Storm died last night.
When I got home, she was in the corner of the cage, clearly distressed, & when I got her out I found that her eye (which had been affected by her head tumour) was now much worse, bleeding, and causing her pain (which it hadn't been previously - as recently as yesterday morning she was still happy, if a little wobbly on her pins). She kept trying to groom the blood off and squeaking as she caught the eye again, and seemed disorientated. I took her to the emergency vet, who confirmed what I'd thought - there was nothing more they could do, even to make her comfortable, and she was clearly distressed and in pain. So I asked the vet to euthanise her. I was able to be with her for it, and they used gas first to sedate her. I am glad at least that she was happy until very near the end, and I was able to be with her as she went.
She was just over 2 - her birthday was August 8th. The userpic is of her & Myste (her sister, who is still with us) when they were babies. She is our miracle rat - the vet thought she was going to die after a tumour op last spring, when the wound went septic, and she pulled through that. So we've had 6 months more with her than we thought we would.
marnameow was a complete star - came straight round when I phoned her in a state, found the emergency vet phone number, phoned a taxi, & came with me to Streatham. Thank you so much, love. (& to
sbp for the loan of the taxi fare)
Sleep well, Storm-rat.
When I got home, she was in the corner of the cage, clearly distressed, & when I got her out I found that her eye (which had been affected by her head tumour) was now much worse, bleeding, and causing her pain (which it hadn't been previously - as recently as yesterday morning she was still happy, if a little wobbly on her pins). She kept trying to groom the blood off and squeaking as she caught the eye again, and seemed disorientated. I took her to the emergency vet, who confirmed what I'd thought - there was nothing more they could do, even to make her comfortable, and she was clearly distressed and in pain. So I asked the vet to euthanise her. I was able to be with her for it, and they used gas first to sedate her. I am glad at least that she was happy until very near the end, and I was able to be with her as she went.
She was just over 2 - her birthday was August 8th. The userpic is of her & Myste (her sister, who is still with us) when they were babies. She is our miracle rat - the vet thought she was going to die after a tumour op last spring, when the wound went septic, and she pulled through that. So we've had 6 months more with her than we thought we would.
Sleep well, Storm-rat.
no subject
Date: 2003-10-25 06:40 am (UTC)I'm sure Amice is welcoming her in and showing her the stash of yogurt drops; and she's there now looking down at you and her sister.
no subject
Date: 2003-10-25 07:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-25 07:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-25 07:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-25 09:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-25 09:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-26 02:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-26 03:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-26 03:55 pm (UTC)Poor Storm
no subject
Date: 2003-10-27 03:56 am (UTC)