Goodbye Soybean

IamKat · 11-26-2018, 10:55 AM

Hello all,

I know I've been somewhat absent from the forum for a few months, mostly because I've been so busy in life but also with the hams. Unfortunately, I return with some sad news that my poor sweet Soybean has finally left us

I've struggled a lot over the last few weeks with Soy, and her health has caused me endless worry. I hope you don't mind an account of the poor girl's terrible ordeal.

As some of you know from my previous posts, she had suffered from various unusual and mysterious ailments for about the past 8 months - before which she was a very healthy hamster. At first, it was just the autoimmune disease, which caused her to periodically lose large patches of fur, although usually, it would grow back eventually. We treated this with steroids and she tolerated this very well for about 5 months until she began to develop very swollen and sore looking eyes. This worsened and was not responsive to antibiotics. It turned out she had developed glaucoma, and would go blind. She was unresponsive to glaucoma treatment, and since the vet assured me glaucoma (once established) did not cause pain, we decided to leave her to it and see how things go. And so we let her be, and she adapted well to limited sight, she was still very much my happy, affectionate girl. But then... she got a terrible ear infection out of nowhere (or what we thought was an ear infection...) which we took swabs for and treated with antibiotics which she failed to respond to. Over the course of the 2 week treatment she suddenly went downhill - the ears completely clogged up and no matter how many times I cleaned them they would crust over. I had arranged to have her visit the vet for a proper cleaning under anaesthetic but all of a sudden she got a strange 'scab' on her tummy. I took her straight in, and the vet was shocked that the patch was actually necrotic tissue - as in the skin had completely died. She has only ever seen this in dogs and cats - never hamsters. We agreed to double the dose of steroids as it seemed likely related to the autoimmune condition. But it took little more than 4 days for her tummy to become covered in this necrosis. The vet decided she would not survive this without aggressive treatment, which I felt was a bit beyond my poor Soybean and after everything, it just wouldnt be fair to put her through it. We just needed to decide when to put her to sleep. Unfortunately that time was no less than 2 days later, as I felt her quality of life had so steeply deteriorated. For any of you that have experienced this kind of dteriorating in a pet you will know how very difficult it is to decide when the time is right. Especially since she was still eating and drinking. Needless to say it was a terrible time for us, weighing up her quality of life but not wanting to deprive her of any joyful experiences.

With everything that she went through, and with her condition towards the end, I feel sure we did the right thing at the right time. But it doesn't make it any easier. She was honestly the most kind natured and trusting hamster I have ever ever owned or met. Even when in discomfort or being given horrible treatments she never once lashed out or got irritated, and she always trusted me. I miss her so very much.

Soybean - thank you, my sweet girl, for being such a wonderful companion, and for being so brave and so trusting. I will never forget you, and I just hope in some way you felt I made the right choices for you.
Baby Soybean.png Happy Soy.png Beautiful Soy.png
Beautiful Soy 2.jpeg

souffle · 11-26-2018, 03:15 PM

I am so sorry for your loss. You really did try your best for her and supported her through her illness keeping her as comfortable as she could be. Setting her free was the last act of true love.
Play well at the bridge Soybean - renewed in health x

Pebbles82 · 11-26-2018, 03:22 PM

I am so sorry. Poor little girl - she is playing free now over the rainbow bridge - no more pain. I completely understand how incredibly hard it is to make that decision and particularly to know when. When Charlie was ready to go he had no serious illness like Soybean did but he was ready to go and didn't go - kept struggling on. By the time I had made the decision he was unconscious - but even then I didn't know if he'd go or keep suffering while unconscious.

Such a traumatic time - but you did the right thing and she was much loved. Autoimmune conditions are very difficult to treat. With humans, steroids, at least initially, is also the treatment and the side effects from the steroids can cause issues themselves - including difficulty in wound healing and being more prone to infections. It was just her time. When it's an emergency you know what to do and when, but with an ongoing chronic condition it's difficult.

Play well soybean and big hugs. It helps when you've had a ceremony but otherwise it's time and then when a new ham comes along needing love it helps with the healing I think.

cypher · 11-26-2018, 11:14 PM

I'm so sorry for your loss, it is always hard to know if & when it might be the right time to help them to the bridge & a very difficult choice to have to make for them but it's done from the heart & is a final gift of love, you did your best for your lovely girl & I'm sure she knew how much she was loved.

Run free & play well at the bridge Soybean.

dreamtree1234 · 11-29-2018, 11:25 PM

I'm terribly sorry for your loss of your beloved Soybean. She was a lovely, heart-ham and such a brave little warrior trying her very best to stay healthy and strong for you as long as possible. You did the very best that you could possibly do for her, loving and caring for her and giving her the most precious gift of love possible at the end - helping her to find peace and aiding her on her journey. It is so evident how much she was loved by you and how much she loved you in return. Please know that we are here for you and I am sending you huge hugs. My thoughts are with you during this very hard time.

Soybean, may you find many great adventures and lots of fun at the Bridge. You are truly loved and will live on forever.

alpacassei · 11-30-2018, 05:30 AM

I’m so so sorry for your loss! she was such a brave, beautiful little ham! Play well little Soybean x

IamKat · 12-01-2018, 05:12 AM

Thank you so much everyone for your kind words. It still feels so wrong that she's gone

, but today I'll be planting a winter cherry tree in her spot so hopefully that will help.

cypher · 12-01-2018, 07:39 AM

That sounds lovely & I'm sure it will help & be a comfort, it's early days yet but it will get easier with time.

BorisPasha · 12-03-2018, 08:42 AM

I know we spoke already but I wanted to say again how sorry I was to hear about your lovely girl. She was so brave, right to the very end, and I'm sure she appreciated everything you did for her. I'll miss hearing about her and seeing her pictures and I hope little Chickpea is giving you some comfort.

Hugs to you x

Have fun at the bridge Soybean x

Thin Lizzy · 12-03-2018, 09:02 PM

My heart goes out to you at this very sad time. Making that decision is the hardest thing and so much goes through your mind before and after. I had to make that decision not so long ago, it was the right decision to make for Soybean, it might not feel like it but in time it will. You will experience a rollercoaster of emotions, grief is different for everyone.
Your little girl is at peace. Big hugs xxx