Ginger Rat died tonight, about two hours ago. Only 15 months old, he developed a pituitary tumour, a very odd ailment for a very young male rat to encounter. Pituitary tumours are fatal 100% of the time.
He began showing symptoms two months ago, and the only thing I could do was keep him clean and comfortable and hope that the prednisone, a steroid which helps to keep the tumour at bay for a while, would last long enough to give him a few more months of life. It wasn’t much, but it gave him some extra time.
I knew when I realized he had the tumour that he was not going to be with me for long, and I gave him the best care I could. Yesterday, he began showing signs of pain. Tonight his pain increased. At 8.30 this evening his pain seemed quite bad and I made the decision to give him some pain medication and an antibiotic. If his pain did not abate by midnight, I was going to help him slip away. I spent a few minutes comforting him and then, as he was quite fitful, I put him gently back in his cage and stepped away for five minutes. When I got back, Ginger was gone. I only wish I could have been there to hold him.
I hope he knows how much I loved him and how hard I tried to give him more time, and give him anything he could have wished for during the very brief months we spent together.
Good night, Ginger, my little love. You got a raw deal. I hope that I was able to make you comfortable.
It’s been a hard autumn for my boys.
Comments 1
I’m sorry to hear about Ginger (on top of all the other stress of the last few days). Sending giant hugs and little shots of whiskey.
Posted 12 Dec 2006 at 11:21 ¶Post a Comment
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