Make sure they test for Coccidia...sometimes they don't check for that and just look for worms... Yes we will indeed have his stools checked for Coccidia, thanks :o) You know usually stress isn't the cause the diarrhea, it is usually something that was already there and the stress has lowered the immune system just enough to set it loose.... Does that make sense?? yes, totally, the same thing happens with hamsters but mostly Syrians. Syrians get wet tail because something shocks their immune systems when they are moved long distances. The bacteria are there but it doesn't strike them hard until they are stressed. Are his eyes clear and sparkly (no gunk)? his eyes get gooky when he goes out in the bitter cold but otherwise they are clear and no sign of infection, scleras are white throughout Is his nose runny at all...dripping?? No,no drips at all, dry most of the time and cold and damp when he comes in from the cold but dries up again What color are his gums? Should be a nice pink, not too pale.. very nice pink and well hydrated...been checking for that Does he feel extra warm? (normal is around 101º) no, normal How many rounds of shots has he gotten? one round of shots on December 19th In consideration of his breed mix, I would make sure to time his last distemper/parvo vaccination to be given after his 16th week of age (at the same time as his rabies vac). ok...what is the rationalle for that, just curious Did he get a vaccination immediately before you took him home? no, almost a month ago How old did you say he was?? 9 weeks Do keep me posted...I certainly get anxious when I hear the words "sick puppy"...aak! well, I really don't think he's sick with a fever or anything but he could still have something in his stools, so we'll have that checked. He's playing like a kitten, pouncing on sticks and leaves and chasing after toys and generally either getting into trouble or looking for attention...typical puppy stuff. He is napping much better now. He'll nap for a full hour now whereas he was only taking 10 minute cat naps before and crying a lot. Today there was no crying at all and he is back on his food eating about 50/50 steamed rice and dry chow. One thing I thought of was that darn oil tablet the lady gave him at the rescue. I don't know how long she'd been giving it to him but those things are big and I'm sure it was like giving him cod liver oil twice a day. I've discontinued that entirely and today he is having better formed poos and not feeling the urgency to get outside. Ugh! It's a horrid day today... freezing rain so the deck where I was letting him out is thick with ice and the poor thing is terrified. I am too...afraid of falling that is so now I have to trapse him through the garage and out the back garage door onto MORE ice but at least if he falls he will fall only the ground and not off the edge of the deck. I'll pop back in with at "Pupdate" later and let you know what a second slide of his stools shows. Thanks so much, Barb & "Lake" When I foster puppies, I always have my vet tech/or vet if necessary on speed dial!! LOL!! I have the whole routine down...

Thanks, mboston -- I looked at that book at googlebooks. Somehow I get the feeling the person who did this is just not quite as precise as Virginia L. Burton was. Not to talk down my own piece...maybe I'm wrong... I did see something really cool, though, and loved learning about her life with George Demetrios (didn't know that!) Here is a link that might be useful: This is her son!

If I may: The knobs come off for one of several reasons. #1-The set screws are simply loose, however this usually doesn't cause the knob to "fall" off, it will simply turn in your hand and not open the latch. If you kept turning in one direction it would come off all the way. If this is your symptom look around the "shoulder" of the knob/lever for some recessed flat head or allen head (baldwin)screws. Unscrew the knob just enough to see how the square bar is oriented. Those screws need to tighten down on the flat surface of that bar (preferably facing down, although that is not possible sometimes), so once you see that orientation and know where the screws need to be tightened down at (ie-Baldwin brand would be tightened down at the 4:30(ish) and 7:30(ish) position) you screw the knob up until its tight against the plate, then back it off about a turn. If it is too tight against the rosette/interior trim plate, the latch will not spring back out on its on, and you will have to physically turn the knob so the latch will come out. Sometimes there is not a happy medium between too tight and too loose. There are mylar and brass washers available to take out the slack. #2- Now if those screws are tight and it still doesn't stay on, your looking at spindle (that square bar that goes into the knob) wear or wear inside the knob itself. The screws threads inside the knob do wear out and no amount of set screw tightening will make it hold. At that point you can a new knob, from several places. The cheapest knob sets are only around $5-10 from many home stores/hardware stores/locksmith companies. They look like the old style glass knobs, but are obviously low quality. I have never been real thrilled with them, but it is the most affordable solution. I prefer the real glass antique stuff, and I am not alone. We get calls from all over the country (via our ebay store and website) looking for antique glass knobs. If you unscrew the knob and that square shaft is rounded where the screws tighten down at, then you have a couple of options. Replace that spindle (they are also available, but there are many different variations) or if it seems long enough you can loosen the screws on the other side and screw /unscrew it several threads and re-tighten, then the other side can be tightened down at a different spot on that bar. Washers may be needed as well. If the inside threads of the knob is worn out you are going to need a new knob. If its your front door lock and it has the thumb trim on the outside (antique) you can most likely use those same "cheap" knobs (again, I only suggest these as they are the easiest to find) and just use one of the knobs. The only trouble you would run into is if the shoulder of the replacement knob does not seat in the recess of the interior trim. The spindles on front door locks (with a thumbtrim on the outside) are different than the ones on bathrooms, interior rooms. It is a half spindle and works differently than the other doors with just knobs/levers on each side. They are hard to find/replace sometimes, and I suggest contacting the closest trusted locksmith company for service. Ask your family/friends/neighbors for locksmith reference, NEVER rely on phone book ads. There are too many "scammer" companies listing ads nowadays, and they are guilty of shoddy work and overcharging customers. Make sure and only deal with someone who has done satisfactory work for one of your colleagues. I am new here, so I don't know how the forum works as far as posting pics, but I can get some links up later of the positions of those screws, etc. We do plenty of photography work in relation to our industry. Gotta run to a christmas party now though! I will post them tommorrow assuming its calm enough ;-)

Although you didn't ask for this advice, I have to second Jenny "with no taste's" comments. I think the wall color detracts from the clean contrasts in your slipcovers. The picture posted by Jenny seems to have a cream wall behind a blue/white chair, but it doesn't look like the wall was painted with that chair in mind. If this were my room I'd paint the walls white. The obvious accent color is yellow but there is no reason you couldn't choose something out of one of the prints instead. I think your picture mats are neutral and would probably look fine with any new wall color. But you certainly want to know which wall color you are using before doing anything with the mirror or lamps. I think I might like the two lamps with the white shades, but I can't see them because they are too low. The round table is too low but since the legs are not really visible, can you put something under them to bring the table up a few inches? Once you are committed to your table heights, you can raise and lower your current lamps using stacks of books, till you see what height lamp works best. Of the new lamps you are considering, I'd definitely stick with the clear glass. The clear glass will add to the airy, clean, crisp look and it will help reflect light.