Sleep tight my prince

Penguin · 10-06-2016, 01:14 PM

I know this is long, but I really need to get this off my chest

My tiny prince left us last Tuesday

After a long battle with diabetes and eye infections Browney developed a lump right under his eye, that might have been an abscess, we never really got to know.
The lump appeared over the weekend but we didn't notice it before Sunday as we thought he was just swollen since he scratched around his eye quite a bit due to it being infected.
Monday we immediately took him to see the vet and he stayed the night so my vet could have a look at the lump Tuesday morning. Around noon the same day, I was phoned and told the sad news. Browns had been healthy and energitic the very same morning, but when she had returned only a few hours later to inspect his lump he had already passed. He was found in his cup and had slept in.

This has been really sudden as he never showed any sign of being ill. Of course he had his diabetes and eye infection, but aside of that he was extremely energetic. He was climbing the bars of his cage 2 nights prior and rushed to my hand Monday morning to beg for a treat as always. He even came up with a game of jumping from his platform to his bars! I never knew a hamster could jump, but Browney did it, not because he was bored, but because it was fun! He would jump, climb down, walk onto his platform and repeat

I think the worst part about all of this is that I suddenly realized just how noisy he was.

Thank you all for teaching me how exactly to (not) avoid getting a hamster, you were all very helpful and getting him anyway was one of the best decisions ever!

Browns was the most unique hamster I have ever encountered. He was energetic and alert to the extremes. Whenever he heard the front door he would get up and walk to the door of his cage to see who it was. Whenever I was cooking he would get up and walk around his cage, stand on his back legs and sniff the air. Waddling around hoping to get a piece of chicken. If you touched his cage he was there as well. Said his name, spoke in a soft voice, ANY reason (or no reason at all) to get up and he would. Always running around with his eyes closed.

Browney would always find funny ways of entertaining himself, as described with the jumping just before. He would monkey bar as well. He had even taught himself to turn around and get down. He was also smart figured out how to open a loo paper roll with food very fast. After 2 times it would take him a maximum of 1½ minute to open one.

Oh how I miss him. He left so sudden.

Before getting diabetes he would run all day and all night. He would run in the morning when I got up. be running again when I got home 3 hours later. Run when I left for work 4 hours after that. And sure enough he was running again when I came home 5 hours after that. I would fall asleep to the sound of him running and if I woke up during the night I would still hear him running. Browns really had so much energy and it didn't change as he got older. Not before he developed diabetes and even then he was a rather active ham.

He did love sleeping as well though. And he would sleep in the open, in all sorts of funny spots. He did find 3 absolute favourite spots though. 2 of them I have a few pictures of, the 3rd was in a house. Nothing would make me happier than glancing at his cage and seeing him fast asleep on his rock.

I will post all of my favourite videos and photos. And some pictures and videos that I never really managed to upload due to the rough past few months where, despite his health being decent, I have been worried to death that he didn't put on weight. I never got a video of him running around with his whimzee toothbrush which is sad. He adored those and would run from one end of the cage with it to the other. Chew on it for a few seconds and then pick it up and sprint to the other side of the cage to chew on it again.

https://youtu.be/YyaJtAK4GcI
https://youtu.be/wiOIv0B7Itw
https://youtu.be/194ugrM0oXM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7KOjDsZG2E
and of course my favourite video!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Injn...ature=youtu.be

Nighty night my prince! You really are missed and will always be loved! Your cage is still untouched, just how you left it.

Fluffagrams · 10-06-2016, 02:14 PM

I'm so sorry to hear this about your lovely little guy Penguin.

Rest in Peace little one.

pinkneon · 10-06-2016, 03:26 PM

I am so sorry Penguin. I love the photos and videos of him! Hope you're ok

Sleep well, Browney

cypher · 10-06-2016, 09:00 PM

I'm so sorry Penguin, it really saddened me to see this, Browney was a wonderful little guy & for such a small man a huge part of your life, I know how loved he was & how much he will be missed.
He did have his problems but his life with you was a happy one & he has left you with so many wonderful memories to cherish in the future.
Sending hugs.

Run free & play well at the bridge Browney.

Penguin · 10-06-2016, 09:44 PM

Thank you all for your thoughts. It's funny how such a tiny soul can impact your life so much. I still remember spotting him in the petstore and walking the long way home. Then getting on here and asking you all for tips on not making impulsive purchases.

For some reason though I absolutely cannot touch his home. Whenever I look at it, I keep thinking that it is as he left it and ready for when he comes back home.

cypher · 10-06-2016, 11:07 PM

I can totally understand your feelings about Browney's home Penguin, I know some people prefer to clear things away but it often takes me weeks before I'm ready, you'll know when the time is right for you to do anything.

LisaMichelle · 10-06-2016, 11:51 PM

I'm so sorry for your loss. It sounds like you had a great bond and although his life was short, he was terribly lucky to have spent it with you. You can clean his cage when you're ready, there's no need to rush anything.

Pebbles82 · 10-07-2016, 12:21 AM

Oh Penguin. I am so sorry. I am not surprised you can't touch his cage yet. You took him to the vets and haven't seen him since so you're not ready. It must have been such a shock. And hard that you weren't with him when he went, but it sounds like he went peacefully in his sleep in his favourite sleeping place - his cup. And sometimes they are just ready to go. But it's so hard. I had something similar once - we took our hammy to the vets in his cage (it was an awful rotostak unit - about 30 years ago!) to have an operation for a tumour and when I went to pick him up next day I was given an empty cage back as he hadn't survived the anaesthetic. I cried my eyes out! Having a good cry can help.

As Lisa Michelle says, there's no rush to do anything. I think when you have a bond, you are still attached for a while - I read somewhere once that a bond is like an invisible thread between you and it is still there until it gets broken. When you have had chance to accept it and say goodbye, you will maybe feel ready to let go and tell him to be happy over the rainbow bridge xxxx Meanwhile - if it starts to get too upsetting to see his cage there, you could maybe move it out of sight for a while until you feel ready to clean it out. Farewell little Browney - such a lovely character. Play well over the Rainbow bridge - pain free now xxxx

Emma H_amster_ · 10-07-2016, 04:03 AM

atleast he doesnt have to live with his diabetes anymore <3
he was loved by everybody!
sry for your lost

rest in mealworms browney <3

Penguin · 10-07-2016, 04:04 AM

I keep hoping for the vet to call me, telling me it was a prank or that he somehow came back to life. I understand that this won't happen perfectly well, but I can't stop hoping.
I don't know. I think part of the shock is due to the fact that a vet I know thought up this crazy way of treating his diabetes. I was supposed to pick up this thing that would help him Tuesday evening. I was so excited about it, because even if the chances were small, there was a chance of something being able to help. I had my hopes high and thought he had at least a few more months..

I'm sorry, I keep rambling. Thank you all for your kind words. It means a lot