When Chiquito Doesn't Want to Play...

Curled up and indifferent to our activity in the adjoining cage.

     When Chiquito is off his game, the rest of us don't want to play, either.  Fortunately, it has only happened twice.
    Yesterday Chiquito had no interest in being tickled by Oscar, or trying to grab his hat.  He ignored Lolita when she was put in the other half of the cage.  And we fretted.
     Oscar thought we should have the vet come out, and Paul did speak with her, but Chiquito had no symptoms other than general malaise.  Her main concern was diarrhea, and his poop was normal...as far as fruity monkey poop goes.  He was eating, albeit half-heartedly.  She thought it might just be a change in the weather.   

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     I gave Chiquito a small baby bottle of Pedialyte mid-morning, and again before bed, both of which he drank.  I gave him some Bene-Bac probiotic, which he licked off my finger.  I gave him a chunk of raw honey, which he ate.  But none of it with his usual enthusiasm.
     I threw out the previously frozen fruits I had thawed (I keep a freezer full of his favorites for the off seasons), thinking maybe something had gone bad.  Mamoncino, jocote, and fresh figs...into the garbage, not even the recycle bin.

Chiquito accepts and enjoys a banana.

     Chiquito seems to be himself this morning.  (Alexa, Oscar's wife, called early to check.)  I hustled out in my nightgown to give him a banana and he chirped, came over to me, got comfortable, and polished it off.  I wanted to hug him.  Just to be sure all was really well, I went into the house and got another banana.  He ate that, too...but this time on top of his bamboo hutch, while surveying his surroundings.  Most of yesterday had been spent huddled under his blanket.
     Who knew a monkey eating a banana could make me so euphoric?  Game ON!

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