Zak

[Maz]

That's a good idea giving him a second wheel - and with the second wheel being an open one it will be easier to get in and out of. He is a little trooper. Will you try some other way of giving him the Metacam? I remember Charlie wouldn't touch food that had metacam in either. But he's the only hamster I've known do that until now!

 

[elusive]

He still climbs into his old wheel easily at the moment, he was running in there this morning when I got up, but it might get more difficult for him & the new one is cork so softer to run on too.
I’m leaving the metacam for now, he was happy enough to eat it on food for a few days so I’ll just try again if I think he really needs it.

 

[Maz]

Yes of course - you will know if he needs it. He is clearly a connoisseur regarding his food! Of course if you gave him two food treats, one with metacam, one without, he would probably leave the one with the Metacam. Maybe it would need to be something that disguises the taste - but he sounds very sensitive to such things.

The cork will be nice for his feet

 

[elusive]

My little trooper is getting quite frail now & it’s a bit of a roller coaster to say the least.
He was out as usual quite early & had a crock treat & some baby food before disappearing into his huge mound of bedding & tissue then about an hour later I saw him lying by his big bowl, his breathing seemed fast & heavy & he wasn’t moving & I really thought it was close to the end so I just sat there talking to him quietly for a while. Then he slowly got up climbed into his bowl, had another crock & a good munch of his smorgasbord of crushed seeds, nuts & sesame sticks!
My heart couldn’t seem to decide whether to race or stop!

I’d already decided to take the second wheel out as I’m pretty sure he’s not using it now & has been using that corner to sit & have a quiet groom lately so I did that & put his coconut back where it was & added another sand bath with both sand & bedding in. He was soon back out again for some more food & he went straight in for a good look & dig around then had a quick check to see what else I might have been up to!
He went back a couple of times & is now sleeping in there so I think that was a good move.
He seems happy enough & has been eating well lately so hopefully we still have some time together yet.

 

[Maz]

That must have been such a scare for you. He is looking quite doddery now, but carrying on in his old age. Maybe he just needed a lie down after feeling very tired. But as you know, sometimes they can keep coming round just when you think they might be going.

I hope you have many more special moments together. He looks fairly active, if doddery, in the video.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Oh poor you. You must have been so worried. Thankfully Zak is okay. He still looks like he is having fun. He is gorgeous.

 

[elusive]

Thank you both, yes it was a worrying moment but he is ok, he still gets quite enthusiastic about things but I think he does tire very quickly & sleeps a lot more, never having seen him sleep in the open before it did scare me & I was worried about his breathing it’s better now.
Apart from getting up for some baby food a couple of times he spent the whole evening in the new sand bath & was in there when I got up this morning he really seems to like it in there so glad I did that for him.

 

[Member ID2]

Aww, you are making him so happy. Lovely to see him still up and about.

 

[RainbowBrite]

How cute he loves his new sand bath so much.

 

[Coco61]

You are making him as comfortable as possible now, just what he needs.
It is not an easy time now elusive but you know that already.
Bless him, Zak is making the best of all you are doing for him.

 

[elusive]

Thank you Coco, lots of ups & downs but he’s really perked up again now so we’re enjoying our time together.

 

[Member ID2]

As you know so well yourself, all you can do now is to enjoy every moment you have with him. He is here and with you and that's all that matters.

 

[elusive]

Absolutely Beryl.

 

[elusive]

Zak is still having good days & not quite so good days & gradually getting frailer now.
Yesterday morning for the first time he wasn’t at the door waiting for me when I got up so my heart sank a bit, he did come out soon after though & seemed ok but then this morning he wasn’t just by the door but trying to climb up onto the cork ledge attached to it, he hasn’t been on there for months now, he didn’t quite make it but gave it a good go!
He’s still enjoying his crocks of course but some days with more enthusiasm than others.
He’s four on the 19th of this month but I really don’t know if he’ll still be with me, only a couple of weeks so fingers crossed, or if he is how frail he’ll be.
So I decided yesterday evening we should celebrate his longevity & spirit while he’s still strong enough to enjoy it.
Here he is with his early birthday cake!

It’s just egg biscuit with some sesame sticks & he couldn’t really bite into it so I crumbled some into his bowl & he had a good munch, went back to bed then came out again for more & repeated that all evening so I think he enjoyed it

Hopefully we’ll be celebrating again on the 19th but at least he’s had something nice now.

 

[RainbowBrite]

What a lovely idea to have an early birthday celebration for precious Zak. He looks adorable trying to eat his cake. Sounds like he really enjoyed it once it was crumbled up for him. I hope you still have plenty of time togethter.

You are giving sweet Zak the most wonderful care possible.

 

[elusive]

Thank you Rainbow.
He did get very excited which was lovely to see.

 

[Member ID2]

Did i read this correctly and you said that he is going to be 4!?
That's incredible.
Whatever happens, Zak had a lovely cake and enjoyed his celrbration.

 

[elusive]

You did read it right Beryl! It is amazing, not unheard of with Chinese but still rare, I still sometimes count the years on my fingers just to be sure! I’ve been incredibly lucky with Zak.

 

[Coco61]

A lovely idea to have an early birthday treat for Zak. He really did give it a good try and deserved having it crumbled up for many trips to relish it. 4 years old will be a wonderful age to reach and fingers crossed he makes such a milestone.

 

[Maz]

Ooh he does seem excited with it and enjoying it. I had to laugh as well. Let’s just have a little scratch while I’m eating this. And then not quite sure what the candles are so let’s just sit on top of them

I think it was a lovely idea to have an early birthday cake and such an unsure time for you. He seems to have energy if a bit doddery. The spirit is willing. He is an amazing age.