On 11 May, Sue writes:
I know there are some anxious 'Airebat/Womdale' aunties & uncles out there wondering why there has been silence about our Little Forrest Wombat - is he okay? what's been happening? why isn't Sue writing??
I truly am sorry. First things first, Forrest IS okay. Second, we HAVE been concerned about him. Third, that is partly why I have not written any recent updates.
Whilst in himself, our little man is bright & bouncy, bashing up Porscha any chance he gets (she calls it 'fanging', and having seen him in action, I can tell you it pretty much describes his MO), the wretched infection in the wound on his back is causing us all some anxiety. Predictably enough, it has healed too fast on the outside, much as we thought it might. And despite Porscha's devoted and hourly attention to the wound to keep it open, it is closing too fast and sealing infection deep inside, with just a tiny drainage point on the outside. It's also possible that there is some kind of foreign body embedded in there, too.
The million-dollar question is whether to operate or not. The million-dollar cautionary note is that Australian native animals do not, as a rule, do well under anaesthetic. So right at the moment we are playing a waiting game, with the vet supervising a series of deep-acting 'flesh eating' injections (not as bad as it sounds) in the hope that they will knock out the infection. If all else fails, an operation is the only option to clean out the wound site and start the healing again. We won't know that answer for several more days, probably early next week.
I visited Porscha & Forrest last Sunday evening, just on supper time. He was snuggled in his soft bunnyrug, tucked into his carrybasket, and gurgling away at his bottle whilst Porscha rested her weary bones beside him on the couch. She had been at work all day, and was expecting several new arrivals that night . . . some sadly-neglected possums rescued from awful conditions (tellingly similar to some of the conditions from which many Rescue Airedales are taken, I hate to say).
Ever gracious, she welcomed me happily and we sat & played with our little guy once he had finished his supper. That was when I learned about the 'fanging'.
Baby wombats simply have to investigate everything head on. Feet, ankles, legs, shins, hands or fists - whatever happens to be in their relevant line of vision is regarded as 'investigative material'. And they don't just use those BigBlackNoses. Those frontal pearly whites are there for more than just appearances.
As we sat on the carpet, he trundled around like a little furry solid brown block on stumpy legs, his feet rapidly trotting beneath, and his little pinky grey heels kicking up behind. It's a challenge to describe his movement, but one thing for sure, it's quick. An adult wombat can easily gallop along at 40 miles per hour, so I guess practice has to start early on in life.
He discovered my fingers & fists were good investigative material, and made it plain that both Porscha & I were there for his entertainment. One engaging trick is to raise himself on his back legs, then suddenly POUNCE!!!! The more unexpected he can make it, the happier he is. You can positively see him twinkle his mischievous eyes at your evident surprise. Hah! caught you! he giggles in delight. Of course by then you are giggling helplessly yourself.
But then, equally suddenly, he rolls on his back, squirming in delight as you rub his tummy. Then he's off again, galloping like a little brown box on legs to fang some furniture, or a leg, or a cushion. Doesn't greatly matter what, anything is fair game.
PAGE 11