Keo Passed Away :( Options

[CHICKLET]

My lovely/cute/friendly pet rat Keo, past away on Monday 29th September 2008.

I bought her from a pet shop on 17th September 2007,, it was the best day of my life,,, she was spoilt rotten by me.
She cheered me up so much
She was such a lovable funny character. I loved getting up in the mornings to ser her greet me and wait for her treat and also when I got home from work she would be waiting to see me all excited.

Sadly August 2008, a respiratory infection took hold.

First vet visit, I was given a 18 day supply of baytril antibiotic and the vet tried to prepare me for the worst,, she said once respiratory infections take hold, there is not much hope… but she reacted well to baytril and looked so much better, I was so hopeful. But two days of the meds, she was back to not being able to breathe very well, was lethargic and her coat was puffed up, and she had Prophin staining round her nose.

Obviously I took her back the vets,, was given more baytril and some corvental-d capsules this time to break open and take two beads a day and hide them in food
Again she picked up,, and then 2 days of baytril when it ran out, she was ill again
But this time I was really worried and very very upset.

27th September 08 was final vet visit
Was given more baytril more caps, and this time a steroid/antibiotic injection. She didn’t react good to it. Before this, she was eating and drinking fine/ After the injection she went down hill very very fast. She wouldn’t eat, not even her fave treats. She was jumping around like she was fitting.

But on sat night,, she decided she wanted to some rice to eat and ate a fair bit. And had a drink of her meds, I left the house hopeful that when I returned Sunday, she would look better with the steroid properly in her system.
I got home Sunday and it never happened, she looked hundred times worse. I was so devastated, I just cried and cried
I wanted to cling on to the hope she would get better

I woke up Monday and before work tried to give her her meds and she wouldn’t take them. I left them for mum to give her and asked her to text if she would take them, mums texts came through and I was hopeful once more cause she managed to get her to take them.

I got home Monday 29th sept around 1.10 lunch time, and keo was gone, she had passed away somewhere in-between 10.30am and 1.10pm
I was so upset. She was part of the family. She was the greatest little pet ever and I miss her very very much.
I feel very guilty that I never took her to the vets on sunday to put her to sleep,,, i was just hopeful she would pull through, I just hope she didnt suffer to much and if she did that she forgives me. Im sorry Keo.

Below are some memory’s I have to keep thinking of to get me through this very very hard time,, she was so funny and as long as I can remember these times below, I will get through it some how.



I used to let her run around the living room free range, and she would climb up the side of her cage and onto a chair and play around in the newspapers.
Or she would chase me round the floor like a little puppy dog. Id get up from the settee to go out of the room and she would chase me and sit on my slippers so I couldn’t leave the room.
She used to like me lying on the big settee and she would run in and out of my bed jacket and chew holes in it.
She loved her little tiny bowl full of tea, she loved a drink of tea
She used to like greeting me in the mornings, waiting for her yoghurt drop treat,, they were her favourites
She loved me filling her bowl up with frozen peas and water and bobbing for them
She loved all her furry tubes and beds that I bought her, aswell as hanging out in her hammocks. She had so many she never knew which to sleep in lol.
She loved gingerbread men, very much.
I bought her a cat toy. It was a pink bag, which made a crinkley noise when you touch it,, she used to play inside and jump around, enjoying the noise.

She was such a funny loveable character,, me mum n dad all loved her very much and always will.
I only had her for just over a year but it was the best year of my life and I will always remember it.


some pics of her
this is when she was a baby:


and as she was growing up:

[Zita'sMom]

Oh Keo was gorgeous.

I had a pet rat too. A lot of people have no idea what sweet, soulful and social creatures they can be. My boy, Gus, lost use of his hind legs and started having a respiratory problem. I did have him euthanized, but felt terrible guilt about that at the time. So whether you euthanized or not, I think you would have questions and doubts, that seems to be what we do to ourselves, for some reason.

Have you read "Animals and the Afterlife" by Kim Sheridan? If not, I would really recommend it, especially for you. Kim had a very special rat called June and losing her was devastating. She also had many other pet rats.

Feel free to talk here whenever you want. I know the pain of losing a special soul like Keo.

take care

Jan.

[CHICKLET]

Thankyou for your reply Jan.
I will have a read of animals and afterlife,, thankyou,, I need anything that will help me through this dreadful time.

Yes exactly. I didnt know whether to put her to sleep, cause I would have always wondered would she have got better and now I feel guilty for not putting her to sleep
so its a neverending guilt trip either way.
its so hard
but its nice to have message boards like this one, to talk to people that are going/or have gone through the same thing.
People who have not got pets do not understand how hard it is
pets are a member of the family.

[Zita'sMom]

People who have not got pets do not understand how hard it is
pets are a member of the family.

Yes, they absolutely are. Those who don't understand the deep grief of this loss, also never know the joy our pets bring us. So consider that you are one of the special people whose heart is open enough to allow in this joy. And I do mean that - each person on this forum has something special - this connection with animals - that many people never know in a lifetime.

take care

Jan.

[ann]

Hi Chicklet, What a beautiful sweet baby. I'm so deeply sorry for your loss. You tired your best to help Keo. You gave her the best and even though it was short she was very happy. Never feel sorry for that. Many years ago my 18 yr old cat got very sick. I should have taken her to the vet to put her down,but I didn't, I couldn't bear the thought. Finally I told her on a Sat. I would bring her in Mon and take away her pain. She passed away that night. I often think it happened 'cuz she knew it upset me to have to do it and she didn't want me to go thru that. So who knows, maybe Keo didn't want to see you sad either.. Hugs.. Ann

[Missing Fleetwoo...]

No matter how small they can be, our little furbabies hold big places in our hearts and give us such unconditional love. When they leave us it is very difficult to understand and accept, but we can’t dwell on the passing. Instead we need to wrap ourselves in the warmth of their memories because while they may not be physically with us, their love lives forever in our hearts and it is this that keeps us going. Hang in there, the pain will get better over time.

[LoveThem]

I am so sorry about your loss. You posted very sweet pictures of Keo. And from your stories..she had quite a personality. To have her such a short time is just not fair but then we know life really is not fair.

You did the best that you could for her. She would never ask more than that. I see you said your vet said there was not much hope but you certainly did try to help her by using the antibiotics.
I think it is only a natural human reaction to feel there is a chance these sweet ones will get better, especially when it is an illness we are dealing with the first time.

You do have some good memories and beautiful pictures and they will help you in healing.

Remembering all that Keo has taught you...may make you think of someday getting another.

We never replace our little best friends but because of the love and joy they taught us, we are often willing to give another a home. We then start new memories with the new one and never forget the wonderful memories our really special one gave us.

We will love them, adore them, and miss them forever. We thank them for all they gave us.

It isn't easy to make that final decision and it is natural to hesitate because it is so final.
Don't wonder and feel guilty about anything. You did the best you could for her. She knew
that.

[Ken Albin]

I am so sorry for your loss. Keo was a sweet little rattie and you can see the love in those photos. All creatures are special and wonderful in their own way and I am sure that Keo is running around Rainbow Bridge now with all of our other loved ones there. My sympathy goes out to you during this terrible time.

Ken Albin

[CHICKLET]

Thankyou again to the people that replied

Friday was a particuly bad day for me.
I was in work and my boss wasnt in so there was noone to take my mind of things for a few hrs.
last nite I was lying in bed thinking about Keo
I was thinking back to last sunday how she crawled out onto my knee two times and snuggled up on my legs and rested her head on my arm
she was probably telling me it was time to go and I didnt want to listen
I am trying not to give into guilt
but I cant help it
you will prob see a lot of posts by me over the next few days
time is meant to make things easier
but right now it isnt and I Feel even worse about loosin her

[LoveThem]

you said: you will prob see a lot of posts by me over the next few days
time is meant to make things easier but right now it isnt and I Feel even worse about losing her

Time WILL make things easier somewhat but it takes a lot of time. Your loss is too recent for time to work yet. This is the time to be upset, to cry, whatever helps...or seems to help.

Keep posting your thoughts and feelings....a "lot of posts" is just fine. Be sure to put them
all here in your original topic so people can keep track of you and new ones can see your story and pictures and reply and you can also reply to those who tried to help you through this.

I wish you peace and healing. Unfortunately, it does take time and you are right now in the worst part of the pain...the part that comes with such a recent loss.

[nickels]

Your story of Keo is so touching. I had a black and white hooded pet rat years ago. She lived a very long time but started getting cancerous nodules around her neck and we had to put her to sleep. The entire vets office was in tears. I am so sorry for what you and Keo had to go through. You were a great pet parent and Keo was blessed to have you care so much for her. So many of us know what you are going through and our hearts go out to you.

I love how Keo would run "free range" in your living room. Bobbing for peas brought a chuckle. You are so imaginative over what little Keo would like! And tea. I would have never thought of that one!

I used to let Ratkins run all day long outside on our farm. When I would whistle she would come running so fast, she would become airborn. This used to frighten friends that didn't know about her!

Keo was a special baby indeed. I love the pictures of her. What a sweet sweet little face. Thank you so much for sharing her with us.

My thoughts and Prayers are with you and Keo.

Michelle

[goliath]

Your Keo sounds precious in every way. Love is always welcome no matter how it is packaged whether big or small. I can just picture her little self cuddling with you and it's hard to say what she may have been saying.

Don't let the guilt get to you though. Keo knew just how much you loved her and her sweet loving spirit will always stay with you now and forever.

The more you post, the better you will feel. Especially when you express the love you had for each other and the happier times you shared.

Much love with hugs from my heart to yours,
Beth