I returned from a LLL meeting this evening and after feeding the rabbits and bringing the dog in I checked on Doug. He was gone. I knew as soon as I looked at him. It probably happened within the last hour or two as rigor hasn't begun.
I put him inside the fur cover for his water bottle and Pinky is going to bury him near the palm tree that the squirrels love so much.
RIP little guy. I did what I could for you, you just wern't meant to make it. Thank you for coming into my life :'(
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Thinking Ramble
I'm not sure what to think or do right now. Doug is still alive, doing slightly better than yesterday evening, but not by much. I have decided to switch him from the breastmilk to scalded milk, we began this morning so we will see... He's not eating much, stops after a mere 2ccs, looks incredibly dehydrated, didn't pee or poop just now when I fed him... I just don't know.
Do I keep going and hope he improves?
Do I contact Dr A and ask him to PTS?
Do I contact a rehabber and be done with it all?
My gut tells me to keep going. It isn't in me to shirk the responsibility of caring for an animal. I am not good with PTS decisions, heck, I'm barely decent at handling the situation at all. You have no idea how many tears I have shed while holding a pet being euthed. (Except for that one that bit me with it's last bit of strength, but honestly in the condition it was in that was the best thing... sad considering it was a beautiful dog in it's time.)
So for now we trudge on. Pinky is still helping with D's care, he feeds him in the morning and at night while I'm with R. I will still do what I can for him but I will continue to avoid formula if I can. I need to go pick up some whole milk this evening. I'm not hoping for or thinking anything. I'm just letting it be, whatever happens, happens, and is supposed to happen (but doesn't mean I won't be wracked with guilt and full of what if's...).
So we wait.
Do I keep going and hope he improves?
Do I contact Dr A and ask him to PTS?
Do I contact a rehabber and be done with it all?
My gut tells me to keep going. It isn't in me to shirk the responsibility of caring for an animal. I am not good with PTS decisions, heck, I'm barely decent at handling the situation at all. You have no idea how many tears I have shed while holding a pet being euthed. (Except for that one that bit me with it's last bit of strength, but honestly in the condition it was in that was the best thing... sad considering it was a beautiful dog in it's time.)
So for now we trudge on. Pinky is still helping with D's care, he feeds him in the morning and at night while I'm with R. I will still do what I can for him but I will continue to avoid formula if I can. I need to go pick up some whole milk this evening. I'm not hoping for or thinking anything. I'm just letting it be, whatever happens, happens, and is supposed to happen (but doesn't mean I won't be wracked with guilt and full of what if's...).
So we wait.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Doug this morning
I'm posting these now because Doug may not make it. He is not doing well and I feel death is inevitable. I will leave it at that for now as I have R to take care of and I am quite upset about this situation.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Super quick update
I just checked in on R and she's awake so I have time to say Doug broke the 30 gram mark, he was 31g the other day. He eats 3-4ccs now. Getting more furred. trying to upload pics for you but... taking too long. Excuse my misstyping in a huge hurry.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Picture Hiatus
My wifi has gone out on my laptop so I'm back to mobile for now. Which means no picture uploads (well technically I can still do it but it's a bigger pain then it's worth). I will try to update as much as I can from mobile, and I will be ordering home internet later on today so I will be back up and running as soon as my equipment gets here.
On to Doug.
He gobbled down 2ccs last night, and both feeds this morning. I've been getting more hindmilk into him, even though it can be difficult to express any when your kid has drained it. I haven't been able to weigh him, I've had R to contend with today, maybe later I will get a chance. Last time I did he was down again, so hopefully he will be on an incline once again.
His squirrel nipples arrived along with some new syringes and another syringe/nipple variety pack I ordered (for future animal care needs... I'm gonna need it). I love the new nipples. He seems so much more comfortable with the nipple in his mouth rather than the tip of the syringe at the front of his tongue. He can eat much quicker now with less trying to come up his nose (I read this is normal for them as they are voracious eaters, not good, but normal). He's still pooping and peeing good. Right now I seem to be getting less poop and more pee (squirrel growth spurt?).
I believe that is all to report about Doug right now. I contacted a rehabber in another state to ask a few questions the other day, my questions were answered, and the ever so popular "what formula are you feeding?" question came up. I decided to reveal it and was not met with a lecture, but was given a bit of information regarding metabolic bone disease (disorder?), something I will look into when I have the time. I was given the link to some specially formulated squirrel formula that I am told is not too expensive. It's not price I'm concerned about too much. It's the whole "formula" thing. Most people don't know just how anti formula I am, and I'm not going to go into my rant here. Let's just say I don't even like saying (or typing) the word. It gives me a dirty feeling when I say it, it's worse than a curse word to me. Pinky is adamantly against it as well, he says my milk is better for him than some proccessed crap. How's that for a breastfeeding supporter?
Alrighty, R is up so I gotta call AT&T.
On to Doug.
He gobbled down 2ccs last night, and both feeds this morning. I've been getting more hindmilk into him, even though it can be difficult to express any when your kid has drained it. I haven't been able to weigh him, I've had R to contend with today, maybe later I will get a chance. Last time I did he was down again, so hopefully he will be on an incline once again.
His squirrel nipples arrived along with some new syringes and another syringe/nipple variety pack I ordered (for future animal care needs... I'm gonna need it). I love the new nipples. He seems so much more comfortable with the nipple in his mouth rather than the tip of the syringe at the front of his tongue. He can eat much quicker now with less trying to come up his nose (I read this is normal for them as they are voracious eaters, not good, but normal). He's still pooping and peeing good. Right now I seem to be getting less poop and more pee (squirrel growth spurt?).
I believe that is all to report about Doug right now. I contacted a rehabber in another state to ask a few questions the other day, my questions were answered, and the ever so popular "what formula are you feeding?" question came up. I decided to reveal it and was not met with a lecture, but was given a bit of information regarding metabolic bone disease (disorder?), something I will look into when I have the time. I was given the link to some specially formulated squirrel formula that I am told is not too expensive. It's not price I'm concerned about too much. It's the whole "formula" thing. Most people don't know just how anti formula I am, and I'm not going to go into my rant here. Let's just say I don't even like saying (or typing) the word. It gives me a dirty feeling when I say it, it's worse than a curse word to me. Pinky is adamantly against it as well, he says my milk is better for him than some proccessed crap. How's that for a breastfeeding supporter?
Alrighty, R is up so I gotta call AT&T.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Dehydration
Poor squirrely. When I woke up this morning Doug was dehydrated based off skin tent test. I'm fairly certain it's because he went a couple extra hours overnight than usual. I've spent all day trying to get as much fluid in him as possible, so he ate:
1cc
1.5cc
1.5cc
1.6cc
[one feeding left]
I'm working on upping his intake, he's supposed to be up to 3cc by like the end of next week, and down to 4 feedings (that'd be even easier on my schedule). He's growing nice and big, getting furred and everything. I have some pics I'll share at hte end of this update. I need to add some more hindmilk into his supply. I express in the morning so I get all foremilk, I need to start adding some hindmilk after R feeds. I can see the difference in his poops, they get foamy just like R's do when she gets alot of fore. I need to go read some more on what I need to start doing for Doug, my guess is he's close to 3 weeks now, so in another few weeks his eyes will be opening and I need to be prepared for that. I can see the slit deepening so I know it's coming soon. It's kinda exciting in a nerve racking sort of way. Once his eyes open... oh boy. I better have a cage ready for him. I'm hoping he'll be big enough to fit in the crate, but I'll probably need to line it with NICs. Crap, he's a chewer too, which means he'd chew the zip ties... Hmmm...
OK, picture time.
1cc
1.5cc
1.5cc
1.6cc
[one feeding left]
I'm working on upping his intake, he's supposed to be up to 3cc by like the end of next week, and down to 4 feedings (that'd be even easier on my schedule). He's growing nice and big, getting furred and everything. I have some pics I'll share at hte end of this update. I need to add some more hindmilk into his supply. I express in the morning so I get all foremilk, I need to start adding some hindmilk after R feeds. I can see the difference in his poops, they get foamy just like R's do when she gets alot of fore. I need to go read some more on what I need to start doing for Doug, my guess is he's close to 3 weeks now, so in another few weeks his eyes will be opening and I need to be prepared for that. I can see the slit deepening so I know it's coming soon. It's kinda exciting in a nerve racking sort of way. Once his eyes open... oh boy. I better have a cage ready for him. I'm hoping he'll be big enough to fit in the crate, but I'll probably need to line it with NICs. Crap, he's a chewer too, which means he'd chew the zip ties... Hmmm...
OK, picture time.
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