I am On a Knitting Podcast!

I was interviewed via phone a couple of weeks ago about my knitted gerbils for a knitting podcast. Since they do have gerbils on the show occasionally. It was perfect. She found me through my Etsy store. The podcast is called The Savvy Girls Podcast. This was first interview ever!

My interview is about 10 minutes into the podcast. Her gerbils do a a little bit close to end of the podcast. It was Melanie's Birthday so she could do critters to her hearts content.

Listen to Episode 15 also. There some very cute gerbil bits.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

My New Gerbil Esty Store

I just opened my new store today. I have 3 of my knitted necklaces for sale and my hamster keychains. Go take a look. I will be having more items in the next few days. Excellent Holiday gift items and stocking stuffers.

Store Name: Squeaky Knitting Designs

What do you think? I welcome opinions and suggestions.

Gerbil and Hamster Update

Just an small update on my babies.

Sam is doing fine alone. He does get a little bored. He recently started purring when we take him out to play.

Bud is thriving on being alone. Not at all depressed.

Spot and Little bear now a tad over 2 years old. Starting in the senior realm of gerbils. Spot recently started jumping into my hand and climbing onto my shoulder without any bribery. Little is starting to do the same.

Toby and Dexter are doing just fine. We still need to work with Dexter more. Still a little skittish. Toby is as friendly as he can be.

Mona and Simone are also a little over 2 years old now. Simone still has her nose problem but it is under control. Mona is now a good friendly gerbil. I can pick her up with no problem. Simone loves to be picked up.

Fred the Hamster is now abut 1.5 years old now. He is still going just fine. Still loves his ball. Loves to be brushed. With his long hair. He needs it.

Bud and Sam Not Meant to Be

Poor Bud and Sam. Putting them together was not meant to be. Their personalities clashed. They won't even interact when I held each one in my hand. They have been in a split since the end of the July.

Last night Bud went to his own digs. I took the divider out and gave Sam the big 20 gallon for now. I will just have to give them extra toys and stimulation. Bud was always good with the ladies. I might get him a senior female to love. I might do the same with Sam later on. Male to female bonding seems to always work better.

Bud is about 1 1/2 feet away from the other two boys. At least he can smell them and know they are around. I am planning on putting Sam in the 15 gallon (where Mona and Simone are currently located) and give the girls the big 20 gallon to romp around. That sounds like the best option I have right now. This is my first failure in try to put two gerbils together.

Also, while I was cleaning an extra small cage, I found Trixie's last thing she chewed. A partial paper plate. It brought sadness to my heart.

Bud and Sam Intro Round 2

Well...this past Saturday on the 29th I tried another intro.

It went a little better. I managed to keep them together for about 1 1/2 hours before they wanted to hurt each other. I really thought it might work today. The split tank was cleaned out. It had to be cleaned. A tiny bug problem. There are wheels on both sides of the 20 gallon split now.

They seem to want to be together. They sleep in each others beds. They like the scent of the other gerbil but when face to face. Nope. They are both dominant type gerbils. One of their fights, I got bit hard with the gloves on from Bud. I think Bud got bit in the rump. No blood but it is tender to the touch.

The neutral territory seems to work for the short term. What do think? If anything, the split can be permanent so at least they won't be totally alone. I will still do the flip flopping and the butt sniffing.

Will keep on trying every weekend. I have never had failure of putting two gerbils together.

Gerbil Updates

It's been awhile since I posted. A bunch has happened over the month. A couple of days after this last post, Trixie passed on. She developed pneumonia.

We didn't want Bud to be left alone. So we got three wonderful 8 week old pups on July 24th.. We thought we might make a foursome. It wasn't to be. The pups were all too old to be put together. So we left two pups together. The other pup we are split caging with Bud. The pups names are Dexter (after the tv show), Toby, and Sam.

Bud and Sam have been in a split cage for almost 4 weeks. I swap sides regularly. I tried an intro last week. They ended up in a gerbil ball. No blood drawn. Alot of back arching and shoving and
tense nose to nose sniffing. Lucky I was wearing gloves. These two want to be dominate gerbil. Sam is over 12 weeks old now and Bud about 2 years old.

I know they want to be together but someone has to be the boss. Bud needs the company of another gerbil. Bud started purring in my hand when I take him out now. He really wants company. Even little Sam sometimes purrs when I take him out to hold.

I try using "hand" intros but they seem to don't want to really interact in my hand. There is plenty of butt sniffing though. They are both sleeping near the wire almost everyday now.

Any suggestions to help? By now, they have to smell alike. I want to try again this weekend. Would doing brief intros at night for a few minutes help? I have never had a split cage go this long.

Trixie's Weekly Update

Trixie is holding on. She still weighs about 60 grams. She has slowed down. Breathing is becoming more labored. She is still eating and drinking on her own with supplement food from me. She starting to like bread crust. So I have been feeding that also. She now likes to sit in my lap in her pouch where it is nice and warm. She is losing some muscle mass.

She still likes to chew on paper plates. She still grooms Bud. Bud grooms her and trys to keep her warm. I am still giving her twice a treatments. She is still peeing and pooing. The poo is getting a little less. Trixie will tell me when it is time to go. Not today.

I have not seen her in the wheel in the past couple of days. She is still very spunky. Eyes and ear bright as ever. Still purrs when I hold her. She still likes to sit on my shoulder when she wants to. She will sit there for minutes. My shoulder must be a warm place.

I know her time is coming soon. Her fur is starting to shed a little. Why do gerbils have such short lives? I wish Trixie could live to four (December 8 birthday) but I know that is not to be. I will cherish everyday that she is here with us. Trixie loves being with her people.

Send her comforting wishes.

Trixie - Weekly Update

I am going to keep a weekly posting on Trixie's progress of her condition. She did well this past week. We are still feeding her the extra food she needs to stay active so she can do as near normal gerbil stuff as she can. Trixie is still eating, chewing, playing a little with her buddie Bud. She gets cooked noodles everyday (one noodle at least 3-4 times a day) with a little bit of her favorite baby food. Gerber's Oatmeal, banana and apple.

She is still getting her twice a day treatment of her medicine and the Povidone Scrub for her sore. She still loves to come out and climb all me. Lately, she has been loving just to perch on my shoulder. She purrs more often now.

I think she is losing a little bit of her muscle mass in her back legs. She has to struggle just a little to climb on their wooden house. Trixie does not climb the Crittertrail tubes anymore. She trys to jog in the wheel a little.

I weigh her every week now. She is still maintaining her weight around the 60-62 gram mark. She has not lost weight since I started feeding her the extra food. She does eat her normal gerbil food when hungry. She loves her pumpkin and sunflower seeds (unshelled). I did see her drink from the water bottle so I know that she is not getting dehydrated.

Trixie Update

It's been a little over 2 weeks since Trixie was diagnosed with cancer. She is doing well. She is still a very active spunky little girl. She is thriving on the extra food we have been feeding her. She gets cooked elbow noodles everyday. At least 3 times a day. Trixie also gets a small portion of baby food at least 3-4 times a day. Her favorite is Gerber Oatmeal, Apple and Banana. She gobbles it right up. She has also been gaining some of her weight back. She is about 62-63 grams now.

I took her into the vet for a quickie checkup. I was concerned because her sore was a little redder than usual. Nothing to worry about. He said to continue the same treatment. The vet said he had seen sores on gerbils like this one last for months. Because it is cancer around the sore, it can't heal properly. Trixie is helping also by keeping the area around the sore clean.

I can't wait for my current craft swap package from Guam. I asked her if she would make Trixie a little play pouch for when Trixie comes on my lap to play. She is still purrring.

Senior Gerbil Trixie

This is my little grey agouti Trixie. She is 3 1/2 years old. About the beginning of May there was a small lump on her belly. Vet said to watch it. While I was away at the gerbil show. The sore opened. Took her to the vet the day after I got back. Vet gave me medicine and brown liquid stuff to keep it clean twice a day. Trixie seemed to respond well to the treatment.

After two weeks, I took her back in for a checkup. Vet was concerned that the sore wasn't healing properly. He took a small sample to send it to the lab for analysis. Trixie did lose some weight. Vet suggested supplement her diet with baby food. That was a week ago.

Vet called yesterday evening. It is not good. Trixie has cancer. Surgery is too risky. Vet and I agreed to continue the same treatment. Supplement her diet with veggie baby food and cooked noodles and any extra sunflower and pumpin seeds she want.

Trixie is still a very active little girl. Doing all the normal gerbil stuff. Trixie also purrs when I hold her. She only does it for me. I will treasure everyday that she has left.

8 Days Until AGS Gerbil Show!

2009 New England Show
May 30, 2009

Middlesex Community College

Bedford, MA

Time: 11:00-5:00
Admission: $2 per person, $10 family max
Show Details: http://agsgerbils.org/Shows/NEShow/

I can't believe it will only be about a week before the Gerbil Show. I am so pumped. My two gerbils have entered the show. They are excited also. I hope they have a members only chewing and cute face contest. My little Spot would sweep the event. My "Little Bear" has the most adorable cute face ever. It would melt your heart.

I am getting stuff ready to take to the show. I am also the coordinator of the Gerbil Photo contest. The public gets to choose what photo they like the best. I am also coordinating the Silent Auction and Raffle. There are going to be lots of wonderful items up for auction and raffle.

I will also have a table setup selling my knitted critter stuff. I made knitted gerbils, rats, guinea pigs, mice, and hedgehogs. There will a couple of bunnies also. I will also have many critter cozies for your mice and hamsters.

If you going to be in the Bedford Massachusetts area May 30th, stop by. You will not be disappointed.

Knitted Hamster Pattern Wanted

Has anyone seen a knitted hamster pattern toy/stuffie? I have been looking all around and came up with nothing. I would love to be able to make some for the upcoming gerbil show at the end of the month.

I will be bringing my knitted gerbils, rats, guinea pigs and hedgehogs.

Can anyone help?

Merry Christmas! Gerbil Snowflakes

Merry Gerbil Christmas and a Furry New Year! My wonderful little gerbil boys made me this wonderful gerbil snowflake. It is so cute! Spot is my maniac gerbil chewer. He did most of the work. Little Bear helped. This is wonderful way to have your gerbils interact with the kids. Fold up a piece of whit computer papers. Have the gerbils chew for a couple of minutes and VIOLA! A Gerbil Snowflake. Watch this cute gerbil christmas video.

Loss of Zoey

I lost my beloved Zoey yesterday morning. It was very sudden. She was fine the night before and Wednesday morning my BF found her breathing hard, clicking and cold to the touch. I got her and warmed her up which I think helped. I got to my vet ASAP. The took an X-ray and could not see any fluid in her lungs. Not a respirary infection. I wish it was. Zoey had a mass in her abdomen which was pushing on her diaphram. The vet perscribed some medcine but I think he new she wasn't long for this world. Her breathing kept getting worse and worse. She died an hour later after bring her home from the vet. I has Zoey since she was 6 weeks old. Just a little baby! She was still my baby. She liked me holding her. She was my cuddle gerbil when Buddy died. A beautfil slate little girl. Hardly any white on her. I never got the chance to show her. Her companion Trixie is now alone. Zoey was going to be 2 years December 28th. She was named after a character in "Serenity". Above isthe last picture I took of Zoey on Halloween.

I made a photo tribute to Zoey. View it here.

Patches Passed on

Patches was a little trooper. Yesterday, he stopped eating and drinking at about 11am. He passed in a lap at 3:50pm. He lost weight overnight. The stroke was too much for him. I really thought he would make it. He is now up there with his cagemate and my Buddy.

I lost my Buddy on the 5th. He was over 4 years old.

Patches - Day 3 Recovery

This little gerbil ceases to amaze me. He was very hungry when I got up at 5:30am to check on him. He ate quite a bit from the syringe and was thirsty. He basically slept most of the morning. I held him in a towel for part of the time. I really thought it was his time to go with his shallow breathing but no. Right after lunch, Patches perked right up in the afternoon. He wanted to go. I had him propped up on the side of my sofa chair and off he went. His front paws were moving and pushing with his back legs. He was like this for a couple of hours. This is how a young pu is learning to walk. He was trying to doing the gerbil head butting that they like to do. I put him back in the small carrier of towels. He was strong enough to prop up his head a bit to drink a little bit from the water bottle. I saw three little bubbled come up in the bottle. I knew he was drinking. He also ate a little bit of baby food on a piece of paper plate with me holding the plate.

This doesn't look like a gerbil that wants to give up. I started a journal to keep track. He currently weighs about 52 grams right now. It will be my only indication if he is getting better or worse. I will also put blog entries here on his progress.

Patches the Gerbil

A new gerbil came into my life yesterday. A 3 year old male name Patches. I am fostering him as he is very ill and his owners can't give him the 24/7 care he needs right now. He suffered a stroke over a week ago and might have had a relapse Saturday night. They couldn't cope so I offered to care for the little guy since I am working at home for the time being. He lasted the night so I got him in to see my vet this afternoon. His teeth needed clipping. I think that would help him overall. Patches is helpless like a young gerbil pup. I have been feeding him with a syringe and his liquids also. He has responded well. He is much more fiesty than yesterday afternoon.

I got him to drink from the water bottle for a little bit. That is progress. I am switching his Karo/water solution to organic baby apple juice. He is still getting baby food with a syringe but I am hopefully once he gets strong enough that he can lap up baby food on his own.

I will keep all of you posted.

Gerbil Surgeries

I have had a couple of gerbils go in for surgery recently. A couple of months ago my little slate girl Zoey had a lump on her ear that was removed. I sent it in for lab work. It turned out to a melnoma (can't spell). She is perfect fine. The vet joked that now she is half doberman.

Our four year boy Buddy developed a abcess on his scent gland that got infected. The vet though at first it was tumor but it was a nasty abcess. He had to have stitches. The doctor prescribed Metacam antibiotic for his recovery. He came through great. healing nicely. Play with his boys. He is an older schimmel. His orange faded into white as he got older. The only indication of orange is at the base of his tail. He is "our" boy.

Gerbils, Hamsters and Knitting

Sorry it has been so long since I posted. The gerbil show was fantasic! My knitted gerbils and rats were a big hit. We came home with a new baby hammie named Fred. This is what Fed looked like when we got him home in May. My thumb has healed from all the knitting before the show. I am knitting again but not with as much fury. Now I am getting ready for the local fair and the fall craft shows. Here is a link to the crafts I have been working on this year. I recently finished up 2 knitted guinea pigs and a fun fur rat. I welcone you opinions on them.

Come To The 2008 New England Gerbil Show!

The American Gerbil Society's 2008 New England Gerbil Show is rapidly approaching! This year's show will be in Nashua, New Hampshire and takes place on May 17th.

Gerbil breeders and owners from around the country will be at the show to show off their gerbils, sell gerbil merchandise, and even adopt out gerbil pups! It's a great opportunity to learn more about gerbils.

AGS members can also enter their gerbils in a gerbil show (just like a dog show, except with gerbils). Although judging occurs behind closed doors, at the end of the show, winners are announced.

There is a wonderful pet class where kids can bring their pete gerbils and compete for fun. Prizes awarded for best chewer, shoulder sitter and lots more.

Click the banner below to learn more about the New England Gerbil Show. Hope to see you there!

I will be there showing off my two little girls Simone and Mona. I will also be selling my knitted rodent merchandise (rats, gerbils, mice) in honor of the Chinese Year of the Rat.

Mona and Simone

Knitted Gerbil Stuffies Finally

I finally found a pattern on crafster.org for knitted gerbil toy stuffies. It is a variation on a bunny pattern. The orange/rust colored one is the first with worsted weight yarn and the second one is made from white cotton yarn. Still works in progress. Still need to work in it. What do you think of them?

Happy New Year and Gerbil Family Expanded

My gerbil family has now expanded to seven gerbils and a hamster. I did want to mention that I also had a little baby gerbil Stewie. He was a very small little gerbil. I think he may have been the runt of the litter. He was a beautiful gerbil. A rare color also. i got him on December 14th and he passed on December 18th. Mostly likes from respiratory infection. He never made it back from the vet. This is baby Stewie. I will always remember you.

This is my new baby gerbils. Meet Little Bear, Spot, Simone and Mona. All their birthdays are in October. Spot and Simone are Halloween gerbils. Little Bear and Spot are with Buddy.

Loss of a Good Friend

With a very sad heart that Honeybear passed on yesterday morning about 9:53am. She was getting worse. We both made that hard decision. She was over 3 1/2 years old. A very long lifespan for a petstore gerbil. She was such a sweet gerbil. She loved her bestfriend Buddy. A 3 year old schimmel male. Her fur actually lightened with age. Her fur used to be darker in her younger days.

Honeybear - Possible Sick little gerbil

My little gerbil Honeybear might be sick. He has been having labored breathing for the past couple of days. She still does all her normal gerbil stuff but when she is sleeping or eating the hard breathing is very noticeable. She is over 3 1/2 years old. Her BF Buddy is 3 years old also. I am taking her in to the vet this afternoon to have her checked out. If it is respiratory infection then we can treat her. Otherwise we would just have to enjoy her and make her comfortable.

---------------

Back from the vet and $70.00 later. The vet first listened to her heart to see if he heard anything. He did not hear anything. The vet took X-rays. Used the dental x-ray machine. He did find something and showed me the x-rays. Honeybear has a slight collasped lung on her left side and is retaining some fluid. Which is the cause of
hard breathing. The lump that HB had a few months back was on her left side.

He weighed her (91 grams). He prescribed Lixotinic (Lasix) with furosemide. They are a vitamin supplement and a diuretic to help with the water problem. .2ml twice a day oraly. He said give the medicine to her for a long as she needs. Probably the rest of her life to help ease her breathing. He gave her the first dose in the
office. The medicine is slightly sweet so she took the medicine ok. She was such a good girl at the vet's. So calm and tame towards the doctor. Didn't bite once. Buddy came with her for support.

When she went for X-rays, the vet carried her in the towel I brought and she looked so adorable with her little head sticking out.

Money doesn't matter. It was worth it to know what the problem was.

Happy Halloween from my Critter Family!

My little critter family wanted to say Happy Halloween to everyone!

AGS Virtual Show 2007

We will be holding a 2007 American Gerbil Society Virtual show! A virtual show is held on-line, for fun, glory and bragging rights. Gerbils are judged on a front and side picture by certified judges and judges in training.

You can get full details at: http://www.agsgerbils.org/virtual2007

AGS members may enter up to six (6) gerbils in this year's virtual show. Non-members can join the fun and enter up to two (2) gerbils. So, please pass the word to other gerbil lists and gerbil lovers.

Meet Henry the Hamster

This is Henry is a longhaired sable syrian hamster. Many petstores would call him a teddy bear hamster. When he sits up, he does look like a mini bear. I adopted Henry from our local APL on Sunday May 13, 2007. I have no clue on his age. He is a sweety and doesn't bite. My BF fell in loves with him also at the APL. At first he didn't want a hamster as we already have 4 gerbils, he saw Henry and melted. No clue on his age but no taming was required. He absolutely loves to come out at night. His hamster ball is his absolute favorite toy. He can run in it all night. He even makes turns! His previous owner must have had in a hamster ball before. I have to get a picture of him in his ball. He also loves shoulders.

Buddy and Honeybear

They are together. You couldn't see a happier gerbil than Honeybear. She just loves her new boyfriend. We put the wheel in the tank. HoneyBear missed her wheel. Buddy really didn't know what to make of it. He is two years old and never been on a wheel. Honeybear supervised and give tips on how to run. Honeybear is 3 years old. They are both past having babies. It is not 100% but the risk of babies is low.

New Gerbil Friend

I have a new friend for my gerbil Honeybear. We got him on April 25th. He is a 2 year old male schimmel. We nammed him Buddy. Honeybear is 3 yearsold. They far past breeding age. I thought it would be nice for Honeybear to have a boyfriend. They are currently being split caged. they are very friendly now. I can hold them in my hands as if they are old friends. I think this is becuase my hands are "neutral" territory. For the intro, I would have to clean out the entrie tank and put fresh bedding and then put them in the tank. He starting to come around. He is friendly but scared of hands.

Sick Little Gerbil Digger

Since Tuesday, little Digger (one on the right) has been sick. Eyes closed. Little or no appetite. Not thirsty. Ruffled fur. Cool to the touch. I took her to the vet that Tuesday. The vet could not find what is wrong. Her eyes, lungs and heart are fine. Hesaid to keep her warm and jsut do your best. I temporary kept her in a separate cage with 2 small water bottles to keep her warm. After a few hours she was warm enough so i could put her back with HoneyBear. I have them isloated in one Crittertrail 2 cage. They usually have a #3 attached also. Digger immediately climbs to the top of the cage and stayed there. Warmest place. We hand fed her and offered the water bottle. She did eat and drink. She seemed so weak and tired. Her buddy took careof her by grooming and keeping her warm. She has made improvements slowly over the past few days. This morning I found them both in the lower part of the cage under tp where their nest is usually. Digger is feeding herself from the food bowl and hopefully that she is drinking from the water bottle. I lowered it for her. I give her a pea everyday for its vitamins, softness and water. She loves the pea. I have high hopes for her. Her coat is even looking lots better.

Added note 04/30/2007: We lost little Digger April 20th. We think it was dental and jaw problems. Even getting her teeth clipped didn't help.

New Friend for Trixie

Trixie got a new friend. Her name is Zoey. She is a cute little black/slate pup. She was about 6 weeks old when we got her. She is such a cutie.

Trixie and Zoey are now the best of buds. I have them featured in my gerbil store. After split caging for 2 weeks, there was no squeaking. Trixie did tell Zoey that she was boss but that was it. No squabbling at all. The easiest intro I ever did.

Gerbil Store

I have created a gerbil store with all kinds of wonderful gerbil designs. T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, buttons, magnets, calendars. Go check it out.

Passing of a Wonderful Friend

I have lost a good little friend January 30th. It was my favorite little girl gerbil Digger. She had an ovarian cyst. the vet thinks it burst. She was suffering and I enend up taking to the vet. She was a super friendly since she was a pup. She was my shoulder sitter. It came to the point where I can carry her around from room to room and she loved it. She was only year and 2 weeks old. A spotted agouti. She is survived by her best buddy Trixie. I have kept a journal of little Digger. You can read it here: Digger's Journal. I have also posted her last webcam pictures. You can view them at the webcam site. Digger's last request is that Trixie is not left alone. She is getting a new buddy Friday night.