I woke up this morning intending to leave the house early to run some errands but decided to stay in bed a little longer to watch TV, because of this when I eventually did get up Pippy happened to be getting up too but something didn't seem right...
I took off the lid of her cake and began to stroke her gently whispering words of comfort, something just was not right at all. I picked her up and held her in my hands, she tried to sleep right where she sat her paws and chin hanging over the edge of my index finger and her tiny chest heaving in and out at around 2 breaths a second. I sat with her talking, telling her how much Mummy and Daddy love her and that it was ok to let go and sleep if that was what she needed. For 15 minutes I sat with her while the little voice in my head repeatedly said "This isn't the end yet, it's Pippy of course she will pull through. Give her an hour and she will be up and about again happy as Larry".........
At around 25 past 10 she tried to rise to her feet but not in a way that gave me hope, in a way that scared me a she looked like one of those bendy legged wooden toys that you push a button underneath to make 'dance'. She wobbled for a second, fell over and then panics to get back on her feet falling over again and again as she began to fit in my arms. There was a rancid smell coming from her as she brought up bile and voided her blader. Finally in one finally heave she collapsed in my hand and after another minute or so of twitching her heart stopped completely and she was gone.
26.03.11
The day I brought home one of the most amazing creatures I would ever meet and a creature that would change my life and views forever. She was brought home nameless, we wanted to choose it based on her personality. All we knew about her was that she was around 4 months old and a 'Sapphire Winter White' as we were originally told. She looked exactly like my other SWW so I didn't think any different, in the end it wouldn't matter to me when we found out she was a hybrid, she was still stunning!
Three days later she was heard making a peculiar squeaking noise, a sort of chirp or... or a Pip! She was named Pippy because of that sound that we would come to recognise so well. A few more days passed before we decided on her full name, Tiptoes came about from her habit of walking around on her stretched out, spindly, hind legs and the title Princess was given because of her demanding nature. It was a name to describe her perfectly.
As the weeks went on it was clear that something wasn't quite right with her, she was no longer the sweet, gentle hamster we had fallen in love with instead she had become territorial over everything in her cage and would shout and scream at those who dared to walk within a foot of her. You could no longer hold her because she would bite and hand to go near her and hold on for dear life, we soon became too scared to handle her as Pippy became more and more aggressive by the day and nothing we did seemed to help.
Signs of neurological damage became more apparent when she started to self mutilate, pulling out her fur and biting her flesh to the point of bleeding.
After seeking help it was confirmed that she suffered from severe neurological problems which could only be described as being similar to schizophrenia or severe bi-polar disorder. It was estimated that she would live only until 12-14 months old at the most. It was devastating news.
Worse news was to come when we found out she also had diabetes, this could shorten her life span even more and so to try and help her out as best we could her diet was changed to a healthier option. Amazingly the diet seemed to help more than her diabetes, her 'rage fits' as we called them seemed more dilute though she would still sink her teeth into you she would not scream just because you were standing by her cage or touching a toy of hers. Instead though a new problem arose, severe hair loss!
Some of it was due to her self mutilation but I still don't know if it was all due to that as she lost all of the fur on her chest and front legs for three months yet she never seemed to notice it. When it came back the second time it was put down to yet another genetic condition.
In the time that had gone by she had already made herself a name as the notorious escape artist amongst my hams. Any opportunity she could find would lead to her sat in an obscure place in the room, it got to the point where I had to put down food, water and bedding at night so if she did escape she would have all she needed for the night. We thought no cage could ever hold Pippy... until we were offered a glass tank for her!
Things began to improve from this point, Pippy had already passed her first birthday and was as strong as ever, she could no longer escape at night and best of all over a time scale of 3-4 months she had gone from a vicious hamster who suffered from fits of aggression several times a day to a hamster who had a fit of aggression only once or twice a week. It was some kind of miracle and I have no idea what it was that caused her to start becoming a normal hamster again but it was the greatest gift we could ever be given even if the alternative was a bald belly! She was finally feeling peace instead of daily stress. So many people had talked about having her PTS because she would never get better but stubborn little Pippy showed them all!
When she reached 18 months old, which was long past the time she was estimated to live, it felt like nothing could stop her. She had made it through so much and had come out the other side as a different ham altogether. We could finally sit and cuddle with her, she could travel places and play in the garden without the need to worry about her stress levels. She could have a life at last and there was so much I wanted to do with her. I even planned to take her with me as company for the Bath show on July 21st. We finally had a proper bond.
Then near the end of June this year she developed an eye infection, she wasn't the first of my hams to get it but for the first time a simple eye infection would lead to one of the biggest tragedies in the Bobtail home.
A few days of cleaning was usually all it took to clean up an eye infection but a few days in and I came home from work to find my baby girl huddled up in the corner of her tank her eye sealed shut, her ears back and her breathing heavy. I was terrified but reassured by the courage she had showed me throughout her life that she would be fine. The next morning she was rushed to the vets where they gave me the worst possible news... Pippy had a chest infection that had been caused by the eye infection and she had also lost 9g in the last 5 days. The combination of this and her current health problems meant that her immune system and tiny body would not be able to cope. We were told to make her as comfortable as possible. That was on Saturday 7th July.
With baytril, a high protein diet, heater pillows and all the love and cuddles she could ask for Pippy pulled through the next few days even showing signs of feeling a little better on Sunday and Monday night. When I put her to bed on Monday 9th July at around 12pm I had no idea it would be the very last time I said goodnight to Pippy.
I don't think I could ever thank HC enough for the support you have all given Pippy, from those who remember the day I brought her home all the way to those who have only known her in her last days every single one of you has not only given her life so much more meaning but it has reminded us never to give up on her because no matter what Pippy was a soldier, a fighter, a stubborn little cow who wanted everything her way
Saying goodbye to her is horrible, but writing this memorial has reminded me of everything we went through together, from the worst time of the hatred we felt for each other at times and the frustration annoyance, but also all the laughs and smiles she brought me and how in her last days her stubbornness and pride no longer mattered and the scars on my hands from her bites no longer mattered. All that we wanted to do was cuddle and be there for each other to say goodbye. Pippy took me on an amazing journey, she taught me so much and opened my eyes to the world of hybrids and rodent farms. She inspired people to think before breeding and I am going to continue to raise awareness for preventing hybrid breeding because of Pippy and what she went through in her life. She changed my world.
This is the last photo I took of her only minutes before she passed along with a photo of her grave.
I think the best way to say goodbye to her now is to share with you some of her quirky side and the things she did to make me laugh. Pippy, you are a ridiculous little girl and I love you so much, I'm sad to say goodbye but happy you can be free at last. Take care up at the rainbow bridge and don't be too bossy young lady!
I was so sad to hear of Pippy's passing; she certainly had more that her share of troubles but despite it all she enjoyed a lovely life with you. She has been a big HC character; I will never forget her in the "Superham" series, she made me laugh so much. Goodbye Pippy, our loss is the rainbow bridge's gain. x
Princess Pippy Tiptoes (??.11.10 - 10.07.12)
you've been so brave, both Erin and Pippy. I hope you're playing well over the other side, little one.
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