Sudden Death Tragedy, looking for diagnoses

[BriannaDawn]

I'm just looking for closure for what happened to my rat Mindy. I came home from work and walked into the room. Normally Mindy is the first one out running up and down ramps waiting to be fed. Well she didn't, so I started calling them and then I saw her. She was lifeless I rushed and opened the cage and shook her a few times. My mom was over and she checked her over. She got the stethoscope from her car and checked for a heartbeat but, she was gone. My Mindy was gone. My moms not a vet but she is a retired nurse and an experienced pet owner for over 50 years. She checked her over to kinda help me see if we could figure out what happened. She said she showed signs of being in heart failure. Mindy had been gaining weight that had really picked up in the last couple weeks. I was starting to get worried but at the time I was trying to get through Charlotte's respiratory problems (ironically I had just finished her meds off the day before). Anyway I figured I could figure it out next paycheck. My mother think that Mindy's weight was all water weight. Mindy was very soft and squishy, no firmness on her body. She was also starting to swell around her face. Does anybody else have any clues if there's something else that could've been? Anything I can do to prevent this from happening? I know now to not ignore weight problems, I'm ashamed that I was so worried about Charlotte's issues that Mindy's issue got overlooked.


I'm just a mess right now. I just need to know before I can start to move on from the pain of losing her. :sad3:

 

[lilspaz68]

Unless you had a necropsy done you won't know for sure, but it does sound like a possible heart issue. How old was she?

 

[smmmiley]

Sorry for your loss, BriannaDawn. Don't blame yourself... we all learn as we go. She had a loving home while alive... remember the good times. hugs

 

[jorats]

You are lucky to have your mom with you. But unfortunately like lilspaz mentioned without a necropsy, you really won't know. But heart failure is definitely a possibility.

 

[Sharlees rattakisses]

:cuddle: sweetheart.
So sorry for the loss of Mindy. :heart:

 

[BriannaDawn]

Unless you had a necropsy done you won't know for sure, but it does sound like a possible heart issue. How old was she?

She was 1 year and 4 Months

Sorry for your loss, BriannaDawn. Don't blame yourself... we all learn as we go. She had a loving home while alive... remember the good times. hugs

I know I 'm still learning. I'm trying to not beat myself up over it but it's hard. She was loved, she was really nice to snuggle with.

You are lucky to have your mom with you. But unfortunately like lilspaz mentioned without a necropsy, you really won't know. But heart failure is definitely a possibility.

Well I did my research last night and she did show allot of symptoms. I even talked with my vet this morning and he even said it sounded like heart failure. She seemed to go peacefully and without pain. She didn't look like she had go through a struggle, no look of trauma. That's what really make's me feel better is she was happy up until her last minutes of life.

:cuddle: sweetheart.
So sorry for the loss of Mindy. :heart:

Thanks :hugs:


She will be missed but she didn't seem to suffer and I'm thankful for the time I had with her. Time to move on and accept she's gone.

 

[momofmany]

I am so sorry about your loss! It's never easy to lose a pet but as many here are saying, she had you as her momma and was not lacking for love! :hugs:

 

[Godmother]

I am so sorry for your loss. It is very hard to pick up problems early enough in rats, especially if you are preoccupied with another sick rat. We have all learned over the years, so please don't expect too much of yourself. You loved her, and she must have known that. And I am glad that your vet could confirm your mom's guess about the cause. Heart failure is hard to treat. With medications, some of them can live for quite a while. Others die very suddenly. :hugs:

 

[odduckOasis]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm sure it is very comforting to know that she didn't suffer. That's the one thing one can never get use to, losing of our dear lovelies, but at least they bring a lot into our lives in the mean while. They enrich our lives in the time they're here too.