Goodbye to Misty
I had to put down Misty yesterday. This time was the hardest and most gut-wrenching experience out of all 3 of them. It wasn't because I didn't expect it... Misty had gradually been losing control of her back legs, and frequently had to drag her back end around the yard. I knew her time was approaching. But she learned to cope with it momentarily, because she was determined to continue her life living in the shade and eating the cool grass and just laying there, watching the day unfold. She was happy. And I was happy that she had such a strong will to live, despite the fact that she couldn't use her back legs. In fact, it made her lazy. :) She was elated to have us come to her and carry her back and forth between the cage and the shade of the bush, day in and day out. On her good days, she would even limp around and find a better bush that tasted and smelled better.
Sadly, during past week, she declined in health. She could no longer drag herself about, and didn't have the coordination to clean herself properly. So the dirt and mud (and feces) under her favorite bush began to collect around her tail. We'd try to clean it off, but to no avail. After a good rain yesterday, Laura decided to dry her off before putting her back in the cage, and thank God she did. A vile creature must have laid it's eggs in the junk around her hind end, because I discovered MAGGOTS had now inhabited her body. They were probably now living in her intestines, and she had an open wound on her belly they had inhabited too.
I panicked. I tried to wash them off of her, but naturally it didn't work. She just kept looking at me, like "What the hell? Why do you keep bugging me?" She seemed completely oblivious to the fact that these parasites were slowly eating her alive. I must admit I was relieved that she didn't seem to know any better. But now I feel incredibly guilty for letting her get into that kind of shape.
In hysterics, I rushed her to the Emergency Veterinarian Clinic by my house. I had to euthanize her before she started to feel those vile things eating away at her insides. I couldn't even bear the thought of it happening, but I knew it would if I didn't do something fast. So we put her in a box (which by the way, she did NOT like the box) because it was risky to touch her with those things all over her, and Nick drove me straight to the clinic. I signed my name on the dotted line and they quickly put her down.
It's one kind of misery to lose an animal who is near and dear to you, but it's another to watch her dissolve into such terrible shape and know that you were responsible.
Sadly, during past week, she declined in health. She could no longer drag herself about, and didn't have the coordination to clean herself properly. So the dirt and mud (and feces) under her favorite bush began to collect around her tail. We'd try to clean it off, but to no avail. After a good rain yesterday, Laura decided to dry her off before putting her back in the cage, and thank God she did. A vile creature must have laid it's eggs in the junk around her hind end, because I discovered MAGGOTS had now inhabited her body. They were probably now living in her intestines, and she had an open wound on her belly they had inhabited too.
I panicked. I tried to wash them off of her, but naturally it didn't work. She just kept looking at me, like "What the hell? Why do you keep bugging me?" She seemed completely oblivious to the fact that these parasites were slowly eating her alive. I must admit I was relieved that she didn't seem to know any better. But now I feel incredibly guilty for letting her get into that kind of shape.
In hysterics, I rushed her to the Emergency Veterinarian Clinic by my house. I had to euthanize her before she started to feel those vile things eating away at her insides. I couldn't even bear the thought of it happening, but I knew it would if I didn't do something fast. So we put her in a box (which by the way, she did NOT like the box) because it was risky to touch her with those things all over her, and Nick drove me straight to the clinic. I signed my name on the dotted line and they quickly put her down.
It's one kind of misery to lose an animal who is near and dear to you, but it's another to watch her dissolve into such terrible shape and know that you were responsible.