Libra is sick... She is gone :'(

[lizmo1221]

So, after a day and a half on meds, Libra is getting back to her old self finally. For the first time today she was perky when she saw me, and now ventures out of the hammock on her own. Best news yet is she takes her meds willingly and easily again! :joy: :joy: Just sits there lapping away at the syringes So that problem is over.

She still isn't eating tho, and she is down another 7-10g since Sunday. I have tried a lot of different things: mushy blocks (with and without olive oil), bread (with and without olive oil), and various soft fruits (blueberries and cherries included). She will either not eat any of it, or eat a tiny bit and then refuse it. I don't want to give her ensure or baby cereal since they are high in calcium. She is gaining energy back, but I think crunching on anything hard is still a bit too much for her. Anything I can try that will be super yummy, yet is soft, good for her and low in calcium??

Any suggestions will help!

 

[victoria]

You can give her foods high in calcium, just not with meds. If you wait two hours in between meds and foods you can give her Ensure or baby cereal. What I have done in the past with sick rats is mixed lab block dust (I freeze the stuff at the bottom of the HT bag) with veggie baby foods and they love it! Sweet potato and peas are favourites. You can also try oatmeal or cooked pasta or mashed potatoes - my guys go nuts for all of those. :hugs:

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

Ditto what victoria said about the ensure and baby cereal. You can also try cooked pasta, chicken, steamed broccoli etc.

 

[Rachael]

I'd try anything to get her to eat at the moment. Baby foods, things like a bit of custard. Anything she'll take.

 

[RatsForever]

I'd try anything to get her to eat at the moment. Baby foods, things like a bit of custard. Anything she'll take.

I'm in the same boat with my Oscar. Here's hoping Libra feels much better soon!

 

[lizmo1221]

I have some sad news. Libra passed away tonight after severe resp distress.

When I updated Tuesday night things were looking up for her but she has been going downhill quickly since then. She wouldn't eat anything, save for tiny bits of baby cereal (like a half tsp a day), and would only take her meds if I gave teeny bits at a time, which would take me about an hour. She wouldn't even touch it if it was mixed with anything. She was loosing weight quickly (about 8g a day) and becoming more dehydrated and lethargic, which made her stress out more. Her final weight was about 250g, down from about 300 a week or so ago.

Tonight she started gasping for air while I had her out with me. I took her into the bathroom for some steaming. After about 15-20 minutes she stopped gasping but was still breathing very hard. I tried to get her to eat some dark chocolate but she wouldn't even look at it. Chelle brought over her steroid puffer and we tried to spray it near her face, but with all the handing off, trying to feed, listening to her breathing, etc she got stressed out and started gasping worse than ever, then gave one final gasp, and passed on in my arms. She was in resp distress for under a half hour, and I believe she is now in a better and less painful place.

I still can't believe it happened. I only got her in June and she was under 18 months old. She was one of my first pets, and now she is gone... I am in shock.

 

[lilspaz68]

Oh Liz I am so so sorry. :cry:

 

[xxchelle]

I'm so sorry :hugs:

You did everything you could, I'm sorry we couldn't save her.

 

[M0onkist]

I am so, so sorry, Liz! What a sweet darling, and how your heart must be aching. ::hugs::

 

[mamarat]

How sad, I am so sorry.

 

[adreabri]

I'm so sorry. She's in a better place now

 

[jorats]

I'm so sorry liz...

 

[lizmo1221]

Thank you so much for all your kind wishes. I am trying to get through my days as normally as I can, but the shock and disbelief is still there...

 

[Moon]

I'm sorry Liz. You guys fought really hard.

 

[Godmother]

I am so sorry.

 

[CookiesAndCream]

I am so sorry to hear this. After seeing the video I realized this is exactly what happened to my first rat. Unfortunately Zono started showing signs slightly before we left to visit our cousin in FL. I brought him with us but I had no idea how to help and he ended up dying soon after we arrived. I held him close for his last moments. I was devastated because he was my first baby and he's been one of my sweetest rats I've had.

I'm sure Libra is in a good place now where she can have as much fun as she possibly can. And I'm sure she'll watch over you.

She is probably very grateful that you fought so hard for her. I am so sorry for your loss. Carry her with you from here on.

 

[RatsForever]

I'm so very sorry.

 

[jenniferkelley]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[Rachael]

I'm very sorry. *In the future don't spray the nebuliser at their face incase it goes in their eyes, something like a cat carrier or a tub with holes cut out works quite well.

So sorry you lost her she was too young.



Edit... wrong line...

 

[xxchelle]

Don't worry, we knew not to spray it in her face. Liz covered her eyes while we sprayed it once close to, but not at, her face. By that point she was already gone unfortunately