03/2/01(Updated by Jenn)- We have run into quite a problem. We have found that Aargh and Fump have an infestation of worm-like paristites which were found in the stools and in the anus. This would explain the lethargy, but we are now not too sure of what to do. Fortunately, Eek seems to be doing fine. She is active and appears to be healthy. Monday we will have to tackle the problem and decide what to do. This is a set back, but we still plan on continuing.
03/1/01(Updated by Jenn)- We continued to follow our routine today and are becoming more efficient at it. We are hoping to have the antibiotics by next week and are in the process of deciding exactly what we plan to do. Our biggest concern today was Aargh's drop in weight and food intake. He ate quite a bit less and lost 7.5 grams. We do not know what caused this, but hope that it is not too big of a problem.
02/28/01(Updated by Jenn)- For the past couple of days we have been doing basically the same thing. We way each rat and how much food that they ate over night. We give them a total of about 30 grams of food and fill their water bottles. We make sure all appears to be going well and so far everything has.
02/23/01(Updated by Jenn)- Today went well and fortunatly, the lab seemed slightly warmer today. Eek and Aargh are still sneezing a bit, but has shown no other symptoms so far. We now feel even more watchful of them since the fourth rat which Emily had at her house died yesterday. We worry the most since its first symptom was sneezing; it was also quite lethargic. About the next day, it couldn't really walk and was staggering and falling. It would not open its eyes and then began eating its tail. It ate about one inch of it before it died a slightly gruesome death. The other three rats though, appear to be healthy and happy and we are optimistic, yet cautious.
02/22/01 (Updated by Emily)- We have noticed a temperature drop in the lab due to the presence of a vent to the outdoors in the ceiling. The draft is unstoppable until the warm weather arrives, and we hope the it does not interfere with the experiments. Everything else went according to expectation, including the fact that all bedding was changed and replaced in the cages. All of the rats seem healthy other than slight sneezing. Hopefully all remains well.
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