CookieBoo
New Born Pup
I am in such grief over losing one of my three sister piggies, Sherbie. I am a first time owner (had all other kinds of pets previously) and I am glad that I got to spend 3 good years with my little girl.
However, I can't help but feel guilt, sadness, and a broken heart for that little girl. She was still young to me, I got her when she was a baby. I feel at fault for her passing. She passed the evening of 11-26-2017. The vet told me she had G.I stasis. I keep going through my head wondering if I overlooked her health (she always was chipper and energetic), or if I made a mistake somewhere. Her symptoms came on so sudden, and unfortunately, I was out of town (they came with me) so I could not take her to my regular vet.
I keep crying and telling her I am sorry. Part of me feels like she could have been saved if somehow I acted quicker, and if the vet that I had to take her for emergency would have acted quicker as well (waited over an hour for consent forms while she remained on oxygen in a warming tank).
The story is: the last few months since August has been so hard for me and my loved ones. Late August, brought the death of my boyfriend's mother. September was rocky with other problems. Then October brought the unexpected death of my grandfather (shortly after his birthday). Which left lots to do and stress over (estate, burial, drama, etc.) During the hectic time of October, I did some frequent back and forth traveling with my piggies to my mom's house, who lives 2.5 hours away. I have traveled with my piggies in the past, but there was always downtime. This time was far too frequent for them, and I feel I may have stressed them out by constantly changing their surroundings.
November slowed down a tad, but there were still loose ends to tie, so I had to travel back and forth twice in the week of Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, I have no one at my own home to take care of my piggies for me, so that is why I always bring them. The weekend before Thanksgiving I traveled. Then traveled again for the Thanksgiving Holiday (4 day weekend). On that Thursday and Friday, my little Sherbie and other gals (Clemmy and Buttercup) were all fine, enjoying their veggies and treats; everything was normal. Saturday morning, I heard a little fussing around and chasing. Clemmy and Buttercup were kind of picking on Sherbie. But everyone seemed okay when I fed them. I left with my family to do errands, came back in the evening, that is when I noticed Sherbie acting unlike herself.
The typical spry gal, was sitting in the corner kind of sad looking. When I fed them dinner, she really did not show much interest. I thought maybe she was sad and wanted to get back home. So I petted her and let her know we would be home tomorrow morning. The next morning, she was still in the same corner with the same sad look. I tried to hand feed her and she pulled away. I got concerned and took her to an emergency care vet that has expertise in exotic pets.
Unfortunately, where my parents live there were only two "nearby". The closest one (that I did take her to) was 20 min drive, the other 1 hr drive. I just wanted to get her help quickly, because I felt she would not make it to her regular vet 2.5 hrs away. The ER vet took her in immediately. I sat in a room waited, the vet came in 15 min later asking questions, then said she noticed Sherbie was bloated and breathing heavily. She recommended she be treated for GI stasis and would be back with a consent form and price soon. I waited... at least 1 hour but could have been a bit longer. A tech finally came in and apologized, they needed to care for an EMERGENCY dog situation. (my sherbie was an emergency too!) This whole time Sherbie was there only on oxygen and warming tank. I consented to everything, at which it took another long while (45 min) till the Vet came back to show my Xrays of sherbie's bloat.
I consented to all her treatment and was told she would need to stay overnight. The vet was also concerned Sherbie might have pneumonia or heart disease. About 1.5 hours after I left the vet, I got a call from them saying I should come in because after the first round of treatment Sherbie's status was weakening. I came immediately, they took me in and brought Sherbie out so I can pet and see her. It was a terrible sight... she was just laying there gasping the oxygen being supplied near her.... The vet came in and said she looks like she will pass any minute. I kept trying to talk to Sherbie, and the Vet kind of pissed me off by responding: "she is unconscious"... I asked if anything else can be done, she offered an emergency IV treatment. I approved, 10 min later she came back with Sherbie in a towel saying she did not make it. My whole world crashed.
I spent 2 hours standing there crying, petting, and kissing that baby girl. I feel like somehow I robbed her of life, by not acting quickly and taking her to the wrong vet. I am trying to be strong for my other two girls, but the last couple days have been very hard and gloomy. I know she has crossed over to the Rainbow Bridge, but it hurts me that it will be such a long time before I can see her again.
Sorry for the long story, but I just needed to express my feelings and story out loud.
Sherbie girl, I love you my little angel. Your sisters miss you too. I hope you are at peace and playing with your new friends at the Rainbow Bridge. I just want you to know how much I love and miss you, and that I am sorry if it is my fault
However, I can't help but feel guilt, sadness, and a broken heart for that little girl. She was still young to me, I got her when she was a baby. I feel at fault for her passing. She passed the evening of 11-26-2017. The vet told me she had G.I stasis. I keep going through my head wondering if I overlooked her health (she always was chipper and energetic), or if I made a mistake somewhere. Her symptoms came on so sudden, and unfortunately, I was out of town (they came with me) so I could not take her to my regular vet.
I keep crying and telling her I am sorry. Part of me feels like she could have been saved if somehow I acted quicker, and if the vet that I had to take her for emergency would have acted quicker as well (waited over an hour for consent forms while she remained on oxygen in a warming tank).
The story is: the last few months since August has been so hard for me and my loved ones. Late August, brought the death of my boyfriend's mother. September was rocky with other problems. Then October brought the unexpected death of my grandfather (shortly after his birthday). Which left lots to do and stress over (estate, burial, drama, etc.) During the hectic time of October, I did some frequent back and forth traveling with my piggies to my mom's house, who lives 2.5 hours away. I have traveled with my piggies in the past, but there was always downtime. This time was far too frequent for them, and I feel I may have stressed them out by constantly changing their surroundings.
November slowed down a tad, but there were still loose ends to tie, so I had to travel back and forth twice in the week of Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, I have no one at my own home to take care of my piggies for me, so that is why I always bring them. The weekend before Thanksgiving I traveled. Then traveled again for the Thanksgiving Holiday (4 day weekend). On that Thursday and Friday, my little Sherbie and other gals (Clemmy and Buttercup) were all fine, enjoying their veggies and treats; everything was normal. Saturday morning, I heard a little fussing around and chasing. Clemmy and Buttercup were kind of picking on Sherbie. But everyone seemed okay when I fed them. I left with my family to do errands, came back in the evening, that is when I noticed Sherbie acting unlike herself.
The typical spry gal, was sitting in the corner kind of sad looking. When I fed them dinner, she really did not show much interest. I thought maybe she was sad and wanted to get back home. So I petted her and let her know we would be home tomorrow morning. The next morning, she was still in the same corner with the same sad look. I tried to hand feed her and she pulled away. I got concerned and took her to an emergency care vet that has expertise in exotic pets.
Unfortunately, where my parents live there were only two "nearby". The closest one (that I did take her to) was 20 min drive, the other 1 hr drive. I just wanted to get her help quickly, because I felt she would not make it to her regular vet 2.5 hrs away. The ER vet took her in immediately. I sat in a room waited, the vet came in 15 min later asking questions, then said she noticed Sherbie was bloated and breathing heavily. She recommended she be treated for GI stasis and would be back with a consent form and price soon. I waited... at least 1 hour but could have been a bit longer. A tech finally came in and apologized, they needed to care for an EMERGENCY dog situation. (my sherbie was an emergency too!) This whole time Sherbie was there only on oxygen and warming tank. I consented to everything, at which it took another long while (45 min) till the Vet came back to show my Xrays of sherbie's bloat.
I consented to all her treatment and was told she would need to stay overnight. The vet was also concerned Sherbie might have pneumonia or heart disease. About 1.5 hours after I left the vet, I got a call from them saying I should come in because after the first round of treatment Sherbie's status was weakening. I came immediately, they took me in and brought Sherbie out so I can pet and see her. It was a terrible sight... she was just laying there gasping the oxygen being supplied near her.... The vet came in and said she looks like she will pass any minute. I kept trying to talk to Sherbie, and the Vet kind of pissed me off by responding: "she is unconscious"... I asked if anything else can be done, she offered an emergency IV treatment. I approved, 10 min later she came back with Sherbie in a towel saying she did not make it. My whole world crashed.
I spent 2 hours standing there crying, petting, and kissing that baby girl. I feel like somehow I robbed her of life, by not acting quickly and taking her to the wrong vet. I am trying to be strong for my other two girls, but the last couple days have been very hard and gloomy. I know she has crossed over to the Rainbow Bridge, but it hurts me that it will be such a long time before I can see her again.
Sorry for the long story, but I just needed to express my feelings and story out loud.
Sherbie girl, I love you my little angel. Your sisters miss you too. I hope you are at peace and playing with your new friends at the Rainbow Bridge. I just want you to know how much I love and miss you, and that I am sorry if it is my fault
Again thank your support and positive words!
