|
|
Post by chloegreen on Nov 10, 2015 22:51:12 GMT
I'm having some problems dealing with the passing of my original male degu Squeek. I've had in total 4 little fellas and 3/4 have now passed, I have had bubble and squeek, and Ben and Jerry  so last night around 11pm i discovered squeek acting out of character doing crazy spins with his right side seeming paralysed. It came as quite a shock because it was so sudden but I sat cuddling him for over an hour thinking his time has come because he is around 7 years old. I put him back in the cage with his friend Jerry and expected to wake up to find him passed in his sleep but to my surprise this morning he was still alive. I took him to the vets today knowing id have to put him to sleep (because I assumed he had a stroke) but the vet thought he has an ear infection or maybe a brain infection or hemorrhage. Now to the point of this thread, the vet gave me two options; one to start him on medication which meant syringe feeding him and injecting antibiotics or to have him euthanised. I chose euthanasia thinking he's too old to go through the stress and he seemed in pain but now I'm having doubts on whether that was the right thing to do or not. Thankyou to anyone in advance who took the time to read this. Squeeks passing is still raw because it's only been a few hours  |
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Nov 11, 2015 0:06:01 GMT
Hello, Chloegreen. I am so very sorry for your sudden loss!! It is a terrible grief and I hope you and Jerry will be a comfort to each other.
You know, there is nothing wrong with honestly recognizing the difficulty that successful treatment may present for you and for your degu (or animal of any kind). If this was something that you thought would potentially increase his difficulty rather than improve his health, than you have made the right choice for you and for Squeeks. So often situations are not easy to navigate through, and knowing what is best is terribly perplexing and painful. I would likely have chosen as you did. What a sad and lonely day for you. I am so sorry.
Have you given thought to what you will do for Jerry now? Is he also around 7 years of age?
|
|
|
|
Post by chloegreen on Nov 11, 2015 8:09:36 GMT
Thankyou, I'm grateful for your reply it was just such a horrible decision to make, Jerry is only around 1 and a half because I originally bought him with his brother Ben (who's now passed) to keep squeek company when his brother died last year. I'm afraid now that Jerry will be lonely all on his own |
|
|
|
Post by uglibug on Nov 11, 2015 9:27:55 GMT
At such a young age it is well worth concidering some company for Jerry in the future. Just allow a bit of time for both of you to grieve and maybe then look into getting him a friend or two.
|
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Nov 11, 2015 11:28:40 GMT
I'm sorry for your loss. I think it's a totally natural response to be plagued by doubt after the fact, I'm sure you would have been feeling the same way if you made the other choice, it's just one of those things. If the vet gave you the choice, then both were valid options and you can't blame yourself.
For future reference, or for other people who find themselves in a similar situation, it's usually OK if you say to the vet you want a few minutes to think about it, perhaps just go back in the waiting room for a while, or even bring them back later in the day. I think it's a very difficult decision to make right there on the spot when you were perhaps hoping for better news and options from the vet.
|
|
|
|
Post by chloegreen on Nov 11, 2015 11:41:01 GMT
Thankyou, the vet did give me a few minutes to decide but still it was a shock that there was the option of treatment so I think that's why I'm doubting myself now. I was surprised he diagnosed it as possibly being an ear infection because squeek went from being fine to becoming ill within a few hours.
|
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Nov 11, 2015 16:58:00 GMT
Very sorry for your loss - it's a heartbreaking decision to have to make. I had an identical situation with another animal, and also made the decision to let her go. You always have that element of guilt, because you wonder about the "what if he'd recovered with the treatment and it was only an infection".
The picture in front of you was of an animal that you loved, obviously in discomfort and a reduced quality of life, and I'm sure the vet wouldn't have offered this to you as an option if it wasn't appropriate x
|
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Nov 11, 2015 17:24:00 GMT
Perhaps he spoke about infection because there is a possible treatment for that, whereas if it was a stroke or hemorrhage he couldn't offer you any treatment for that. We can't really know, but with an extremely sudden onset a stroke seems more likely to me. Sometimes the vet is focussed on what the options for action are and don't talk through all their reasoning with you.
|
|
|
|
Post by yasmin on Nov 11, 2015 18:20:06 GMT
My sincerest condolences.  I know how you are feeling. In the past month or so I have had to make the terrible decision to euthanize four of my degus. I still have moments of doubt regarding the eldest, Lilac, because she was still alert and active – just couldn't eat much because a part of her mouth was missing due to repeated infections despite the antibiotic treatment. Keep wondering if I had just kept feeding her peas, 24-7, that she would still be here or at least I could have given her a few weeks, days, hours of life. (I miss her terribly.) But the vet told me it was the time to let her go, and I trust him, and my brain knows he was right. That said, the other three were in a situation close to what you were in with your Squeek. I have realized that when it comes down to having to force feed a degu to keep him/her alive, the chances of survival are very slim and it causes a great deal of stress for both the animal and the owner. We all have an inner voice that we are not conscious of – and it is this that provides the answer at critical times. Trust that this is the best answer (like when you are in a life and death situation like during a car crash and your instincts take over to steer yourself to minimize damage) and move forward. Be kind to yourself – know that you gave Squeek all the love and care that you could (he lived to a ripe old age – let that be a testament to the quality of your love and care), and move all of this thought and emotional energy out of "what might have been" and into "what is and what will be" – you and Jerry. |
|
|
|
Post by chloegreen on Nov 11, 2015 18:51:56 GMT
I'm so sorry about your degus and thankyou so much, it really helps a lot. It's just such a hard thing to cope with but as you said I'm going to put everything in to keeping Jerry happy and well. I'm still unsure of whether getting him 1 or 2 friends may be the best option because I can't be with Jerry 24/7 due to being at college and doing a heck of a lot of revision |
|
|
|
Post by chloegreen on Nov 11, 2015 18:54:32 GMT
Very sorry for your loss - it's a heartbreaking decision to have to make. I had an identical situation with another animal, and also made the decision to let her go. You always have that element of guilt, because you wonder about the "what if he'd recovered with the treatment and it was only an infection". The picture in front of you was of an animal that you loved, obviously in discomfort and a reduced quality of life, and I'm sure the vet wouldn't have offered this to you as an option if it wasn't appropriate x I'm sorry for your loss it's a true point you make actually, I just hope I've done the best thing for squeek |
|
|
|
Post by chloegreen on Nov 11, 2015 20:11:09 GMT
I've just been talking with my mum about Jerry, i feel like getting him a friend or two would be ideal but further down the line i'll be in the same situation of having a lonely degu. I'm also hoping to go to university in two years time when i finish college, so getting two more goos may not be the right thing to do as i may not be able to take them with me. I was thinking - though i really resent this idea because i love Jerry - of finding someone who has a large group of degus who is willing to take on Jerry. i feel it may be in Jerry's best interest because he'll be a lot happier but i really do not want to lose him at the same time. Any advice would be helpful x
|
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Nov 12, 2015 10:36:46 GMT
Well, there's no harm in putting a post in the adoption area to see if anyone can offer him a good home. Alternatively, you could keep the message pretty open and see if there are any candidates in your area for matching him up with yourself. This way you would know for sure he ends up in a happy group and if you need to rehome him when you go to uni at least he will be in a stable group and an easier prospect for somebody else.
|
|
so last night around 11pm i discovered squeek acting out of character doing crazy spins with his right side seeming paralysed. It came as quite a shock because it was so sudden but I sat cuddling him for over an hour thinking his time has come because he is around 7 years old. I put him back in the cage with his friend Jerry and expected to wake up to find him passed in his sleep but to my surprise this morning he was still alive. I took him to the vets today knowing id have to put him to sleep (because I assumed he had a stroke) but the vet thought he has an ear infection or maybe a brain infection or hemorrhage. Now to the point of this thread, the vet gave me two options; one to start him on medication which meant syringe feeding him and injecting antibiotics or to have him euthanised. I chose euthanasia thinking he's too old to go through the stress and he seemed in pain but now I'm having doubts on whether that was the right thing to do or not. Thankyou to anyone in advance who took the time to read this. Squeeks passing is still raw because it's only been a few hours 
