Being an Etsy Shop Owner

Honestly, there are some days when the worst thing about owning an Etsy shop is dealing with the customers. But, honestly, most days the best thing about the Etsy shop is the customers! ;) For every nasty email I get that the post office lost/ripped a package, I get fun emails from customers thanking me for what I do.

Those happy emails make my day!

At the end of December, I actually got a handwritten note in the mail. An actual note! Written by the young owner of Peaches( a new Instagram celebrity beardie), the note told me how much fun they were having with the costumes they had bought from me. It was ADORABLE!

What's the point of being an Etsy shop owner if you can't do Super Fun Surprise things sometimes?

The other day, I wrote back to Peaches and her owner and thanked them for thanking me. I also confided that I had it on good authority ;) that Instagram celebrity beardies are wearing new Spring fashions and I just had to help with that. I put together a fun package for them, sending three outfits that I knew they didn't have.

I used my favorite scented markers and colored the package front and back so it would be extra fun to get in the mail. I even wrote "SURPRISE" on the front of the envelope. I had SO much fun putting it together and addressing it specifically to "Peaches, of Instagram Fame" and her owner (leaving her name off on purpose).

Yeah, I sometimes get nasty emails from people how I ruined X,Y, & Z for them because I'm an Etsy shop owner and not a magician, but emails & letters from sweet people like Peaches' owner makes it all better.

Fecal Samples

About a year into rescuing, I got a microscope and supplies to do fecal float tests. I know-- weird, but very cool. 

Now I'm able to do quick fecal tests on my rescues who appear to have parasite overloads. Lots of experience and a sensitive nose has been the best guide for parasites though. Parasitic poop stinks! And it's runny & sticky. 

Normal poop is solid and has a distinct white urate (looks like chalk). Half of the poop below is good & solid. The other half is unformed and blob-like (due to feeding this guy baby food). 

When I get a new beardie I usually wait a week or two to conduct a fecal test. Most poop issues correct themselves with good diet, proper temperatures, and clean enclosures. I can a beardie with a parasitic overload on day 1 that has a clean fecal sample two weeks later. 

My vet doesn't treat parasites if the beardie is asymptotic since the majority  of beardies have a small amount parasites without an issue. 

Symptoms include- diarrhea, strong & foul odor, weight loss, lack of appetite, lethargy, etc. If there are coccidia & pinworm eggs, a week of dewormer is given. 

My big boy Max always has a few pinworm eggs. It doesn't bother him so I don't worry about it. 

Here's a screenshot of some digested food from Spike the 3rd's fecal sample. I found no eggs at all which leaves me wondering why he keeps bleeding when he poops. Time to chat with my vet.