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Post by adoptaratcanada on Mar 23, 2009 0:43:09 GMT -4
An update on my Locutus....he's getting weaker and less coordinated (pituitary tumour), but has had a good appetite. Because he's not really able to (literally) handle hard foods he's been on soft foods and baby food for a couple of weeks, and syringed fluids. He's been on prednisone for a few weeks or so, and it really gave him quite a turnaround at the ouset! However, I guess things are catching up with him  Happily, he's made it to OLD AGE at just around 3 years. Doesn't make it any easier though. Since yesterday he seems to be declining further, and I expect to be having him PTS this week Loc's adoption site photo (4 mo.):  And last October:  |
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Post by Hamsters82 on Mar 23, 2009 10:49:44 GMT -4
Aw, I'm sorry Linda. You can tell by the photo he is getting older, but he was cute when he was younger. At least he's has a good home and a good owner in you. *hugs*
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 23, 2009 13:02:42 GMT -4
How lucky he was to have you as a caregiver. Take extra photos. I assume he looks really old now? Three years is quite an achievement. Tell him we all send love. |
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Post by pinky on Mar 23, 2009 14:47:57 GMT -4
I know that you'll make his last days as comfortable as possible. He's been a wonderful pet for you. . . . will this be the end of a (rattie) era for you, Linda, or do you hope to eventually open your home to others?
Hugs to you and your boy.
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Mar 23, 2009 19:28:19 GMT -4
Aw, I'm sorry Linda. You can tell by the photo he is getting older, but he was cute when he was younger. At least he's has a good home and a good owner in you. *hugs* Thanks so much! |
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Mar 23, 2009 19:41:17 GMT -4
How lucky he was to have you as a caregiver. Take extra photos. I assume he looks really old now? Three years is quite an achievement. Tell him we all send love. Thanks, DF, I did that. I'm not sure I can bring myself to take more photos right now, if to view them in the future means knowing they are of his last day (I'm taking him to the vet tomorrow  ) Up until a few weeks ago he looked quite good. He's lost some weight (but was hefty to start with) and is now very weak. I'll think about the photos...there are a few more of him that I (very luckily) took just before Hugh died unexpectedly. At that time he was not so interactive with people, so hung more in the background. I haven't got them on photobucket yet. Another couple pre-adoption youngster pics:   There are probably more hard-copy photos around...I hope I had the sense to get them developed onto disc at the time, as well. In this one he always seemed to pathetic! The poster child for the SPCA! lol :  |
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Mar 23, 2009 20:09:34 GMT -4
He's been a wonderful pet for you. . . . will this be the end of a (rattie) era for you, Linda, or do you hope to eventually open your home to others? . "the end of an era" -- that thought really brought on the waterworks I can't imagine having no rats. At the same time, I just wish I were made of tougher stuff...the sad times really hit me like a bulldozer. Although the initial shock has finally past (took at least a month), I'm not at all over the loss of my cat, Wili. Then there was rattie Hugh only a couple months before that. I'm just feeling kind of fragile right now. On top of that, I'm a worrier (especially where pet health is concerned) and it seems there's alot to worry about with rats. I think it must be me, because other rat people seem to manage alright. It rarely gets too cold here (but the power *did* go out one nasty, snowy morning this winter), but I constantly worry about their general health as well as the warm weather...even bought the a/c for them, as much as myself! Then I worry what if the power goes in out a hot spell! And what if I'm not at home at the time?! *sheesh* I can get myself worked up! Then there's the lack of REALLY knowledgeable rat vets... To answer your question, though, a friend of mine has to give up her rat, and I'm considering adopting. I just don't know... As for "worry" this has been a lesson for me, and I thank little Locutus for being the teacher (ok, where's my kleenex?) It's been a few weeks of great anxiety and worry for me. I think of myself as a fairly rational, realistic person, but when one's pet is sick all you want is for them to be well. Even diagnosed with a terminal disease, giving medications helps keeps them comfortable, but it won't correct the situation...you can't DO anything. I think part of me has been in a sort of denial (and probably has every time a pet is sick) hoping their lives can be stretched out... forever. But this time, as he's gotten gradually worse, I've had to really step back and try to accept it as "normal" - normal for the stages he's experiencing right now. There IS nothing that can be done and fighting it internally isn't doing me any favours. I've always known that, of course, but it doesn't make it any easier. I think I've understood it, but it hasn't really sunk in like this time. To ramble further...I work in a care home and get along amazingly well with the oldsters and the Alzheimer patients. People get a bit weirded out and ask how I can handle being there. There is no "handling", I just love it so there IS no negativity associated with it. However, we see people (loved ones, especially children) who struggle with the changes in their partner/sibling/parents (of course!) and in the bad times can lose patience and try to keep mom or dad they way they use to be -- and it can never be. In my case, both my parents died many years ago, so I never had to see THEM go through anything like that. Maybe that's how I can be so accepting of the situation of others' parents...I haven't had to fight that so close to home. So little Locutus has taught me a lesson in acceptance of the reality of life's situations (which doesn't make his loss any easier!) and also a lesson in humility, bless 'im. (I hope I caught all the silly typos, after multiple re-reads!!) |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 23, 2009 20:44:52 GMT -4
>> I'm taking him to the vet tomorrow << When all the litters of Moet and Chandon died (18 rats, plus moms) room opened for more rats. I now have Max the blue (see most recent posted photo - he is huge) with Telly the hairless, and Petey the black, and Rangi the hooded B&W. The girls: Annie (Petey's twin sister); Pahini (a lucky white), and Kahini (Rangi's twin sister, and feisty she is!). They were all in a small tank, not gender separated, being sold for only five dollars. I did not get them all at the same time but over a few months. Their fate in that store was very bad, plus Telly and Max were quite unusual. Personalities are very different. So, I have some here. Wishing you the best tomorrow.  |
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Post by Hamsters82 on Mar 23, 2009 22:55:42 GMT -4
Aw, Linda I'm so so sorry. May Locutus rest in peace. And take your time if you do decide to adopt another rat again; I know what you mean by not getting another one. After mine went, I don't think I can have any more. Plus you have to grieve. I'm so very sorry again and I hope you're holding up well. If you ever just want to talk, I'm here for you. *hugs* |
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Post by pinky on Mar 23, 2009 23:24:57 GMT -4
He's been a wonderful pet for you. . . . will this be the end of a (rattie) era for you, Linda, or do you hope to eventually open your home to others? . "the end of an era" -- that thought really brought on the waterworks I can't imagine having no rats. At the same time, I just wish I were made of tougher stuff...the sad times really hit me like a bulldozer. Although the initial shock has finally past (took at least a month), I'm not at all over the loss of my cat, Wili. Then there was rattie Hugh only a couple months before that. I'm just feeling kind of fragile right now. On top of that, I'm a worrier (especially where pet health is concerned) and it seems there's alot to worry about with rats. I think it must be me, because other rat people seem to manage alright. It rarely gets too cold here (but the power *did* go out one nasty, snowy morning this winter), but I constantly worry about their general health as well as the warm weather...even bought the a/c for them, as much as myself! Then I worry what if the power goes in out a hot spell! And what if I'm not at home at the time?! *sheesh* I can get myself worked up! Then there's the lack of REALLY knowledgeable rat vets... To answer your question, though, a friend of mine has to give her rat, and I'm considering adopting. I just don't know... As for "worry" this has been a lesson for me, and I thank little Locutus for being the teacher (ok, where's my kleenex?) It's been a few weeks of great anxiety and worry for me. I think of myself as a fairly rational, realistic person, but when one's pet is sick all you want is for them to be well. Even diagnosed with a terminal disease, giving medications helps keeps them comfortable, but it won't correct the situation...you can't DO anything. I think part of me has been in a sort of denial (and probably has every time a pet is sick) hoping their lives can be stretched out... forever. But this time, as he's gotten gradually worse, I've had to really step back and try to accept it as "normal" - normal for the stages he's experiencing right now. There IS nothing that can be done and fighting it internally isn't doing me any favours. I've always known that, of course, but it doesn't make it any easier. I think I've understood it, but it hasn't really sunk in like this time. To ramble further...I work in a care home and get along amazingly well with the oldsters and the Alzheimer patients. People get a bit weirded out and ask how I can handle being there. There is no "handling", I just love it so there IS no negativity associated with it. However, we see people (loved ones, especially children) who struggle with the changes in their partner/sibling/parents (of course!) and in the bad times can lose patience and try to keep mom or dad they way they use to be -- and it can never be. In my case, both my parents died many years ago, so I never had to see THEM go through anything like that. Maybe that's how I can be so accepting of the situation of others' parents...I haven't had to fight that so close to home. So little Locutus has taught me a lesson in acceptance of the reality of life's situations (which doesn't make his loss any easier!) and also a lesson in humility, bless 'im. (I hope I caught all the silly typos, after multiple re-reads!!)*turns off waterworks for Linda* Sounds like you're coping as well as can be expected, if not better. There's been much loss for you of late. Fuzz and Mal were teachers for me. Prior to them my hams lived to robust old age. But they declined in health over time, and I too had to learn to accept what I could not change. Tomorrow will be rough, but know that we here support your decision and wish you strength. |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 24, 2009 13:16:03 GMT -4
>> I too had to learn to accept what I could not change. << Indeed. And Fuzz and Mal were better off for having been with you. Thinking about Locutus right now. . . |
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Post by pinky on Mar 31, 2009 20:12:28 GMT -4
Linda, I hope Locutus is at peace now.
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