Michele and Peeps
Active Member
At the FDMB, a big part of everyone's day is observing. We have all become more tuned into the needs of our critters because we are aware of - and treat a serious disease... But is it possible to cross the line?
A big part of my day volunteering is pure observation. As we all know through the actions of critters in our homes - they tend to never show that they are sick until they just cannot hold up the facade any longer - and it's even more difficult to see a sick animal when they are wild. I think my co-workers get a little miffed about my attention to detail, but even before Peeps became ill, observation was something I just liked to do. Some even classify observations a skill - perception.
All of the animals at the WSC are on special diets. Carnivores get meat, vegetarians get fruits and veggies, and those in between get just about everything (bears love bread, but hate pizza. Wolves love pizza but hate pigeons. There ARE variables here). Sometimes though, fresh meat for the little critters is just impossible to come by - captive felines live under different rules than captive canines - elders are taken into account (teeth and digestion) - and of course likes and dislikes - so sometimes a few of the critters get supplements to their diet in the form of dry food.
This is where the observation comes in... I've noticed over the last few weeks our elderly lynx have been crowding the water dish every time I fill it - but today was different. They went absolutely ape over it. There was several minutes of drinking, then rubbing, then more drinking. Then, the other lynx would copy her sister. Then they drank together. I didn't time this entire display, but it was a lot more drinking than I've seen them do in the past few months. So I brought this up to my boss (slipping in the FD way I look at the world).
She explained to me that outdoor animals behave differently than indoor animals - they need more water than you would think because water is important to help with keeping warm. Ok, that makes sense... but I am me... and of course I had to ask if the lynx are ever put under for medical checks. They are. So I blatantly asked when this happens, would I be able to take some blood from them and test their blood glucose? Of course!
I have no idea when this will take place - the WSC doesn't put animals under the influence of powerful drugs at a whim, and I have watched first hand just how many people are needed to monitor one animal under the influence of sedation. It's not something to be taken lightly... And neither is the idea of following a lynx around in her home with a tiny lancet and a BG monitor.
So - after all of this I ask a serious question: Has my FD infected brain crossed a line?
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.ne...98809235_177004634234_8343033_572645774_n.jpg
A big part of my day volunteering is pure observation. As we all know through the actions of critters in our homes - they tend to never show that they are sick until they just cannot hold up the facade any longer - and it's even more difficult to see a sick animal when they are wild. I think my co-workers get a little miffed about my attention to detail, but even before Peeps became ill, observation was something I just liked to do. Some even classify observations a skill - perception.
All of the animals at the WSC are on special diets. Carnivores get meat, vegetarians get fruits and veggies, and those in between get just about everything (bears love bread, but hate pizza. Wolves love pizza but hate pigeons. There ARE variables here). Sometimes though, fresh meat for the little critters is just impossible to come by - captive felines live under different rules than captive canines - elders are taken into account (teeth and digestion) - and of course likes and dislikes - so sometimes a few of the critters get supplements to their diet in the form of dry food.
This is where the observation comes in... I've noticed over the last few weeks our elderly lynx have been crowding the water dish every time I fill it - but today was different. They went absolutely ape over it. There was several minutes of drinking, then rubbing, then more drinking. Then, the other lynx would copy her sister. Then they drank together. I didn't time this entire display, but it was a lot more drinking than I've seen them do in the past few months. So I brought this up to my boss (slipping in the FD way I look at the world).
She explained to me that outdoor animals behave differently than indoor animals - they need more water than you would think because water is important to help with keeping warm. Ok, that makes sense... but I am me... and of course I had to ask if the lynx are ever put under for medical checks. They are. So I blatantly asked when this happens, would I be able to take some blood from them and test their blood glucose? Of course!
I have no idea when this will take place - the WSC doesn't put animals under the influence of powerful drugs at a whim, and I have watched first hand just how many people are needed to monitor one animal under the influence of sedation. It's not something to be taken lightly... And neither is the idea of following a lynx around in her home with a tiny lancet and a BG monitor.
So - after all of this I ask a serious question: Has my FD infected brain crossed a line?
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.ne...98809235_177004634234_8343033_572645774_n.jpg
