kryspkreme
Member
She was the first and the last.... R.I.P. Evie.
Posts: 617
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Post by kryspkreme on Feb 24, 2013 11:01:50 GMT -8
Just got back from the vet. it was 110 just to be seen (emergency and on a sunday), and about 50 for exam/antibiotics etc. The doctor says it can be either pneumonia, a respiratory infection, or something about heart failure. She offered an xray for 200-300 and I just don't have that kind of money to spend, so we opted to start on baytril and see how she does. Pretty much our only options are these antibiotics or euthanasia, so I'm praying she'll get better. My dad and fiance are a bit upset about me wanting to spend what I did to get her help. My dad more so because, as he sees it, "it's a pet you spent $20 on, and you've spent thousands on it now". As I tried to tell him through tears, had it been a dog or cat nobody would have cared if I took her to the vet, but because she's a cage animal, suddenly money matters and their comfort and health go out the window. The fiance doesn't mind so much now but if they don't work he thinks it's best we put her down so she doesn't continue to suffer. My dad is also perplexed at why I've been crying about it, he doesn't understand and after he joked about having a solution (and then pointing to his bathroom, as in to "euthanize" her by flushing her down the toilet), I broke down and couldn't stop crying. It's sucks feeling so bad for my gerbil and nobody really understanding why or how I could spend 160-200 to figure it out. Oh well, I'll update periodically and hopefully her condition improves. For now it's fresh foods, quiet and calm space, and baytril once a day. Let's hope this works.
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riotheoleo
Member
Loving the gerbil life x
Posts: 156
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Post by riotheoleo on Feb 24, 2013 11:06:04 GMT -8
I know what it's like. After I found out that Theo needed an operation, my mum said the second saw her afterwards. "Well, since it's a gerbil that probably won't live much longer anyway, I'm not paying £70 for an operation" She would've refused to come if she payed what you did. Fingers crossed for Pepper.
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kryspkreme
Member
She was the first and the last.... R.I.P. Evie.
Posts: 617
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Post by kryspkreme on Feb 24, 2013 11:12:04 GMT -8
I know. It's a crazy amount, especially since we have bills and just had a baby, but like I told them, when you adopt an animal, you're responsible for their lives and all that encompasses. Since she had her first dose and is home, she's been a little more active, I even hear her thumping. Fingers AND toes crossed! (And thank you for being supportive; with nobody around me that really understands, it's nice to get on here and at least have another owner to talk to about it)
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Post by sparky on Feb 24, 2013 11:54:17 GMT -8
There are lots of us on her that understand how you feel. I absolutely agree that we have a responsibility to do the best for our pets whatever size they are. I just added up what we spent on vets bill last year. It came to £609.58 for our 4 gerbil girls who have now passed on and £104.04 for Bart's surgery in December. We had 3 gerbils that lost their top teeth and need regular teeth trims. One of them also had surgery for an ear tumour and the one that didn't lose her teeth developed a heart problem. For a couple of moths we were at the vets with one or other of them nearly every week, but we had to do whatever we could to help them. Bart had only lived with us for a month when he needed his surgery but it made no difference to my responsibility to take care of him.
I'm glad Pepper saw the vet and that she has some antibiotics. The reason I asked if it had come on suddenly or not was because we've had 2 gerbils that had breathing trouble due to heart failure and it was quite gradual. When the heart isn't working properly you can get a build up of fluid either in the lungs or around the diaphragm, both of which stops the lungs working so well. With both of them it was a very gradual change in their breathing, and they did start sleeping on the surface. Homer's breathing was already a bit too heavy when he came to live with us 4 months ago (at age 3) and it got a little bit worse over the weeks until he passed away in his sleep on Tuesday night.
Let us know how Pepper is doing and PM if you would like to chat any time. I'll be thinking about you both xxx
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Post by catnut on Feb 24, 2013 15:37:25 GMT -8
Tia and I wish you many good wishes she will improve each day and be well again. I've spent alot of gerbils and Tia went to the vet after Xmas and it cost me over $100 as well,but she is 100% now,she had a head tilt due to swelling, so she was well worth that money. take care, Tammy
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kryspkreme
Member
She was the first and the last.... R.I.P. Evie.
Posts: 617
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Post by kryspkreme on Feb 24, 2013 15:59:14 GMT -8
It seemed like it came on pretty suddenly, which is why I assumed it was the wood shaving bedding, but I knew something was wrong since she wasn't acting normal/burying her food/eating etc. I'm trying to make sure I offer her water every so often and give her some extra treats. Poor Evie is QUITE jealous though lol But Pepper's eyes keep "gluing" shut so I'm checking on her often to help out with that.
I hate playing the waiting game. Thanks for the good wishes, we'll definitely be needing them throughout the next few days!
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Post by sparky on Feb 24, 2013 18:17:36 GMT -8
The waiting is really hard. When I've had sick critters I've always wished that there was more than I could do.
I'm sure Pepper appreciates everything you are doing for her.
*hugs* xxx
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kryspkreme
Member
She was the first and the last.... R.I.P. Evie.
Posts: 617
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Post by kryspkreme on Feb 25, 2013 16:29:58 GMT -8
Just another update.... I was typing that it wasn't looking good when she seemed to have a seizure. I put her back in the cage where she bumped around crazy for 10 seconds or so and watched her die. I knew she wasn't getting better, which I was going to update but, now... I can't stop crying. What a horrible death On the positive, I held her and tried to comfort her right before but, it was so scary when she started to seizing or whatever in my hand. I was on the phone with the fiance when she started, the guy had to listen to me cry throughout the rest of the call. I don't know what to do.... I'm so sad about it
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Post by Dr. Horrible on Feb 25, 2013 16:39:43 GMT -8
I'm so sorry to hear that she passed. I don't mean to sound insensitive when I say this, but her death sounds to have been relatively quick, and at least she isn't suffering anymore.
Rest in peace, Pepper-Gerbil!
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Post by catnut on Feb 25, 2013 16:48:50 GMT -8
soo sorry to hear about your Pepper. RIP Pepper. This can happen when a gerbil is sick, I've had this happen and it is the worst feeling but know she probably wasn't in pain as it happened fast and now is out of that pain. It is very hard at first but know it will get easier with each passing day. Take great care of yourself and don't listen to those that are insensitive to her passing.
Take care,
Tammy
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Post by catnut on Feb 25, 2013 16:49:57 GMT -8
I forgot to say I named my first gerbil,Pepper and she was quite a character and a good intro. to gerbils,she was an agouti,too.
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kryspkreme
Member
She was the first and the last.... R.I.P. Evie.
Posts: 617
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Post by kryspkreme on Feb 25, 2013 16:53:51 GMT -8
Yeah, it was quick, which is good but, I knew she was REALLY struggling when I was holding her. She was just kind of laying on me when I scooped her up, and when she started her seizure she wiggled off my back, down the chair, and when I scooped her up, I put her in the cage and it went full blown. I've never witnessed a gerbil seizure before, or any of my animals' deaths (not that there were many), so it feels a bit traumatic to have held her only seconds before. And now, I hear Evie moving while she tries to sleep and keep thinking "Maybe that's Pepper! Maybe she's okay!" But I know she isn't. I'm just glad I don't have to watch her struggle anymore. The poor thing
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Post by sparky on Feb 25, 2013 17:28:37 GMT -8
I'm so sorry. I know how hard it is. Sprocket passed on from a seizure and it is very scary. She'd had two seizures in the weeks before and pulled through but the last one was too much for her.
Take as long as you need to grieve for her. Don't take any notice of anyone who tells you to pull yourself together and that she was only a gerbil. You know how special she was and you loved her and did your very best for her.
After each of my gerbils passed on I still kept hearing noises - from other gerbils or just the house creaking - and I'd look over to the tank expecting them to be there.
How is Evie doing? Was she still with Pepper or had you separated them?
Hugs to you and Evie xxx
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kryspkreme
Member
She was the first and the last.... R.I.P. Evie.
Posts: 617
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Post by kryspkreme on Feb 25, 2013 18:07:23 GMT -8
My dad came over and was sincere in saying how sorry he was that she passed, but I told him, as I'm telling myself, I'm glad it's over now. She's not struggling anymore. Like you said sparky, it's so scary seeing that happen. I'd never seen it happen and to see her take her last breath, on her back, staring at me through the glass as I cried, was so heart-wrenching. I tried my best though I think with how quickly it came on.
Evie and her NEVER got along, so they were separated pretty much from the get go in 2010. I tried one introduction after I quarantined Pepper and it didn't go well (Pepper climbed over the barrier while I was grabbing fresh food and attacked Evie, which almost resulted in a vet visit since Evie had a pretty good gash under her arm. I was a bit traumatized in seeing them fight so I never put them back together.) That said, Evie is fine. Plump, chewing away at the extra toilet paper rolls I have, and just being herself. I've been watching her more carefully though. I think I'm afraid she'll do the same. I took her out after it all happened and gave her a cuddle, I know she's been wanting attention since she sees how much Pepper has been getting, and she ran all over me excited to actually be out.
I'm exhausted, my body is aching from work today and my mind is aching from this heartbreak. I can't wait for the fiance to get home and we can figure out what to do with her (bury her or what).
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kryspkreme
Member
She was the first and the last.... R.I.P. Evie.
Posts: 617
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Post by kryspkreme on Feb 25, 2013 21:44:34 GMT -8
Welp, we attempted to bury her. If we have to go out once the ground thaws to do a better job, we will. It's sad coming home to an empty cage though. Tomorrow we'll clean it out completely and store the 20 gal or something.
Hope everyone has sweet dreams.
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