Baby is now paralyzed- She passed away

[Topaz]

Baby, the PEW 11 month old girl I've been posting about recently cannot life her head or move her front feet.  Her abscess has disappeared and her wheezing has come back.  Before the spay, she had never had any health problems.  She was fine this morning (although wobbly, like she has been the past 2 days.) but now she can't even eat unless I put food in her mouth.  Is this something gone wrong from the surgery!?  Please help.  I have a vet appointment tomorrow morning, it's the only time they can get her in 

[kit]

  I'm sorry that Baby is not doing well.  I hope your vet has some answers for you and some meds for Baby.  Hugs and healing scritches to Baby    Will they not try and fit her in today?  Even if you had to wait an hour at the vet, it would be better than waiting until tomorrow.  Can't hurt to try!  I hope she gets to feeling better soon. 

[Popcorn]

Is this a result of the spay?  Phone the vets office and demand that someone at least talk to you!

[Topaz]

I had some errands I had to run seeing as the vet couldn't see us today, and when I got home Baby was gone.    She couldn't hang on until the vet appointment.  I have no idea what caused this.  This is probably very morbid thinking here, but I am taking her body into the vet tomorrow to see if they can do an autopsy and see just what happened.  Has anyone here requested an autopsy and what's the charge? 

[Lise]

It sounds like it had something to do with the spay, so any decent vet should do the necropsy for free....

[Topaz]

Thanks.  I guess this thread should be moved to the Rat Tails section then?

[DolciLady]

I'm so sorry about Baby. 

The ugly details:  I had a necropsy done on a hamster that included tissue samples that had to be sent off to pathology and it cost me $90.  The pathology bit bumped the price a lot and this particular vet can be significantly higher on some things compared to others in my area, but I like him the best.  I honestly don't know what necropsies usually go for.   Put Baby in the fridge, NOT the freezer.  Keep her body cool on the trip to the vet.

It'd be nice if the vet did this for free since she had no problems before the surgery, but (sigh) I wouldn't count on it.   The trauma of surgery or anesthesia may have brought something out that was lurking beneath the surface.  I hope it's not something due to human error on the vet/staff's part...well...unless they admit to it.  I hope you get satisfying answers.

Rest easy little Baby.
Robin

[Beth]

I'm sorry that Baby had to leave you. Finding out what caused her death will help you grieve and move on. It's often the not knowing that is the worst. She may have only had a short time with you but she knew how much you loved her and she'll be watching over you.

(((hugs)))

Beth

[BaraLahatiel]

I would definately find out about a necropsy. If anything, it will assure you of whether or not the vet did something wrong and you can either decide not to go back to them if they messed up, or feel more secure if you need another girl spayed.

I'm sorry to hear about Baby. Sometimes things just don't go right. But she enjoyed the time with you that she had.

[kit]

 
I am so sorry to hear that Baby passed.  Scritches to the other girls  and hugs to you  Play hard at the bridge Baby and keep watch over mom and the girls.

[Dearpie]

*warm hugs*  I'm so sorry.  It would be very frustrating in this situation.  I agree, I'd take her in for a necropsy. My vet charges about $60 from what I remember.

[javakittie]

I'm so sorry, Topaz! *hugs*

[Topaz]

Well, the vet just called me.  I had the necropsy done (he did it for free) and he found a small abscess with the start of a tumor at the top of her intestines, obstructing her intestines.  He says he doesn't really see why that would kill her, but everything else looked normal. He said her inscision was looking good, healing, etc.  He mentioned that the trauma of healing and going through a surgery also could have triggered the abscess to get worse with her immune system down.  At least now I know what had happened.

[kit]

I'm glad your vet did that for you.  At least now you know that it was nothing that you or the vet did.  That still doesn't change the fact that she is gone.  Hugs and scritches to you and your bunch     

[Heather]

I'm so sorry Topaz. I lost a girl after a spay too, but her cause was hemophilia. *HUGS* I hope your heart heals soon.

[Siana]

I'm so sorry to hear you lost your girl.

[dragynflye]

**hugs**

i'm so sorry you lost your little girl.....

[moonsingingfreak]

I'm sorry for your loss. 

[fearlessella]

First of all I am very sorry about your Baby.  That really scares me because I have been thinking about getting my girls spayed. 

Second is a question for Heather- How did you know she was a hemophiliac?  I think that might have what was wrong with Livvy.  How do you tell?

[lilspaz68]

fearlessella,
I just went thru a day of 5 spays all at once thinking that my odds were a lot higher for any problems.  None.  Not a one.  They all did amazingly.  All you need is a good vet who is experienced in rat spays.  Ask them how many they have lost during a spay.  It IS a more invasive surgery, but they seemed to recover from it better/faster than a tumour removal.    I would get your girls spayed so they don't have to go thru yet more surgeries in the future..