Zak

[elusive]

It is very close to the wheel but he was nesting either next to or under the sand bath before so I don’t think that’s it & I did open up the door to his house which he never used, preferring his secret tunnel entrance so I don’t think that’s it. He just seems a bit unsettled or undecided in a way but not distressed or anything so I’ll just sit back, watch & wonder!
He was out for his tea around fiveish as usual & seemed ok anyway.

 

[Maz]

He was certainly keeping busy anyway

 

[elusive]

My little old man is really ageing fast now sadly.
He’s still being a bit nomadic, he moved from the sand bath to a new nest on the other side of the sand to the first one & now seems to be switching between them (as far as I can see as that corner is now a mountain of tissue!) & occasionally spending a day or two back in his coconut nest by the door.
I did switch out a terracotta tube at the back of the cage with a snoozecube, he is familiar with it & I hoped he might make a comfy nest in there but he doesn’t seem interested.
He still manages to use his sand bath in spite of it being full of tissue!
He wheel didn’t appear to have moved for a few days but he did have a little toddle in it this morning, he kept looking at me & reminded me of an anxious child looking to it’s mother half in excitement & half needing reassurance
He kept dropping bits of food & treats & was having difficulty finding them & picking them up so he got a big new reptile bowl he can sit in which has made things easier for him, he also thinks it makes a great toilet
He’s very quiet in the evenings now but still comes running (slowly!) when I get up in the mornings.
I had a look at those hamster to human year calculators again the other day, he’s now somewhere around the equivalent of 130! He’s not showing any obvious signs of pain or discomfort but I guess if he’s twice my age he must have some so I’ve started him on a low dose of metacam to keep him comfortable & we’ll see how he goes.

Here he is this morning after his treats looking a little bit doddery &. confused bless him.

 

[Maz]

Aw. He is doing amazingly well. I think that was a good idea to have him on Metacam. It's a difficult time when you know they are getting doddery. He seems quite active, if a bit doddery.

 

[elusive]

Thanks Maz, yes he is doing well really & I’ve gone through the anxious worrying about everything stage & settled into the acceptance & just focusing on keeping him comfortable & enjoying his retirement.

 

[RainbowBrite]

You are doing such a wonderful job of him. The bigger bowl was a great idea.

 

[Member ID2]

A little metacam in old age is a good idea and may even perk him up. Saying that, he's doing pretty good for a man of his age.

 

[Coco61]

Zak seems to enjoy his home still, nose going to smell things out. A nice big bowl to sit in to do everything was a good idea for him. Just keeping him contented as possible is the best way now.

 

[elusive]

Little ham in a big bowl

 

[RainbowBrite]

Aww! He is sooo cute! Is he eating one of his crock treats?

 

[elusive]

Thank you, yes he is, he’s always eating crock treats!

 

[Maz]

He likes that bowl! I was wondering which treat it was too . Mine have arrived now and I’m looking forward to trying them out .

I love how he’s sitting on the edge of the bowl! Is it a hand made pottery one?

 

[elusive]

Hope yours enjoy the treats as much as he does
It’s a resin reptile water dish, it has little steps for baby tortoises or small reptiles to get in & he uses that as a seat!

 

[Coco61]

Aww Zak, you really love your new bowl and are tucking in like a good’un

 

[Member ID2]

I love it the way his ears are up when he's eating the crock.

 

[Zara]

He looks really content sat in his bowl eating his crock treat, its a lovely video. Hope he‘s had a good day.

 

[elusive]

My little old man is still doing pretty well.

The metacam idea didn’t last long, after about 3 days even though I was putting it on food I know he really likes he wouldn’t touch it & just went back to bed, as soon as I put more food out without the meds he come back out & tuck in so he’d obviously had enough. It does seem to have given him a bit of a boost somehow though.
His appetite is pretty good again & he really enjoys his morning yoghurt which has become a daily treat now.

He was running in his wheel when I got up yesterday or rather walking, his huge nest corner has half taken over his wheel inside & out so it doesn’t move much, if I clear some of the tissue away it’s back in a few minutes!

It’s hard to tell then if he can run & how much muscle strength he’s lost in his legs so I added another wheel, just about managed to fit it in keeping his coconut which he really likes & just removing his corner tube.

He got up while I was doing it & gave it a whirl & he was in that corner (which he never normally is in the morning) when I switched the lights on today so hopefully he’ll be using it & at least he has the choice if he wants to.

 

[RainbowBrite]

It is so lovely to get an update on Zak. He is doing amazing well! I really like his ears. They are adorable.

 

[elusive]

Thank you, Chineseys usually do have beautiful ears!

 

[Coco61]

Good update on Zak. He certainly enjoys that morning treat and is still bright eyed, so looking content.