Mia Carter's Blog

Posted by Mia Carter

My writer's blog is moving!

As of April 1, 2009, I will temporarily lose access to my writer's blog, as I will be leaving my position as Suite101's Pet Care Feature Writer to take up the position of Suite101 Section Editor for Mind & Soul!

I will continue to write a vast array of pet care articles here on Suite 101, in addition to articles on freelance writing and reality television episode summaries for popular VH1 reality series like Tough Love, I Love Money 2 and Rock of Love Bus. But unfortunately, I will be temporarily unable to make any updates to my blog here on Suite101 for a period of time.

You can read answers to pet questions, information on my latest pet care articles and get updates on your favorite VH1 reality shows by visiting my new temporary blog, MiaCarterBlog.com.

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Where Do I Send My Pet Care Questions??

I invite readers to continue to submit their pet care questions in the form of article comments or send pet questions via e-mail to Mia.Carter@Suite101.com

All pet care questions will be answered by email or posted on www.MiaCarterBlog.com

Mia Carter's Other Blogs

I also invite you to visit my other blogs!

You can also check out my Great Life Quotes and Sayings Blog for inspirational quotes, funny quotes and quotes about seasons, pets, happiness and much more!

Check out my article list to read my latest articles here on Suite101!

Posted by Mia Carter

VH1's newest reality show Tough Love premiered on March 15, 2009.

Featuring Matchmaker Steven Ward, the Tough Love cast learns how to overcome relationship challenges and personal issues that stand in the way of meaningful long term relationships.

To learn more about the Tough Love Cast - Abiola, Arian, Jessa, Jacklyn, Natasha, Stasha, Taylor and Jody - check out the Tough Love Cast Profile and Cast Bios.

Tough Love Episode Summaries - Find Out What Happened on Tough Love

Wondering what happened on this week's episode of Tough Love? Check out these Tough Love episode summaries:

• VH1's Tough Love - Episode 1
• VH1's Tough Love - Episode 2
• VH1's Tough Love - Episode 3
• VH1's Tough Love - Episode 4+

More VH1 Reality Show Episode Summaries and Full Episodes of Tough Love Online

Looking for more episode summaries for VH1's reality television shows? Check out the Rock of Love Bus Page and the I Love Money 2 page for full episode summaries and cast bios!

Looking to watch full episodes of Tough Love on the web? Watch unseen footage and full Tough Love episodes online by visiting the VH1 website's full episode video page.

Posted by Mia Carter

On March 21, 2009, I received the following comment on a blog entry titled Pet Rat Care and Health Resources: "We found some wild baby rats under a heap of mulch when cleaning up the yard. The mother left them and we would like to try and hand raise them. They are around 6cm long but their eyes are not yet open. Do you have any suggestions as to what we should try to feed them? We are not expecting them to live but would like to try."

I'd be happy to offer some assistance.

Firstly, though, are you sure they were abandoned by their mother? It's possible the mulch pile was the site of a rat's nest. If you think that there's a chance this is the case, we can care for them for a day or so, make sure they're well fed and well hydrated, and then return them to the area for a little while (monitored, with warmth provided from a sock buddy - a sock filled with rice that's microwaved or a microwavable heat pack) to see if momma rat returns.

If you decide to try this, you can place them in a shoe box with the sock buddy or heat pack and some soft fabric like a T-shirt.. Cut out one of the short sides of the shoe box and put the cover on. You can then place it on a paper bag or newspaper, with flour sprinkled around the area leading to the entrance - you'll be able to see mom's footprints in the powder if she returns. Cover the top and sides of the box with some mulch (this will help insulate it and mom can recognize it as the spot where she last saw the babies.)

You'll want to monitor from afar to ensure they're protected from predators like cats, dogs, etc. You can do this a few days in a row, no more than an hour (if it's cold) or two (if it's warm.) And see if there's any sign of mom if you think she may be around.

How to Care for Baby Rats

In the meanwhile, we need to keep these little guys in good condition. It's actually very possible to raise them, but it takes a bit of work.

You'll have three top priorities:

• Feeding them with Esbilac puppy milk replacer.
• Keeping them warm with a heating pad.
• Keeping them hydrated (usually only necessary in the beginning; the Esbilac will usually give them all the fluid they need once they're treated for dehydration).

The following article on the Rat and Mouse Gazette has some extremely valuable information specific to caring for baby rats: Caring for Orphaned Baby Rats or Mice.

In addition, I have written a series of articles on caring for orphaned baby squirrels. The process is going to be virtually identical. So you may find these articles on my Orphaned Baby Squirrel Page to be helpful.

I wish you luck with these little guys. If you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to post a comment or send an email to Mia.Carter@Suite101.com.

Have a pet question? Send your questions to Mia.Carter@Suite101.com

Disclaimer: I have extensive experience in caring for animals, including sick and special needs animals, but I am not a veterinarian. I can provide information and advice based on research and my many years of experience with pet care and training, but it's not a substitute for seeking medical attention from a veterinarian.

Posted by Mia Carter

On March 16, 2009, I received the following question on my article titled Trigeminal Neuritis in the Dog:

"We have a Bernese Mountain Dog, Hayden. Three weeks ago we thought he had a stroke and since has been diagnosed with TN, or, Drop Jaw. We are hand feeding him and his appetite is good. However, he will not take to any devices we have thought up to keep him hydrated. Large size water vessel like are used for rabbits, turkey baster, the hose, holding an ice cube for him to lick are but nothing works. He lost seven lbs last week and the vet thinks it was due to dehydration. Please help as we are running out of ideas as is our vet. Anyone have any ideas to share? Thank You."

This is a very real problem for a dog with TN. A dog with Trigeminal Neuritis or "drop jaw" cannot use the mouth properly to drink water and the result is dehydration, as you've described.

Fortunately, the solution is fairly simple. You will need to give your dog daily subcutaneous injections of fluid. In a smaller dog, this will cost you about $7 per week; in a larger dog, it may cost upwards of $20-$30 per week. It all depends on how much fluid the dog requires.

Subcutaneous (under the skin) fluid injections are simple to do at home. You can get the needles, IV line and a bag of fluid - called Ringer's Solution - from your veterinarian. Purchasing the Ringer's Solution by the case is a huge money saver. You can also get a prescription for the Ringer's Solution and purchase it online if you find it there for a better price.

Once or twice a day, you will give your dog an injection of fluids under his skin, typically at the scruff of the neck because there is extra skin here and the nerve endings are sparse, so it's not a very painful area to inject. The dog's body will then absorb the fluid. This eliminates the need for drinking since the body is getting its hydration in a different and more efficient way.

This is, hands down, the easiest way to prevent dehydration in a dog with TN. Fluid injections dramatically improved my dog's quality of life, as prior to receiving subcutaneous fluid injections, she would spend upwards of 90 minutes per day at the water bowl. Her drinking skills were extremely inefficient and I would have to leave out multiple water bowls since she would deposit gobs of saliva in the water when she attempted to drink. So the injections have literally been a life saver and her quality of life is wonderful.

Most dogs - even those dogs who cry out when they get the needle prick - typically get used to the injection within a week or two. My Miniature Pinscher Kota has Trigeminal Neuritis and she receives daily injections and at first, she would scream and run away when we gave the injections. But within a week, she realized that dramatics weren't getting her out of the fluid injections. Today, she doesn't even flinch when she gets her daily injection of Ringer's Solution.

Actually giving the injections is very simple. You can receive a demonstration from your veterinarian. And, if necessary, you can read my how-to article on giving subcutaneous fluid injections.

If you have any additional questions, I invite you to post a comment under this article or send an email to Mia.Carter@Suite101.com.

Disclaimer: I have extensive experience in caring for animals, including sick and special needs animals, but I am not a veterinarian. I can provide information and advice based on research and my many years of experience with pet care and training, but it's not a substitute for seeking medical attention from a veterinarian.

Posted by Mia Carter

On March 10, 2009, I received the following question on my article titled Feeding a Baby Squirrel: "Is it unsafe for a pregnant woman to handle and care for baby squirrels?"

Fortunately, it is very safe for a pregnant woman to handle a baby squirrel. I will review the reasons for this.

Reason 1 - Baby Squirrels Are Not Likely to Carry Disease

Baby squirrels are very physically fragile. When a baby squirrel becomes sick or ill with a disease, he succumbs and dies very quickly -- usually within 24-48 hours. This short time frame provides little opportunity for the baby squirrel to transmit an illness or disease to other baby squirrels or humans.

In addition, a baby squirrel typically lives a very isolated life, away from other disease-carrying wildlife. They typically remain in the nest; most baby squirrels that require rescue from humans have rarely, if ever, left the nest.

Reason 2 - Baby Squirrels Don't Have Teeth!

Most cases where a human contracts an illness or disease from an animal involves an animal bite. Baby squirrel bites are extremely uncommon for two reasons. Firstly, baby squirrels that require human rescue don't typically have a full set of teeth, which makes a bite that breaks the skin extremely unlikely.

Secondly, we'll consider why many wild animals would bite a human. Pain is one reason, but as I mentioned above, a situation or illness that's apt to cause pain for a baby squirrel is likely to kill him.

Fear is another very common reason for an animal bite involving a human. But baby squirrels, like most other young animals, are not fearful of humans. This fear of humans is developed when the squirrel reaches adulthood. Virtually all baby squirrels are very trusting of humans, making a bite due to fear extremely unlikely.

Cautions for a Pregnant Mother

One area where a pregnant woman should be careful is involving medications. Certain medications that an older baby squirrel may require -- like a parasite medication -- could be harmful if ingested or contacted directly by a pregnant woman. But fortunately, the situation can be easily remedied by wearing protective gloves when handling the medication.

So yes, generally speaking, it is very safe for a pregnant woman to care for a baby squirrel.

To learn more about baby squirrel care, visit the Baby Squirrel Care Page.

Have a pet question? Send your questions to Mia.Carter@Suite101.com

Disclaimer: I have extensive experience in caring for animals, including sick and special needs animals, but I am not a veterinarian. I can provide information and advice based on research and my many years of experience with pet care and training, but it's not a substitute for seeking medical attention from a veterinarian.

Posted by Mia Carter

On March 6, 2009, I received the following question on my article titled Care for an Orphaned Baby Squirrel: "Hello, I live in Kentucky, and we just had a major ice storm about a month ago. Well, my husband was cutting down a damaged tree and a mama squirrel got killed. :( He brought her three babies home to me, and I think they are 3 to 4 weeks old. They have some fur and their bottom teeth. I went out and got the powder Esbilac for puppies, and mixed up 1 quart of water with 1 tsp salt, and 4 tsp sugar. They have drank some of the water, but I haven't tried the formula yet. My main concern is I haven't gotten them to go to the bathroom yet. I've had them for about 3 hours. It happened first thing this morning, so they were several hours without mama. Could they not be urinating because they are dehydrated? Thanks for the help."

A very common question among new baby squirrel caretakers!

In nature, baby squirrels need a bit of "help" from mom when it comes to urinating and defecating. In nature, mom will lick the baby squirrel's genitals, this stimulates the babies to go to the bathroom. Baby squirrels don't learn to go to the bathroom on their own until they're a bit older.

So, when caring for an orphaned baby squirrel (or three, as is the case here), we must replicate the mother squirrel's stimulation. This can be accomplished by using a warm, damp cotton ball or a warm, damp washcloth. It can take a few minutes of stimulation for the squirrels to actually go to the bathroom, particularly in the beginning, as the sensation and situation is a bit different from what they're accustomed to. But patience is always rewarded, including when it comes to helping a baby squirrel with bathroom activities!

It's best to stimulate bathroom activities in a baby squirrel right after feedings, or in this case, offerings of re-hydration fluid.

Dehydration and Urination in Baby Orphaned Squirrels

Dehydration is absolutely a possibility in this situation where the baby squirrels have been without their usual meals for the better part of a day.

To test for dehydration, you can pinch their skin (gently!) into a little tent, pulling it away from the body slightly. A well-hydrated animal's skin will flatten out right away, whereas it can take a few seconds for the skin to flatten out in a dehydrated baby squirrel.

In severe cases, it's best to take the baby squirrels to a veterinarian, who can give subcutaneous (under the skin) fluid injections that will help compensate for lost fluids.

More Help for Orphaned Squirrels

To learn more about dehydration in animals, I encourage you to read this article; it's not specific to squirrels and treating dehydration in baby squirrels must be done using a re-hydration solution of water, salt and sugar, but the general principles concerning dehydration are similar in terms of the symptoms dehydration and the effects of dehydration.

In this case, I would also recommend reading a few of my other baby squirrel care articles. Feedings must be performed at very precise intervals, with proper amounts of food provided based on the squirrels' approximate age.

Keeping the baby squirrels warm - very warm - is also key. A heating lamp, blankets and "squirrel buddy" are great methods to keep a baby squirrel warm, though in this case, it's great that there are three baby squirrels as they can cuddle to conserve body heat.

To read more articles about caring for baby squirrels, check out my Orphaned Baby Squirrel Page.

Have a pet question? Send your questions to Mia.Carter@Suite101.com

Disclaimer: I have extensive experience in caring for animals, including sick and special needs animals, but I am not a veterinarian. I can provide information and advice based on research and my many years of experience with pet care and training, but it's not a substitute for seeking medical attention from a veterinarian.

Posted by Mia Carter

Did you miss this week's episode of I Love Money 2 on VH1? Are you hoping to find out who got voted off the I Love Money 2 cast?

If so, bookmark this page! because here you'll find an I Love Money 2 cast profile, along with links to episode summaries for the second season of I Love Money.

Wondering who gets voted off this week's episode of I Love Money 2?

Check out the following episode summaries, but let this serve as your official spoiler alert: these I Love Money episode summaries will tell you what happened on the episode, and they'll tell you who gets eliminated from the show and sent home!

• I Love Money 2 - Episode 1
• I Love Money 2 - Episode 2
• I Love Money 2 - Episode 3
• I Love Money 2 - Episode 4
• I Love Money 2 - Episode 5
• I Love Money 2 - Episode 6
• I Love Money 2 - Episode 7
• I Love Money 2 - Episode 8
• I Love Money 2 - Episode 9
• I Love Money 2 - Episodes 10+

And to learn more about the cast of I Love Money 2, check out the I Love Money 2 cast profile!

Do you enjoy I Love Money 2? You may also enjoy one of VH1's other popular reality TV shows, Rock of Love Bus starring Poison front-man Bret Michaels, or Tough Love starring matchmaker Steven Ward and eight romantically-challenged women.

To watch a full episode of VH1 reality series like I Love Money 2 online, check out the VH1 website. In addition to watching full episodes of I Love Money 2 and other popular reality show episodes, visitors will also find unaired footage and bonus scenes.

Posted by Mia Carter

On January 14, 2009, I received the following question on my article titled Signs of a Sick Rat: "My rat (Candy is her name) came home with me five days ago. She seems happy but I noticed her finger was red at the tip by the finger nail. It looks as if it is bleeding underneath the skin i didn't think much of it first but it began to travel up, toward her palm and is a bit swollen.

"I also want to ask you: I got a rat with Candy (Sugar) she seems unhappy she sleeps all day and sits in her nest night she looks a little depressed. I'm not sure if she is sick or unhappy. if you could answer these questions it would be great!"

I can absolutely answer your questions! Let's begin with Candy...

A Foot Injury in a Rat

It sounds like Candy injured her toe. Maybe she was climbing on her cage or maybe she caught her little toe in the cage - it's actually quite common. When she caught her toe, it's possible she broke the skin, ever so slightly. It's likely that this allowed bacteria to enter her foot, leading to an infection. (This is part of why we must clean a rat's cage daily! But even with daily changes, bacteria can still exist, but it does lower the chance of infection in these cases.)

If you said that her toe was just a bit red and swollen, I would not be too concerned, as long as she was still walking and eating. But an injury should improve with time; the fact that the swelling is getting worse and traveling up her foot tells me that she probably has an infection.

I've seen this occur in two of my rats and the swelling can get very extreme within the matter of a day or two. You'll also see bruising in most cases. I've seen another rat in the shelter where I worked for a period of time who had to have a foot amputated due to swelling that damaged the blood supply to the foot, so you don't want to let it be.

Fortunately, this should be easy and fairly inexpensive to treat, but you will need to visit the vet because Candy will require antibiotics. In addition to suffering damage from swelling, the infection can also spread and enter the blood supply, causing a deadly condition called sepsis. Is this something that will improve on its own? My bet would be no - not if an infection is to blame.

There is another, less likely scenario that I should mention: it's possible that the initial swelling in her toe made it difficult for her to maneuver the foot, which may have gotten caught on her cage and re-injured. If this is the case, you should see improvement within 24 hours. So try this: photograph the foot. Wait 12-24 hours and photograph it again. It should be improving. If it's remaining the same or getting worse, you have an infection.

Help for a Lethargic Rat

Now, moving on to Sugar...

It's difficult to tell what is wrong with Sugar. It's very possible she is frightened because she's in a new home, with new sights and new smells. Some rats are simply more shy than others. But she should be improving as time progresses, so I would keep a very close eye on her.

I would purchase a kitchen scale and start weighing your new rats twice a week, or once every other day if you suspect one is getting sick. This is the best way to monitor their health, as a sick rat will lose weight before you start to see any obvious symptoms. Watch Sugar to see if she is losing weight. I would also make sure she's eating and drinking. If her weight is stable and she's eating and drinking properly, then it's likely she's just a bit frazzled being in a new place. If you start to see warning signs like weight loss and a refusal to eat, I'd get Sugar checked out.

If you do end up taking Candy to the veterinarian - which I would recommend - I would bring Sugar along as well. That way, you can have them both examined and you should only have to pay for one office visit. I always recommend getting a new rat checked out anyways - it's simply good practice, as many of the rats that come from shelters or pet stores can be sick (the exposure to other rats provides a good opportunity for spreading illness and the stress that the rats endure in a shelter or pet store environment makes them more susceptible to illness) or carry parasites like mites.

I hope Sugar and Candy are doing better soon! Rats make such wonderful pets, though just like any cat or dog, they do get sick or injured on occasion. I'm sure they'll both be doing better soon.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to post a comment under this post or send an e-mail to Mia.Carter@Suite101.com and I'd be happy to provide you with any additional information I can.

You can also check out my Rat Care Page for information on how to care for a sick rat.

Disclaimer: I have extensive experience in caring for animals, including sick and special needs animals, but I am not a veterinarian. I can provide information and advice based on research and my many years of experience with pet care and training, but it's not a substitute for seeking medical attention from a veterinarian.

Posted by Mia Carter

On January 7, 2009, I received the following question on my article titled Signs of a Sick Rat: "We bought my daughter a baby rat after her hamster died. My son has full grown rat and my family adores her. Anyway, yesterday the baby rat has been behaving as if he has had a stroke or something. He leans to the right all the time and when you hold him he actually twists around when trying to move. he is able to get around a bit in his cage when on the flat surface and seems to be eating.

Thanks for your question. I'm sorry to hear that your little girl's rat is unwell.

Strokes are actually fairly uncommon in young rats such as this; I've actually never encountered a rat with a stroke diagnosis, although I'm sure it can occur. One entire side of her body would be limp and non-functioning if a stroke was to blame.

It's also not all that likely that your rat is experiencing neurological damage as a result of exposure to wood chips. I've heard isolated cases of this occurring, but these are few and far between.

Neurological symptoms due to toxicity is still possible; so I would look at everything in her environment to see if there's anything that she's eating or chewing on, or otherwise exposed to that could be causing problems. Fortunately, with rats, their metabolism is extremely fast, so toxins tend to move through and out of their system very quickly, which works in their favor in one-time poisoning situations, though this does little to improve a situation of continued exposure.

Likely Causes of a Rat's Balance Problems and Odd Movements

What I think is more likely that this rat has an ear infection. An ear infection can cause inflammation in the rat's inner ear, affecting the vestibular system - the organs that maintain the rat's balance. In essence, a rat who suffers from an ear infection can end up with symptoms of vestibular syndrome, which is much like vertigo in humans. You'll often see odd head movements, a complete lack of balance, an inability to walk.

It can be extremely frightening to see a pet with vestibular syndrome, as the effects are quite dramatic. But fortunately, vestibular syndrome and ear infections are very curable with antibiotic medication and anti-inflammatory medications.

So I would recommend keeping her quiet and well fed until you can get her to the veterinarian for an examination. If she does stop eating, you will need to hand feed her; if that is the case, feel free to post a message under this post or send an e-mail to Mia.Carter@Suite101.com and I'd be happy to provide you with information on how to do this.

You can also check out my Rat Care Page for information on how to care for a sick rat.

Have a pet question? Send an email to Mia.Carter@Suite101.com.

Disclaimer: I have extensive experience in caring for animals, including sick and special needs animals, but I am not a veterinarian. I can provide information and advice based on research and my many years of experience with pet care and training, but it's not a substitute for seeking medical attention from a veterinarian.

Posted by Mia Carter

On January 10, 2009, I received the following question on my article titled How Old is My Baby Squirrel?: "Hello, Mia. My name is Stacie and I found a baby squirrel three days ago it was in the middle of the street almost frozen to death with snow still falling. I stopped and picked it up it seemed to be fine up till this afternoon; it has started to have some shaking episodes sorta like seizures and I'm really worried about him. He is so gentle and it's breaking my heart but it's the weekend and I'm in a small town so there's nothing i can do till monday and I hate to see him suffer. My children are extremely upset as well. Any ideas for us, please? Thank you so much."

This is a great question, Stacie!

So there's two basic causes for shivering that come to mind: hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or he could be experiencing discomfort from needing to go to the bathroom or because he's cold. These problems are fairly easy to treat at home, though I would absolutely recommend getting him checked out by a vet on Monday in case you have an underlying problem to blame here.

Hypoglycemia as a Cause for Shivering

Hypoglycemia is among the most common causes of shivering in an animal. In most cases, a pet will start shivering due to hypoglycemia, which occurs when an animal has not eaten properly due to illness or some other similar circumstance.

So the first thing I would examine is this little squirrel's feeding schedule. Are you feeding him the proper formula? Esbilac puppy milk replacer formula is the only suitable food for a baby squirrel who is not weaned.

Are you feeding him often enough? Are you feeding him enough formula each time? Feeding frequency and amount will depend on how old he is, so you'll want to check out my articles on the Orphaned Baby Squirrel Page with information on how to determine the age of a baby orphaned squirrel.

For a look at the feeding schedule for these little guys, you can check out How Old is My Orphaned Baby Squirrel? for a feeding schedule for weeks 1 through 5. And read Squirrel Age and Development, which looks at squirrel care and development for babies ages six weeks to 12 weeks.

My article titled Feeding a Baby Squirrel also has some great general information on feeding young squirrels.

Discomfort as a Cause of Shivering in a Baby Squirrel

The other possible cause is for your little squirrel's shivering is discomfort.

There's very specific warming techniques and temperature recommendations for a baby squirrel. The younger squirrels in particular have a very difficult time maintaining their body temperature, so it's really important to provide a very warm habitat for your baby squirrel. Check out How to Warm a Baby Squirrel for my recommendations on how to keep a baby squirrel warm.

Another thing that comes to mind is that your baby squirrel could be experiencing discomfort due to a full bladder or bowels. You must stimulate a baby squirrel's genitals with a warm, damp washcloth several times a day (it mimics a mother squirrel's licking) to encourage him to go to the bathroom. So I'd make sure you're doing this after each and every feeding - and be patient. It can take a few minutes!

It's also possible that this little guy is shivering due to an infection or injury. If this is the case, there's really nothing you can do to help him other than to keep him calm, warm, fed and well hydrated. And on Monday, a veterinarian can examine him and treat him for any injuries or infection that may be present. Shivering can result from pain from an injury or due to a fever, that can occur when the baby squirrel has an infection.

It is also possible that he did suffer some traumatic brain injury from his fall or due to extended exposure to the cold, which could leave him prone to seizures. But that would not be my first guess in this situation, as the above-mentioned causes account for the animal's shivering in the vast majority of situations like your own. Again, only a veterinarian's examination will tell us if something more serious is to blame, but for now, I'd focus on the more likely causes - hypoglycemia and discomfort.

I also have an article that talks about some of the more common causes of shivering, titled Why is My Pet Shivering? You might want to read this to gain some insight into the most common causes of shivering.

I hope your little guy is doing better soon! If you have any additional questions, do feel free to post a comment under this post or send an e-mail to Mia.Carter@Suite101.com and I would be happy to assist you to the best of my ability.

Have a pet question? Send an email to Mia.Carter@Suite101.com or check out The Sick Dog Blog (don't let the name fool you - I'll be discussing an array of pet care topics!)

Disclaimer: I have extensive experience in caring for animals, including sick and special needs animals, but I am not a veterinarian. I can provide information and advice based on research and my many years of experience with pet care and training, but it's not a substitute for seeking medical attention from a veterinarian.

Posted by Mia Carter

Okay, so it was over between Poison's Bret Michaels and Jes Rickleff (winner of Rock of Love season one) before the relationship really started. And while things looked good for a while between Bret and Ambre Lake - the winner of Rock of Love 2 - that relationship also failed to pan out.

So Bret has returned for yet another reality show - a third season of Rock of Love, which premiered on VH1 on January 4, 2009.

Meet the Rock of Love Bus Cast & Learn About the Filming of The Reality Show

• VH1 Announces Rock of Love Bus Cast
• Rock of Love Bus Comes to VH1

Rock of Love Bus Episode Summaries

Did you miss this week's Rock of Love Bus episode? Check out our episode summaries for Rock of Love Bus to find out who gets sent home by Bret!

Readers beware: This is your official spoiler alert! These episode summaries will give you episode highlights and they'll also tell you who gets sent home from the Rock of Love Bus reality show!

• Rock of Love Bus - Episode 1
• Rock of Love Bus - Episode 2
• Rock of Love Bus - Episode 3
• Rock of Love Bus - Episode 4
• Rock of Love Bus - Episode 5
• Rock of Love Bus - Episode 6
• Rock of Love Bus - Episode 7
• Rock of Love Bus - Episode 8
• Rock of Love Bus - Episode 9
• Rock of Love Bus - Episode 10
• Rock of Love Bus - Episode 11+

Other Great Reality Shows on VH1

Do you love Rock of Love Bus? You may also enjoy Rock of Love Charm School and Real Chance of Love!