so depressed, just needed a little shoulder

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Three days ago, we lost our beloved parakeet. We took him to the vet and tried everything. He was 6 years old, that is a usual livespan but who could have know that a little bird could worm his way into your heart. I still cry and look for him.

Yesterday, my female pygmy called in a buck voice. When I checked on her, she was listless, had snot coming out of her nose and had alot of gut noises. I gave her Pepto and charcoal called the vet. Her eyes kept rolling back. He tubed her with Pepto, charcoal and something else. He said she was throwing up and a little bloated but the tube didn't smell too bad. He gave her antibiotics, Vit B, Banimine and wormer. She had a normal temp. She was still eating browes when we were finished working on her. He left me with more Vit B and Banimine and said to let him know how she's doing. I bedded her down with hay. This morning I found her dead. Even the vet was surprised. A tree knocked down part of my fence 4 days ago and I know she had gotten out. She must have eaten something toxic. (This is what the vet thinks. I was scared for my two new goats but they are in another pasture far away and healthy. I was also worried if I put another goat in that pasture with the horse) This was my horse's pet but I think because she saw the body, she has accepted the death. The horse is 25 years old. How much longer does she have.

Remember that question of "how do you know when to put a pet to sleep?" When we went to put my dog to sleep, she fought it and I said it's not time. She's still here.

I just feel so sad and don't think I can take another loss right now. Well, thanks for "listening". I needed that.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), September 28, 2000

Answers

Hi Dee Sorry for your trouble's, I understand how you feel. I raise prue breed dogs. mine are pets however not in a kennel. It hurts when the little pups dont make it here Usualy if they have a problem it is during the birthing process. But one time I lost a whole litter to parvo. I cried for weeks because I held myself responsible for them if it were not for me they would not have been here. Does that make any sense. Any way I contiued raising them and I love it. I am very sorry for your trobles. I am sure things will get better for you God bless. Lisa

-- Lisa Hopple (hopplehomestead@safezone.net), September 28, 2000.

Oh, Dee, I'm so sorry about your birdie and your little goat. You must be really hurting. I wish there were something we could do to help....you're in our thoughts. Isn't it nice to be able to come here and share?

-- Cathy Horn (hrnofplnty@webtv.net), September 28, 2000.

Hi Dee, my Folks homesteaded in New Mexico and everyone there had a saying, bad luck comes in threes. Now it seems to me you have had all you will have for a while and things will look up now. Maybe going out and taking exceptionally good, extra care of your existing animals will give you a boost, and it willhelp them also. They can feel your sorrow. They also can feel your acceptance and calm, loving ways. Good luck, E-Mail me if you feel the need to talk farming with someone. You have my empathy, Maureen

-- Maureen Stevenson (maureen@mtaonline.net), September 28, 2000.

While a horse typically lives only 20-25 years, it is probably on a bell shaped curve. According to the Guinnes Book of World Records the oldest living horse is 58 years old in Virginia Beach, VA. For a human that would be about 174 years old. One horse in Myakka City, FL is 50 years old and another at the same place is believed to be 39. Thus, your horse may be old or just middle aged.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), September 28, 2000.

You have my sympathy and my empathy, Dee. I just lost my favorite cockatiel last week, and my boy kitty (AND my best mouser) a couple of months ago. Good for you for trying to save your little parakeet. Too many think they're just disposible. It's always hard to lose your animals.

Ken is correct about your horse. Mine lived to be 37. I didn't even have to start cosseting her until she reached about 31. But it depends on your horse and it's genetics -- mine still had every single tooth, quite unusual. She came from Foundation Quarter Horse stock and was always very hardy and disease resistant (boy, was I lucky to get her!). I suggest you get your horse another companion/pet to keep her company. I think they do better when they have special friends -- my horse had another old horse and an old pony to keep her company.

I think I can't take another loss too soon either, but if the alternative is to not have any animals, forget it! I'll take the animals, and the sorrow when they go.

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), September 28, 2000.



we had one of those years to. we lost my granmother and animals. first it was a lamb, then kittens and turkeys and one of the nicest ducks.but like someone else said the only way to avoid the sad parts is to give up the happy parts too.i think it makes things easier when you except death as part of living and unless you personaly caused death in a mean and hateful way it is natures way of allowing new life to begin. i know your tears will stop but it will take time and you must allow you self the time to grieve.

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), September 28, 2000.

What a lovely, caring person you are! Only one with a big heart can feel big pain when an animal dies..God bless...

-- Lesley (martchas@gateway.net), September 28, 2000.

Dee -- I'm very sorry to hear about your Budgie and the goat. I raised Budgies and Cockatiels for a time and I always felt that Budgies were one of nature's most brilliant natural anti-depressants. There is just no being depressed when a Budgie is happily 'ratchetting'. I don't think anyone should ever underestimate their feelings for a small creature -- they are are a warm and living part of the Whole that we all belong to, they enrich our lives and ask so little in return.

I have no expertise with goats, and hard as it is, this might be a very good time to perform a necropsy. That is always a hard decision, but sometimes you have to do it to protect the others. I have had three geriatric horses who passed away of various causes (a thrombosis colic, congestive heart failure, and a broken pelvis) at ages 36,36, and 32. With the good care available from our increased knowlege, ages like this are not so uncommon anymore. It is very possible that your horse will accept another goat as a companion -- Man O' War, the famous Thoroughbred race horse, outlived two pony companions and was on Peanut III when he himself passed on.

My geriatric were very bonded to each other, and when only the one was left, I tried to find her another horse companion, but couldn't find anything suitable, so I started thinking about a sheep (she died soon after). Her last months (she was 32) she would spend days hanging out with the humans in the middle of the schooling arena until she'd had enough for the day and would wend her way back to her stall and put herself in. You may have to provide some support to your horse for a while to get her over the hump, but likely she will accept another companion goat. I spent a lot of time with my pony after the horses had died, and I think it was good for both of us to have each other then. I spent a lot of time crying into her fur, but at the same time, I now remember that as time most well spent for the memories of a dear sweet pony.

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), September 28, 2000.


Thank you, thank you, thank you. I really needed this. You are all so sweet.

I know we will be getting another Budgie but I want to find another hand fed one like this one was. I think that was what made him so lovable. He looked for human companionship.

I have the vet looking for another horse or goat for me, actually for my mare. She was following my husband and me when we were burying the goat. She is hopefully going to be one of those 35 year old horses because he doesn't look like she is 25 at all. This year was the first time she ever needed her teeth floated. I keep her barefoot and the ferrier said what people would give for feet like hers.

The dog I just keep putting newspaper down for. I don't think I want another dog when she finally goes. We'll see.

Thanks again.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), September 28, 2000.


Hi Dee, sorry to hear about your losses. I can sympathize because I'm facing similar. Just after our cat disapears and my daughter has been crying her eyes out, our 8 yr old standardbred will have to be put down before the ground freezes(which means real soon because the water buckets were iced over this morning). I have pictures of him lying in the morning sun with my daughter lying across his back. He's a real sweety. For some reason he has calcium forming in his hock that just continues to build up and freeze the joint. Vet says he has not seen anything like it before and can do nothing for him. It's very painful for him. We can't give him more bute because it was upsetting his stomach, so we have him on a gentler painkiller, but it's not working as well anymore. It's a pity because he is so young and well tempered. At least I have the comfort that I saved him from the meat truck (that's where my hubby normaly sends his horses unusuable for racing) and by paying for the more natural painkiller, I bought him one last summer to run with the herd (hubby wanted him down in the spring when the bute put him off his feed). I thought after giving all his life force to men to win money (on top of being abused by a former trainer), he deserved a season of just being a horse before he went. Thankfully forums like this provide comfort from others who understand!

-- Epona (staceyb@myway.com), September 29, 2000.


Dee, I am so sorry to hear about your losses. Animals...what a strange kinship we have with them. What amount of grieving we do when we lose them...

I had a cat that was my greatest companion. We had him put down at 21. A couple years later, we put down our other cat. She was 16. They both had great lives, and my husband and I both missed them very much. I said to myself "no more animals"...

Now, a few years later, and with 70 critters living with us (and so many around the same age and with the same life spans)I wonder what I am doing! But I love being with them....from the scrawniest bewildered hen to the noblest, kindest old ewe. They teach me, keep me grounded, and give me blessings daily.

Animals are my best friends, and I can feel your sadness. Blessings to you. I know you will grow to love your new friends, too.

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), September 29, 2000.


Dee, My heart goes out to you. It is lways hard to lose our little friends, even when they have had a long(for them) lives with us. I am reminded now of "Georgie" the green parakeet we had in my childhood. We moved a lot so could not have ant pets til my mom got him. He moved with us and had the run of the house. Thanks for helping me remember him. Hope things are getting better for you. karen

-- Karen Mauk (dairygoatmama@hotmail.com), September 29, 2000.

Dee, somedays it would be easier if we didn't care so much. We moved to the country 18 months ago. Since then we have lost a dog we'd had for 10 years, two barn cats, and baby goats we loved. I love living here and don't mind the work. I told my husband that I don't mind farm life;its farm death that I have the problem with.

-- Barbara Ternes (lbfarm@hit.net), September 29, 2000.

hope things are starting to look up for you i usally just read these pages and try to mind my own business but have to make a small contribution here the life expectancy of a budgie is 15 to 20 yrs i raise and breed these and many others maybe you could try to find a vet whose more experienced in avian medicine in your area anyway i hope you find another one they make great companions good luck and take care

-- thom (abcbirds@yahoo.com), September 29, 2000.

Okay everybody, it came in threes. I picked up a fence panel that blew over in the wind and found one of my favorite chickens dead. She was an Aracona that used to raise anything I put under her.

What do you think? Maybe my luck will change for the better now?

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), September 29, 2000.



I surely hope so Dee. And I REALLY, REALLY hope you're wrong about the threes, or I still have one to go! :-(

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), September 30, 2000.

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