broken heart

[squirrelington]

yesterday nov 6 2011 sometime btwn 11pm and 12am my beautiful squirrel ( little boy) passed away im so broken hearted and beside myself with grief. I held him close and cried my eyes out like a little child as he had a seizure that lasted about 5 to 7 seconds followed by a twitch here and there. He was 10 years old and about a month prior he was exhibiting classic symptoms of mbd. I imediately started administering calcium about 500 to 600mg per day for the first 2 weeks. Then I droped it down to half of that up until yesterday. I then dropped down to approx. 120mg of calcium i had also been giving henrys healthy blocks 1 per day first thing in the morning followed by vegies and fruit collard greens papayas brocoli and strawberrys incidentally the calcium was dusted on his food. within 3 days he was doing much better and continued to improve i wouldent say he was 100% but he was deffinately getting better. then yesterday nov 6 he looked fine in the morning and after noon but when i came in the house approx. 6pm he looked very weak and could hardly hold himself up i was devastated. and that night he died i have seen alot of disscussion on how much calcium is too much and when to back off and to what amount i am so confused is it possible i gave too much? my trusted rehabber freinds tell me that his mbd could have been improving but due to his age(10yrs) there could have been other complications heart attack, stroke, diabetes allthough i never noticed blood or crystals in the urine. It just came on so suddenly my head is still spinning I have heard of cases where squirrels have lived to 15 to 17 years old i even heard of one that lived for 22 years of age. any thoughts or comments would be greatly appreciated. I know it will be quite a while before i feel brave enough to raise another squirrel i just loved him so much and cant imagine his beautiful little head not peering out from his house watching me the light in his eyes always brought warmth into my heart by the way i took him to my families burrial plot and laid him to rest near the hedge row next to my brother i told my sister because i knew she would understand. it will stay between her and i the rest of the family might not understand. To my rehabber freinds out there i love you all. Once again any input would be appreciated i will continue to watch the squirrel board for a reply and any new information on raising squirrels no matter what he will always be in my heart and he will always be daddys little boy signed broken hearted in tampa fl. p.s. i put a picture of him peering out of his house up in the opening of his house so i can still watch him watch me. God bless you all.

[stepnstone]

I'm so sorry for your loss, my heart breaks for you! :grouphug
Please don't dwell on thinking you did anything wrong, you gave him 10 loving years... He passed knowing he was loved, cared for and wanted, it don't come any better then that.

[CritterMom]

Aw, I am so sorry. My boy is a little over two and holds my heart, too.

Honestly, though, at ten years he completely broke about 99% of the longevity records, an obvious testament to your care. I can only hope I get ten years with my baby...

One will likely find you one day - they do that, when you need them to, and then you will know it is time again. RIP, Little Boy - you had a wonderful life, didn't you?

[lilidukes]

:grouphug :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

[mpetys]

I am so sorry for your loss. :grouphug :grouphug If you would like to post your little boys picture, we would love to see him. If not, that is okay. Stay in touch and come back anytime to talk about your little boy.

[pappy1264]

First off, I am very sorry for your loss. It is a testiment to your care he lived to 10 yrs.

If it were MBD, it is a debilitating thing and it does damage to more then just the bones. At his age, it could have been a number of things that caused him to get sick initially (that could mimic MBD) and also his passing. I do not believe you gave him too much calcium, esp. for the amount of time you are talking about.

I know your heart is breaking, you lost a big part of your heart. I know know this is easier said then done (speaking from experience here), try to focus on the happy things, his life and love. You gave him a good life, one he would not have known without you. He was loved, safe, happy.....all anyone or animal could ask for.

I wish I could tell you the 'why' it happened, because I know for myself I always want to know 'could I have done something else'. I don't think anyone can give you that answer, but to say you gave him a love filled life and he took that love with him.

Be kind to yourself and try to focus on memories that will help you to smile. Again, I am very sorry.

[Lulu2010]

So sorry for your loss. :grouphug

[stosh2010]

I am So Sorry that Little Boy has passed away.
He is in GRAND Company, as many wonderful critters ( my Princess MIRA) have gone to the Rainbow Bridge before him.

PLEASE post a photo of Little Boy....I am so proud of you for giving a wild squirrel 10 wonderful years of LOVE & protection....

[Pierre]

So so sorry to hear you lost your boy. He did live a long life and a very loved life.
He would not have lived so long in the wild so he was extra lucky to have lived being so loved by you for so long. :grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug