We lost Spike yesterday. He was the baby of my male, Vash and my female, Pikaboo. He was a special baby that I had planned on keeping for myself but I am moving soon and I was nervous about finding a place that would allow so many gliders. So I gave him to a close friend who owned a single glider and who really wanted another. I knew I would see Spike often and that they would be great owners. However, their glider Yuki became aggressive and he scratched Spike's eye. Infection set in and the
vet they took Spike too is an idiot. First the
vet removed the eye (after giving ONLY topical antibiotics). Spike was doing very well but suddenly on Sunday he became very ill and my friend called me. When I saw him I immediately began to cry, I knew he would die soon. He was thin, confused, dirty, cold, white nosed, breathing hard. I knew it would be soon but I wanted try to save him. My
vet was not on call and his answering service would not call him, Spike died in my hands. It was so horrible. I have never had an animal die like that, in pain, in my hands. I stil remember him as a little baby. I loved him so much. He was so sweet and so social. He never crabbed or bit even as a baby, even when he went to a new home. I've never seen a glider so gentle. He just curled his little fists, closed his eyes and stopped breathing. I am full of regret. I should have kept him. I should have known he was that sick before Sunday. I should have made sure they were using my
vet. I should have been there sooner. The oncall
vet never called. However my exotics
vet is giving me his personal home and pager number so I will be able to reach him if something ever happens to Pika and Vash. I am grieving too much for an animal that no longer belonged to me but I raised him and he was the most special of the litters I had. I should have kept him but I didnt know. We buried him at our house.