Adopted

----- Original Message -----

Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 10:31 PM

Subject: Re: Shadow Update Feb 2008

 

All,

 

I had every intention of getting this out the first week of the new year but .....

 

First let's talk about the idosyncracies.

1) Winn, he only eats paper if you deprive him of socks and flip-flops!!!  :) Not a

problem, he seems to favor my wife and daughter's socks. Haven't lost one of

my own yet.

2) He must have heard us mention the high cost of flying. He has started digging

several holes in our backyard which he thinks will help us get to where he thinks

we want to go. Fortunately, he hasn't reached China yet. :)  By the way, our

backyard bermuda grass died off a few years ago. We haven't had a chance to

re-turf it yet. We don't care unless it's muddy. The holes aren't that deep. I think

Maya taught him how to do it even though she only tries to dig holes in gravel.

3) He is (mainly due to his size) the most efficient counter surfer I have ever seen.

So much so that he is on a diet consisting of 25% unsalted carrots. He seems to

like them.

 

Despite the above he is fantastic. Very gentle and extremely loving to all. I'm not

sure our gerbil thinks that is the case however.

 

Maya and he play fight all the time. I haven't weighed Maya recently but I'm sure

she has lost weight.

 

The last vet visit had him weighing in at 98 pounds hence the unsalted carrot

diet he is currently on.

 

We changed his food from Nutro Natural Choice Senior to Wellness Fish & Sweet Potato.

I had been cleaning out his ears 3X per week (brownish red stuff, not sure what it was)

plus he would rub his ears on the carpet. The vet suspected an allergy to the food

(since his inner ears were OK) even thought they said that was an excellent food.

They recommended the wellness food so I tried it and although the problem hasn't

disappeared he can go nearly 2 weeks now between ear cleanings and I rarely see

him rub his ears. Yeah, it's expensive food but he's worth it. If I add a little bit of

the new food to Maya's food she usually winds up eating more so at some point

in time they will both be on that food. Guess I'll need to get a second job. :)

 

Shadow is one great dude!!!!

 

My family and I appreciate all that you are doing. Please keep up the

good work.

 

Regards,

 

The Page Family