My dd's sick hamster, Teddy, took a turn last night and we actually thought he would die. He was cold, unresponsive, etc., but still breathing. We held him and talked to him for a long time, crying, expecting him to breathe his last, then we finally had to go to bed. We made him comfy and cried and cried some more. This morning, he's sitting up, looking at us--not well, but certainly not dead! DD is ecstatic. My older dd asked why I didn't seem happy...I told her I didn't want to go through again what we did last night. This little guy has a will of iron! I love him too, but I really wish he'd just died... isn't that awful of me?

By Joan on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 10:31 am:

I do not think you are awful. Death is a very emotionally draining experience, wheather it is a family member, a friend, or even a pet. The way I see it you are looking out for your childs emotions, you thought you were probebly reaching a stepping stone in teaching your child about death, but now that time has been delayed. Im happy to hear that the little fella is looking better, but I do understand that it is just delaying the enevitable. You are not awful, or cold, or mean. You are just a caring mom

Mara

By Janet on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 12:50 pm:

Now I'm thinking, if I were a REALLY caring mom, I'd call the vet. But the truth is, I don't have time to take him to the vet, I don't want to pay for the vet, and I don't think it'd do much good anyway. Any wise words for me (as I reach for the stick to beat myself up with)?

By Bellajoe on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 12:58 pm:

NO wise words for you. But i compleetely understand what you mean about taking it to the vet. You are probably right, you'd pay a big bill to make the hamster better, and he'd probably still end up dying soon. Don't beat yourself with a stick, you are being practical, not mean or anything.

And i understand what you mean by wishing it would just die already. I'm sure your happy he's still alive for your dd sake, but don't want to go through another night like last night.

By Janet on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 01:12 pm:

Thanks for understanding.

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 02:24 pm:

Yeap, I understand. We took our dog to the vet and because he gave us meds and did blood work, it cost nearly $100, but tomorrow we are putting her to sleep anyway. I guess it gained us another month with her, but not much longer than that.

By Janet on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 02:40 pm:

I called the vet over lunch and they said they really couldn't do much for him. So I guess we'll just keep on loving him and trying to make him comfortable. Dawn, I'm so sorry about your dog-- it's so hard, I know. Still, I wouldn't give up having furry friends for the world.

By Dana on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 02:42 pm:

I sure hope Lazarus continues to build his strength. I know what you mean about waiting and watching an animal suffer. And also feeling like you COULD do more if you went to the vet and spent money. I felt this way when we lost a new chick (DD's classroom egg hatching project) while it was spending the weekend with us. And most recently, Lisa Lizard.

I can't say I would take a hamaster to the vet either. HUGS.

By Boxzgrl on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 02:44 pm:

Janet - just keep him nice and comfy at home. Its a much peaceful experience for everybody because putting little guys to sleep like that (at a vet) isn't quite as easy as a cat or dog. (((hugs))) Hope all goes well.

By Janet on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 03:49 pm:

I have to tell you a quick story about when I was a kid--I had little pets of all kinds, and this one happened to be a mouse. He got this awful tumor on his neck, and got so bad he couldn't get around. So Mom took me and the mouse to the vet (my mom is the greatest) and I really just wanted the vet to put the mouse to sleep, but he looked at the mouse, at me, then kinda sneered (really!) and said, "Wellll...I GUESS I could operate on it..." like I was stupid or something. I was shocked and said no, I just wanted him to not suffer anymore. So the vet shrugged, whisked him away, and then brought him back in a box while I cried. I never went back to him again. What a rotten vet! (30 years later and it still makes me mad!)

By Dana on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 09:37 pm:

What a jerk! Some people just aren't people persons. Bedside manners can make a huge difference.

By Annie2 on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 09:57 pm:

We took my son's hamster to our vet last fall. We thought he might be sick but he was actually dying from old age. He was barely moving, not eating/drinking and could barely open his eyes.
The vet was great. More than great...fantastic. He held the hamster with such care, checked his heartbeat, etc. My son (and I) appreciated his bed side manner. He put him on some fluids, kept him overnight (I let him know that he did not have to perform any heroic measures) but he called with sad news in the am that Climber didn't make it.
He never sent us a bill.

By Pamt on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 11:14 pm:

Glad to hear the hamster is hanging in there!

By Janet on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 09:29 am:

Awww, Annie...Now THAT is what a vet should be like! Teddy/Lazarus is still with us this morning (how long can a hamster live w/out food?). Jessie drew a little picture yesterday of us finding Teddy, holding him and crying, and then the last panel of the picture showed Teddy in midair, with a sunburst all around him, and Jessie proclaiming, "It's a miracle!" I laughed and laughed... (can't you hear the angelic singing?)