Charlie's thread

[RubyDG]

I think you're doing a wonderful job with Charlie! I know it's hard to see them like this but you're doing everything you can to make him as comfortable as possible. All you can do now is take one day at a time. Big hugs to both of you!

[Pebbles82]

Thank you Ruby. I stay up till everyone is in bed and it's quiet before seeing how he is each night. Tonight I just went to lift him out for cuddles and a piece of apple and noticed he has left the house and nest and is under the hay house shelf. I'm wondering if this means he is close to going, but he is breathing. I don't know whether to leave him alone or lift him out again tonight for cuddles. I'll wait up a while and see how it goes.

[Thin Lizzy]

How's Charlie today?

[racinghamster]

Sometimes it`s better to leave them Serendipity and see how they are the next day. When my Chubs recently went through this, I woke one morning and found him sitting cold in the open. I touched his body and could feel he was bodily cold, so I took his wee box and place it over him and wrapped him up as best I could, not wanting to lift him or disturb him as he wasn`t himself. This was the beginning of the end and although he soldiered on for a few days, he just stopped eating and stayed in his bed, where he passed.

My vet had seen him three weeks prior to this and I could have just taken him in there and then, but mentally, I really didn`t want to put him through the journey and he seemed to rally somewhat so I decided no, I would let him be.

Obviously it`s a decision of letting nature take it`s course, or if the hamster is showing signs of pain, then a vet trip is definitely warranted.

Hope he had an okay night. x

[flowerfairy]

Woodstock simply wouldnt eat or drink by the end ... hope Charlie goes peacefully at home when the time comes.

[Pebbles82]

My little boy is gone. We took him to the vets at lunch-time today curled up in his blanket - he'd been in it beside me most of the morning being stroked. He looked as if he had a bit of a prolapse and I felt he could have a painful lingering death if I waited any longer. I think he was unconscious he was sleeping so deeply on the way there.

I'm still not sure I did the right thing and am not happy with the vet who I don't think did what I asked but I'm not sure. I just wish there was a way they could go peacefully sometimes. I just didn't want him to suffer any longer.

Last night I had had him out of the cage snuggled up in the blanket again. I fell asleep on the sofa. But my stepson is here and I had to be up and doing things at 6am so I put him back in his cage. He looked at his water bottle and turned away. He sniffed the baby food and carefully picked up a piece of substrate and put it on top of the baby food and turned away. He struggled to do this and he was wheezing. He then went under the shelf again. This said to me he had decided he didn't want to eat or drink any more and was ready to go. But he didn't go. And I didn't know how long he would carry on and thought he must be suffering. I think he had cancer - there were things I recognised.

So I'm now wondering if I should have just left him curled up peacefully in the blanket unconscious - I just didn't know what to do really and wanted him not to suffer any more. I took him to the vets still wrapped in the blanket so I don't think the journey bothered him. The vet said he was unconscious.

We told stepson Charlie was going to the vets for something for his pain - there was no time to explain what was going on in detail about euthanasia and so on, and I brought him home in his pet carrier - so we decided not to tell stepson Charlie had gone until later and then have a little funeral. And have time to talk about it then. So I'm trying to be strong for stepson now but he knew Charlie was dying.

The vet visit was clinical and practical and awful and since then I have made him look more comfortable in his nest in a box. I wish I could have let him go naturally but I just didn't want him to suffer any more. He may have gone today or lingered on another week, I don't know.

Sorry - I don't want to upset anyone. I am very upset and trying to hide it and just wished I could have cuddled him until he's gone.

Because stepson doesn't live here all the time and had only just arrived last night and was happy about building a snowman this morning, so the timing wasn't right to explain too much this morning. He is trying not to think about it I think and has hardly seen Charlie for ages. He thinks of Charlie as mine now. But I know he will be upset and I also think he will not want to be upset and will pretend he doesn't care. But that's for later.

[pinkneon]

I am so sorry Charlie was a grand old age, and I am sure you did the right thing for him. He knows that too. He had a wonderful life with you too. I'm so so sorry. Am sending hugs your way xx

[Thin Lizzy]

You did the right thing, your little one was ready to go and you gave him help, you took wonderful care of him and he will have felt this.
I'm sorry your vet wasn't understanding, I felt that with Twinkle's.
We all go through the what ifs, I know I did.
Run wild Charlie, you'll never be forgotten xxx

[racinghamster]

I`m so sad to hear this Serendipity. You acted in Charlie`s best interests before things turned a corner. Vets are never nice places to go at this time but your timing was fine. Charlie could have been just going through the motions and as hamsters do, they will have such a strong will to keep going.

It`s been a privilege to know Charlie and follow his story on HC. I won`t forget him, that`s for sure. x

[Coco61]

This is my Charlie, named after your Charlie, from the first birthday party photos I did for Mocho with his friends Charlie and TL's Twinkle. He has sat on top of Mocho's cage ever since. I post this in tribute to a very special Charlie indeed.