Kairi, we miss you

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Michael Rozdoba - 17 Jan 2006 17:24 GMT

One of our first three rats, the last, has just been pts aged about 2
yrs 9 months. She was a gorgeous cheeky & always lively girl who loved
exploring, yet unlike some of the rest of our bunch, never sought to
cause mass destruction & was never a bully, despite being alpha for
quite some time.

She also has the unfortunate privilege of being our first rat to be pts
as a result of a genuinely hard decision. We've had three losses
previously, only one requiring euthanasia - & that rat, Gabby, was so
ill it was obviously the right thing to do. Kairi was typically an
awkward little blighter - for a long time she's had three increasingly
huge mammary tumours & of late a fourth small tumour in her neck.

She could still move around (on a single level) by dragging herself
using her front legs, but the tumours meant her back legs didn't reach
the ground. She still enjoyed her food & cuddles.

I don't think we made the decision too late, but maybe it was too early,
I don't know. I'd give anything to be able to ask the furbutts what they
want. She had lost most of her coat on the parts of the tumours which
dragged on the ground & it wouldn't have been long before they began to
ulcerate. I don't know.

As a result of posts I've read on here, I asked for euthanasia via gas
then injection. Unfortunately this meant we couldn't be with her at the
time - they took her into the operating theatre - but we said goodbye,
with her clutching a treat she obviously intended to eat later. When I
saw her after she looked peaceful, almost unchanged but still.

I wish I believed in your rainbow bridge. Goodbye Kairi.

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Michael
m r o z a t u k g a t e w a y d o t n e t

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Joanne - 17 Jan 2006 17:45 GMT

> One of our first three rats, the last, has just been pts aged about 2
> yrs 9 months. She was a gorgeous cheeky & always lively girl who loved
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
>
> I wish I believed in your rainbow bridge. Goodbye Kairi.

What a sweet girl. I've been fortunate enough to have loved those
wonderfully alpha yet gentle rats. They are such a treasure.
You know deep down inside it was time for Kairi to go, you would not
have made the decision otherwise.
It's hard but necessary and that voice deep in your heart, that's your
girl talking.
You don't need to believe in the rainbow bridge, there's enough of us
here that do... And we know there'll be a grand reunion at the end of
your journey with all your little ones waiting for you.
At least take comfort in knowing that your rats had the best life with
you and your family.

Joanne
Owned by 15 rats

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Michael Rozdoba - 17 Jan 2006 20:00 GMT

> What a sweet girl. I've been fortunate enough to have loved those
> wonderfully alpha yet gentle rats. They are such a treasure. You know
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> little ones waiting for you. At least take comfort in knowing that
> your rats had the best life with you and your family.

Thank you Joanne, that really does mean something.

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Michael
m r o z a t u k g a t e w a y d o t n e t

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Jackie Mullins - 17 Jan 2006 20:07 GMT

She had the best possible life you could give her. The feeling in your
stomach when making the decision is unbearable and you keep thinking that
you could leave it a little while longer but your heart tells you when it is
time.
My heart goes out to you. I have had 10 pts in 2005 and I will tell you it
is the best way to have them pts with the gas first and then injection. I
asked my vet if I could go in and she had no problems with it. But they do
not suffer in any way.

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Best Regards
Jackie and the Girls.

> > What a sweet girl. I've been fortunate enough to have loved those
> > wonderfully alpha yet gentle rats. They are such a treasure. You know
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Thank you Joanne, that really does mean something.

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Vanessa - 17 Jan 2006 20:25 GMT

Many vets won't allow you within range of the gas because of any
dangers to you, and because their insurance companies don't allow it.
There is no coverage if you breathe it in, pass out, and end up
smacking your head on the floor. It is in their best interest not to
have the public near it. Having said that, I have had vets who have no
problem allowing me near it, even asking me to hold the mask over their
faces myself while they operated the flow.
I would prefer to be there throughout. So, I have had a couple of vets
now that will give an intermuscular injection of sedative mixed with
morphine. This puts the rat completely to sleep, and even though they
might object to that injection, it is not any worse than if they decide
to struggle with the gasmask. Sometimes that can be very
heartwrenching, to watch them fight against the gas if they still have
some strength.
Then, once the vet examines the little one to ensure that the sedative
has taken affect, the final cardiac injection is given. Every time I
have done this, they never move, they never feel a thing. The most
important thing to me is that I am there with them right to the very
end, and that procedure allows me to do that.

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Michael Rozdoba - 17 Jan 2006 20:37 GMT

> Many vets won't allow you within range of the gas because of any
> dangers to you,

I think that was their reason, from what he said...

> and because their insurance companies don't allow it. There is no
> coverage if you breathe it in, pass out, and end up smacking your
> head on the floor. It is in their best interest not to have the
> public near it. Having said that, I have had vets who have no
> problem allowing me near it, even asking me to hold the mask over
> their faces myself while they operated the flow.

Yeah, we were with a friend who's has hamsters pts in that way, so she
was a little surprised.

> I would prefer to be there throughout.

Likewise. It was a shame, but still better than a single injection.

> So, I have had a couple of vets now that will give an intermuscular
> injection of sedative mixed with morphine. This puts the rat
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> once the vet examines the little one to ensure that the sedative has
> taken affect, the final cardiac injection is given.

I've not heard of that before. Thanks. I'll ask our vet about that too.

At least she seemed peaceful afterwards. I didn't tell my wife, but when
Gabby was put to sleep she objected to the injection & the vet stopped
halfway through to let the sedative kick in. I never want that repeated.

> Every time I have done this, they never move, they never feel a
> thing. The most important thing to me is that I am there with them
> right to the very end, and that procedure allows me to do that.

I'm glad this group exists. Thanks to everyone.

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Michael
m r o z a t u k g a t e w a y d o t n e t

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Michael Rozdoba - 17 Jan 2006 20:40 GMT

> She had the best possible life you could give her. The feeling in
> your stomach when making the decision is unbearable and you keep
> thinking that you could leave it a little while longer but your heart
> tells you when it is time. My heart goes out to you. I have had 10
> pts in 2005

I didn't realise it was that many. Thanks for the shared understanding.

> and I will tell you it is the best way to have them pts with the gas
> first and then injection. I asked my vet if I could go in and she had
> no problems with it. But they do not suffer in any way.

She seemed so peaceful afterwards I was almost sure it must have been
that way. Thank you.

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Michael
m r o z a t u k g a t e w a y d o t n e t

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Jackie Mullins - 17 Jan 2006 20:56 GMT

Thank you's are not necessary. it helps just to have someone that can
understand these little tresures are a very important part of our lives,
even though not all people think they are so lovable.

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Best Regards
Jackie and the Girls.

> > She had the best possible life you could give her. The feeling in
> > your stomach when making the decision is unbearable and you keep
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> She seemed so peaceful afterwards I was almost sure it must have been
> that way. Thank you.

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Tracey - 19 Jan 2006 11:15 GMT

> One of our first three rats, the last, has just been pts aged about 2 yrs
> 9 months. She was a gorgeous cheeky & always lively girl who loved
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
>
> I wish I believed in your rainbow bridge. Goodbye Kairi.

I'm so sorry to hear about Kairi, Michael. When we have our little ones put
to sleep it is never an easy decision, but it does sound like she had
reached that stage where any loving owner would have made the same decision
you made to help her on her way. There is nothing worse than putting off
taking them to the vets to be pts and then seeing them really struggling,
with very little quality of life. You gave Kairi a wonderful home, full of
love, care and happiness and then helped her pass when she needed it, any
animal could not ask for more.

Tracey

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Tania - 19 Jan 2006 20:25 GMT

Ah God .... What a heart-breaking post :-( I am so sorry for your loss
Michael.

It does sound as though you made the right decision, especially when you
mentioned her hind legs were no longer reaching the floor. Please try not to
be too hard on yourself ..................

Thinking of you xxx

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Tarn ...............
Barney, Yoda, Yogi, Beau & Sebastian <:3_)~~~
At Rainbow Bridge: Buttons, Patch, Cookie, Fudge, Apollo, Zeus,Ben, Neptune,
Morpheus,Ulysses, Pluto, Jerry & Smokie <:3__) ~~~
http://community.webshots.com/user/tarn75

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Michael Rozdoba - 19 Jan 2006 22:36 GMT

I just wanted to add thanks (whether needed or not) to everyone here for
your support. It does make a difference. All the best,

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Michael
m r o z a t u k g a t e w a y d o t n e t

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msjdoolittle - 22 Jan 2006 18:17 GMT

My sympathy to you at the passing of Kairi from this life. She sounded like
a sweet little girl, and very much loved. The candle will remain lit in her
memory.

As Joanne mentioned, there are enough of us here to believe that you will
meet again at the bridge, where Kairi waits... healthy, whole and happy.

Julia and
The Mischief Makers

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Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / January 2006

Kairi, we miss you