[AvidReader]

I can barely type through my tears. My son's darling White Russian hamster, Sparky, is dying as I type. I got him for my son last October for his birthday, and Sparky has been such a source of joy and fun for me and my children through what has been an extraordinarily difficult year (my husband walked out about a month before we got Sparky).

I've been really busy the last week because the kids and I in the middle of the move to a new apartment. I'm also still trying to manage my freelance at-home workload.

A few days ago, my younger daughter noticed that Sparky had not opened his eyes in a few days. Long story short: I took him to the vet this morning, and he is in terrible shape, close to death. He had an abcessed cheek pouch, and some of the tissue died, so his underside is -- nasty, to put it bluntly. Also, his tongue is swollen, and he can no longer eat or drink.

The vet said that because he is still a young hamster we could try to give him oral antibiotics and painkillers as well as administer food and water by mouth. That's what I've been doing, but it's evening now and it seems he is failing fast.

I have an appointment at 9:00 am tomorrow morning to likely have him euthanized, so he doesn't suffer, but that's 12 hours from now and I hate to think of him suffering overnight.

I am so furious with myself for not noticing his symptoms sooner and preventing this suffering for him. It seemed to happen so fast: One minute he seemed fine, and the next he was in horrid shape. I blame myself.

My little son was sobbing on my shoulder at the vet's this morning. He'll be even more upset tomorrow when Sparky will (likely, barring a miracle) be put down. That upsets me terribly. Poor little guy.

Thanks to anyone who read this. I am so sad right now, my eyes are swimming with tears, so please forgive any typos.

[beauflow]

((AvidReader)))

It is always sad when a pet dies, they are like family... many hugs to you and your kids with this.

Also-- As far as I am with knowledge with Rodents-- One Vet told me that they are prone for issues, tumors, and short lives... I had a few gerbils when I was a early teen and one that developed a tumor on the side of her head-- My mom refused to pay for a euthanizing (which makes no sense due to she took the time to take me and my gerbil to the vet and the vet game me pain meds to give the little lady).. but the gerbil ended up seziering in my hands and died one day.. this animal death has been one that has left a huge mark on me with several things---

With that being said-- I think helping the pain pass for the little fury friend is being responsible for your sakes, your kids and the hamster.

Maybe to help with the loss-- have a burial service- I am serious, i know my dad always thought I was a little off my rocker, but when ever a pet died, I would wrap them up in a bandana that i liked, place them in the box, and go bury them and it was like a little ceremony--- Say I'd miss them and that I was glad to know them...

[lizardlady]

Beauflow, if you are off your rocker for burying your pets so am I. I bury each of my fur children when they die and have a small ceremony for myself.

Avidreader, please be gentle with yourself. You've done the best you can. You took Sparky to the vet as soon as you noticed something was wrong, right? You are treating his problem. You are doing what you can.

[whenwillitend]

You know, a lot if not most people would not have even bothered taking a hamster to the Vet because they're "cheap and easily replaced". You did a wonderful thing, you did your best to help Sparky. You got him the help he needed. And you did that immediately after you noticed something's wrong. Give yourself some credit for that!

If you don't think Sparky should suffer until the morning, is there an emergency Vet nearby that you could take him to?

And I'm all for burials and little ceremonies. Especially for the kids, to give them an opportunity to say goodbye and it shows them that you're taking their grief seriously.

Btw, my dog is buried in our backyard, and she even has a little "tombstone" (one of those that lay flat on the ground), and a little white fence around her grave.

The only things I don't bury are fish.

Good luck to you and Sparky, and I'm sorry your children have to experience this. It is very very hard to watch as a parent.

[whenwillitend]

How did the night go?

[AvidReader]

Thank you so much, everyone, for the hugs and very kind comments. I meant to write earlier but have been moving boxes from the house to an apartment all day.

Sparky actually perked up a bit this morning. I cried myself to sleep last night because he looked so horrible, and I was worried that he was suffering, but after two doses of the antibiotic he was much perkier this morning. I took him to the vet again and asked to have him looked at before just automatically euthanizing him, and she and the tech (both of whom were the ones who'd seen him the day before) admitted he was much more active, and both of his eyes were open. She said he still looked bad, and again I didn't know what to do. I decided to give him a day or so more on the medicine. I've been feeding him baby food with a medicine dropper and giving him water that way too (plus the teeny tiny doses of antibiotic and painkiller the vet prescribed).

Later this morning he actually went over to his water dish (he can't drink out of a water tube at present) and tried to drink. I think he did get some.

Right now I will just keep my fingers crossed that the antibiotic kicks in hard and gets rid of the infection.

Thank you all again, so much. The support means a LOT.

[eskielover]

Ah, those little guys are tougher then we think.....I went through a similar situation with a new born puppy.....I didn't realize that Celia's milk hadn't come in & that the baby was starving.....I tube fed the baby for a couple of days once I found out....& used a warming pad to keep it warm....unfortunately the little guy didn't make it. Not sure if there was more wrong with the puppy than just that since Celia had lost 2 previous puppies at birth......but I try my darnedest to take care of God's little creatures that come into my life.

Hamsters are so cute....1 year is about 1/2 their life span......Hamsters, guinea pigs & rats usually have a life span of 2 1/2 years......which is definitely difficult for me due to the attachment level I get to all my pets.

Know what you are going through right now

[whenwillitend]

Well that sounds promising! Maybe he'll pull through after all. I'll keep my fingers crossed for Sparky's recovery. I think you did the right thing by giving him some more time.

[lizardlady]

Thanks for the update Avidreader. I was wondering about Sparky during the day today. His interest in drinking sounds very positive. Please keep us posted.

[whenwillitend]

How is Sparky doing this morning?

[AvidReader]

Originally Posted by whenwillitend

How is Sparky doing this morning?

He's pretty much the same as yesterday. He doesn't seem to be moving as much, but his tongue is less swollen. He gets really agitated when I try to feed him -- I think he's getting fed up with all the handling and medicine droppers getting poked into the side of his mouth -- although he seems hungry and thirsty and I can tell he's trying to get the food and water down his throat. And it does seem like he's getting some.

I'm still torn. I have to hand him over to my ex-husband tonight, because rodents aren't allowed in our apartment, and we have to be there tonight. I'm reluctant to cede control, although my ex has promised to take care of him and continue with the feeding and medication and monitoring. I do trust him to do this.

I guess I'll see how he's doing on Monday and make a final decision then. If he doesn't show more improvement, then I'll probably take him to be euthanized.

It's such a hard decision! My husband and I had to put our dog down about 14 years ago, but it was a more clear-cut situation: He (the dog) became paralyzed and could not walk. The vet said an operation, which we could not afford, may or may not help. We decided to put him down, although it was a heart-wrenching decision. This doesn't seem quite as clear cut. Sparky is on his second day of a 14-day course of antibiotic, so he could slowly improve. On the other hand, if he's not going to improve and is slowly dying of thirst, hunger, and/or infection, then it would be best to end his suffering.

I just don't know....

[beauflow]

Sparky!

Good thoughts for you and your family Avid Reader

Hopefully the antibotics will work-- hopefully today was just a resting day more so than the other day.... ya know like when you are sick, and you start to feel better but then the next day you realize, you are very well sick and need rest still....

I hope Sparky pull through with this

[AvidReader]

Thank you, beauflow! I hope so, too. I feel like it would be a miracle if he pulls through -- I sure hope he does. I'm sure he IS very tired after all of the handling and poking (e.g., the vet gave him a saline injection at the first visit because he was dehydrated).

[roads]

It seems like a little miracle (& a good sign) that he's still waging his battle for life! Sometime must be going right. Y'all have the PC-PeTs gang sending out good vibes!

[lizardlady]

Thanks for the update Avid Reader. For a little guy Sparky's got a lot of people pulling for him.

As for putting him down... why not ask Sparky? I believe critters tell us when they've had enough.

[eskielover]

I'm with Lizardlady on the fact that our babies do communicate with us about things like that.....We can see a decline vs status quo, or improvement. Status quo isn't a bad thing when the course of treatment is longer than a few days......we all have some days when we sit at a plateau before either getting better, or declining.....I always believe on erring in favor of my babies living rather than jumping to conclusions in the other direction.......they definitely let you know when a decline is happening especially when you are really in tune with your fur babies.

[nicoleb2]

Originally Posted by eskielover

Hamsters are so cute....1 year is about 1/2 their life span......Hamsters, guinea pigs & rats usually have a life span of 2 1/2 years......which is definitely difficult for me due to the attachment level I get to all my pets.

Actually, guinea pigs can live 5-6 years if cared for properly and given the space they need.

As for your hamster, it is a prey animal, and they hide illness really well until it is really bad, so don't be so hard on yourself that you did not notice. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!!

[whenwillitend]

It's good to hear that Sparky's still hanging in there. Deciding life or death for a furbaby is incredibly hard. I had to make that decision for my dog three years ago. Sometimes I still wonder if I made the right decision, although I know that I did.

I think it's a good sign that Sparky's tongue is less swollen. I really hope the little guy pulls through. How is your son doing with all this?

[TerryL]

Originally Posted by AvidReader

I guess I'll see how he's doing on Monday and make a final decision then.

I have bunnies and I learned from my bunny forum that when antibiotics are given they kill off a lot of bacteria which releases toxins of some sort. That might make the animal not feel well for a few days or lose their appetite but eventually their system adjusts. I hope this is the case for Sparky.

[No Fuse No Flame]

Don't give up on the antibiotics they saved my best friend Chow Chow from a bad infection. Took a weeks vacation and fed him with an eyedropper till he could drink and feed him self. He's gone now and I never regret having him in my life. I had him cremated he will be with me always. I cry for him everytime I think about him, I miss him more than anything...

Some infections come on so quick they are hard to catch, don't beat yourself up you obviuosly care for the little guy...

[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by TerryL

I have bunnies and I learned from my bunny forum that when antibiotics are given they kill off a lot of bacteria which releases toxins of some sort. That might make the animal not feel well for a few days or lose their appetite but eventually their system adjusts. I hope this is the case for Sparky.

I wonder if this is the reason I feel way worse the first few days I take an antibiotic?

[whenwillitend]

How is Sparky doing now? Any improvement?

[AvidReader]

Thanks everyone for the good vibes for Sparky! I have not had Internet access since Sunday afternoon because of the move. He is continuing to improve and hang in there! My ex-husband, who has him now, was a little worried and wanted to make sure he was improving, so we all (all 5 of us, LOL) took him back to the vet yesterday. He's doing OK, still has 8 days of antibiotics left, and is trying to eat seeds/regular hamster food. He's also been grooming himself, which is a good sign, I think. He's a far cry from the apathetic, bleeding little guy he was last Friday.

The vet said that if he starts to decline to bring him in (i.e., to be euthanized) but that for now he's hanging in there.

Thanks so much for your good wishes! As someone posted earlier in the thread, I bet all the good vibes from you kind PC folks are helping him make it through this.

[lizardlady]

WOOOHOOOO SPARKY!!!!!

Thanks for the update! Grooming is always a good sign.

[whenwillitend]

Yessssssssss! Hearing that truly made my day.