Our New Home

I'm very sorry I disappeared as of late. Last Friday, the 28th, was Move In Day, and it wasn't until yesterday that the Internet guy was able to come out and hook everything up. I'm relieved to write that Nimbus transitioned perfectly into our new home. I wasn't sure how he was going to react, but I think he's quite excited about the whole thing.

In fact, both pets are doing great. Sparta is in love with the place, running up and down the stairs, rolling around on the balcony, prancing along the loft wall bannister... he's having a blast! Nimbus, too, is enjoying all the extra space. There's so much room for him to run around, both upstairs and downstairs (although upstairs will soon no longer be an option), and he loves bounding on the staircase.

Looking down at the living room from the upstairs loft

Sadly, Nimbus will have to say good bye to running around upstairs. He's chewing everything! My books, shoes, keepsake boxes... I can't handle it anymore. And, following him up and down the stairs every 5 minutes got old really quick! Hopefully, the apartment management has a tape measure lying around somewhere that I can borrow to see how wide of a baby gate I need. Nimbus will still have the staircase to play on, but the upstairs rooms will be blocked. It's just too exhausting. Last night, I dragged this giant... well, I'm not sure what to call it, but it's this heavy piece of furniture that sort of reminds me of an entertainment center... an ugly one at that. It has a very fake, plastic-y surface with busted wooden cabinets as its base. I dragged it in between the loft wall and the bathroom door, so now I have to slide across the top of this thing to get through the stairs to the rest of the upstairs, but it was worth it!! No more chasing after Nimbus. If he's upstairs, I know he's just on the landing, and I don't have to follow him and try to coax him out from under my bed anymore. It's also better this way because there are just some rooms that don't need to be decorated with chin droppings, am I right?! My bedroom is one of those places! The entertainment center will be gone (hooray!!) next week because the new neighbor wants it, though I'm not sure why. So, I''ll definitely need that baby gate... plus, jumping over that thing makes me feel ridiculous!

I, on the other hand, am still adjusting. I'm very homesick, in fact. I miss the river out back. Well, I miss having any type of yard at all, and I'm not used to the noises of an apartment complex. The neighbors can be quite noisy, especially in the afternoon hours when the kids come back from school. I'm also not used to living on my own anymore. I was living alone from April to October last year, and I was miserable. Then, Chris moved in, which was an awesome experience, but now, he's had to stay behind to finish his degree at Western Carolina University. I miss him terribly. We did everything together. I do get to see him, starting tomorrow!! And, he'll be staying the next week because it's Spring Break. Yes... Spring Break... in the middle of March... when it's an average of 60 degrees F outside... In fact, we're under a winter weather advisory tonight for freezing rain... Yay, "Spring" Break!

Sparta checking out the loft wall!

During the move, I was worried that Nimbus would pose the problem. Hoping that someone could ride with me and watch over Nimbus, it turned out that Chris and I were on our own with moving out. While he packed the U-Haul, I worked inside the house, cleaning and making sure everything was packed. After five hours, everything was finally moved out and cleaned to perfection, even though the power had been cut off over halfway through the process. Nimbus was put into the cat carrier with his stuffed bunny, and Sparta was allowed to roam free while wearing his harness. ...Honestly, with the way Sparta acted, I should have let Nimbus run around and put Sparta in the carrier.

The car was packed, but I made sure to create a special spot for Sparta to sleep during the trip. I had a stack of pillows and blankets heaved right beside the window, but he didn't stay there more than a minute. For the entire two-hour trip, Sparta yowled every minute, if not more so, as we drove down the road. He crawled everywhere and specifically wanted to get under my feet near the gas and brake pedals, of course! I had forgotten that Sparta's desired car seat during a road trip is on the floor. Well because of all the stuff crammed in my little Honda Accord, the only floorspace was under my feet! Before we were two minutes away from the old place, Sparta was under my feet. I had to come to a dead halt in the middle of the road, fish him out, throw some stuff in the backseat and plop him in the passenger seat floor. Finally, he laid there, although continuing to yowl his discontent. The entire two hours, I fought him and fought him and fought him as he refused to completely settle down in any one place. Sparta even stepped on Nimbus more than once during his reign of terror in the car. I can't believe I didn't get pulled over.

Nimbus, meanwhile, gave himself a quick bath, then curled up next to his bunny and went straight to sleep... well, as asleep as you can get with a cat screaming in your ear. I have never seen cuter pictures than this. He actually snuggled up next to Napoleon and held onto him!!

There is nothing more adorable!!! Except maybe this video where Nimbus gets to come out of his cage into the new apartment for the first time. He was so sleepy from being awake most of the day, but he still hopped around for a good bit. This was before the furniture was moved in the next morning. I love his fascination with the carpet!

A Night in Front of the TV (Video)

Chinchillas love to watch television!! In fact, many rescues leave on televisions or radios during the day to keep their chins calm while sleeping. Since I don't have cable, our only means of watching television is through NetFlix, which sadly does not transfer over from one episode to the next like it does on an Xbox. So, Nimbus watches NetFlix or DVDs at night, instead. His favorite film of all-time is The Hobbit: There and Back Again!

This video below was taken on Nimbus's birthday. It shows what a typical evening is like with Nimbus while I talk about certain aspect of chinchillas and ownership of such rodents.

One such topic is Nimbus's bunny. There will be a post about the bunny later on, but let me just say that "Napoleon Neapolitan" is a very special bunny puppet indeed. He and Nimbus have a very intimate relationship, and you'll see what I mean. If anything ever happens to that bunny...!!!! I explain a bit of the story, except for how Nimbus discovered his friend.

Nimbus begins by rolling on the floor. He's not doing it for fun. There's actually chinchilla dust coating the linoleum that spilled out of his dust bathtub. And then, captivated by the camera, he sprints over ready for his close-up.

The Birthday Dust Bath (Video)

Nimbus turned 3 yesterday, and for the first time in 20 days, he was allowed to have a dust bath!!!

Dr. Wall declared that Nimbus is 100% back to health, and I was overjoyed, almost jumping around the vet's office with excitement. I wasn't even bothered by the bill. They showed me the injury, and there was nothing but a round scab on Nimbus's arm, about the size of the tip of a pen! It's exactly what we wanted to see. No more medication, and no more vet visits!!

So with a clean bill of health, Nimbus celebrated his birthday with a huge bowl of dust!! There shall be more pictures and videos to follow. We had a great amount of fun last night!

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One More Day!

Nimbus's birthday is TOMORROW!!!! 

I cannot begin to explain how excited I am. I'm really hoping that everything goes well tomorrow at the vet. I don't know how I'll be able to handle getting more bad news. We've been waiting so long for this moment, and if I can't give Nimbus a dust bath tomorrow after the appointment, I might I will break down and cry! Most likely in the vet's office!

It's been a long, slow process of recovery. And in every single moment, Nimbus has been the bravest little chinchilla in the world. He's suffered through all the vet visits, all the medications and the surgery itself without turning against humanity into a sour, angry critter and never once faltered in his love for play time. If anything, he's friendlier and more tolerant of human interaction! With everything he went through, Nimbus never slowed down. He's an amazing creature.

I'm still deciding what I want to do tomorrow. His vet appointment isn't until - this is going to suck - 2:45 in the afternoon. Yes, a 2:45 appointment for a nocturnal animal. This could be the last straw for Nimbus!

In all honesty, I haven't really prepared for his birthday. I've had my head in the clouds trying to get this whole job situation in control. Sadly, I was unable to travel to Kentucky yesterday due to bad weather... which means I'm in a bad mood. I looked forward to that trip for a week because I really need a break from this town. The interview is rescheduled for the end of next week, so I do have that to look forward to. It's not a closed door, just a postponed one. In the meantime, I sit at home caring for Sansa as she tears up the house wanting to go outside. The post operation paperwork for her spay surgery says she can't go outside until Monday, but I don't know how much more I can take. During the day, I keep her from hurting herself by detaching her from the curtains hanging over the door window, which she climbs like a clawed monkey. Then, in the evenings before bed, I sit on the floor in front of the chinchilla cage to bodily block her from Nimbus when he's put up between play times. Furthermore, I found bloody diarrhea in the litter box this morning. I'm 99% sure it belongs to Sansa, but you never know when something goes wrong like we found out with Nimbus. So, it could be Sparta! I'm on the look-out for the culprit, and I'm praying it doesn't end in a vet visit.

We're certainly going to celebrate tomorrow with that huge dust bath (vet willing), but I wish I could give him something unexpected like a different type of hanging toy. Still, money is tight, and this town is small. There aren't a lot of choices for small pet products. Well, the only way to know is to get in the car and head to town.

To the store!!

* * * * 

I've just returned from the store with birthday paraphernalia in hand. I must have stood in the small pet aisle of our local little pet shop for over half an hour. There just isn't anything there for chinchillas. Well, there is, but it's not chin safe. There were treat mixes full of dry fruit and nuts. There were hanging toys with all sorts of dye and unlabeled woods. I thought about getting the Ball Pen, like a McDonald's play area filled with those colored balls, but they're made of plastic and I wasn't sure if Nimbus would even bother with it. Then, I looked at carriers because of the recent vet visits and we might be moving. According to the packaging, it's suggested that you buy a wire cage that fits inside as well as the carrier (I see what you did there, Super Pet!). Aside from the fact that the pet store didn't have any of the smaller cages, I couldn't afford to buy both anyway. In the end, I found a grass play mat right as I was headed for the door. What luck! It was a very reasonable price, and Nimbus's current play mat is a disastrous health hazard because he pees on it. This one is made for a full-grown rabbit. I plan to cut it into two and place one in the usual spot and the other on a lower level. 

I know he'll love it because he always loves a good play mat, but I was disappointed as I walked out of the store. I love to spoil my pets, and I wish I had the financial resources to do it. I promised myself that when I get a job, Nimbus will get the birthday gift he deserves for being my awesome "bunny squirrel." Also on the list of items to save up for once I get that awesome job is a larger cage. But, that comes much later. 

In the back of my head, I know Nimbus will be overjoyed just to have the dust bath. He doesn't need more things in his cage to know that I love him. For the past couple of days, I've noticed his fur is becoming oily and separating. That dust bath will be the ultimate gift, and I hope to score The Squeak of Happiness. 

Chris and I will also celebrate with a double fudge chocolate cake! I shall try my best to make a little chinchilla face on top, but let's not get our hopes up. Nimbus, meanwhile, will be presented with a raisin on a plate! And, he will think it is the greatest day ever!

Teeth of Steel

3 MORE DAYS UNTIL NIMBUS'S BIRTHDAY!!!!! 

The house is buzzing with excitement these days. Nimbus's birthday is almost here. I still cannot believe I've owned him for a year now. All the moments of adorable-ness, all the moments of frustration, the destroyed remote buttons, the chewed homework, the stolen Hershey kisses, the flying pumice dust, the Cheerio tricks, all the moments of a fulfilling sense of companionship from owning a chinchilla. I won't lie. There were a lot of times I wondered why on earth had I adopted one of these crazy rodents. I wanted to give up. But, after this last month, I've realized just how much I love that ball of fluff. I'm a chinchilla lover now, but in reality, I'm a HUGE NIMBUS LOVER!! I may never own a chinchilla again, but I will always treasure whatever time I'm lucky enough to have with my Nimbus Cloud.

* * * * 

Chinchilla teeth can cut through anything, it seems like. Picture the scarab beetles from The Mummy (character spoiler in clip below). 

Ok, maybe they're not that bad, but the damage a chinchilla can cause is unbelievable. Arguably, the start-up costs will be the most expensive bills you pay for owning a chinchilla. In my opinion, it's damage control. Assuming your chinchilla never needs an emergency vet clinic visit like Nimbus, your chinchilla savings will go fast with the purchase of a sturdy cage and the accessories. However, once I move out of here, I'll be spending money on house repairs!!! 

This was where he first damaged the house.

This corner belongs in what is now Chris's bedroom. When I first moved into the house, it was my bedroom. But, when I chucked out my ex (We stayed in separate rooms. I don't know how people do this whole 100% living together in the same bed and all thing. Ya'll crazy and possess some insane patience!), I moved into the second bedroom, and the vacant room became the Chinchilla Room. It was such a relief. I could drop Nimbus off and let him run around without worrying about whether if he was under the oven or somewhere unsafe. He could no longer chew on my couch or get up on the kitchen counters via the couch. I would sit with him, working on my laptop or reading a book. However, I would also pop out to grab something to eat or homework I needed. I would take my time because Nimbus was safe and locked up in his special room. ...I returned to find him gnawing to China on the wall corner. The Chinchilla Room didn't last much longer for several reasons.

Baseboards are another treat. I hope I can paint this over with a few dabs of a similarly colored paint. It's not as noticeable as it looks. You can see Sansa's back leg on the left, and she's standing in the bathroom doorway. The baseboards face the washing machine/dryer. There's enough room for 1.5 persons to get through that little hallway. No one's really looking at the baseboards.

This next instance is my favorite because I didn't know it was scientifically possible! That is right next to the living room window overlooking the river.

It's mobile home wallpaper. That stuff is sucked tight into all the corners and seams of the house with tight perfection. There was no damage there before - no curled up edges, no miniscule tears. And then, here comes Nimbus. RIP! When I heard the noise, I whipped my head over and gaped at what I saw. How? What? But why?!? A beige strip stuck straight out of Nimbus's mouth, quivering from the motion of his whiskers. Then, he ate it like a potato chip!

Nimbus's teeth are not limited to walls and baseboards. They also greatly enjoy different objects and furniture in my living room. He either hates Will & Grace or that DVD box tastes like vanilla ice cream! 

My leather couch looks like a German Shepherd attacked it. Nope, just Nimbus.

I posted this on our Twitter page last night. I was sitting on the couch last night, and it was Chris who kept deterring Nimbus from getting behind the couch. Unbeknownst to me, the chinchilla wasn't attempting a behind-the-couch mission. He was chewing the heating pad cord draped down the back - something I'd completely forgotten about. If *someone* had just mentioned what the rodent was going after in the first place, we'd be spared a lot of grief, and I wouldn't need to purchase a new heating pad this week.

Finally, Nimbus's favorite not-allowed chew toy is a book or two. Clive Barker, Tolkien, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Irving, Rawlings... he doesn't mind. As long as it has pages and a spine, Nimbus is set on destroying a good book! To my English major friends, this is a punishable offense. Most likely by firing squad!

Clearly, I have more work ahead of me providing Nimbus with a safe household. You should not allow your chins to eat objects like these, and we try our best to discourage Nimbus from this activity. The couch is covered with blankets and pillows. The cat bed is pressed up against the bottom of the DVD shelf. We pay attention to where cords are in accordance to where Nimbus can reach. And, I say all this because I don't want you all to think I just let Nimbus jump around and get away with murder. These photos show past mistakes or lack of diligence on my part. Books, couches and DVDs are not snack items in any capacity. We do actually put out chew toys across the living room floor for him to play with, but it certainly doesn't look that way!

The point of this post was to get a laugh, a nod of understanding/sympathy and to ultimately point out (to a future owner) that if you're not in for the long haul, then a chinchilla is not a right pet for you. If you're in a smaller home with not many options for playrooms, these are what your belongings could look like. I didn't know this when I brought Nimbus into my home. I knew he'd chew, but I would have never pictured this. But, to me, they're just objects. As long as he never hurts himself, I'm not going to get upset over their destruction. I will discipline him and move him away, but the already inflicted damage doesn't cause me any concern. The heating pad... well, it was a disappointment, but its demise won't stop me from loving Nimbus. It's just one of the major aspects to consider before bringing in one of these bizarre, beautiful animals into your own. Chinchillas are not impulse buys!

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Kiss Trick (Video)

 SIX MORE DAYS UNTIL NIMBUS'S BIRTHDAY!

To keep Nimbus engaged and create a stronger bond with him, I've started teaching him a new trick.

He's learning to kiss on command through a reward system of Cheerios. The first night (Jan 30)  we began training, Nimbus picked up it surprisingly fast. He could clearly see that there was a Cheerio in my hand, but he also noticed that he couldn't have that Cheerio until he completed a specific action. Earlier, he'd been sitting quite still on the couch arm, so I walked up and started pecking him on the lips. When Chris handed me Cheerios, I left my face close to Nimbus's and said "Kiss" repeatedly. It didn't take long before Nimbus put 2 and 2 together to win his favorite treat.

Since then, we've practiced it each night. Here's a video of our progression from this morning. We've also started working on "Up."

He doesn't yet understand performing a kiss without an type of reward before him. However, with the repetition of the word "Kiss," I'm hoping he'll store this word in his memory and learn its meaning. Just like he knows what "Nimbus" means.

* * * *

In other news, I'm excited to travel to the western side of Kentucky next week. I've never spent time in Kentucky before, only passed through on other excursions, and am looking forward to checking out the town of Paducah. It seems like a great little spot in the Central time zone. I have a job interview there at a newspaper for their open reporter position. Hopefully, the weather will behave, and I can make it out there safely. It'll be a nice mini vacation as I get to stay the night. However, I hate being away from Nimbus. It'll be his second to last night before his final check-up at the vet. We're counting down the days.

Also, (this may interest some of you), Chris and I are reading up on different animals every day. While I despised homework, I do miss walking into a classroom and learning something new. Whether Chris enjoys it or not, he gets to listen to me read about three different animals a day in alphabetical order. For me, the knowledge is key if I ever change career paths to work with wild animals like the big cats or canines in the future. I also enjoy reading up on mammals, birds, reptiles and so forth to appease my love of nature. If you'd like to keep up with us, here are Wikipedia links to the animals we read about: Aardwolf, African Buffalo, Akita, African Black Crake (bird), Alaskan Malamute, and Albatross. We clearly read more than usual. It's been a relatively slow day.

As always, thank you for reading!!! Nimbus is doing brilliantly well in his recovery, and we're hoping future posts have happy, funny stories instead of medical setbacks and updates. 

Follow us on Twitter @ChillWithNimbus

A Turn for the Worst

My grandmother often complains about doctors and how they don't know anything helpful or accurate. She's dead certain that they're quacks, and in a small way, I believe her. I definitely felt this way heading to the emergency vet with Nimbus. Something just didn't sit right with me during the examination and after they handed him back to us. I should have trusted that feeling... Unfortunately, I was right.

Yesterday was supposed to be a happy day of celebration, dusts baths and relief. Nimbus was going to get his stitches out, and life would be restored to normal. No more corralling him on the bed. No more syringes with nasty medicine. No more stress.

Photo from http://scdocorg.files.wordpress.com

We entered our local vet to the great enjoyment of everyone there. Most had never seen a chinchilla nor petted its soft fur. Nimbus was a celebrity! One veterinarian assistant said, "I didn't know what it was until I looked it up on the Internet just now."

When Nimbus's fans settled down, Dr. Wall and two assistants held him down to examine his stitches... Except, there were no stitches!

Every single one had popped out, or Nimbus had taken them out. Not that it would have mattered if he did. By the size of Dr. Wall's frown, I knew REACH had messed up.

The wound was completely exposed. Although Chris and I had seen several stitches on Nimbus's arm two days before, they were gone now. The last one sat on the exam table with a tuft of fluffy gray fur attached to it. I had to turn away, and I began to feel my legs give way at the horrible sight of it. Nothing had healed. Nothing was better. We were right back the start of all.

Dr. Wall explained that REACH had used the wrong type of stitches, ones that require some very tight tying and glue to hold the knots in place. Dr. Wall insinuated that REACH should have known better and didn't understand why those were used. I had shelled out hundreds of dollars to that emergency vet with nothing to show for it except worthless medical assistance. In my opinion, REACH's only help was discovering Nimbus didn't have a sprained or broken leg. Everything else was shredded money.

Photo from chinchillaclub.com

Dr. Wall wanted the wound to remain open instead of putting Nimbus through stitches again. By looking at the cut, he noticed that there was healthy pink tissue regenerating and that the injury should scab over and heal on its own. He prescribed us two weeks of antibiotics - here we go again with that one - and scheduled us an appointment for next Tuesday.

"If the wound starts to open more, you need to bring him back in," he said.

As I carried Nimbus in the cat carrier out to the car, I didn't feel the biting winds and finger-aching cold. I was already numb from such disappointment, stress and worry. I couldn't believe it. I also felt an overwhelming, choking anger boiling up my throat. The wrong stitches??? THE WRONG STITCHES?!?! What does that even mean, "the wrong stitches??" If that's the reputation of those stitches, that they need glue to just hold the knots in place, why on earth were they used on my chinchilla in the first place??!?!?!

Angry and in tears, the ride home was very silent.  I put Nimbus back in his cage, told him to go to sleep and get some rest, then went out into the living room to stare at a wall. My mind tried to process this tragedy, this horrible mistake. Dr. Wall said he'd need 2 more weeks of recovery time with medication through syringe twice a day! No dust bath. No playtime. When he said no playtime, I stood up.

"He has to be able to play," I said. "A chinchilla's health and happiness depend on him being able to run around and explore."

I said this to Chris later, "If anything, Nimbus is going to hurt himself more by trying to get out of the cage and throwing tantrums by flying around and banging against the walls."

Dr. Wall relented, thankfully. However, Nimbus will no longer play in my room or on the bed. Instead, we have created the perfect, safe chin play area we possibly could in the living room. No more running into the kitchen. No more jumping up on the bookshelf. No more sneaking behind the couch, thanks to a lot of cardboard alcohol boxes Chris picked up from the ABC store. Nimbus can hop around on the carpet, chew on his toys, and that's it! Still, he can't have a dust bath. There's no way we can allow Blue Cloud dust to get into that open injury.

Photo from annarboranimalhospital.com

That afternoon, Chris went to pick up the medication. However, the WalMart pharmacy said they didn't have it.

"But, the vet called me this morning and told me it was ready," I told Chris on the phone.

Still, there was no medication. This morning on my way out the door, I called the vet again.

"Yes, my chinchilla Nimbus was prescribed medication by Dr. Wall yesterday. When we went to pick it up, WalMart didn't have it."

"Ok," replied the receptionist. "I'll take care of that. I'll call them right now."

Six hours later, Chris returned to the gigantic chain store to pick up the medication. The pharmacy said they didn't have it. So, I called the vet again. They answered that WalMart had told them it was ready to be picked up. My temper started to flare. On the phone, I sharply told Chris to get aggressive and get that medication.

Poor Chris stood in line and at the counter trying to convince these people they had Nimbus's medication for 30 minutes! Once again, we encountered the chinchilla conumdrum. I think there needs to be a Chinchilla Awareness campaign. The guy helping Chris had no clue what a chinchilla was or why we were giving it a generic form of bactrim. Finally, they located our medication. And, here's why it was missing for two days:

Yeah, that's not how you spell my last name.

What Chris should have said to the pharmacy was, "I know with complete certainty that there is no other medication back there prescribed to the first name of Nimbus. Can you please search for Nimbus?"

It's just been roadblock after roadblock. At this point, I just want Nimbus to get better. Please, please, let him get better. I want my beautiful chinchilla to be happy and healthy again, to be able to roll around in his beloved dust bathtub, to scamper through the house, to use the bedroom door in order to "wall surf." He acts fine, but what if it gets infected? What if he suddenly becomes sicker in the middle of the night? I can't take him back to REACH. I would never. And, there's only so much money left in my bank account. What if that runs out before he gets better? How do you choose between not spending money and your pet's life? My mind can't stop reeling from all the "What ifs?" At this rate, both Nimbus and I will be sick, one from an injury and the other from stress.

Photo from clipartof.com

So What Happened to Nimbus?

There's a poll going on to the right of your screen that asks what you think happened to Nimbus. His accident of a cut under his arm which required stitches is still a completely mystery. There are several different scenarios I can come up with, but each one of them has some sort of loophole that doesn't add up.

The night at REACH Animal Hospital was a crazy blur of events that I'd rather forget. There wasn't time to ask as many questions as I'd have liked about what was going on. Instead, it was lot of paperwork being shoved my way requesting permission for the next procedure and verifying that I understood how much the cost would go up if I did sign. So, I sent an email to Dr. Gibson on Sunday asking specific questions.

1. What did the cut look like exactly?
2. Were there other scrapes around it, like what a cat's paw would leave behind?
3. Why didn't we see any blood at home or on the way to REACH?
4. Was the cut deep or just on the surface?
5. How many stitches did it take?

Today, I got a response.

"I'm so glad to hear that Nimbus is doing well. The laceration could have been from a cat claw, a sharp piece of metal, or something similar. Chinchillas have very fragile skin. There is no way to know what caused it. There was exposed muscle under the cut but the cut was just through the skin. Most cuts don't bleed a lot unless a large blood vessel is cut as well."

Well, now I know the extent of the injury, but I'm back at square one. I can't just bubble wrap the entire house, so what do I do? I must closely examine the situation.

Scenario A: Sansa the cat made a grab at him. As much as I may want to put the blame on Sansa, I don't think she's the culprit. To blame Sansa is the easy way out. It relieves any guilt I will feel when I do give her up to a new home. However, I can't imagine how she would have made such a cut. From that night, I remember that Nimbus was out playing. When he was put up for a break, Sansa was let out of Chris's bedroom. She made an attempt at swiping at Nimbus, so she was promptly locked up again. I can't remember if she actually touched the cage, but if she had, she would have hit Nimbus's left side. His cut is on the upper part of his right arm. The cut starts on one side of his bicep then travels underneath the arm where the scapula connects to the humerus in humans (I don't know if chinchilla bones go by the same name). So, basically, his armpit. Now, how could Sansa have possibly stuck her claws into the cage, raked Nimbus's skin under his upper arm (which is typically buried deep into his thick chest fur) and on his right side?? When Nimbus sits on his lava ledge, he exposes his left side to the front cage wall. If he showed his right side, his face would be right up against the right cage wall. And unless Nimbus was pressed firmly against the cage wall, Sansa would not be able to get her claws close enough to lock under his arm like that. So, there's that.

Sansa in the snow yesterday.

Scenario B: He cut himself on his cage.This is the only plausible explanation I can come up with. So, his cage is made of metal... all metal. Looking at the actual cage itself, Nimbus would have cut himself on one of two things: the latches that hold the door closed or the rings that keep the cage together. At first glance, nothing seemed to be out of place. But, when Chris and I looked again a few days later, we saw some rings that weren't put on properly. Thanks for that, my darling ex... Anyway, to put on these little metal rings, you need a special tool that is shipped with the cage from Martin's Cages. Securing the rings is - excuse my language - an absolute bitch of a job! And if you're sick and tired of doing it... then you tend to slack off and just get it around the bars enough to where the walls will stay together. Should the rings not be fully tightened, the sharp edges are left exposed, pointing inside and outside the cage. I hope that makes some sense. (We just returned from the stitches-removing vet visit, and it did not end well... I'm a bit frazzled at the moment.) So, if one of the rings were exposed and Nimbus reached up with his arms against the cage wall, as he does regularly to get my attention, it is possible that when he brought his arm down that he caught a ring underneath his right arm and cut himself. But, we just saw the wound today clearly at the vet. It is right up under his armpit. To go that far back into his arm would mean that Nimbus plastered himself against a cage wall and dragged himself down back to the floor instead of pulling back and collecting his paws together like normal. Another loophole to this idea is that the rings hold together the walls and floors. How would a chinchilla stick his body that close to the corner of a cage to injure his arm? Same thing with the door latches, but they curve downward. If he were to cut himself on the door latch, the injury would have been on the top of his arm. I just... Argh, this is frustrating!

The door latches on Nimbus's cage, which is currently in its recovery set-up

Scenario C: The sharp edge of a toy. What if Nimbus jumped up to the third level of his cage (technically the fourth floor) and caught his arm on the corner of his Chinchiller? Sometimes, the Chinchiller hangs off the edge the top floor just a little. Could he have cut his underarm on the corner of the granite slab as he jumped up to sit on it? Chris is now examining the Chinchiller. No, it's too dull as we discovered. Chris raked the corner of the Chinchiller across his arm. Oh dear gosh, I pray he never does that again! I feel woozy now. While the Chinchiller may be a possibility, it's still unlikely. Looking at his other toys, none of them have sharp edges because that'd be dangerous. He has his hanging chew toy, two wooden logs, a Chinnie Buddy, hay play mat aaannnddd, yeah, that's it. He also has a beloved plush rabbit puppet, but of course, that's soft and cuddly. I've got nothing, absolutely nothing!

Nimbus sitting on his Chinchiller. A bad photo, I apologize.

Scenario D: He did it to himself. I'm not even sure what I mean by that. Is it possible for him to accidentally cut himself with his teeth? Surely, Nimbus would realize how much pressure to apply while grooming himself. So, I'm throwing out Scenario D completely.

Scenario E: He cut his arm on an object in his play area. I have scowered every corner of the living room and kitchen. I found nothing. I found nothing!! At first, I suspected the keys on the "Random Objects Table." But, the cut would have been jagged and needed a significant amount of pressure to cause such a wound as Dr. Gibson described. It couldn't have been the bookshelf, the DVD tower, any of the cat toys, the couch, the dining table, his dust bathtub, the dining chairs, the television, the cat food bin, and we pick up all of our belongings off the floor. Now, if he somehow escaped into the bathroom, well then, it couldn't be the toilet paper package, the paper towel package, the litter box or the toilet. I'm running out of objects in the house. My second gut feeling belonged to the cat tree, which Nimbus can run under and will occasionally jump on the first level. He comes in contact with five of the actual scratching posts. The rope circling the posts are held together by staples and glue. I've had to replace one post because of deterioration and exposure of the staples (see lighter scratching post in photo below). The other posts are safe. I ran my hands over all the posts that Nimbus is around. I felt no staples, no sharp edges, nothing that could hurt him.

Sparta's cat scratching tower

There must be something that I'm missing, some scenario that's staring me right in the face. I pray it's not his cage, the one place he spends the most time. And, I certainly hope it wasn't one of us, though how we scratched him doesn't draw any likelihood in my mind. Which leaves only one question, the one question I've been asking myself constantly and posting in this blog repeatedly: How do I keep Nimbus safe from harm when I can't find the source?

Taken by Chris

Heading to the Vet (Video)

Notice how happy and excited we are on the way to the vet. It's Day 10, and Nimbus was going to get his stitches out. As I try to put him in the carrier, you can hear his angry, defensive noise. However, the trip back from the vet was not so happy. Actually, it was very silent and involved a lot of tears.

Nimbus is still alive and quite alert. However, we hit a huge snag in his recovery. We're looking at another 2 weeks. I'll explain in a second post. Meanwhile, here's us heading to the animal hospital 15 minutes up the road. If you can't view the video, try this link that will take you directly to it on YouTube.

Time to Eat!

Well, will you look outside?? It's snowing here! Not much, but it's the first snow we've seen this year. Supposedly, we'll get a good bit, and it'll actually stick according to our weather forecast.

Snow falling on the backyard.

Also, did you guys see the Seahawks vs. 49ers game?? Wow, how on earth did that happen? Chris and I were glued to the television and to Twitter, reading all the brilliant comments made by users. Some of my favorites:

Winston Whitehurst ‏@w_whitehurst

This game has me cringing like I'm watching a drunken man cross an icy street. #SFvsSEA

Rex Parker ‏@rexparker

I want to be able to end all my terrible arguments with "the call is not reviewable." #SEAvsSF

Sydney Nugent ‏@sydneynugent

Times I do the have to pee dance w/ audible shudder: when I really have to pee, a bug/spider on me, and really terrible injuries. #SFvsSEA

That was a tense game. I'm neither a Seahawks or 49ers fan, but I like keeping up with the games, and I'm glad I tuned into that. And by tuned in, I mean stream from the Internet. The Denver Broncos playoff game was broadcasted from a British server. During the commercial breaks, a British announcer would break down the game for all the British football (meaning soccer) fans in the UK. When I watched the Golden Globes, we were streaming from an Australian link. The commercials are fantastic!!!  Pet insurance, "put pork on your fork" and "never let a mate walk home drunk." Commercials aren't so bad when you're getting a variety you've never seen before. However, my favorite conversation from Golden Globes night was between me and Chris.

I was cheering for one of the winners, and Chris looked over and asked, "Did you vote?"

I stopped cheering and stared. "Vote for what?" I asked, hoping this wasn't going where I thought it was. But, it did.

"The Golden Globe winners."

I smacked my palm to my face then stared in wonder. "Chris... no... just no."

"What?" Chris asked. "I don't know about these things."

Anyway, back to Nimbus before someone gets hurt... The medication is completely done, which we're all appreciating. Dragging myself out of bed in the morning to hold down a sleepy, grumpy chinchilla is no one's idea of fun. Two more days until we get those stitches out. 

Food is an important aspect of your chinchilla's well being, if not the most important because of their sensitive stomachs. 

Their diet should consist of hay and really nothing but hay. They need pure Timothy hay and a pellet form of hay with added nutrients. And as you may have guessed, I go straight to Oxbow Animal Health. Oxbow Essentials - Chinchilla is created to fulfill every need for your chinchillas diet in pellet form. According to their website, the "premium ingredients" are Alfalfa Hay for beneficial fiber and protein, soy products for fiber, balanced protein, healthy fat and wheat as an ideal carbohydrate and energy source. Forever Feisty Chinchilla Rescue notes that the food provides chins with "brighter eyes" and "more energy."

Photo from drsfosterandsmith.com

Notice that the food has absolutely no nuts in the mix. Nuts are extremely dangerous for chinchillas. According to Chinchilla Chronicles, nuts and seeds are "extremely high in fat, protein and oils, which leads to calcium deficiency and liver damage." Forever Feisty agrees. They wrote, "You want to avoid these because they are loaded with fat and can cause fatty liver disease. Some say feeding sunflower seeds to your chin will give their coat a nice luster, but feeding a great diet and regular dust baths will do the same and is a much better way to keep your chin healthy. Fatty liver disease is a hidden killer in chins. It is something that you don't discover until after your chin has passed away if a necropsy (animal autopsy) is done." Other foods to avoid, which in most cases leads to death, include fresh and dried fruits, corn, tap water, pellet mixes, vegetables, salt spools (used mostly for hamsters) and craisins. Chinchillas cannot vomit, and if something disagrees with their stomachs, it can lead to bloating or diarrhea. Both are swift killers. Also, avoid Kayteee Fiesta, Kaytee Forti-Diet, Sunseed and Charlie Chinchilla, which use dyes and dried fruits/veggies, says Forever Feisty. These mixes look more like hamster food. Hamsters can handle and need all different types of foods to keep them healthy and happy. Their diet ranges to several types of food while a chinchilla's does not. Small mammal companies who make pellet mixes need to research more thoroughly the individual dietary needs of the animals they are advertising for.

I use Kaytee Timothy Hay, which although it is not a brand I support, I do enjoy their hay. I live in a small town. If I drive 30 minutes down the road, I can find Oxbow Essentials - Chinchilla food, but they don't carry Kaytee Timothy Hay. Instead, they carry an All Living Things bag that was just worthless. I don't know if I got a bad batch, but both Nimbus and I were disappointed. There were no strong stalks in the bag, which can't help me. I use a veggie basket for rabbits because Nimbus enjoys sitting on his lava ledge and nibbling the stalks dangling next to his head. I also use a small ceramic dust bath to hold his hay, and that was the only food bin I was able to use with All Living Things. Small, torn up pieces of hay fall right through the veggie basket, and Nimbus doesn't enjoy using the ceramic dust bath to eat from. He loves to get at the hay from all sides and lean on his toes to grab the strong stalks. All Living Things was just a disappointment. Instead, I drive over to our local pet store up the road to buy Kaytee. Fantastic stuff! It has the smaller pieces, as to be expected, but also plenty of strong stalks for Nimbus's enjoyment. I've never had a bad bag, so cheers to Kaytee. Be sure to always check that the hay is fresh and clean, no matter what brand you use. Moldy, wet hay is the death of a chinchilla, or any animal like horses.

Nimbus eating hay from the veggie basket.

Acceptable treats are all natural like dried rose hips. Organic whole dried oats, Oxbow Timothy Treats, Oxbow Barley Biscuits, hay cakes and plain Shredded Wheat are also acceptable, as listed by Forever Fesity. Nimbus's favorite treat are Cheerios. We try to only treat him once or twice a week. 

Now, raisins can be used but only in a medicinal way. Raisins are packed with sugar, so providing them as an everyday treat is a no-go. However, if your chinchilla expends too much energy and is suffering from a hypoglycemia/low blood sugar attack then raisins are the way to go. Slip him one raisin, and their sugar will return. Make sure to get them to some water and a Chinchiller, a cooling stone for chinchillas, soon after so that it doesn't happen again. Believe me, raisins work wonders for a hypoglycemic chinchilla. That energy exploding forth is unlike anything you've ever seen. I always keep a small box of raisins in my chinchilla medical kit.

Recently, I've begun feeding Nimbus Oxbow Natural Science - Digestive Support. He received more than necessary this past week because I wanted to make the medication didn't interfere with his digestive system. Now that he's off the medication, his intake of these hay pellets will significantly drop. We call them his "biscuits," and he loves them. But, that's no reason to give him more. I've seen less signs of stomach problems, which I had to deal with once or twice a month if he got into something he shouldn't. I also believe that it was a huge help during this past week. It's a treat, and it's healthy for him. I won't give him 1/2 a tab a day anymore, but it won't be so spaced out that his stomach won't expect it coming. Be advised, however. My gosh, do they stink.

In all honestly, if you're feeding your chin the right pellet mix and Timothy hay, your chin doesn't need any treats or supplements. He'll be perfectly fine with what he has. But, we all know as owners that giving your pet treats is fun. For me, it's been very helpful. One of the cutest tricks Nimbus will do is reach into the air for a Cheerio above his head. This was brilliant work on Chris's part who got him to do it the first time, and I was able to easily see his stitches and check on his wound without holding him down or hurting him. He loves those Cheerios!

Nimbus reaching for a Cheerio, the night before his surgery.

Recovery Playtime (Video)

Wow!! I'd just like to say a huge thank you to all the readers! 1,021 hits as I'm typing this!! That's huge for such a young blog, and I thank you!!! I hope you all have found these posts useful or have at least fallen in love with Nimbus as much as I have. He's a great little guy, and he's provided me with lots of love, entertainment and funny stories.

Here's a video of his recovery playtime sessions. He's supposed to stay on the bed. Notice I said "suppose to." As seen in this video, that's clearly not what happens. However, it's fairly easy to get him back onto the bed or into his cage. He seems to know not to let himself get too winded. You can just see that his front right leg is shaved. Also, this morning was the last time taking the pain killer/anti-inflammatory medication. The other meds will end tomorrow, but he actually seems to enjoy taking them now. I think they're supposed to taste like cherry or something fruity. Even after the syringe is empty, Nimbus will still suck at it for a minute. It's actually quite adorable.

So, here he is running around on the bed right after taking his medication. He's clearly sick of having only a full-sized bed to play on. Only 4 more days!!!!

P.S. Sorry about the shaky video. It's so hard to keep up with him! I took it on my iPad mini.

 

Recovery Update

Nimbus is doing well these days. Tomorrow, he will take the last of his pain killers/anti-inflammatory medication. The antibacterial will end on Monday evening. Last night, we noticed his purple stitches were more prominently showing, and Chris suggested that as the wound closed that they were being pushed out. But, I'm worried that he's messing with them. We can't watch him 24/7, but what if he does pull them out? We'll be back to where we started. It's just a headache.

He gets his stitches taken out on Thursday at 8:45 a.m. So, we have just under a week left to go. I've been slowly adding features back into his cage. Yesterday morning, I screwed in his pink lava ledge, which he's been very appreciative of. I also moved his metal hay holder, which dangles from the ceiling on a chain, to its normal location beside the lava ledge. He loves sitting up there, munching on hay. I also placed his Chinchiller back on the top floor next to his cuddle ledge. Gradually, his life is returning to normal. Personally, I believe the faster the better, but I don't want him to become overwhelmed.

For not taking a full body dust bath, his fur is surprisingly fluffy and clean. I'm sure he's grooming himself more without that dust bath. Furthermore, I know I complained earlier about losing our bond because I was sick and had to stay away from him. I shouldn't have complained. This injury has brought us closer together, but if that's what it took for him to bond, then I'd rather have never bonded at all. At least then he would have stayed safe and healthy.

Nimbus recovering.  His lava ledge and hay feeder are on the right.

The World of Chin Toys - The Best and Safest

Hey, everyone! I'm sorry I'm so late with this post. I clearly was not expecting Nimbus to be injured... how can anyone expect that? It's still such a shock to me. I can't figure out what happened, and I grow more frustrated every minute.

Nimbus is doing much better and takes his medicine easier. I think he now expects it, which breaks my heart. I hate holding him down for Chris to shove those hard syringes past his teeth. Luckily, he drinks it down instead of trying to spit it back at Chris. He spends the day sleeping in various spots in his cage and listening to his playlist. Some songs include "Coyotes" by Don Edwards, "Message for the Queen" from 300, "I Remember" by Stephen Sondheim, "Maybe Today" by Carbon Leaf and "Ribs" by Lorde.

I promised you all a post about safe toys for a chinchilla after leaving you hanging with poisonous toys. So here we are at last. I'll try to separate toys from cage accessories, but some go hand-in-hand.

The Oxbow Timothy products are wonderful toys to entertain and chew for chinchillas. Nimbus's first house was a Timothy bungalow. Now, it serves as a toy since he chewed himself a "sun roof." He enjoys sliding into the bungalow then popping his head out of the opening to survey his surroundings. He's like a chinchilla submarine. Try the lounger, the carrot, the play mat, the tunnel and other cool toys that your chin can nibble away at... instead of, you know, your copy of The Hobbit or your suede shoes. Many are considered toss toys and can be used in and outside the cage.

Nimbus's bungalow

Ware Willow Barbell Chew Toys are inexpensive and fun. Two balls of willow are woven together and attached by a willow stick. They come in different sizes to use for chinchillas, hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits.

Any type of nesting toy like a chubby nest or lounger should be safe and also offer another chewing product to maintain healthy teeth. Just double check what type of hay is used. Timothy hay is the only hay that should be used in a chinchilla's staple diet. Other hays, like alfalfa, are to be used as treats, not everyday food. If you choose a toy made out a hay other than Timothy, you need to use to sparingly.

One of my favorite toys is the woven play mat by Super Pet. At only $5, the play mat provides your pet with three things. The first is that it's made of Timothy hay for more chewing. Secondly, little wooden stars and hearts are sewn into the mat for a different type of chewing. Finally, it's a great place to sleep. Nimbus loves rolling on his side and taking a nap on his mat. If your chin soils it, the mat is easy to cut. Nimbus's is missing a corner because he used it to pee on it too much. Now, it's safe for him to use again. He's on his second mat because he loves them so much.

Photo from petsmart.com/product

Hanging toys are great for entertainment, keeping those ever growing teeth in check and decorating your cage. Nimbus's favorite hangs down by a wooden hook and boasts one pumice stone and four wooden circles. I dangle it beside the top floor of his cage, so he can bat it around and exercise in order to chew it. The pumice stone is his favorite, which is great because he refuses to eat a regular pumice stone. That boxy rock just sits in his cage. Very annoying! Chinchilla City has some very interesting hanging toys, including the "chinshroom," which is half of a coconut shell and a vine stem, The Carnival, Pumice Wreath and Loop the Loop. TJ's Chinchilla Supplies also has fun, decorative variations. Chins want to do more than chew on a willow stick or nibble on a pumice stone. With hanging toys, they are presented with a challenge, which usually includes different types of chewing material.

The Alien from TJ's Chinchilla Supplies

If you'd like to help out chinchilla adoption agencies and rescues, you can always check your favorite site to see if they have a store. As you all know, I love Forever Feisty Chinchilla Rescue. I just love them! I trust their information, and they have a wonderful little store. For $16, you can get a Purple Pail of Goodies. In this pail you'll find, treats, chewing sticks of different woods, a wreath, a key chain for you, Timothy hay and a pumice stone. They carry lava ledges, Timothy twists, some toss toys, hanging toys like the Cactus Twist, baskets and a large willow cube.

Chinny Buddies!!!! It's fun to say, and they're just adorable! I said in a previous post that Nimbus doesn't enjoy his... well, more for me! I love it! It's just too cute. Pick one of five colors to either match your furry friend or give the cage a splash of of something new. They're the same size as a chinchilla (there are also mini Chinny Buddies), and each one is handmade out of fleece. If you can't purchase a bonding pair, this little playmate can provide company during the day when you're not around. However, Nimbus choose a different kind of companion, but that's a story for another day.

Nimbus and his Chinny Buddy

Then there are playhouses!! Let's bust out the fun outside the cage with mazes, ramps, boxes, cubes, tubes and oh so many places to hide. Twilight Chinchillas has some very innovative playhouses to get that lazy chin moving, chewing and exploring. Hide Cheerios in the tubes or purchase additional ramps from other stores to create your own unique chinchilla castle!!

I hope these products give you ideas and options of fun toys your chinchilla will enjoy. Just because they can't be colorful with a bunch of dyes and plastic doesn't mean you have to settle for colorless, plain wooden woven balls or chew sticks. There is an entire world of chin safe toys and activities to keep both of you entertained and help with bonding. Happy trails and enjoy!!

Days 2 and 3

Day 2:

9:00 a.m. Nimbus gets his first dose of medicine. As a reward, we give him a pinch of dust to roll his cheek against. Eyes are bright. Still drinking water. No problems during the night.

9:40 a.m. Time for Nimbus's second medication. I take him out of his cage, wrap him in his blanket and hold him for Chris to give the syringe. Unfortunately, I wasn't holding tight enough and slips out of my grasp. Running through the cat water bowl and under the bed, we face a dilemma of how to safely get him back. However, his sense of adventure takes over, and he comes out on his own! I pick him up, and we get the medicine down. 

11:00 a.m. Give Nimbus his playlist.

12:12 p.m. Leave to run some quick errands, take iPod with me.

3:13 p.m. Check on Nimbus after being home for a few hours. He is up, moving around and eating. His eyes look much better! 

5:26 p.m. Nimbus barks from his cage. I check on and calm him down with a chin rub. Unsure of what set him off. 

8:30 p.m. Nimbus is allowed to play on the bed. He's nervous at first because a friend is over, but he's met her before. He scampers across the blanket draped over the bed. As a reward for his suffering, I fill a necklace box lid with some dust. He bathes and rolls his face in the box lid, overjoyed. Sadly, I realize that the ointment around his eyes that bother him so much is a process we'll have to go through again. When he gets his stitches out, there will be more ointment as he'll have to go under. I worry about money. 

9:05 p.m. Nimbus gets his third syringe of medication. He struggles, and Chris gets 2/3 of the medicine in. He goes to put in the rest, but Nimbus is at his limit. I refuse to put him through anymore and allow him to play on the bed again. We worry about how his stitches are doing. So, Chris brings out a Cheerio and gets Nimbus to balance on his back feet while reaching out with his paws for the treat. I'm able to see his shaved arm and the stitches. Everything looks normal. 

12:30 a.m. When cleaning Nimbus's cage of loose hay and dropping, the chinchilla makes his escape!   Although the door was open, we quickly retrieve him back into the bedroom. Then, we bribe and coax and corral for about 7 minutes until at last I capture him from under the bed.

Photo from memecenter.com

Day 3: 

Zero sleep occurs during the night. I wake up in a terrible mood. 

9:05 a.m. Nimbus is sleepy and moody, like me. We give him both morning doses of medication to get it over with. He pees on my hand but otherwise takes it quite well. 

11:00 a.m. I get my oil changed in town while Chris stays home with Nimbus and Sparta.

4:40 p.m. Nimbus is awake and bouncing around. I can tell he's been eating. Haven't heard him drinking, grinding his teeth against the metal tube of the water bottle. 

8:00 p.m. Time for play on the bed. I clean the top floors and blankets in his cage. At the end of playtime, I start his playlist on the iPod. 

9:10 p.m. Nimbus gets his last dose of medicine for today. He takes it relatively easy then is released onto the bed for playtime. Chris creates a game of Find the Cheerio with cups and small boxes while I clean the bottom tray of the cage. I clear out all the bedding, droppings, etc. then clean the bottom with cage cleaner. After spreading out new bedding, I'm allowed to join in the fun with Nimbus. 

11:18 p.m. Nimbus gets to play one last time before lights out. 

Photo from memecenter.com