperative, and only struggled mildly against the syringe (without a needle of course) pushing it into his mouth, and swallowed most, but Krümel pretends I want to murder him and struggles accordingly. He also tries to spit out whatever I get into his mouth. At least he has not tried to bite me (yet).
If he would lick the parts that get into his fur not all would be lost, but he cunningly wipes his snout on something absorbent to remove as much of the hated syrup as possible without having to touch it with his paws or lick it, so I get syrup on everything but the rat. Because the vet already had problems to give him his earlier dose I had increased the amount in the syringe in anticipation of only a portion ending up vaguely in my rat's mouth, so I hope in the end a sufficient amount got swallowed, but who knows. Despite having had some practice by now, I'm still not proficient at this.
At least with generous bribery Krümel still let me cuddle him for a bit later when any sign of the medicine was out of his sight and range of smell, but he still decided to nap in the cage this evening rather than curled up next to me as usual. So clearly I'm not forgiven, and it is only the first day. :(
Anyway, if you could cross your fingers for this second antibiotic to do the trick (and for me to be able to get it into my rats twice a day for the next ten days in the first place), I'd appreciate it.
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That's so hard... when you just have to become the bad guy for the sake our you pets, and you wish you could communicate the reason for why you're doing what you're doing. Sucks. I hope everything goes well.
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On the bright side buying their affection again with treats works well with rats.
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Hope they both get better!
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