Video;

[schachmeister]

[Oh hey, It's Armin and he's looking rather harried.]

I know this is a bit of an unusual request, but does anyone have any tips for handling a pokemon who is teething? I know back home they used to say to rub whiskey on a baby's gums, but I'm not sure if that is such a good idea. I haven't--

[Suddenly there is a loud snapping noise, and Armin lets out a soft 'oh no', the camera moving jerkily before it comes to rest on a small Chewtle sitting in the sand by Armin's feet. There is a large branch (though really, it is thick enough that it probably qualifies as a thin tree trunk) snapped in half. The little chewtle lets out an irritated, high-pitched cheee, now that it has been deprived of its chew toy, its short little tail lashing in annoyance behind, before it grabs one of the ends of trunk and starts chewing with wild abandon again, bark and splinters flying.]

Though... at this point, I'd even accept some suggestions on more durable things for him to chew on. I'm worried he might start on my boat next.

[There is a sigh as Armin moves to turn off the camera, and a mutter that sounds suspiciously like 'I'm starting to consider the whiskey.']

Comments

Video

[a_sin_for_him]

Whiskey is fine. A small bit of alcohol like that isn't going to do any damage and it soothes them and helps them sleep. At least it does for human children.

Though bourbon works just as well.

Video

[schachmeister]

Are you sure?

I think that is what my grandfather did for me when I was a baby, but sometimes it feels like everything we did back home is, well, wrong. Or outdated, at the very least.

[Even though some of it really feels over the top to him still. He tries to read up on them and accept them when he can, but it still feels like everything is a concern here.]

Video

[a_sin_for_him]

I'm speaking from experience. Though I admit I've never tried it with a Pokemon...

Video

[schachmeister]

You've raised a child?

Video

[a_sin_for_him]

Looked after and cared for one. I suppose I was something like his mother in this world.

audio;

[unabates]

[ oh hey, it's armin. jack has been managing his very clingy dreepy, so he hasn't had a chance to check in on him. ]

Well, as tempting as the whiskey trick is, I think there's a better solution. They usually sell numbing ointment for toothaches and the like for human kids in stores; I'm willing to bet that there's a pokemon safe version out there.

As for chew toys.... Considering the size of those chompers, you might want to look into abandoned tires or rubber. We used to give our dogs Kong toys, too.

[ jack attaches a link, not a kong brand, but it seems similar. ]

audio;

[schachmeister]

They really sell products like that? You wouldn't happen to know what they are called, would you?

[If not the product name, then at least the rough thing he should be asking for.]

I was thinking about that but... I'm not sure rubber is part of its natural diet. I worry that he might end up swallowing bits while chewing and I don't want him getting sick. Do you really think those toys could stand up to the strength of, well...

[The camera lingers on the small baby Chewtle still happily going to town on the big branch, tearing off strips of bark and chewing on the wood like there is no tomorrow.]

this.

audio; modifies name slightly

[unabates]

Back home it was something like Oralgel. I'm betting it'd be in either a baby supply section or medical supplies in a grocery store.

[ he hopes it helps. as for the second bid. ]

Well, the wood's not exactly going to go through him without hurting him, is it? Rubber should at least stay in one piece. Maybe you want to look into bamboo to give him as a chew toy instead? It's supposed to be stronger than regular wood.

[ at that, he laughs. ]

Look, the kid is tough but so are dogs. Sure, a few of 'em would break the toy eventually, but they had a lot of fun with it before it did.

audio;

[schachmeister]

Thank you. I'll go to the store as soon as I can.

[Or as soon as he can find someone --pokemon or person-- to watch lil Harvey while he is gone just so he won't come home to half a boat. He could put him in his ball, yes, but Armin likes to give them time outside the ball too. Especially at first. There must be so much for babies to learn about the world that they can't do inside a pokeball.]

But if it goes through him in one piece, couldn't that cause blockages?

I really wish there was more in the pokedex about his species and what they generally eat. So far he's accepted everything I've given him, but I have no idea what a proper diet would be for him.

But I guess when I go to the store, I'll ask them about their strongest pokemon toys. Maybe something fit for a pokemon with super strong jaws would work.

Video

[icecastlemadonna]

Hmm, well...when my girls were teething, I'd typically give them a wet washcloth or something rubber to chew on. I've gotten rubber toys for a few of my Pokemon, too. And if he's already eating solid foods, then it wouldn't hurt to give him something hard to eat that agrees with him.

[Good thing Yuuko's had to deal with teething already...]

Video

[schachmeister]

[Oh thank god Yuuko is here to share her mom-wisdom.]

A wet washcloth?

[Armin stares hard at his new Chewtle who is happily going to town on wood.]

I'm not sure a washcloth will hold up against this. Do you think a more durable fabric could work too?

And I wish I knew exactly what they are supposed to eat. The pokedex hasn't been very helpful on that subject, but so far he's accepted and eaten everything I've offered him. Both meat and plant-based.

Re: Video

[icecastlemadonna]

I think most fabrics can work, just so long as they're clean and you wet it down a bit beforehand. You can always tie it in knots if you want it to last longer. [Kind of like those knotted rope toys for dogs.]

Have you tried hard vegetables? Like carrots or turnips.

Video

[schachmeister]

I wonder if sail-cloth might work. That's usually pretty strong. Is there a specific reason for wetting it, or is it just to make it more comfortable to chew?

[He shakes his head in response to her last question.]

Not yet. I'll try and pick up some when I go to the story. It's a pity pumpkin season is over. He probably would've enjoyed those.

video;

[pkemeter]

Although I am not personally experienced in taking care of adolescent human beings-- [he says that without blinking an eye.] --I am experienced in dealing with teething Pokémon. I am in possession in quite a lot of fragile equipment, and allowing a Pokémon with the intent to chew on objects into such a space would be disastrous.

My approach to dealing with this is simple--placing the toys in the freezer and allowing them to cool. It'll allow them time to chew, but eventually cause their jaw to become sore and discourage them from chewing excessively. Ice can also be used to a similar effect.

video;

[schachmeister]

I might try ice.

[He's got several pokemon that can provide that.]

But I don't really want to make him sore if I can avoid it. He's not chewing because he's being a brat. He genuinely seems to be in discomfort. I wouldn't want him to just be even more sore later on. He's really quite friendly when he's not trying to devour my furniture.

video;

[pkemeter]

Hmmmm. Ice packs and other similar items can also be used to numb the pain of teething.

[He pauses for a moment, thinking.]

If you're having trouble establishing what is and isn't able to be chewed on, I would suggest using conditioning to associate the desire to chew with a specific toy. When he starts to head towards the furniture, place a different toy in front of him. Every time afterwards when he wants to go to chew on something, he will think of the toy.

video;

[schachmeister]

That sounds like a really good idea. I'd just have to find something that can stand up to the power of his jaws.

Or, at the very least, find something durable and buy several of them.

video;

[breakyourlife]

They say to rub what on a baby's gums?

video;

[schachmeister]

Whiskey.

They don't... do that where you are from?

video;

[breakyourlife]

Uh. No?

You gotta be way older. And human. I don't think whiskey's good for turtles. Why don't you take him to the Poké Center?

video;

[schachmeister]

It's really common where I am from. You're not supposed to use a lot. Just enough to numb the area.

And I'd take him there if I thought they'd be able to do anything for him. He's not really injured or needs healing. He's just... teething. That doesn't seem like the sort of problem you'd need a nurse for.

text;

[shiro2hero]

what


what is that

text;

[schachmeister]

It's called a Chewtle. It hatched from the egg I received for Christmas.

It's a water pokemon. They've got incredibly strong jaws, but apparently the young ones have a lot of teething issues. He's actually been really interesting to study so far. When he's got a hold of anything in his jaws, it's almost impossible to remove it. Well, unless I tickle him. He's surprisingly ticklish.

His name is Harvey.

text;

[shiro2hero]

And... he's chewing on your boat? Teething on it, I mean?



Has Krieg contacted you about it? He might have some ideas that don't involve alcohol.

[Krieg just seems like the type of guy to have heavy duty pokemon supplies. Or know what works for that.]

text;

[schachmeister]

Not just the boat. He's chewing on everything left within his reach.

And not yet, but somehow I worry that Krieg's advice will be to let him teethe on me. Or to distract him from his achy teeth by wrestling with him.