|
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jul 8, 2010 12:48:47 GMT -4
You likely know we have had a terrible heat wave in NYC. I truly cannot recall worse, and I know we have never had a hotter night then a few days ago - 90 degrees at midnight! I posted about Sam last night in the GP forum. This morning he was gone. Damn heat. I did what I could, including cool water rinses. Please check this link, with very cute photos, from almost five years ago. Sam would have been five in two months and was born here. The charming story is in the link: >>http://kanez.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=GP&action=display&thread=684<< Leslie, his brother, died long ago, a terrible experience for me. His all white mom, Jessica, at about the same time. Albino's always seem more fragile. Sam's more recent friend, Lester, died several months ago (see separate thread). I posted in the GP forum about the heat here, and how Chris, in the same cage was fine and frisky. But Sam suddenly looked lethargic; upon seeing that that I yelled and went right for the cool water, and then into the bedroom with the a/c. I watched him for 7-8 hours, and seemed a little better, certainly not worse. But knowing rodents, and how inexorable declines seem to be, I said my good-byes. Upon waking he was gone. It gets very frustrating and depressing. Sam and Leslie, as little GP babies - that come out good to go - used to rest and sleep on my chest years ago. - - - - - - - Spot and Blaze were two rats taken by the heat very quickly; rats seem more susceptible. Spot was a favorite being very tame. - - - - - - - - - A mass burial is required; may have to go even when hot and humid for space reasons. - - - - - - - - I will post photos in this thread later. Please check back. It all makes me wonder about maybe I should have gotten parrots who live longer. Jessica was offered to me as a pregnant GP, and I took my chances. it was sort of semi-rescue as the store was out of room. I was very pleased to see only two babies, both male,. and lovely Abbyssinians with rosettes. I am going to miss them very much. Chris is my last remaining GP, what with Ophelia dying several weeks ago. I am really frustrated, disgusted, and morose. I don't know about more, Not during the Summer, for sure. I should add Alfonse the rat, black with a speckled white bottom, also did not make it.
|
|
|
Post by Andrea on Jul 8, 2010 14:31:27 GMT -4
I'm sorry Tom. You did so much to help him, older animals (and people) and heat just don't mix well. It's hard this time of the year for animal parents to try and keep everyone cool.
Rest in Peace Sam.
|
|
|
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jul 8, 2010 14:33:02 GMT -4
|
|
|
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jul 8, 2010 20:27:31 GMT -4
Thanks. Oddly, Chris is fine. Sam got that was very quickly. He did seem better eight hours later when I went to sleep, but such in inexorable. With Blaze and Spot they went quickly. I am shocked at how quickly as that day was better than the previous one. Later, we need to talk about cooling an overheated rat (or degu), or one that certainly seems that via lethargy. I don't think just bringing one into a room that is 6 or seven degrees cooler will make much difference. It has been awful here! HOT! At record levels. So, I also lost Totara, the Syrian.This is the link of when I got her, and Rimu. >>http://kanez.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Ham&thread=2843&page=1<< She must have been 16 or 17 months; I have had many Syrians die at that age or earlier with no temperature issues. So who knows. . . Chris the GP, my last, is in here, the cooler bedroom, with me. I think I will give him his house back later as he may be distracted by things. I took the houses as they might cause too much heating.
|
|
|
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jul 8, 2010 20:33:15 GMT -4
I should post that Sam and Leslie, as little young GPs, used to fall asleep on my chest. I loved those moments, and they so relaxed me. I cannot talk about Leslie's death in 2006. The worst. - - - - - - - - - I should add the heat has made a mass burial prohibitive. With these temps, and the humidity, and with the effort involved, it would be an exhausting mess. But I have no freezer space. I may have to. . . - - - - - - - - - Positive thoughts for Whizz and Andrea. And prayers.
|
|
|
Post by Hamsters82 on Jul 8, 2010 21:02:05 GMT -4
So sorry about you losing Sam, Spot, Blaze, and Totara. May they all rest in peace. I know what you mean about the heat as many of our animals at Paws went too. It's been awful here and I hope it starts to cool down somewhat. Again so sorry.
|
|
|
Post by pinky on Jul 8, 2010 21:24:56 GMT -4
Oh, Tom, what a horrible stretch for you. . . . *hugs*
Rest peacefully, all four furry friends.
And I will say that I have been grateful that I didn't rush to get a new critter, because it has been hard enough keeping my apartment comfortable for myself. I can appreciate your challenges, Tom.
|
|
|
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jul 8, 2010 21:46:58 GMT -4
Thanks. I in fact found out only about ten days or so ago that the big old inefficient a/c in the living room no longer cooled, nor did a newer looking one a friend recently gave me. But their fans were on, of course. The cost of the electric bills for that would have been very high, but so be it.
I am not even thinking of additions until well over two months from now. This Summer and Spring have been already awful.
|
|
|
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jul 8, 2010 21:53:02 GMT -4
Oh, I should Greystoke the rat is a big favorite and he is fine, with Jiggs and Alfonse. In here. Greystoke has the cutest little grey head.
|
|
|
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jul 9, 2010 13:14:44 GMT -4
So, no one died here over the night. The weather is cooling. Chris the GP is in the a/c'd bedroom, and seems alright, but he is off his eating. I hope it is just the new sounds and sights in here. We shall see. . .
|
|
|
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jul 9, 2010 21:38:19 GMT -4
Chris does not appear to be eating. But he seems otherwise normal. Another worry. Yet another. He is cool in here with me; I keep gently giving him water. He seems frisky enough when I pick him up. He's not a young GP, but I would not call him old either. *shakes head* I will consider matters. . .
|
|
|
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jul 10, 2010 19:13:07 GMT -4
Chris is gone. No more GPs here. I am totally bummed. In my opinion, even though he seemed and acted normally, the heat triggered something within him, perhaps an internal organ issue. I know if they do not eat or drink for a short period, less than a day, the liver starts to shut down. I assume that is inexorable; these kind of animals go downhill fast, and they keep problems hidden - no symptoms until it is too late. Chris, as I posted elsewhere, was moved, frisky as could be, into a small cage in the somewhat cooler bedroom . Soon I noticed there was no eating or drinking. This went on for a night and when I woke up I started feedings - always dangerous. Over a few days he got a liquid mass of GP pellets and water; later, the same of chicory and parsley, which they normally love. I used a small thin syringe of 0.9 ml. Not much. I know proper ways to hold them when doing this (never upside down); I try not to force. But the fact was he was not getting enough - this morning the eyes were taking on the sunken slightly crusty look of dehydration; he felt slightly lighter. No pooping or peeing. Without enough food to, hopefully, get the internal organs going, and keep him hydrated, he had no hope. In actuality, I never thought there was hope but I tried as if there was. I had to get more into him. HAD to, and he was getting more lethargic. I didn't force or rush, but this time he clearly aspirated and soon was gone. There are incidents where I blame myself, not really for negligence but for not doing enough. I can't blame myself here. Nor can I blame myself that just about ten days ago the big a/c in the living room, that worked reliably for many years, suddenly STOPPED cooling! Coolant leak? Perhaps. No matter. And then promptly came a horrendous heat wave. Bad luck. Fans have limitations with furry critters. They were not young, perhaps five. That surely did not help. One thing I know and will do in the future; DO NOT WAIT FOR SYMPTOMS! I have had a number of deaths from this heat wave and better they all get crammed in a small ten gallon tank where it is cooler. Have a thermometer ready. Word to the wise. I will not even consider new GPs, or any critter, until Summer is over. I will miss the sound of wheeking GPs wanting their chicory! And I will buy less chicory. Curiously, the two rabbits are just fine in that same room. Go figure. Separate entry in the Memorial forum for Chris later.
|
|
|
Post by adoptaratcanada on Jul 10, 2010 19:17:55 GMT -4
With much sadness, saying hello.
|
|
|
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jul 10, 2010 19:23:10 GMT -4
Nice of you to drop by. This place is like a morgue of late. I explained why above. Andrea will post more on Whizz later. That story is in the Dogs forum in Other Pets. She also lost Bo the rabbit not long ago. Mass burial for me next week that may kill me too it will be so difficult.
|
|
|
Post by pinky on Jul 10, 2010 21:37:41 GMT -4
So sad, Tom, to hear you describe yet another loss.
Rest peacefully, Chris.
|
|