Zoe needs vibes!

[vanillasugar]

Came in to work today and thought Zoe was dead. She was laying in one of the hammocks and barely moving (I even picked up the hammock to get her to wake up and she didn't move until I actually removed it from the cage thinking she was dead and saw her breathing).

She's on my lap now, she's extremely lethargic. She took some watered down corn syrup, but won't eat anything else. She's barely moving. She seems to have a nosebleed, and I saw discharge that was rather bloody from her eyes. She's grinding her teeth and balling up her front feet, so I think she's hurting.

I don't think there's anything we can do at this point, but good thoughts of a smooth and easy passing would be much appreciated.

 

[vanillasugar]

Small update: She perked up when I ate my leftover pizza for lunch. I gave her a tiny peice of green pepper which she tried to eat but didn't have much luck with (she is having a hard time with her front paws, and wasn't using them to eat). We also split a blueberry in half and she eagerly mashed it around her face, making a big purple mess on the towel but I don't know if she actually ate any.

When I can't hold her or have her on my lap, I have her on a towel in a small box. Ordinarily I couldn't imagine leaving her unattended in something like this, but she's barely moving and isn't making any attempt to excape.

If she's still alive tonight I'll be bringing her home in the travel cage. I don't think she has much time left and I certainly don't want her dying alone.

Zap seems curious as to why Zoe's been out so much, hanging out by the front of the cage watching us. I took her out to see Zoe, she gave her a few kisses and scampered off.

Not a happy day.

 

[vanillasugar]

Update #2 (don't know if anyone is reading though...)

She's at home with me. She ate some beef with vegetable baby food eagerly, but can't seem to use her front paws very well, so can't eat anything that she has to hold in her paws. I've been giving her water in an eye dropper (she seems badly dehydrated).

She's been keeping her eyes bright and open since eating, but still isn't moving. I have her in my lap right now, on a towel. She's not moving at all.

 

[AGonzalez]

Aww I'm sorry to hear. Good vibes for Zoe!

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

oh no--sending vibes to Zoe. Will you get her to the vet?

 

[vanillasugar]

If it were up to me, absolutely I would, even if it were just to put her down and end this misery. Unfortunately I don't get to make that call. I'll suggest it if she's still like this in the morning and see what the boss says. I would LOVE if it was something that's just in need of a round of antibiotics and some fluids!

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

I hope she can be helped--one way or the other. Vibes to her, and ((HUGS)) to you--it's not easy to be sitting round the clock like that.

 

[CharlieDog]

I'm sorry. I hope its something that's curable! BIG VIBES!

 

[Izzy's Valkyrie]

I hope she can get better with a little something. She seems like a total sweetheart.

 

[LilahRoot]

The red discharge that you are describing from her nose and eyes is most likely porphyrin. They usually excrete it when they are sick or stressed out. Depending on how old she is, what you are describing sounds like she is getting ready to pass on.

My old boy Nester was a few months over two years old and he started to move around more slowly and seemed to not be using his back legs much, and he wasn't eating. I thought that he was going to be fine because he ate a piece of strawberry, so needless to say I was more than shocked when we found that he had passed on the next morning.

The best that you can do is hope for an easy passage. If she goes into respiratory distress it would be cruel not to euth, but usually the passing is peaceful for older ratties and there is no need to do anything but love them in their last moments. I'm so sorry that you're going through this. I honestly know how it is.

 

[MisssAshby]

((hugs)) and {{vibes}} for Zoe and you!

 

[Whisper]

Sending lots and lots of good vibes for Zoe, whether it's for getting well or a peaceful passing.
I hope you can convince them to take her into the vet. If it's something treatable she'll need to have a diagnosis and meds and if it's not, she deserves to have an end to her suffering.

I wish I knew what it might be. I've never heard of anything affecting both the nose/eyes and the paws. I know it must also be very hard for you to watch her suffer and feel so helpless. ((((((((((HUGS))))))))))

May I ask why it's not your call to take her to the vet? Does she belong to someone else?

 

[vanillasugar]

She's one of the "store pets" and belongs to my boss, so I don't get the final say, which is why I don't get to take her to the vet without approval.

She's fine this morning though!! I wonder if she was just spiking a fever? She's still not 100% back to her normal self, but she's perky, bright eyed, and ate all the food I left with her overnight (some peach and some dog kibble, as well as a Zukes treat which are her favourite). She'd pooped overnight, which she hadn't done all day. When you hold her she's trying to climb on you instead of just laying there listlessly. AND her front paws seem to be working better again!

*fingers crossed*

 

[Izzy's Valkyrie]

Yay for a turnaround!