I've been expecting Leah to go for a while now. At the beginning of the year she was in perfect health but then her age caught up with her and seemed to hit her all at once. She began to sleep more and her back legs started to become weak. She'd still run around but she was shakey on her feet and when she had trouble getting up off her back after trying to climb onto an already lowered platform, the platform and wheel were removed.
As time went on she started to lose a lot of movement in her hind legs and at the beginning of this week she began falling over when she tried to walk after just waking up. Last night I had to clean her back end for her as she seemed unable to do it herself and today she could barely get up; her back legs appeared to be completely unoperational and she could barely keep upright. I couldn't let her hang on like that even though she was still bright eyed and happy to eat her porridge out of my hands. I knew it was time and made the appointment.
Then I went back to sort everyone else's food & water and that's when I found her nephew, Zach
After just saying yesterday on here how well he was doing depsite age starting to catch up with him, he was not looking good. He couldn't seem to get upright from his bed until I gave him a a gentle push. His head was tilted horribly to the side and he couldn't walk in a straight line. When he tried to stand up on his hind legs to say hello to me, he just fell over. I knew then that he was going to have to get PTS along with Leah but I couldn't help but hope there might be something they could do. The vet thought it was probably a stroke or infection in his brain and we agreed it was better for him to be PTS.
I'm someone who tends to hide my emotions but I could help but be in tears at the vets seeing them both stuggling to stand yet still wanting to come out of their carriers to me. I had to go back to work for 3 hours right after, pretending to fine.
It's so much easier when they just pass peacefully in their sleep, I hate having to see them suffer and make that decision but I know their better off now.
RIP
Leah - 27th August 2010 - 16th August 2013
Zach (my favourite little man) - 25th February 2011 - 16 August 2013
I'll miss you both