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Unwashed Village / Re: What's going on in your life?
« on: July 05, 2016, 08:14:54 PM »
My coworker had to get rid of a pair of rats due to lease issues. Last week the rats came to us and my husband was amazingly excited. 36 hours into our care one of the rats passed, the only cause we can find was stress due to the move. The other rat was grieving but responsive and we were discussing the appropriate time to get her a new cage mate to help her over the grief. Last night she crashed and this morning we took her to the vet. We were too late to help her do anything but pass peacefully.
I know animals can hide being sick and that stress can and will speed up what would otherwise be a treatable illness. I know it's hard to comfort a grieving rat who lost a lifelong cage mate, especially when there's all sorts of other factors to count on like moving in with strangers. It feels like there should have been more for us to do even though I know it's just wishful thinking.
My husband is taking it hard while I'm caught between grief and practicality of facts. We had a chance to fulfill a promise that was made before my husband's dad died and it didn't last long. He's withdrawing into his natural grief response and I'm typing this. I wish there was something I could do for him but all I can do is wait and watch time.
I know animals can hide being sick and that stress can and will speed up what would otherwise be a treatable illness. I know it's hard to comfort a grieving rat who lost a lifelong cage mate, especially when there's all sorts of other factors to count on like moving in with strangers. It feels like there should have been more for us to do even though I know it's just wishful thinking.
My husband is taking it hard while I'm caught between grief and practicality of facts. We had a chance to fulfill a promise that was made before my husband's dad died and it didn't last long. He's withdrawing into his natural grief response and I'm typing this. I wish there was something I could do for him but all I can do is wait and watch time.