Post by maddiesmom on Dec 4, 2010 8:14:32 GMT -5
Murtagh has been temper tantruming for the past week or so. It started with the litterbox - he suddenly started peeing ALL OVER the cage everywhere but the food bowl, including the water bowl, top level, and some bedding. And the litterbox is clean Its to the point that I feel bad for Izzy, because she has to be in this cage with him that's covered in pee all day until I get home from work and scrub it (which is a new routine that I HATE btw)
So, I confined them to one level, but he's still doing it. I don't *think* its medical, because when I let him out for free roam time he makes it to the litterbox every time. Weird, right?
Wednesday I had a Christmas program at work, and I did not get home until late, so they did not get out that day. Ever since then, it seems, he has been REALLY bitey He breaks the skin, and has made me bleed fairly bad twice. He latches on like a... like a pit bull! I scruff him and he sits there for a minute with my skin in his mouth until he yawns and releases it. OUCH!
Now, I have a pretty high pain tolerance, so I don't flap my arms and make a big deal about it - when I scruff him he yawns, but when I put him back down he's PO'D and WORSE! I've also tried the bite hold, but same thing (PO'D and WORSE). So time-outs it is, but I don't feel like they are working very well other than to protect me for 3-5mins while he's in there
The only thing that is "working" (and by working I mean I'm not getting bit but he's not learning anything) is when I scruff him I get up on the chair before I put him down so when I put him down my feet or arms aren't by him so he just spazes and dances off...
The other thing I've noticed is they're both eating me out of house and home... which is normal for them this time of year... but now Murtagh is refusing some foods... like venison, and anything that slightly resembles ground. So on those days he's acting like he's starving, but just two weeks ago he ate them fine!
So.... I guess what I'm asking is... Vet trip? Or some more tough love?? ...Help!
TIA
So, I confined them to one level, but he's still doing it. I don't *think* its medical, because when I let him out for free roam time he makes it to the litterbox every time. Weird, right?
Wednesday I had a Christmas program at work, and I did not get home until late, so they did not get out that day. Ever since then, it seems, he has been REALLY bitey He breaks the skin, and has made me bleed fairly bad twice. He latches on like a... like a pit bull! I scruff him and he sits there for a minute with my skin in his mouth until he yawns and releases it. OUCH!
Now, I have a pretty high pain tolerance, so I don't flap my arms and make a big deal about it - when I scruff him he yawns, but when I put him back down he's PO'D and WORSE! I've also tried the bite hold, but same thing (PO'D and WORSE). So time-outs it is, but I don't feel like they are working very well other than to protect me for 3-5mins while he's in there
The only thing that is "working" (and by working I mean I'm not getting bit but he's not learning anything) is when I scruff him I get up on the chair before I put him down so when I put him down my feet or arms aren't by him so he just spazes and dances off...
The other thing I've noticed is they're both eating me out of house and home... which is normal for them this time of year... but now Murtagh is refusing some foods... like venison, and anything that slightly resembles ground. So on those days he's acting like he's starving, but just two weeks ago he ate them fine!
So.... I guess what I'm asking is... Vet trip? Or some more tough love?? ...Help!
TIA