Death of a Legend....
Big Show died yesterday...
I HATE losing pets... it makes me feel like i never want to own another just to avoid the pain of losing them...
Big was just over 3 years old (probably more as he was full grown when he came to us.) He was gentle, intelligent, affectionate and greedy! He was the leader of the pack and Rei Rei and Christian were fascinated by him when they came to us as babies.. he was sooooo gentle and tolerant with them and after a month or so of letting them get to know each other, they all lived together, when they came out to play, Rei Rei and Christian followed him everywhere... Big was my middley son Harry's rat and he loved him so very much.. we called him "The Great White" as an affectionate nickname, he loved company and cheerios!
Over the past couple of months, Big had obviously gotten old...he wasn't much quieter, didn't really run around or have the interest and curiosity he had when he was younger...he was still happy, and apart from having a bad chest a couple of months ago (took him to the vets, gave him his medicine and he got better ^_^) he was fine..
But on Wednesday he suddenly went downhill and lost all interest in eating or drinking, I was syringe feeding him water and yoghurt... He slept in with me the last couple of nights...he'd lost his balance, couldn't move independantly, was double incontinent and wasn't opening his eyes..
I didn't want him put down just because he was old and dying..I was hoping he'd pass lying cuddled next to me, but when it went on for two days and nights, I took him to the vets to make sure he wasn't suffering or in pain and the vet (whom I really like and respect - he keeps rats himself) told me I was prolonging his death by syringe feeding him, raising his sugar levels when he would naturally slip into a faint of sorts and then die.. in my ignorance I couldn't stand the thought of him starving to death or being thirsty but not able to drink...he was very thin and couldn't clean himself properly and was just lying slumped on his side, his head lolling, his heartbeat faint..it wasn't a comfortable way for him to be.. So, my vet suggested Euthanaisa was kinder.. I couldn't stop sobbing, I cuddled and kissed him goodbye, told him I loved him and he was put to sleep..
We've brought his little body home and will give him his rattie funeral this afternoon..
I'm crying again just typing this..
Big Show... we love you, you were an amazing part of our family, we'll never forget you....and I'm sorry.
I HATE losing pets... it makes me feel like i never want to own another just to avoid the pain of losing them...
Big was just over 3 years old (probably more as he was full grown when he came to us.) He was gentle, intelligent, affectionate and greedy! He was the leader of the pack and Rei Rei and Christian were fascinated by him when they came to us as babies.. he was sooooo gentle and tolerant with them and after a month or so of letting them get to know each other, they all lived together, when they came out to play, Rei Rei and Christian followed him everywhere... Big was my middley son Harry's rat and he loved him so very much.. we called him "The Great White" as an affectionate nickname, he loved company and cheerios!
Over the past couple of months, Big had obviously gotten old...he wasn't much quieter, didn't really run around or have the interest and curiosity he had when he was younger...he was still happy, and apart from having a bad chest a couple of months ago (took him to the vets, gave him his medicine and he got better ^_^) he was fine..
But on Wednesday he suddenly went downhill and lost all interest in eating or drinking, I was syringe feeding him water and yoghurt... He slept in with me the last couple of nights...he'd lost his balance, couldn't move independantly, was double incontinent and wasn't opening his eyes..
I didn't want him put down just because he was old and dying..I was hoping he'd pass lying cuddled next to me, but when it went on for two days and nights, I took him to the vets to make sure he wasn't suffering or in pain and the vet (whom I really like and respect - he keeps rats himself) told me I was prolonging his death by syringe feeding him, raising his sugar levels when he would naturally slip into a faint of sorts and then die.. in my ignorance I couldn't stand the thought of him starving to death or being thirsty but not able to drink...he was very thin and couldn't clean himself properly and was just lying slumped on his side, his head lolling, his heartbeat faint..it wasn't a comfortable way for him to be.. So, my vet suggested Euthanaisa was kinder.. I couldn't stop sobbing, I cuddled and kissed him goodbye, told him I loved him and he was put to sleep..
We've brought his little body home and will give him his rattie funeral this afternoon..
I'm crying again just typing this..
Big Show... we love you, you were an amazing part of our family, we'll never forget you....and I'm sorry.