Well how's this for a sucky start to the day?

[DisneyResearcher]

I started out three years ago with two baby rats,a brown and white named Justin and a gray and white named Nicodemus.Both were named after characters from the book 'Mrs.Frisby and the Rats of NIMH'.Last September,Justin succumbed to kidney disease and dehydation.The kidney disease was due to old age(2 1/2 is really old for a rat)and died in my hands at the vet's office when I took him to be put down.Nico had been faring better than his brother up until a month ago.He stopped eating regularly and I asked the vet what could be wrong with him.The vet asked me some questions and at the end,told me he was unsure why Nico wasn't eating well.I took him in to get examined,but the vet couldn't find anything wrong and told me to take care of him as best I could.I knew there was little the vet could do for such a little guy,who barely weighed 3 lbs at his heaviest.He kept getting thinner and thinner and no matter what I tried to do,he just wouldn't eat very much,even when I tempted him with his favorite treat,fresh bananas.This morning,when I went to go feed him and check on him,he was laying in the bottom of his cage.I guess he passed on sometime last night because when I touched him,his whole body was rigid and stiff to the touch.Not knowing quite what to do(it's been years since I had a small animal),I wrapped him in a plastic baggie and put him in the bag with some other garbage that's going to be picked up on Weds,our regular garbage day.I cleaned out his cage and vacuumed his little room where we kept him.I don't know what to do now.I'm wondering if I should cry,because I did love Nico very much.He was sweet and intelligent and my very first pet rat.I miss him so much already and I'm wondering if I should ever buy another small pet like him.

This really,really,really sucks.

DisneyResearcher

 

[helenabear]

So sorry to hear about Nico I think it is always tough to lose a pet. {{hugs}}

 

[Dan Murphy]

Sorry to read about your loss, DR, pets are always part of the family. My best for you.

 

[chell]

If you want to cry, then cry. It might help you to feel better. Pets, no matter how small or how large, always have a special place in our hearts.

Hopefully you will decide soon if you should get another small pet. The new pet never does replace the old one, but they do have a way of making you feel better.

Sorry for what you are going through.

 

[PandyPaws]

I am sorry. It is always tough to lose a pet. No matter how small they are, they still leave a great big hole in our hearts when they are gone. Go ahead and cry, I'm sure you do need to. Someday you will know when it is the right time to get yourself another furry friend to love.

 

[DisneyResearcher]

Thanks guys. That makes me feel a little better.We have two resident cats,Goose and Brat,and the way they goof around together is already making me laugh a little bit. I don't know how my DH will react...Nico and Justin were really MY pets but I'm sure he'll be a little bit sad. I don't know if I'll get another little fuzzy any time soon.We've lost too many of them already.When DH and I were first married,we had two hamsters, Brownie and Buddy.Both died and we swore we'd never get another hamster.Then came my short stint as a cashier in a pet store where I fell in love with the store pet,a rat with a mutilated tail named Stumpy and DH bought me Nico and Justin as a Valentine's day present for our second anniversary(we just celebated our 5th).I really loved those little guys and was really upset when Justin passed. We'd been on vacation and he'd seemed fine yet when we came home,he was laying in the cage flopped over on his side and unable to move.We took him to the vet right then who determined it was kidneyfailure and dehydration that got him and we had him put to sleep.Our petsitter(who we've used several times before)said she hadn't noticed anything wrong with either one of them,though she admitted she knew more about dogs and cats than she did about small animals.
Oh god...this just sucks. Thanks though,for the support. I really need it right now cuz DH is in a meeting at work and I can't call him to tell him wh at happened.

DR

 

[WilmaBud]

Awww - I'm so sorry. I know how hard it is to lose a beloved pet. Hugs to you.

 

[nativetxn]

I'm sorry that Nico died. It's always sad to lose a pet

 

[Saffron]

Awwww. That's so sad. I'm sorry.

 

[pumba]

I had a fish once......and his name was MR. Feeney.....well I cooked Mr. Feeney by mistake one day.....cleaned his house and put in extra hot water instead of regular water.....oh well.....he was a good fish and did tricks and all....jumped out of the water and bit my finger for food.....I missed him and then next week went out and got Otis...he is a good spazzy fish and he is so beautiful.......he is also 2 and a half years old now.....good ripe age for a beta.....so I think that you should go and get another pet....one that the cats do not feel threatened with......or try a beta......they are alot of fun and classy too.......

 

[Spirit Feather]

Cry if you feel like it! It is okay!

Rats really do make the best small cage pets and it sounds as if yours, especially Nico lived long content lives. Just remember how much happiness you have given each other.

{{{{HUGS}}}}}}

 

[perdidobay]

I'm sorry for your loss
{{{ HUGS}}}

 

[DisneyResearcher]

Pumba--the reason you stated(accidentally cooking the fish)is why I DO NOT have betas.I once had a very pretty blue/purple beta named Ichthys who I accidentally boiled one day by accident.And this was after having him for a month and nursing him through a very nasty case of fin rot.
Oh well...I've still got Brat and Goose and Mr.Miyagi,my Japanese Lucky Tree plant and DH,so I guess I'm lucky.


DisneyResearcher

 

[Princess Michelle]

I'm so sorry you lost your pet {{{hugs}}}

 

[jamsmom]

I am sending you a great big hug and sprinkling some pixie dust on you to help you feel better. If that means crying, that is okay.

 

[Bumbles]

I know where you're coming from...I lost a rat not too long ago....not a day goes by that I don't miss him Never have been able to replace him..he was one of a kind

 

[Boots]

{{{{{HUGS}}}}}

 

[epcotfan]

I'm sorry...It is so hard to lose a beloved pet

 

[SuiteDisney]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I know how much it hurts to lose a fur baby. (((hugs)))

 

[gepetto]

Sorry about your pet.

Disney Researcher...that's a cute screen name. Are you doing some kind of research about Disney? I'm sure you could find a lot of great information here if you were.