Ranger

[spiritualtramp]

Last night, around 9:30pm, Ranger passed away in my arms.

Around 9:00 I had opened up the barrier dividing the ferret's room from the living room, so that they could have some special playtime. Ranger and Tank were dancing around, shooting through tunnels and having a good time. I got down and played with them for a little while, then got up to go make their dinner (turkey thighs.) I had thawed a small amount of raw duck soup for Ranger as a "starter" since he had what may have been an insulinoma crash a couple weeks ago. I brought the meals in, and found that Ranger had retreated back into a sleep sack in the cage. Pulled him out, brought him over to the couch and started spooning him the soups. He was eating okay, but not as voraciously as he usually did. Then, suddenly, his tail poofed and his eyes got wide. I could feel his little heart pounding quickly inside his chest. I got him away from the soups, checked to see if maybe he swallowed some wrong. His airways were clear, but he began breathing very heavily and laboriously. I quickly grabbed some Karo syrup and the glucometer, had just gotten some syrup on my finger to rub on his gums when he stopped breathing. I gave him mouth-to-mouth, he came back, but was still breathing very heavily. He started losing color, seemed more distant. He stopped breathing again. I got him breathing once more, but shortly after that, his heart stopped, and there was nothing more that I could do.

I am so lost right now, it was too sudden. He was playing 20 minutes beforehand, and then he was gone.

[sherrylynne]

From what you've described, Erinn, it almost sounds like he had a coronary. Far too young. I am so sorry. When it's unexpected like that, it's not surprising you are feeling lost.
{{{{{hugs}}}}}

[Heather]

Oh, Erin, I'm so sorry that you lost your precious little boy in this manner. That is how I lost my Attila. According to my vet he had a massive coronary. She said that there was nothing, absolutely nothing I could of done. In fact if it had occured in her office she wasn't sure that there was anything she could have done either. I couldn't believe my big beautiful boy was gone . Just like that. He had been dooking and playing and being a horrible furchild just moments before. All I could do was sit there holding my boy and cry . He was just 5 yrs old approx (he was turned in to me at about 9 months to a yr). He was too young. He was a ferret, he was supposed to get older, sicker....then they die. He too, had this massive bottle brush tail when he passed.
I will light a candle for Ranger, to guide his steps. As he walks the shadow path there to greet him is a whole group of little fuzzies. They are not his fuzzies...he is confused where are his fuzzy friends, where is his loving hoomin. They are friendly these little furbabies and they help him, help him understand the journey and the new adventure that he's undertaken. They escort him to the stream, across the bridge and into the cool shadows where they play. Ranger will now be running free dooking and romping with the other little ones who have travelled this way before. They are all free of pain and fear, they sleep in fragrant leaves and dream of times when they once again will snuggle in arms that have held them, loved them and shared their hearts with them.
Goodbye little Ranger, you are a Shooting Star.
ciao

[Lynxie]

I'm so sorry Erinn. Ranger seemed like such a sweetheart. -hugs-

[ferretdroogies]

OMG Erinn!

I am so sorry.

Ranger had a great life with you. Poor little one. You did everything you could.

I'm send my deepest regards, and good energy your way.

[josiesmom]

Oh no, what a tragic shock! My heart goes out to you. TIme with these small ones is just too short. Have consolation that you both got to play together and share his last moments. Happy memories that will shine through the sad ones. Sending you hugs.

[spiritualtramp]

Thank you, everyone. Heather and Sherry, you were right, it was a heart issue. Congestive heart failure actually. He had cardiomyopathy that we never caught, and that episode a couple weeks back was not an insulin crash ---- his pancreas was beautiful and clean --- but his chest was filling with fluid and somehow that was missed.

I'm lost, I miss my Rangerdoodle.

[mustelidmusk]

Oh how terrible - this is just awful news and it 's hurting my heart to think about it. All of my pets have been helped to the bridge...I can't even begin to imagine the shock you're going through. Erin, I'm so, so sorry for your loss.
-jennifer

[spiritualtramp]

Thank you Jennifer, it is a struggle. My other two were helped to the Bridge, too, so this was tough for me. I'm happy to have been with him; to have been playing just moments before, and sharing the bonding of soup-time. But I wish I could have done more. His little body seemed so frightened.

[bigsis7]

I'm so sorry for your loss Erinn.

[Jaycee]

I know this time for you is hard, and nothing can be said that will make things any easier on you. But, Rangers last few moments were full of fun and life....and that is a wonderful thing. How many of us will be able to say the same thing? He was full of love and life...and he waits to thank you at the bridge.