RIP Poppy

[juliet]

Poppy died yesterday.

She's been going downhill since Rowan died the other week - finding it harder to get about, and seeming less interested in food. We've been having her out with us a lot for company, and she definitely appreciated that, but by last weekend she was mostly eating only when we fed her, and she was having trouble with even the very shallow food and water dish.

Yesterday morning we found her on the floor of the cage, having obviously fallen over & not been able to get up again. She wasn't really interested in food even by hand, and she wasn't able to move for herself or even stand up properly. The vet agreed that it was time, so she was pts yesterday afternoon (with us there).

Poppy was mostly notorious for her enormous bottom, resulting from her dedication to putting as much food as possible into her mouth at all times :-) (She lost 1/4 body weight over the last month or so, and was still heavier than many other rats we've had!) She had a slight tendency to attack fingers if she thought either that they were in Her Space, or that they might be food - and she fundamentally hoped that everything might be food! - but she never meant it in an aggressive way - she was fundamentally friendly and Interested in People (at least if there wasn't food around...). She was also one of the only rats I've known who was able to locate a treat dropped under her nose. Like every rat we've had - she was fun, and much loved, and we will miss her enormously.



We don't have any more rats, now - we've decided the emotional stress from their short lives & tendency to spend their last year or so in & out of the vet is too much to keep coping with.

RIP Poppy.

Comments

[skibbley.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear that. Glad she was fed well.

[juliet]

Thank you.

[arkady.livejournal.com]

Sleep peacefully, Poppy.

[juliet]

Thank you.

[catsgomiaow.livejournal.com]

Aw little Poppy-bum. I did used to laugh at her hoarding habit (and flinch when she came too close to my fingers!) Hugs to you and P.

[juliet]

Aw, she never did that much damage to anyone ;-)

Thank you!

[ajva.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear this. :o(

We don't have any more rats, now - we've decided the emotional stress from their short lives & tendency to spend their last year or so in & out of the vet is too much to keep coping with.

This is why I won't have pets (even longer-living ones); it's just a total gutwrench when they die. Goodness knows how awful it must be to go through it regularly with our shorter-lived fellows. A bit of a nihilistic approach from me, perhaps, but it keeps me sane.

[juliet]

Thank you.

I said to Pete yesterday: it's not so much the short lifespan of itself (although that's upsetting, it balances out against the joy while they are around). What's really worn us out is that from about 18 months onwards you're waiting for the next tumour to show up; and then every op is worrying (because GA is always dangerous), and you know that you're only buying time anyway because another tumour will show up down the line, and it may have already spread anyway... So it's just this "here we go again" sinking feeling...

(rats are very prone to mammary tumours, unfortunately - usually you can take them out with little problem, but they don't *stay* gone :-/ ).

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

She sounds a right character. RIP.

[juliet]

Thank you.

[lovelybug.livejournal.com]

Sorry you've lost your lovely girl *hugs*

[juliet]

thanks babe xx

[seph-hazard.livejournal.com]

So sorry to hear this. Losing a pet is dreadful. [hugs]

[juliet]

Thank you.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Oh dude, I'm sorry. Poor little thing.

[juliet]

Thank you. At least we know she was cheerful (if very doddery) the night before.

[mrs-leroy-brown.livejournal.com]

Oh :( I'm so sorry. Poppy was a cheeky little lass, and she will be missed.

love to you & Pete.
x

[juliet]

cheers babe.

"cheeky" - in a teethy kind of way ;-)

[angelmine.livejournal.com]

:-( Sorry sweetie.

[juliet]

Thank you, sweetie xx

[pippaalice.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear this.

[juliet]

thank you

[ludy]

sorry for your loss

[juliet]

thank you

breaking our hearts

[webcowgirl.livejournal.com]

God, I'm sorry. I got parrots because I wanted pets that could stay with me for life, but it turns out that wasn't true either. Maybe some day in the future you can have a little furry (or feathered) guy to love again. I know you were a good rat mommy, that's for sure.

Re: breaking our hearts

[juliet]

Thank you! I think we almost certainly will have pets again in the future - we're going to give it some time & then think about it again.

The vet said "Elephants, they live a long time" :-)

[lnr]

*hug*

[juliet]

thank you

[licon.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. It's heart-breaking when they die, particularly when you know they miss their cage-mate.

[juliet]

Yes :-(

Previously we've always got more rats at that point, usually before we were down to a lone rat. Last time Bramble was on her own for a few days before we were able to get Ash and Rowan (then a couple of weeks later Hazel and Poppy), and I'm sure that it made a real difference to her & kept her going longer than she might otherwise have done. Not possible this time as we'd already decided to stop with the pets for the time being :-( We did spend a lot of time with her the last few weeks, but it's not the same as another rat 24/7!

[licon.livejournal.com]

I kept gerbils, and I've been at that stage too. I had to stop after the last died. I just couldn't keep them for a while.

We only have cats now, and I'm planning to get catlings soon so they can integrate into the family and keep the others going when, as is inevitable, our boys get old and die. It's a sad form of planning, but I think they will (eventually) appreciate the new company.

[infinitarian.livejournal.com]

Poor little rat. At least she led a loved and happy life.

Maybe one day you'll feel ready for pets again, but I certainly don't blame you feeling you've taken enough emotional punches for the time being.

[juliet]

Thank you.

I am pretty confident that we will have pets again; we're just going to give it a while & then consider things.

[preachermuaddib.livejournal.com]

Condolences, this is why I don't own pets anymore

[juliet]

yeah :-(

thank you

[abi]

No more rats. :-(

I didn't ever meet Poppy but she looks like a lovely little creature and I know you'll miss her and all the others a great deal. The pet-keeping dilemma is a tricky one indeed.

[juliet]

She was lovely, even with the occasional teeth/finger interface :-)