Day Twenty:
A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is:
A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is:
Hamster keeping
Hamster keeping. Well doesn't that just sound like something a crazy person would do.
But I love hamsters.
Sunny was this amazing companion that kept me going through the pain. It didn't matter how I was feeling, he was always ready to snuggle. When he heard me talking on the phone with my boyfriend, the sound of my voice would lure him out of his nest. He would come out of bed, stretch, then stand at the bars of his cage squeaking until he got my attention. He was a really cool little dude.
Sadly, Sunny's respiratory infections ultimately took his life. In October 2014, after a bad bout of sickness, I knew it was time to let me beloved friend go. The night before I brought him in the vet for euthanasia, I gave him his last "sauna". Sunny's breathing would often be so bad because of the mucous and infection that I would run a hot shower and close the doors of the bathroom. Once it was steamy, I would bring my little friend into the bathroom and let the hot moist air do it's thing. Sunny loved saunas, and would relax on my lap, wash his face, and fluff up his coat. The next morning Sunny slept in his favorite spot on my body. When we were waiting in the vet clinic, his life began slipping away. Handing him over to the veterinarian was horrible for me. Hamsters are so tiny that one cannot perform a humane euthanasia via IV. Sunny had to go in a gas chamber, so I was not allowed to be present. This was crushing. I wrapped my little friend up in his blue fleece blanket and when the vet took him away, I cried and cried harder than I had in a very long time. The vet said that after he received a nice big dose of oxygen (to calm and soothe him), it took very little gas to put him to sleep. I knew it would be an easy passing because he was dying while I was holding him at the clinic. I took him home in a box, and buried him in a peaceful spot in my yard.
The second hamster that I aquired was only a couple months after I adopted Sunny. By then I was in love with hamsters. Believe it or not, they are actually wonderful pets. Yes, they're small, and yes, they only cost about $12 at the pet store, but they each have these different and amazing personalities. Sunny was feisty, and a full on momma's boy. My second hamster, named Brave, is so gentle and loving.
I knew that Brave had to be mine after we received a bunch of Black Bear Hamsters at the shop. Black Bear hammies proved to be more aggressive that the Syrian (Teddy bear) hamsters that we normally get. Brave was in ISO at the back of the store because the other hamsters had severely mauled him... to near death. I looked at that little guy, with his face nearly falling off and his right hand broken and swollen, and asked if he would see a veterinarian. The answer? -No.
Well this didn't sit well with me. I asked if I could please buy this hamster, and my boss sold him to me at full price. I took him home, then straight to the vet clinic.
I suspected that Brave's right foot was broken, and the vet suspected the same. She asked me if I would give her permission to use a dog dental X-Ray to look at Brave's foot. I granted her permission to use this X-Ray, which was very experimental. They had never X-Rayed a hamster at the clinic before, and as it turns out, Brave was the perfect guy to test drive the procedure. Brave is the most laid-back, mush-ball of a hamster ever. While most hammies are squirmy and hate being held, Brave will melt into your hand and snuggle for ages. The X-Ray revealed that Brave's hand was indeed broken, but there was nothing the vet could do to set the bones. I purchased some antibiotics and vetericyn, and took home my new family member for treatment. The vet visit cost me over $100, but I didn't care. When I adopt an animal- any animal- they are getting all the love and care in the world. Yes, hamsters are a $12 pet, but they are a living soul and they deserve the same love and care that dogs and cats do.
Brave has proved to be a wonderful snuggler and he is my go-to cuddle buddy to this day. Since I brought him home, he's fattened right up. He's living a charmed life! Since he's gotten so chubby, he earned his nickname "Newman", after Wayne Knight's character in Seinfeld.
Brave's right hand never fully healed, and one of his fingers is a bit deformed. But his face healed up perfectly! Not a scar in sight, which is awesome considering half his face looked like it was falling off. He has a hole in his ear, and an oddly healed rib. He's just so cute. I love him to bits.
Pumpkin is my third hamster. I received him as a gift, actually. My lovely coworker Marina thought I needed another hamster, one in my favorite colour.We joke that Pumpkin is the red-headed stepchild of my hamster family. He's got a bit of an odd personality, but he's slowly getting cuddlier.
The thing is, all my pets have been invaluable in my happiness, and each and every one of them have helped me through my fight with endometriosis. The hamsters are great because they're small and fluffy and great for cuddles. Even when I'm feeling poorly and sick, the hamsters still need to be fed, their cages need to be cleaned, and they need interaction. Taking care of them gives me relief from my illness. It's not about how I feel, it's about taking care of animals.
Thank you to everyone that's been following my blog through March. We're more than halfway through! Your feedback and words of support are making this awesome.
Also, the vet clinic that I take my hamsters to is called Arrowhead Veterinary Centre in Cochrane. I love the staff at this clinic- they're so very kind and loving. I will continue taking my beloved pets there, and I recommend them to everyone.
-Captain Lakie
But I love hamsters.
They're really just so cute. I currently have two hammies, but I used to have three.
I bought my first hamster in May 2013, shortly after I started my job at Petland. I fell in love with him as a baby, because I would put him into my pocket or my bra and carry him around with my at work while I helped customers. I decided that I just needed this baby hamster, so one day my boyfriend and I went to the mall and we adopted Sunny. At the time, I was living at home and my mother's one rule (that was clearly enforced when I started a job at a pet store) was NO MORE PETS. Well obviously I had to bend the rules on that one! David and I brought baby Sunny home, all sneaky-like, and the secret lasted about 12 hours. Mom found out the next morning but promptly fell in love with Sunny's cute face.
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| This photo was taken on the drive home! |
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| Baby Sunny was tremendously cute with his dumbo ears! |
In all honesty, I bought Sunny because being chronically ill is lonely. I bought him because I spent a lot of time in bed, and I wanted some company. This furry little blessing turned out to be the perfect match for me, as Sunny proved to be a sick little guy. Sunny had chronic respiratory problems, and was continuously developing colds and lung infections. I didn't let that get in the way of Sunny having an amazing life, and he made a number of vet visits to treat his illness. Sunny found great relief on the Chlorpalm (an antibiotic) and I made sure to use dust-free bedding. He also ate a nutritious diet, rich in vitamins and antioxidants. He was a very happy hamster.
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| My little guy loved eating salads (in this photo he's stuffing a blueberry in his cheek pouch). |
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| I was in a lot of pain and awaiting surgery, and Sunny kept me company. |
Sadly, Sunny's respiratory infections ultimately took his life. In October 2014, after a bad bout of sickness, I knew it was time to let me beloved friend go. The night before I brought him in the vet for euthanasia, I gave him his last "sauna". Sunny's breathing would often be so bad because of the mucous and infection that I would run a hot shower and close the doors of the bathroom. Once it was steamy, I would bring my little friend into the bathroom and let the hot moist air do it's thing. Sunny loved saunas, and would relax on my lap, wash his face, and fluff up his coat. The next morning Sunny slept in his favorite spot on my body. When we were waiting in the vet clinic, his life began slipping away. Handing him over to the veterinarian was horrible for me. Hamsters are so tiny that one cannot perform a humane euthanasia via IV. Sunny had to go in a gas chamber, so I was not allowed to be present. This was crushing. I wrapped my little friend up in his blue fleece blanket and when the vet took him away, I cried and cried harder than I had in a very long time. The vet said that after he received a nice big dose of oxygen (to calm and soothe him), it took very little gas to put him to sleep. I knew it would be an easy passing because he was dying while I was holding him at the clinic. I took him home in a box, and buried him in a peaceful spot in my yard.
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| My Sunny Love. |
The second hamster that I aquired was only a couple months after I adopted Sunny. By then I was in love with hamsters. Believe it or not, they are actually wonderful pets. Yes, they're small, and yes, they only cost about $12 at the pet store, but they each have these different and amazing personalities. Sunny was feisty, and a full on momma's boy. My second hamster, named Brave, is so gentle and loving.
 |
| Brave and Sunny ate their salads on my bed- aka hamster diner. |
Well this didn't sit well with me. I asked if I could please buy this hamster, and my boss sold him to me at full price. I took him home, then straight to the vet clinic.
I suspected that Brave's right foot was broken, and the vet suspected the same. She asked me if I would give her permission to use a dog dental X-Ray to look at Brave's foot. I granted her permission to use this X-Ray, which was very experimental. They had never X-Rayed a hamster at the clinic before, and as it turns out, Brave was the perfect guy to test drive the procedure. Brave is the most laid-back, mush-ball of a hamster ever. While most hammies are squirmy and hate being held, Brave will melt into your hand and snuggle for ages. The X-Ray revealed that Brave's hand was indeed broken, but there was nothing the vet could do to set the bones. I purchased some antibiotics and vetericyn, and took home my new family member for treatment. The vet visit cost me over $100, but I didn't care. When I adopt an animal- any animal- they are getting all the love and care in the world. Yes, hamsters are a $12 pet, but they are a living soul and they deserve the same love and care that dogs and cats do.
Brave has proved to be a wonderful snuggler and he is my go-to cuddle buddy to this day. Since I brought him home, he's fattened right up. He's living a charmed life! Since he's gotten so chubby, he earned his nickname "Newman", after Wayne Knight's character in Seinfeld.
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| snuggle bug. |
Brave's right hand never fully healed, and one of his fingers is a bit deformed. But his face healed up perfectly! Not a scar in sight, which is awesome considering half his face looked like it was falling off. He has a hole in his ear, and an oddly healed rib. He's just so cute. I love him to bits.
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| My brother and Brave playing some gamecube together. |
Pumpkin is my third hamster. I received him as a gift, actually. My lovely coworker Marina thought I needed another hamster, one in my favorite colour.We joke that Pumpkin is the red-headed stepchild of my hamster family. He's got a bit of an odd personality, but he's slowly getting cuddlier.
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| Pumpkin on a pumpkin |
The thing is, all my pets have been invaluable in my happiness, and each and every one of them have helped me through my fight with endometriosis. The hamsters are great because they're small and fluffy and great for cuddles. Even when I'm feeling poorly and sick, the hamsters still need to be fed, their cages need to be cleaned, and they need interaction. Taking care of them gives me relief from my illness. It's not about how I feel, it's about taking care of animals.
Thank you to everyone that's been following my blog through March. We're more than halfway through! Your feedback and words of support are making this awesome.
Also, the vet clinic that I take my hamsters to is called Arrowhead Veterinary Centre in Cochrane. I love the staff at this clinic- they're so very kind and loving. I will continue taking my beloved pets there, and I recommend them to everyone.
-Captain Lakie
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