Ten years ago, I traveled to Texas to visit a rescue capybara named Garibaldi. Unlike my earlier visits, this was an unhappy visit to the veterinarian. We knew his early nutrition had been poor. As we feared, his lack of bone density caused his teeth to loosen in his jawbone, and his tooth and jaw eventually became infected.

Garibaldi arrived at Melanie’s home undersized for his age. That usually means he was undernourished. Because capybaras (like humans and guinea pigs) need sources of Vitamin C in their diet (wild capybaras get plenty in fresh grass), malnourished capybaras often get scurvy. Unchecked scurvy can result in decreased bone density. Garibaldi gained weight quickly, and we told ourselves that he would be fine.

Everything went well for a couple of years. We noticed that his musculature, especially his hindquarters, seemed different, contracted somehow, but he continued to grow.

Gari was a gentle capybara, not as aggressive as Dobby or Caplin. He got along with all other animals, just like the internet says they do.

His rear end never loosened up, though, and he continued to walk with a funny mincing step. Worse than that, he began to have dental problems. His jawbone wasn’t dense enough to hold his teeth in place. Good nutrition in his later years was not enough to correct the early deficiencies.

When his lower incisor became infected, I flew to Texas to be with Melanie for Gari’s surgery. Rodent teeth grow continually from a tooth bud, unlike our teeth, which are rooted into our jawbone. Gari’s jaw was so infected that the entire incisor fell off into the surgeon’s hand.

Unfortunately, Gari’s jaw infection continued in spite of antibiotic treatment and he passed away on Sunday, February 16, 2014. He spent three very happy years with Melanie, and I have many fond memories of him. In fact, he lives on as a character in my online book Prince Dobalob Builds a Zeppelin.

I continue to receive questions regarding capybara rescue. It isn’t a good way to pick up a free pet capybara. It is always risky to take on an animal that might have had iffy care as a pup. Gari was unusually good-natured, but many capybaras are not “chill,” and an unruly sick capybara would not be an ideal pet. Your first pet capybara should not be your introduction to wild prey animals. Dogs and cats are domestic predators, and have completely different personalities. A house rabbit is a better start: if you can’t handle having a rabbit chew up your house, you will never survive a capybara!

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Speaking of early nutrition- and maybe this isn’t the best lead-in to my fundraiser- I am currently (late 2023 to early 2024) promoting the Stacy’s Funny Farm Krispy Kreme fundraiser! Buy a dozen doughnuts, and Stacy’s Funny Farm gets half the proceeds! Take them to the office for your holiday pot-luck, they are traditional for Hanukkah. Leave some in the boss’s office when she is figuring year-end bonuses. Keep some on hand for carolers. Put some out for Santa! They are perfect paired with champagne on New Year’s! (Vouchers are redeemable at any Krispy Kreme store.) It’s over, thanks!