Kalusha's Cavies

An eventful day! When Gypsy aborted her pregnancy in the last stage, she had 3 babies. A couple of days later I swore I felt another one, but then maybe thought she was just swollen. Nearing the end of a week of anti-biotic I had the niggling feeling something was still not 100% as she was still having tiny discharge. So we went to the vets, who also felt something 'that's not meant to be there'. Following an x-ray, indeed she had one foetus remaining. I didn't want to risk the 'mummification' process, so opted to have the foetus removed. After the surgery, she seems okay in herself although quiet. Fortunately her uterus looked in good health - so fingers crossed she makes a speedy recovery. 

The last 8 weeks has been rather busy with the storks deliverying new babies and some of our cavies leaving to their new adoptive homes.  With the unfortunate passing away of Viebie last year, my slate colour is taking a backseat. The chocolate colour has come along really nicely - especially with Thornton being born. Glitter and Yamal had a pair of beige lunkarya which are proving to be nice also. So really happy with those. Femme just doesn't seem to wish to be pregnant despite living with Esprit for some time. 

It was particaularly sad today, which is the main reaosn I felt compelled to write an entry, as Gypsy delivered three stillborn babes. She is the great- granddaughter of our first pet guinea's in 2002. She had been expecting a chocolate abruvian litter with Mars (who has since gone to Jeff at Caviesland) so I was really looking forward to meeting them. Saldy, she had been bleeding slightly during yesterday and just keeping her inside the house, warm and a pile of grass to see how things went. The vets suggested to just keep eyes on her. I had an inckling one of the babies placenta must have detached and on inspection, two still had their placenta's attached and one did not. I just hope no permanent damage has been made and indeed Gypsy continues to be okay.

On a another note, we have been organising which show dates we can attend so fingers crossed some lunky babies stay in coat long enough to get to them!

After 2 weeks away, I am happy to announce that the first babies of 2012 have been born! Fairy Tale and Blue had 3 Red & white lunkarya, shortly followed by Ferngully and JoJo's litter of two red & white Lunkarya sows. Tigerlilly had one large agouti pet sow, continuing our line of pets. 

Within the next month, we are hoping for safe deliveries from Gia, Amber, Immogen and Yadina. Juno and Glitter are still living with Yamal and Bree is living with Uzaro for some first generation Lunkarya. Vamina and Jambolini will be put with boars soon for our last litters of the season.

I have some brilliant news - 'Kalusha's Riviera-Raya' (aka Vivienne who lives at Arbennik Cavies) is expecting babies from the late Faith's Roman. It was a huge void after he crossed the Rainbow Bridge and I had dearly hoped he had managed to get Vivienne pregnant in their short 2 weeks together. So I was over the moon when I felt those familiar 'flutters of life'. Fingers crossed she has a safe delivery in Early April.

Photos are now up of 'Arbennik's Kissy' (who will hopefully get me back into showing!) and of the 2012 babies so far!

Time is passing quickly as always! Last month has been rather dis-heartening with Roman and Smudge passing over the Rainbow Bridge. Howver, life goes full circle with news that Ferngully and Fairy Tale are both pregnant! When you feel those tiny kicks, it's like the world stops moving for that milli-second! It never ceases to amaze me that soon that little thing will be out breathing and growing up! I am only expecting one, maybe two, babies from each girl as it's winter and not many resources are sepnt creating offspring! 

There are times when I do wonder why I put so much time, energy and money into this hobby. These times do seem to increasing in frequency - so I shall be glad when Spring is upon us and Guinea's can return to their daily run. I do hope I will continue with this bizarre hobby and once I am happy, to finally resume showing. Perfection is sometimes a burden as well as a driving force - so I hope to find a happy medium!

As always, I do have a continual request from people (from all round the world as well as UK) for some of my Lunkarya's. I do really appreciate it, however it is still early days for my line. Even after 4 1/2 years of devoting my time to the Lunkarya's - I have not progressed it as much I would like. I am not the type of person to load off poor quality to unsuspecting new Lunkarya fanatics. So I know it is really disappointing and indeed extremely long potential wait - but I only want to give someone something worth while. I also like to have got to know the person before handing over such a precious life.

Also, I may as well add that I do have quite a few pairs of boars that I would really like to find new homes for.... so if you know of anyone please do get them to have a look!

Thanks!

Today was a truly awful day which ended with Roman being put to sleep. He was 'not himself' the last week or so despite having the company of a lovely lady. So the couple came indoors for some observation and Roman just wasn't interested in food. I spent the day hand-feeding along with anti-biotics and pre-biotices whilst he ocasionally picked at fresh grass. Then every 2 hours through the night the same. By 4am he was starting to bloat - and hadn't 'passed anything' for 20 hours - so off to the vets! The vets tried stimulating his gut going again along with fluid and pain relief. However he was so uncomfortable and 'not a good candidate for surgery given his low body temperature. So seeing he was in pain I made the excrutiating decision to put him to sleep.

It has been such a huge shock and I still expect to see him looking out of his cage expecting a stroke or food. He was a brilliant gentleman and such a superb breeding boar. To have lost him is devastating as he would never have left here and as such I thought I had many more years to have his sons and daughters. I can only hope the fortnight he spent with Vivian was enough to allow him a son here. So extremely sad day for the stud.